The Express.
London, England, 1853-07-26 00:00:00

THE INDIA BILL.

The house then west again into committee on this bill.
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY said he had given notice of
four new clauses, which he had intended to bring
up; but he would only ask the opinion of the house
upon the two last—namely, " That the seeret com-
mittee of the Court of Directors shall consist of the chair-
man, deputy-chairman, and such other director as shall be
selected and nominated by the Court of Directors; and
that the said Court of Directors shall select and nominate
such third member on the first Wednesday in April, 1854,
and shall certify the said appointment, and in the cue of
vacancy all future appointments to the President of the
Board of Control under the seal of the East ladis Com-
pany. That the said secret committee shall transmit to the
supreme government in India all.orders of the said Secre-
tary of State, as by the law is now required as to orders
emanating from the President of the Board of Control,
except that if the said secret committee shell think fit,
they may tender their idvice and opinion on the effect of
any such order or orders, and if they deem it expedient
may enter a protest in writing as to the effect of such
order or orders, and that such protests shall be duly re-
corded at the office of the said secret committee, and also
at the office of the aid Secretary of State; but nothing is
thie:act shall be construed in any way to interfere with the
power of the said President of the Board of Control to
issue any order or orders that he may think fit to direct
shall be transmitted through the said secret committee."
Sir C. WOOD—The only objection to it is that what it
enacts is the law as it now stands. (A laugh.)
The clause was then negatived.
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY then moved his secend clause.
Mr. HUME seconded it.

Sir J. W. HOGG, as • member of a secret committee,
should have been glad to have supported the proposal, if he
could have done so consistently with his sense of public
duty. But be could not. (Hear, hear.) Of course, so long
as the government of India remained vested in the com-
pany, it was necessary that the directors, through the in-
strumentality of three of their body, should sign all the
orders that issued from the Board of Control, even though
they should disapprove of them. Besides, the subjects to
which the powers of the Board of Control were limited were
the making of peace, of war, and of treaties with the native
powers. Well, then, if the board should exceed their
functions, the secret committee might insist on bringing the
matter before the directors at large; and so it acted as a
check on the board. As for the proposal to record
the opinions of the committee, be had only to say that the
government of the country were responsible for the peace
and security of the whole of the empire; and especially of
so large and important a branch of it as India. Would it
then be desirable that three gentlemen sitting in Leaden-
hall-street should constitute a little cabinet to control, to
remonstrate against, to interfere with, and perhaps to em-
barrass the proceedings:of her Majesty's ministers? Or
would it be desirable that a record should be kept of the
proceedings of the Cabinet, in order that the opinions of
any individual member that might happen to dissent from
his colleagues might at a future date be reported ? The
same would hold good of the Board of Control and the
secret committee ; and he might add that practically the
I President of the Board of Control did consult with ;the
chain on matters that formed the subjects of the
order which the secret committee were called on to sign.
Mr. DISRAELI said that as it seemed to be lsid down
that the responsibility of government rested with the Board
of Centro', he wished to know whether the power of recalling
the Governor-General was to remain with the Court of

Directors. (lieu, hear.) He considered that the power of
read should rest with those who had the responsibility of
government. (Hear, hear.)
Sir C. WOOD said that the responsibility of war and
peace, and of negotiations with foreign governments,
would remain as it had been for the last twenty years, with
the Board of Control, but that it was not intended to take
the power of recall from the Court of Directors.
Mr. MANGLES supported the clause, and the committee
divided.

For the elutes
Against it

Mr. HUME moved a clause extending the quaiillcatioss of
electors of the Court of Directors to all persons having
6001. stock of the East India Company, and having had that
for twelve months, as by the present law • also all holders of
Company's paper to the value of 10,000 rupees; also to
allow every civil and military servant who has served the
company for twenty years in India, mud who shall have re-
tired from the service of the company, to vote for a director
after he shall have been twelve months at home, and twelve
months after he shall have resigned the service ; and to
enable all electen to vote by proxy.

Mr. LO WE objected. The great evil complained of in
reference to the election of the directors was the system of
canvassing, which it was said excluded the Attest persons ;
but this clause, by increasing the number of the electoral
body, would increase that evil. Another objection was, that
parliament having declared, ox the second reading of the
bill, that the East India Company should be the governing
body of India, it was here proposed to depart from that
principle, aniplace the power in the hands of those who
were in fact the creditors of the company.

