The Press.
London, England, 1858-02-06 00:00:00

THE PRESS, 111FBRUARY 6, 1858.

Vroutbinp in V arliantent.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—Titurtst)xy,

The House of Lords reassembled this day in terms
of adjournment from the 12th of December. The
Lord Chancellor took his seat on the woolsack at
five o'clock, at which time a considerable number of
peers were present.
Lord EBURY and Lord CnEssAm, the two recently
created peers, took the oaths and their seats.

LAW OF LIBEL.
Lord CAMPBELL brought in a bill, founded on the
report of a select committee of last session, to amend
the law of libel. It is to give, in the first place,
immunity to all correct accounts of the proceedings
of both Houses of Parliament ; in the second, immu•
nity to all faithful accounts of lawful public meetings
wh►re no loss or damage had been done by the
publication ; and, in the third place, it would contain
a definition of what should be considered a public
meeting assembled for a lawful purpcse.
The bill was then read a first t►me.

BANKRUPTCY TAWS.

The Loan CHANCELLOR, in answer to Lord
Brougham, said a bill to amend the laws of bank-
ruptcy had been prepared and actually printed, but
all he could say at present was that it was under the
consideration of the Government.

THE ARMY, &C., IN INDIA.
Lord PANMURE gave nctico that on Monday he
would move a vote of thanks to the army and navy
in India.

The Earl of DERBY asked who would be included
in the vote of thanks? _ _ _

Lord PASMURE was understood to say, the Com-
missioner of the Punjaub, the military, naval, and
marine officers, and all who had been engaged in the
suppression of the mutiny.

formed soldiers, not sickly recruits, and to raise
regiments in the colonies. Then, too, there was the
war in China, in which nothing had as yet been
done, and to carry on which "miserable war" we had
been obliged to withhold the means of successfully
operating in India, and to cripple the home defences
of the country. The Earl of Derby then alluded to
the recent attempt to assassinate the Emperor of the
French as a subject upon which he had certainly
expected the Government to have referred to. If
there was anything which excited the indignation of
an Englishman it was assassination, and if any-
thing could increase that feeling it would he assassi
nation plotted against the life of so valuable an ally
—against one " who has proved himself to be a
firm friend of this country, one whose life I do not
hesitate to say is of infinite value and importance
to the friendly relations between this country
and France, as well RS to the maintenance
of peace and good order throughout Europe ";
and it made "the blood of an honest Englishman
boil to find that anyone is so deluded, so infatuated,
so embittered by hostility to this country as to be
persuaded into a belief that Englishmen, forsooth,
connived at and sanctioned such an atrocity." But
it must be remembered that these conspirators, or,
at any rate, the chief of them, so long as he remained
in England, was perfectly peaceable and inoffensive,
and gave no cause for suspicion, and that no enforce-
ment of our laws could have enabled us to interfere
with him :

What was Pierri? He was a man who for some years
had been living at Birmingham as a peaceful citizen,
earning his livelihood by the honest pursuit of a teacher
of languages ; he was not known to belong to any dange-
rous conspiracy, nor to be mixed up with any one engaged
in secret plots. As long as Pierri remained in Birming-
ham he was perfectly safe and inoffensive—neither the
object of suspicion nor of danger. But then it has been
said, " Why did you allow him to leave Birmingham and
go to France ?" It was no part of our business to prevent
him ; we were not to perform the office of gaolers. ( Hear,
hear.) In this country every man is free to go and come
when, where, and how he pleases, as long as he is guilty
of no offence against our laws. But I must say if any
lesson is to be drawn from the manner in which the late
unhappy attempt became so nearly successful, and, was
only baffled by a special interposition of Providence, that
lesson is the utter inutility of the vexatious system of
passports. ( Hear, hear.) It has long been the rule at
the Foreign-office of this country only to grant passports
to our own subjects. The danger arising from Pierri
arose, not from his presence in England, but when he
landed in France. Howdi ihe obtain the means of getting
there? He obtained a passport to enter Belgium, not
with the connivance or assistance of the British Govern-
ment, but, I believe, one signed by the French Vice-Consul
in Birmingham. Well, he proceeded to Belgium, and, I
believe, the police of that country, who knew him, gave
notice to the French Government that he was in Belgium
and upon his way •.o Paris. To Paris he went, and there,
and not in Birmingham, he remained a week complet-
ing his arrangements for the meditated crime, and em-
ployed in consultation with his co•conspirators. The plot
might have been de-ised in England, but in the French
capital it was carried into execution,—and carried into
execution, too, by persons who had arrived there by means
of passports furnished to them by a French consul, and
who conducted their proceedings in the very face of that
which we have been accustomed to regard as a most
vigilant and active police, but which we must, I think, now
consider to be a body upon which no great credit is re-
flected by the circumstance that they permitted this
atrocious attempt at assassination to reach a point so
near to success. (Hear, hear.) So far as the case of
Pierri is concerned, therefore, I maintain that whatever
may he the state of the law in thia country there was no
neglect upon our part, and that we had it in oar power to
take no step which could afford to the Emperor of the
French that security which I think he had a night to ex-
pect from the exercise of greater caution upon the part of
his own consul in the granting of passports, and from the
vigilance of his police. (Hear, hear.)
-

