The Express.
London, England, 1853-07-09 00:00:00

OF INDIA BILL.

Upon the motion that the Spenser do leave tie chair,
Mr. BLACKETT said that after the division of last week
it would be useless to oppose the government upon this
measure. He trusted, however, that right hon. gentlemen
would use their victory prudently, and listen to the reason-
able remonstrances of those who did not approve of the

leisure. The first question to which ho would call the
attention of the house was as to whether the Court of Di-
rectors were willing to remain as they now were without
any commercial character. He also wished the President
of the Board of Control would state what he was prepared
to do in the event of the refusal of the Court of Dina
tors to take upon themselves the government of India. The
next point concerned the very loose way in which this bill
was drawn. He thought it was impossible to shoo
a stronger instance of the unsatisfactory working of coast.
ments of this description. lie hoped he should nut be told
that this was a question of time, and that government NA
not time to do it. Now government should cut out for
themselves only so much work as they could get through
satisfactorily. But the only time that could possibly be
lost by the reconstruction of this measure would be the
time which would be occupied, which would not be sore
than a few days, in transcribing the various acts which it
was intended to revive, for he supposed when he proposed
to revive these acts, he did it from a deliberate know-
ledge of their contents. The first clause he thought ought
to be postponed.
Sir C. WOOD said the first point raised by the bon.
member was, did he feel confident that the Court of Dino-
tors and the proprietors of East India stock would consent
to remain trustees for the government of India if the bill
passed in its present shape. He had not the slightest rea-
soa to think they would not. With regard to the second
question, he confessed be did not quite understand his hon.
friend when he said he wished the clause to be reconsidered,
in order that it might be brought forward in a more rea-
sonable shape, unless he meant that all the existing statutes
with reference to India should be repealed and re-
enacted. (Herr, hear.) That certainly was intelligible,
but that was • totally different thing from postponing the
clause with a view of bringing it forward in a more satis-
factory shape. He did not mean to say that consolidating
all the acts would not be a desirable course, but it would be
a gigantic task to consolidate all the acts relating to India,
and if they were to attempt to do it there would be no pros-
pect of accomplishing it this session.

. -
Mr. BRIGHT said the right hon. gentleman had just
given the sort of answer he expected. He said it would be
a gigantic undertaking. Well he (Mr. Bright) thought this
bill showed that with regard to India, the right hon. gentle-
man was not competent to undertake anything of a gigantic
character. Re thought the right honourable gentle.
man had made a most flimsy um.° for not having done
what it was his duty to do. Last year, in reference to the
Militia Bill, he (Mr. Bright) made the same objection, and
he believed there was not a man now of all those engaged
in carrying out that measure who, if his life were at stake,
could ascertain what was the law with regard to that par
ticular force. Then there was another measure, the In-

come Tax Act, which revived acts passed on the subject ;
and the consequence was they were in a state of confusion
on the subject. Here were three measures within two ses-
sions of an important character in which that slip-shod
system of legislation was adopted, and that was dose De-
cease it would be too gigantic a:labour to do it properly.
The interest of India and the means of the people
to understand the law they were under were to
be considered as nothing, but a bill was to be
brought forward in June, any sort of a bill to keep up the
government of India, and whatever was done, be it right
or wrong, was to be rendered permanent simply because
the President of the Board of Control had not time to do
the thing properly. It was only another proof of the un-
statesmanlike conduct of the government, in bringing the
measure forward at such a period of the reuion that there
was not time to discuss it. The Speaker was in the
chair till half•put 2 oa Tuesday morning, till
half-past 3 on Wednesday morning, and this
morning till 3, and, for anything he knew, he
might be in the chair till 4 o'clock to-morrow morning,
and he had had to come to the house at twelve to take the
chair again. There might be men whose physical frame
could endure it, but no mental frame could. And yet in
sueh a session as this the President of the Board of Control
insisted upon bringing this ill-advised and clumsy scheme
before the house, and, he presumed, congratulated himself
that, wearied as they wore by labours to which they ought
not to be subjected, the bill would pass, and the govern-
ment of India would be put to sleep again for an unknown
number of years.
Mr. J. O. PHILLIMORE said it was scarcely credible
that they were legislating for 100 millions of people in such
a way. The right hon. gentleman said it was a Herculean
task to consolidate the acts. If he was not prepared to
undeitake that Herculean task they ought not to legislate
at all.

Mr. HUME said it would have been mere honourable
is the government if they had taken time to bring forward
a bill suitable to the importance of the object, and more
especially seeing that it was not a temporary bill, but a bill
that was to continue for an indefinite time. He con.
sidered that the two points submitted by the
honourable member for Newcastle were unanswered and

The Speaker then left the chair.
On clause 1,
Mr. PIIINN moved to leave out the words " until par-
liament shall otherwise provide," in the Hest line ; and in
the third line, after the word " shall," to insert "be go-
verned by and in the name of her Majesty, her heirs and
successors." The house had affirmed, by • large majority,
two propositions—first, that it was desirable to legislate
during the present session; and secondly, that the East
India Company should be retained as an instrument for
managing that country. It still remained, however, for
the house to decide on the eztent and the manner in which
the influence of the crown should be exercise. The prin-
ciple of his amendment had been supported by Mr. Foe,
Lord Grenville, and other great statesmen ; and if it was
a matter of some importance in those days, when the dif-
ferent India bills were mere leases from the crown to the
company, it became still more so at the present time, when
parliament was proposing to legislate permanently, and for
an uncertain period. (Hear, hear.) As for the words
"till parliament shall otherwise provide," they wire •
mere pleonasm ; for of course parliament would always re-
tain the power of altering any arrangements they migLt now

choose tormake.
Mr. LOVE objected to the first amendment, on the I '
ground that it would afford a plea to the noble lord (Vis-
count Jocelyn), who had a motion on the paper, ter limit- '
ing the duration of the bill. As to the hon. gentle-
man's
second amendment, he (Mr. Lowe) could not consent '
to the issue which the hon. gentleman had now raised.
The hon. gentleman said the question was whether India
should or should not be placed under the direct govern-
ment of the crown. He (Mr. Lowe) contended however,
that the true issue was whether that question heel not
already been decided by the housed (near, hear.)
Lord STANLEY supported the amendment, and con-
tended that, if it were carried, it would not do away with
the double government. It proposed no alteration in the
form of the home government, and Co.ild not, therefore, be
said to iaterfere with the double government. Or all the
witnesses who had been examined not one had said that the
change proposed would be in.Mrious. This was, to a great
extent, • question of names ; but, so far as the native
princes, and all classes is India, were concerned, the altera-
tion would be a M. 31% tovonzable one.