The Press.
London, England, 1857-10-10 00:00:00

THE PRESS, OCTOBER 10, 1857.

fundamental maxim of any perfect system of representation
—that eleh interest of the State should be represented in
due proportion to its relative importance. (Cheers.)

In conclusion, Mr. Du Cane made the following
excellent observations upon his duty and that of his
colleague with regard to the Indian revolt :

On this head the path of our duty as your representatives
does, I think, lie clear before us ; it has been given us
in the admirable words of Mr. Disraeli," Combine, not to
overthrow a ministry, but to save an empire." (Cheers.)
I say, then, let the Ministry of this country put forth with-
out stint its utmost resources; let them go, if need be,
even to the last ship and the last man, and let them not
fear that their efforts will meet with aught of cold response
in the hearts of an English people, or the voice of that
people's representative assembly. (Cheers.) But while 1
would not wish that a tremendous national crisis like the
present should be made the vehicle for a display of party
feeling, I must frankly say that I cannot acquit the
Ministry of all blame. I cannot say that I do not think
they have something to answer for—they passed unheeded
the prophetic voice of warning, couched in terms pregnant
with emphatic meaning. they have neglected signs and
tokens of the coming tempest ; nay more, when the storm
had broken upon us, they misunderstood its magnitude
and its direction, and persisted in regarding as the outbreak
ofja few disaffected spirits a revolution that has shaken to
its foundation the stability of our Indian empire. (Hear.)
I will not now venture on the causes that have led to this
crisis, they must be made at some future period the subject
of a searching parliamentary inquiry; but this I do even
now say, that in the withdrawal of our troops for the
prosecution of our war with Persia, and the commence-
ment of our Chinese hostilities (of my opinion of which
I think you can hardly yet be oblivious), is to be found the
opportunity that has laid half India defenceless at the feet
of those from whose name and deeds alike humanity recoils
in abhorrence and in indignation. ( Hear.) Put sad as
has been the commencement of this contest, of the
ultimate result I have but little apprehension. We may
have to put forth our country's utmost resources ; but
this I do believe, that it is with a higher power and a purer
aim that England will emerge from the struggle. It is
with a strong hand and a mighty arm that she will
execute at once her vengeance and her justice, and
stamp out the last trace of mutiny and of rebellion
front the very face of the land. She knows that she
has an army that has nobly sustained its country's
honour, and added to its own already imperishable
renown ; and she will find, too, if occasion require it,
statesmen who will not suffer that army's exertions to
be paralysed by the oft-repeated tale of domestic mis-
government. (Cheers.) She will remember, too, when
the earthquake shock has passed, and the fire has done
its work, that vengeance is not all that belongs to her
part; there is the still small voice remaining behind
that speaks of the gentler duties of a Christian and a
civilised nation, of the stability of an empire founded on
a wise and. beneficent Government, and on measures
securing at once the happiness and the prosperity of a
great though a misguided people. In conclusion, I would
say of India, as one of the most illustrious of the long line
of England's statesmen wrote of the country that worshipped
his genius and mourned for his loss, I would any in the
words of Canning—

The sword we dread not, of ourselves secure ;
Firm were our strength, our peace and freedom sure.
Let all the world confederate all their powers,
Be they not backed by those that should be ours,
high on his rock shall Britain's genius stand,
Scatter the crowded hosts, and vindicate the land.

The honourable gentleman sat down amidst loud
cheers.

Major BERESFORD said he wished to state, in ex-
planation that he had never alluded to any opinions
given by kr. Disraeli, and that he had merely re-
ferred to the view which the press had taken as to the
measure of justice to be meted to the rebels.

Colonel Brasp. then, amidst loud cheers, proposed
the health of Mr. T. J. Miller, M.P. for Colchester.
Mr. MILLER, M.P., in the course of an able reply,
pointed out the necessity of our encouraging in our
colonies agriculture, trade, and commerce, and that
to the want of the due encouragement of these arts
we must, he thought, attribute our present lament.
able position in India :

Let us, then, learn from the past our conduct for the
future. If we have committed error, let us not deny the
truth, but manfully face it, and endeavour in future to pay
that debt which probably our late want of attention has en-
tailed upon us in that country. I believe that during the
next session of Parliament the mind of the members must
be occupied with the momentous question as to the future
government of India, and with that question to the exclu-
sion of every other; I believe we shall best do our duty to
our country, and best discharge the high duties we have to
perform in that assembly, if before we leave the important
subject of India we adopt a system which will put that
country upon a basis rendering impossible the return to
those horrors which we have experienced. I do not wish
to forestall this subject, but I cannot help feeling that the
East I ntha Company has been too much of a trading com-
pany—I Hear, hear)—that it has confined itself too much
to the pecuniary advantages which its operations were to
obtain for it, and that it has attended but little to the
more important objects which it ought to have had in
view. i think it will be a very serious question for Par-
liament to deal with, whether that company shall exist any
longer, or whether the Government itself shall be made
responsible for the proper government of that important
department of the empire. Now it has struck me with
astonishment that whenever the Indian debate has oc-
curred in the House of Commons it has lagged on
wearily before they got half way through it. Only on one
occasion previous to our minds being aroused by accounts