As a general rule, however, and considering all the
circumstances of the case, there could be no doubt
that the Government of this country was bound to
keep its eye on such dangerous members of society
as thes3 foreign conspirators, and to warn foreign
Governments of any plot against the life of a Sove-
reign which might be brought under its notice. This
might be done without violating the sacred right of
asylum, and if that were done the French nation
would have no right to demand that men, of what-
ever nation they might be, should be arrested and
punished on mere suspicion, and not on positive
proof :
Now, my lords, I say without hesitation that, not for the
security of the Sovereign of France, or of all the sovereigns
of Europe twenty times over, would I consent to violate in
the slightest degree that sacred right of asylum to foreigners
by which our history has always been characterised.
(Cheers.) Of the advantages of that asylum, men of all
political shades of opinion have ever freely partaken. Ity
many of them it has, I regret to say, been most shamefully
and ungratefully abused—( Hear, hear)—and Ido not
hesitate to add that such men are guilty of a serious
crime ngainst the world and against humanity, inasmuch
as they imperil, by the suspicions which their conduct
raises against her, the land which in the hour of their dis-
tress has held out to them—and which holds out to all
who are similarly situate—a place of refuge and protection.
(Hear, hear.) Bat not because of the crimes of those

125

people, nor because of any consequences which may flow
from them, would I for one consent to destroy, or even to
relax, that privilege of asylum which England affords to
all those who du not act in direct disobedience to her
laws. (Hear, hear.) There is also another measure
which I am sure no Government would propose, and
which, even if they did, I feel convinced no Parliament
would sanction—that is, that any man should be punished
upon mere suspicion in this country, and not upon evi-
dence brought against him in the face of day. (Hear,
hear.) If, my lords, the people of France are unreason•
able enough to expect such a sacrifice of feeling and
principle upon the part of the English nation, they aro
lamentably mistaken—(cheers)—and, however I may
regret that illwill should for a moment be engendered
' between them and ns, all such considerations must yield
to the preservation in its perfect integrity of that vital
principle to which I have inst referred. (Hear, hear.)
But, while I maintain that no person ought to be
punished in this country except upon clear evi lenee of
his guilt, I am disposed to think it a question well worthy
of the attention of the Government bow far the laws at
present in existence can be put in force for the prevention
of offences of the heinous nature to which I have been
alluding. I do not presume to express any opinion as to
the specific measures which may be introduced with the
view of striking somewhat more of terror into the minds
of the persons by whom such crimes are contemplated,
and for the purpose of making manifest to the sensitive
people of Fnnoe the sincerity of our expression of good-
will in their regard ; but I may, nevertheless, give utter-
ance to the hope that her Majesty's Ministers ma} be
able to see their way to the framing of some law which
may prove effectual for the suppression of those attempts
at assa,sination while it does not infringe upon the vital
principles of the Constitution. ( Hear, hear.) To the
enactment of such a measure as that, Parliament would,
I feel assnred, be prepared to give a cheerful assent.
(Hear, hear.)

