The Press.
London, England, 1858-06-12 00:00:00

rott6ings in V arlinment

HOUSE OF LORDS—Mosney.
COLONEL JOHNSTONE.

Lord FAMILIAL asked what had been the result of
the investigation made in India into the alleged mis-
conduct of Colonel Johnstone, of the 87th Regiment,
during and after the mutiny of the sepoys at the
station where he was in command. He understood
the inquiry bad fully cleared Colonel Johnstone of all
the charges made against him.
Lord HARDINGE confirmed the statement that the
inquiry bad completely acquitted that officer of all
blame.

MR. lODERMOrr.

Lord DONOVOHMORE laid on the table certain
charges against the Assistant• Barrister of the county
of Kerry, Mr. W. M'Dermott, and moved that they be
printed and referred to a committee of the whole
house on the 2lst inst.
the motion was agreed to.
BELFAST RIOTS.

Lord DITSGANNfrif asked if the Government had
received any information relining to the recent riots
in Belfast, and hoped it would take measures to sup-
press such disturbances in future.
The Earl of DERBY stated that the Government
had received information of these riots; the Lord
Lieutenant bad already taken all the steps necessary
to preserve the peace, and by the last accounts quiet
had been restored. But, as to the future, the
Government bad determined to place the city police
on a more efficient footing.
The Earl of CARLISLE thought the blame of an
collision was shared equally by both parties. The
incident proved the good policy of the late Govern-
ment in refusing to appoint any person a magistrate
who was a member of the Orange Society ; and he
hoped the present Government would do all in its
power to soften the religious animosities in which the
riots originated.

LORD KINGSTON AND RAJAH BROOKE.
Lord KINGSTON wished again to postpone the
numerous questions he has for some time kept on
the minutes. Several of the questions involve charges
against the conduct of Rajah Brooke.

Earl STANHOPE protes-ted against the repeated
postponement of these questions, which contained
serious accusations against individuals.
An animated conversation ensued, from which it
appeared that Lord Kingston had been present
several times when be was called on to put the
questions according to the notice; once when so
called he shook his head ; on another occasion, he
did not even take that trouble. As it was stated on
a former evening that the case was one for which
there was no remedy, their lordships were in a slight
difficulty. It was the general wish of the house that
the questions should be withdrawn, but, though Lord
Kingston made a short explanation, he did not with-
draw them, and there seemed to be some doubt
whether the house could strike them off the paper,
though it migbt refuse to order them to be printed.
The discussion was suddenly closed by Lord Lynd-
hurst, who moved that, in the opinion of the house,
the questions had been sufficiently answered and
ought not to be renewed. This was affirmed without
a division ; the questions will therefore be struck off
the paper.
The second reading of two bills to amend the
Oaths Bill, and empower each House of Parliament
to modify the form of oath by resolution, was fixed
for Friday next (18th inst.)
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-MONDAY.

The house, after nearly two hours had been occu-
pied in private business and in replies to questions,
resolved itself into a committee to consider the
remaining resolutions regarding the Government of
India, commencing with the third resolution :-
-

That, in order to assist such Minister of the Crown in
the discharge of his duties, it is expedient that a Council
be appointed of not less than twelve, nor more than
eighteen members.

Mr. GLADSTONE moved, as an amendment to this
resolution, to substitute the following :

That, regard being had to the position of affairs in India,
it, is expedient to constitute the Court of Directors of the
Last India Company, by an sot of the present session, to
be a Council for administering the Government of India
in the name of her Majesty, under the superintendence of
such responsible Minister until the end of the next session
of Parliament.

The house, be observed, had determined not to post.
pone legislation upon this subject, and had affirmed
two resolutions—the first, that the time had come
when the government of India ought to be trans•
!erred from the East India Company to the Crown ;
the second, an inevitable corollary from the first,
that the power so acquired by the Crown must be
exercised through a responsible Minister, and he
proposed to give effect to this judgment of the louse
by submitting s mode whereby the transfer iniy be

~..