Sir C. WOOD wu of opinion that there was a very great
objection to any increase in the manner proposed. That
objection was, u his hon. friend the member for Kidder-
minster had stated, that it was totally inconsistent with the
principle the house had affirmed, viz., that the go-
vernment of India should be vested for a time
in the East India Company. And who were the East
India Company ? The proprietors of East India stock, consti-
tuting the court of proprietors, who elected from among their
own body the Court of Directors. As the bill was originally
introduced by him there was a qualification of stock laid
down for the directors, and in the clause be
_proposed to
bring up that qualification would be retained, but to a
reduced smount. But his objection both to the amend-
ment of his hon. friend (Mr. Hume), end to that of the
hon. member for North Warwickshire (Mr. Newilegote),
was that they could not, consistently with the principle of
the bill, allow others than the holders of East India stock—
that was the company—to elect the body by whom India
was to be governed.
The committee divided—
For the clause
Against it
Mr. BLACKETT then moved a clause as tollows:
.. And whereas doubts have been entertained as to the
extent of the powers granted to the Oovernor-Gmeral in
council, by the 43rd section of the said act of the third and
fourth years of King William IV., it is hereby declared
that the said Ooverner-Ocneral in council shall have full
powers to enact, alter, or amend any laws for the said ter-
ritories (subject to tho restrictions specified in the said 43rd
section of the said act, as well as to the right of disallow-
ance of such laws vested in the Court of Directors by the
44th section of the same), without.any previous sanction of
the said Court of Directors, exeept in the cases reserved by
the 46th section of the said act, notwithstanding any pro-
vision to the contrary contained in former acts or charters
still in force and unrepealed."
The clause was then put and negative&
Mr. RICH, who had a clause upon the paper, before
moving it, wished to ask the right hon. gentleman (Sir C.
Wood) whether he had framed any regulations to provide
for the great difficulties which would attend the admission
of natives of India to the college of llalleybury. By this
bill it was proposed to open lialloybury, but he had
heard of nothing as to any regulatimos for enabling them to
bear the expense of coming to t'ais country. Provision
ought also to be made for their religious observances, and
to enable them to keep caste.
Sir C. 'WOOD said he had felt that until he had ob-
tained the sanetMn of the how,e to his proposal to throw
open Haileybury, it would be mere waste of time to frame
regulations. The admission could take place for a year and
a half, during which period there would be plenty of time
to frame the requisite regalation•

Mr. RICE must say that he thought this statement most
unsatisfactory, •:he right bon. gentleman (Sir C. Wood)
ought not, he though ts to have introduced this portion of
the measure at all, tan; ca he was prepared with the detail,
necessary to carry it into effect. (Rear.) The alterations
in the law would affect die natives of India at once, al-
though strictly speaking it Aid not take effcct until the end
of about a year and a half. lie concluded by moving tho
second reading of a clause girlng greater practical efficiuncy
to the 87th section of the act 3 and 4 Wm. IV., c. 81,
which declares that no native of her Majesty's Indian terri-
tories, nor any natural born subject of her Majesty resident
therein, shall by reason only of his religion, place of birth,
descent, colour, or any of them, be disabled from holding
any place, office, or employment under the said company.
Sir C. WOOD said he thought they aught net to change
their policy with regard to the employment of the natives
of India, but to carry out that policy further in con-
formity with the act of 1833, and to extend, as had been
done the employment of the natives in the higher offices.
The hon. gentleman said the act of 1833 bad been a perfect
nullity, while his bon. friend the member for Knaresbo-
rough said the other night that so far from that being the
ease, the extent to which it bad been carried justified him
in askiug that they should be admitted to the covenanted
service. _
_ .