Lord GRANVILLE offered a general reply to Lord
Derby. When the time came Lord Panmure would,
no doubt, prove that we had not been remiss in
sending troop to India, and that things were not in
so bad a state with regard to reinforcements as Lord
Derby supposed. With regard to the China war,
which, it must be remembered, bad been " delibe-
rately and triumphantly sanctioned" by the nation, be
denied that it was a failure, or that it had hampered
our Indian operations. As to the attempt on the
life of the Emperor of the French, no one could
regret more than the Government the publication of
the intemperate addresses to which reference had
been made ; but it would be quite unworthy of a
great nation like this to allow any temporary and
mistaken excitement on the part of the French
nation to prevent it from adopting a right course.
Nothing would induce the Government to give up
the right of refuge to outcast foreigners, or to
abridge their liberty, so long as they obeyed the law.
At the same time, it was the duty of the Government,
when so heinous an act had been perpetrated, to the
universal execration of all right-thinking men, to
examine th., taw, and see if it contained any defects
which might be amended. Suchen examination had
been made, and a measure based on it would be
brought in next week in the Lower House to prevent
the dastardly crimes of conspiracy to assassinate or
to murder.

The Earl of MAIMEBBURY said he should like to
know when and where the new Parliament had ex-
pressed an opinion in favour of the Chinese war.
He should like also to know what were the views of
the Government with respect to the government of
India :

At a crisis like the present, in the midst of a rebellion
not half quelled, he could conceive nothing more injurious
to the future ♦elfare of India than to meddle with the
government of that great empire. He did not mean to
say that that government required no reform, or that the
double government was better than any other system
which could be adopted; but he contended that it was
most foolish and fatal to bring forward a new scheme of
administration for India when that country was disturbed
from one end to the other. If one of their lordships'
houses were in flames, wonld they, before the fire was ex-
tinguished, send for an architect to plan a new building?
In his opinion the two cases were nearly analogous.

Earl GRANVILLE stated that it was the intention of
her Majesty's Government to bring in a bill for the
better government of India.
Lord PANMURE explained that the troops which
had been despatched to India had been sent with all
possible expedition, and in a state of the highest
efficiency. With regard to horses, it was impossible
to send them from this country in sufficient numbers ,
bat it was probable that a sufficient number of
horses will be obtained from the Cape, from Aus-
tralia, and from the countries adjoining our Indian
possessions, to mount the cavalry we have sent
out :

A constant stream of Loon recruits per month were
flowing into India; and if that addition to our force
should be insufficient, I believe the recruiting service is in
such a satisfactory state as to enable us even to increase
the number. lint we are at present engaged in raising a
regiment in Canals, to be called the 100th Regiment, and
to be added to the regiments of the line.

The Earl of DERBY inquired whether it was in-
tended that these regiments shuuld not only be
raised in the c3lonies, but officered by colonists ?
That was a point of the greatest possible importance.