THE PRESS, JUNE 12, 1858.

made so as to satisfy the conclusion of the bowie,
and at the same time meet, in a great degree, the
practical objections which had been urged against
the present system of Indian government on account
of its cumbrousness and its delays. He proposed
to remedy these inconveniences by placing the
Minister of the Crown who was to be responsible
for Indian affairs in direct contact and juxta-
position with the Court of Directors, as a pro-
visional measure. It was not praeticable, in his
opinion, during the present system, to perfect a
scheme of government for India that would be
worthy of Parliament and of the public. The problem
of Indian government was one of the most formidable
ever presented to any nation or any Legislature in
the history of the world, and the evils of delay were
insignificant in comparison with those of crude and
hasty legislation. He reviewed the important
matters involved in this question, including the two
Indian services, the civil and military, and the con-
stitutional difficulties incident to the l atter, the
local Governments of India, and the subject of
finance and of liability for the Indian debt. Nothing,
he thought, could be more inconvenient than that
Parliament should proceed, or profess to proceed, to
definite and complete legislation for the government
of India at a time when the war in India continued
on its present extended scale. His proposal made
a considerable change, but a change that was safe,
and that did not rebel against, but was in harmony
with, the previous votes of the committee ; and if it
was thought fit, after a year's experience, to engraft
upon it other changes, his proposal offered no im-
pediment.

Lord STANLEY observed that, although the object
of Mr. Gladstone's amendment differed from that
of the proposition submitted to the house six weeks
ago (on Lord H. Vane's motion) to postpone legisla-
tion upon this subject until next year--which was
negatived by an overwhelming majority,—yet some
of his arguments had been heard before. Among
the objections be had urged against legislation at
present was the state of the war in India. He (Lord
Stanley) feared that the military operations would
be long and harassing, and that they would involve
a considerable sacrifice of valuable lives ; but be did
not see how this should impede our efforts to im-
prove the Indian Government. Mr. Gladstone had
dwelt upon the complexity and difficulty of the pro-
blem ; and he (Lord Stanley) would not deny that it
was a most difficult one; but it appeared to bim that
Mr. Gladstone had confounded two things essentially
distinct,—the administration of Indian affairs in
India, and the general superintendence and control
exercised in England. He objected to the proposal
to constitute the Court of Directors a Council pro.
visionally, for various reasons. It would place the
Directors in an inconvenient position ; they would
be told that they were doomed—that nothing would
avail to prolong their power; and this must diminish
their zeal and energy, while it would impair the con-
fidence of the public. Delays would still continue,
and the public service would derive no advantage
from the proposal, which, however, was a matter of
detail ; he opposed the amendment because it sub.
stituted a provisional and temporary for a permanent

After a long discussion, which embraced the policy
of the whole measure, and in which the amendment
was supported by Mr. Milnes, Mr. Liddell, Mr. C.
Bruce, Colonel Sykes, Mr. Bovill, and opposed by
Sir G. Lewis, Mr. Lowe, Mr. A. Mills, and Mr. D.
Seymour, upon a division the amendment was lost
by 265 votes to 116.

Mr. ROEBUCK opposed the original resolution.
The question was he observed, whether a Secretary
of State, responsible for his own acts, or associated
with a Council, was best, and be was of opinion that
a Secretary of State, alone responsible for all his
acts, relying upon his own mind as his guide and
counsellor, having a more direct interest in doing
right, was morally and mentally the best Governor
for India. So sure as the house adopted the propo-
sition of a Council it would adopt an irresponsible
Government for India. He moved to omit the word
" Council " from the resolution.

Lord STANLEY observed that this question was a
narrow one. Only two grounds of objection could be
taken to the appointment of a Council ; one was the
expense, which was hardly worth consideration ; the
other was, as Mr. Roebuck argued, that it would
diminish the responsibility of the Minister. This
would depend upon the relations between the Minis-
ter and the Council. The latter would be bound to
give advice to the Minister, and he would be bound
to bear the advice, but would not be bound to take it,
and, whether he took it or rejected it, he would
equally act upon his own responsibility. Whether
termed Councillors or Clerks, there would always be
persons to advise the Minister.
After some remarks by Mr. C. BRUCE the amend-
ment was negatived. _ _ _

Mr. LiNosAy then moved to amend the resolution
by inserting the words, " and that the first Council of
India consist of the present Court of Directors." He
laid ildt propose that they should retain their present

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