After some further discussion, the committee then di-
vided—
For tOte clause
Against
The clause was consequently rejected.
Mr. NEWDEGIATE moved the insertion of the follow-
ing clause At every ballot for the election of directuis of
the East India Company, the proprietors of stock or shares
in any company or association of persons established by
the
of parliament, or of the government of India, fur
the purpose of effecting or carrying on, by means of joint
stock, any undertaking of irrigation, drainage, railway or
other communication, or other object of internal improve-
ment in India, under the supeavision of the government
thereof (such proprietors being qualified as hereinafter ,
mentioned), shall be entitled to vote in respect of their
paid up stock or shares, according to the scale following,
that is to say: one vote in respect of 2,000/. ; two votes in
respect of 4,0001. ; three votes in respect of 7,0001.; four '
votes in respect of 10,000/. and upwards." His object, he
said, was to give increased chance of efficiency to the Court
of Directors, by wideoir.g the bases of the franchise, and
to encourage the investment of money in Indian enterprise.
He should merely present the clause, and refrain from
troubling the committee with a division.
Sir C. WOOD thought that the question of the con-
stituency had been decided in the committee.
The amendment was negatived without a division ; and
Mr. PHILLIMORE moved that the committee report
progress.
Agreed to. Committee to sit again at 12 to-day.

CRIME AND OUTRAGE--(IRELAND) BILL.
Oa the order for the second reading of this bill,
Mr. MAGUIRE was disappointed that the government
had not given some reason far its renewal. All the judges
had at the recent assizes borne testimony to the tranquillity
of the country.
Sir J. YOUNG confirmed the hon. member's statement
as to the tranquillity of the country ; but the existence of
the ribbon system in some places in the northern counties
made the continuance of tho powers of this act necessary
for some time longer. At this moment there were 21 coun-
ties or parts of counties under proclamation ; and under
these circumstances, with the ribbon system still existing,
it would net be safe to dispense altogether with the extra-
' ordinary powers which, by this act, it was sought to renew.
He was glud to Sod that the clergy of all denominations had
exerted themselves to put down secret societies, and that
they had aided the authorities in many instances. He was
happy to bear witness to the general tranquillity and pros-
perity of the country. It could not, however, be denied
that secret societies still existed, and it was against them
alone that the bill was directed.

Mr. BOW YER would mass IS an amendment that the
bill be read a second time that day three months. He did
not consider t••at the fact of some districts being disturbed
was sufficient to justify the application of a measure of so
stringent and unconstitutional a character over the whole
of Ireland. The system of ribbonism had been denounced
by the Roman catholic clergy generally, and Archbishop
Cullen had issued a pastoral for that purposes and he had
good authority fur saying that this step on the part of the
clergy had been followed by the best results, and that rib
bonism was fast becoming extinct.
Mr. LUCAS seconded the amendment.

The TIOUSO
For the second reading
Against it
The bill was then rcad a second time.

THE BURIALS (BEYOND THE METROPOLIS)
BILL.

The house went into committee on this bill.
Mr. MIALL moved an amendment on the clause ren-
dering it necessary to have a building for the performance
of the service of the established church, to the effect that
the use of that building and the consecrated ground be open
to all religious denominations.
Lord PALMERSTON explained that the biU was not
for the purpose of removing any religious difficulties, bat
solely for the relief of those neighbourhoods in towns which
suffered from the effluvia from over-crowded churchyards.
The intention was that new graveyards should be provided
at a greater distance from towns, which should be precisely
similar in all respects to the existing burial places. Hence,
whatever privileges attached to the old ought elso to attach
to the new graveyards.
The amendment was then negatived without a division,
and the clause agreed to. The remaining clauses were alai.,
agreed to, and the bill passed through committee.
STAMP DUTIES (No. 2) BILL.
The house went into camauttto upon this bill. Clauses
1 and 2 were agreed to.
Upon clause 3, in answer to Mr. NEWDEOATR,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
effect of this clause was simply to enlarge the surface limits
of newspapers to the extent of one-half. It was open to
newspapers to make any use of this increased apace, pro-
vided tkey did not go beyond the 'knits of 60 per cent.,
and did not divide the whole space allowed into more than
two pieces.
Mr. NEWDEGATE said that this was in effect to make
a present of a large amount of taxation to about six news-
papers, which happened to posses the largest amount of
public support, and therefore wild beat do without such
aid. The measure was a suet ese-sided one; he, there-
fore, proposed to negative dee dense, and he felt it his duty
pa to.take the sense of the house st it. (Cries of " Oh, oh,
and " Agree.")
The house divided:

For the clause 92
Against it 4O-52
The bill then passed through committee, and the Chair-
man reported progress.