._._ .
TH E PRESS, r -,,•
FBRUARY 6 1858,
, 125
,-------_. .
• formed soldiers, not sickly recruits, and to raise people, nor because of any consequences which may flow
Vroutbigs in V arliantent. regiments in the colonies. Then, too, there was the from them, would I fur one consent to destroy, or even to
war in China, in which nothing had as yet been relax, that privilege of asylum which England affords to
done, and to carry on which "miserable war" we had all those who du not act in direct disobedience to her
HOUSE OF LORDS.—Titurisosy, been obliged to withhold the means of successfully laws. (Hear, hear.) Thgre is also another measure
The House of Lords reassembled this day in terms operating in India, and to cripple the home defences which lam sine no Government would propose, and
of adjournment from the 12th of December. The of the country. The Earl of Derby then alluded to which, even if they did, 1 feel convinced no Parliament
would sanction—that is, that
broughtspany man should be punished
su
againstieio n in
him this
in
tb
Lord Chancellor took his seat on the woolsack at the recent attempt to assassinate the Emperor of the
n dance neon
I nereecountry,and
faceof d
noaty.o ( is
e Hearvi:
five o'clock, at which time a considerable number of French as a subject upon which he had certainly d
peers were present. expected the Government to have referred to. If hear.) If, my lords, the people of France are unr n•
Lord EBURY and Lord CnEssAm, the two recently there was anything which excited the indignation of able enough to expect such a sacrifice of feeling and
created peers, took the oaths and their seats.
. l
an Englishman it was assassination, and if any. principle upon the part of the English nation, they aro
LAW OF LIBEL. thing could increase that feeling it would he asaassi amentably mistaken—(cheers)—and, however I may
Lord CAMPBELL brought in a bill, founded on the nation plotted against the life of so valuable an ally regret that illavill should for a moment be engendered
tboetwtheeenptrheseemrvaatniodnuisn, ailtissucehriceoentsiidetratiotns muhst yield
—against one " who has proved himself to be a
of t at, vital
report of a select committee of last session, to amend
principle to which I have fist refpenrreersini the law of libel. It is to give, in the first place, firm friend of this country, one whose life Ido not
Y(Hear,ought
to be
immunity to all correct accounts of the proceedings hesitate to say is of infinite value and importance But, while I maintain that no
of both Houses of Parliament ;in the second, immu• to the friendly relations between this country punished in this country except upon clear evi knee of
nity to all faithful accounts of lawful public meetings and France, as well as to the maintenance his guilt, lam disposed to think it a question well worthy
where no loss or damage had been done by the of peace and good order throughout Europe "; of the attention of the Government bow far the laws at
publication ; and, in the third place, it would contain and it made " the blood of an honest Englishman present in existence can be put in force for the prevention
a definition of what should be considered a public boil to find that anyone is so deluded, so infatuated, of offences of the heinous nature to which I have been
meeting assembled for a lawful purpcse. so embittered by hostility to this country as to be alluding. Ido not presume to express any opinion as to
The bill was then read a first time. persuaded into a belief that Englishmen, forsooth, th. e specific measures which may be introduced with the
view of striking somewhat more of terror into the minds
BANKRUPTCY TAWS, connived at and sanctioned such an atrocity." But of the persons by whom such crimes are contemplated,
The LORD CHANCELLOR, in answer to Lord it must be remembered that these conspirators, or, and for the purpose of making manifest to the sensitive
Brougham, said a bill to amend the laws of bunk- at any rate, the chief of them, so long as he remained people of France the sincerity of our expression of good-
ruptcy had been prepared and actually printed, but in England, was perfectly peaceable and inoffensive, will in their regard ; but I. may, nevertheless, give utter-
all he could say at present was that it was under the and gave no cause for suspicion, and that no enforce- ance to the hope that her Majesty's Ministers ma} be
consideration of the Government. ment of our laws could have enabled us to interfere able to see their way to the framing of some law which
THE ARMY, &C., IN INDIA. with him : may prove effectual for the suppression of those attempts
Lord PANMURE gave tactic° that on Monday he What was Pierri? He was a man who for some years ssassination while it does not infringe upon the vital
at a
Principles of the Constitudon. (Hear, hear.) To the
would move a vote of thanks to the army and navy had been living at Birmingham as a peaceful citizen, Pr
of
such
enactment
in India. earning his livelihood by the honest pursuit of a teacher
I feel assured, be prepared to give a cheerful assent.
The Earl of DERBY asked who would be included of languages; he was not known to belong to any dange.
(Hear, hear.)
in the vote of thanks? rous conspiracy, nor to be mixed up with any one engaged
in secret plots. As long as Pierri remain in remained in Biring• Lord GRANVILLE offered a general reply to Lord
Lord PANMURE was understood to say, the Corn- ham be was perfectly safe and inoffensive—neither the Derby. When the time came Lord Panmure would,
missioner of the Punjaub, the military, naval, and object of suspicion nor of danger. But then it has been no doubt, prove that we had not been remiss in
marine officers, and all who had been engaged in the said, " Why did you allow him to leave Birmingham and sending troops to India, and that things were not in
suppression of the mutiny. go to France?" It was no part of our business to prevent so bad a state with regard to reinforcements as Lord
THE STATE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. him ;we were not to perform the office of gaolera. ( Hear, Derby supposed. With regard to the China war,
Lord GRANVILLE having moved that the house do hear.) In this country every man is free to go and come which, it must be remembered, bad been " delibe-
now adjourn, when, where, and how he pleases, as long as he is guilty
rarely and triumphantly sanctioned" by the nation, be
Lord DERBY said he was surprised that the of no offence against our laws. But I must say if any
denied that it was a failure, or that it had hampered
Government should have allowed what was virtually lesson is to be drawn from the manner in which the late
our Indian operations. As to the attempt on the
unihappiyid attemptbyed became
.. so nearly. successful,. and, was
a new session to be opened without laying before the
olife of the Emperor of the French, no one could
special interposition of Providence, that
house a summary of the state of. public affairs. lesnayon is the natter inutility of the vexations system of regret more than the Government the nublication of
Certainly there were matters at home and abroad passports. ( Hear, hear.) It has long been the rule at the intemperate addresses to which reference had
calculated to excite the gravest apprehension and the Foreign-office of this country only to grant passports been made ; but it would be quite unworthy of a
requiring the most anxious consideration. It was to our own subjects. The danger arising from Pierri great nation like this to allow any temporary and
true, indeed, that the monetary crisis had to a great arose, not from his presence in England, but when he mistaken excitement on the part of the French
extent passed away, but great distress prevailed landed in France. Howdia he obtain the means of getting nation to prevent it from adopting a right course.
among the labouring classes. Then, if we turned to there? He obtained a passport to enter Belgium, not
Nothing would induce the Government to give up
foreign affairs, what was our position in India? with the connivance or assistance of the British Govern-
the right of refuge to outcast foreigners, or to
Victories and successes bad been achieved, it was went, but, I believe, one signed by the French Vice-Consul
in Birmingham. Well, he proceeded to Belgium, and, I abridge their liberty, so long as they obeyed the law.
true, by small bodies of British troops against large believe, the police of that ooantry, who knew him, gave At the same time, it was the duty of the Government,
masses of mutineers, but these successes had been notice to the French Government that he was in Belgium when so heinous an act had been perpetrated, to the
purchased by the loss of a long list of heroes, and execration of all right-thinking men, to
and upon his way •o Paris. To Paris he went, and there, universal
there remained yet a task of enormous difficulty to and not in Birmingham, he remained far a week complet- examine th., taw, and see if it contained any defects
be accomplished, and which would require double ing his arrangements for the meditated crime, and eta- which might be amended. Suchen examination had
the number of troops now in the field to accomplish ployed in consultation with his co-conspirators. The plot been made, and a measure based on it would be
satisfactorily : might have been de-ised in England, but in the. }d're.noth
brought in next week in the Lower House to prevent
At this moment Ido not believe Sir Colin Campbell, for capital it was carried into
hexeudtioni7antdh Carrle
meansino
the dastardly crimes of conspiracy to assassinate or
execution, too, by. persons
d w o
bha arrived
F here by
any one distinct operation, could muster moo men into murder.
arms; and lam morally certain that nearly double the of passports fermate to them.y a
the
consul, and
The Earl of MALWERBURY said he should like to
force now in India would not be too much to enable us to who conducted their proceedings in very face ofthat
re-establish our empire there, and to restore peace. Now,
which we have been accustomed to regard as a most know when and where the new Parliament had ex-
I say, with inadequate means, even numerically, you have
vigilant and active police, but which we must, I think, now pressed an opinion in favour of the Chinese war.
consider to be a body upon which no great credit is re- He should like also to know what were the views of
to aCcohiplise this task ; but I must call your lordslnps,
fleeted by the circumstance that they permitted. this the Government with respect to the government of
attention to the manner in which this 'number is main-
atrocious attempt( at assassination tof reach
the
pnt soof India :
rained in India. I have heard more than one officer state
it as his distinct opinion that the successes which we have near,. to success. Htehar, f hear.) So.
taarinuthat e
tees
whatever At a crisis like the present, in the midst of a rebellion
achieved in India would have been doubled, trebled, and I ierri is
the concerned ,
the erlae ore; Ithimain
not half quelled, he could conceive nothing more injurious
may he state of country there was no
even quadrupled, if we had had at a sufficiently early to the future welfare of India than to meddle with the
period an adequate amount of cavalry to make good tde neglect upont ourpart ndwtihiat weshad it in oar wer tn
government of that great empire. He did not mean to
advantages we have from time to time gained. ( Hear.) take no
thats step which co'uald afford to the Emperor of the
say that that government required no reform, or that the
Oa every occasion on which we have fought against tin. French security which I think he had aerght to ex.
double government was better than any other system
heardmr majarities of the enemy and gained victories, we pact from the ex.ercise of greater.
ofcautionnpon the part of
which could lie adopted ; but he contended that it was
have had no cavalry to pursue the fugitives. (Hear, his own consul in the. granting passports, and from the
most foolish and fatal to bring forward a new scheme of
vigilance of his police. (Hear, hear.)
hear.) Again, we receive reports of the capture b-, our administration for India when that country was disturbed
troops of more guns than the enemy were sail to have with As a general rule, however, and considering all the from one end to the other. If one of their lordships'
them in the first instance. This question of cavalry and circumstances of the case, there could be no doubt houses were in flames, would they, before the fire was ex-
horses for the artillery was constantly pressed on the that the Government of this country was bound to tinguished, send for an architect to plan a new building?
attention of the Government by my noble friend on my keep its eye on such dangerous members of society In his opinion the two cases were nearly analogous.
right (the Earl of Ellenborough). Now, what have been as these foreign
Earl GRANVILLE stated that it was the intention of
sent out? You have sent out a considerable number of conspirators, and to warn. foreigns
Governments of any plot against the life of a ove• her Majesty's Government to bring in a bill for the
guns, but you have not sent out well-trained gunners, for better government of India.
you had them not; nor hare you sent out horses or har- reign which might be brought under its notice. This
• Lord PANMURE explained that the troops which
mess, and the consequence is that your guns are utterly might be done without violating the sacred right .of
and entirely useless. ( Hear, hear.) I well recollect my asylum, and if that were done the French nation had been despatched to India had been sent with all
noble friend ( the Earl of Ellenborough), when her Ma- would have no right to demand that men, of what- possible expedition, and in a state of the highest
iesiY's Government announced their indention of sending ever nation they might be, should be arrested and efficiency. With regard to horses, it was impossible
out artillery, pressing the question whether their horses punished on mere suspicion, and not on positive to send them from this country in sufficient numbers ,
were to be sent with them, but no answer was given to that proof : bat it was probable that a sufficient number of
inquiry; and I have been told that to such straits are you
Now, my lords, I say without hesitation that, not for the horses will be obtained from the Cape, from Ans-
reduced in India for the want of horses, that a number of
security of the Sovereign
.of France, or of all the sovereigns tralia, and from the countries adjoining our Indian
three-year old mares have been taken into the service from
of Europe twenty times over, would I consent to violate in possessions, to mount the cavalry we have sent
the breeding stud of the Company. (Hear, hear.) Again,
the slightest degree that sacred right of asylum to foreigners out :
I would beg the earliest attention of your lordships to the
by which our history has always been characterised. A constant stream of Loon recruits per month were
necessity of keeping up a continual stream of reinforce-
(Cheers.) Of the advantages of that asylum, men of all flowing into India; and if that addition to our force
went of the small army now in India. Now, even to
political shades of opinion have ever freely partaken. By should be insufficient, I believe the recruiting service is in
maintain that army on its present footing would require
many of them it has, I regret to say, been most shamefully such a satisfactory state as to enable us even to increase
1,500 a month, or 18,000 a year. Ido not believe you are
and ungratefully abused—( Hear, hear)—and Ido not the number. But we are at present engaged in raising a
raising recruits at that rate, and the men you are sending
hesitate to add that such men are guilty of a serious
out are raw recruits—( Hear, hear)—mere boys, upon whomregiment in Canada, to be called the 100th Regiment, and
disease will commit frightful havoc when they first land in crime against the world and against humanity, inasmuch to be added to the regiments of the line.
as they imperil, by the suspicions which their conduct
India. (Hear, bear.)The Earl of DERBY inquired whether it was in-
s against her, the land which in the hour of their dile
In this position of affairs he should earnest) raise
, earues 3' mem. tress has held out to them—and which holds out to all tended that these regiments should not only be
internal
the Government to embody the militia for the who are similarly minima—a/dam of refuge and protection, raised in the colonies, but officered by Colonists ?
defence of the country, to send out to India (Rev, hear.) But not beam of the (Wm, of time That was a point of the greatest possible importance.
•
ili