The Express.
London, England, 1851-04-16 00:00:00

wards Sir af. Pottinger, carried on that war with all the I know whether he had acted with humanity nr iehitmanity M
success of previous wars, and ultimately the Kaflira were coat- 1 It was doubtless very proper that the Haire of C0113110:1,1
pletely subdued. Sir I'. afintland had Well asked to consider should interfere. Ihe noble lord at the head of the govern-
what system would he best calculated to preserve the colony I ment had mid —Let there be a committee formed, motility
front further depredations, and what he recommended was impartial, and let them inquire into the conduct of the
that the boundary should tie extended to the Karroo—that governor and the authorities at the Cape, the they are more
the Kaffir. who had been hostile should not be allowed to' likely to come to a fair determination and judgment upon
live within the British territory, but that the intervening 1 the whole matter than any other tribunal. Under the Mrs
district should be colonised with friendly tribes. Sir li. I cumstances of the new, and being satisfied that Sir harry
Pottinger took a view of the can not dissimilar from that of , Smith had behavcd in every respect as a man of honour mot
Sir P. Maid:old, and Lora Grey gave instructions in or-' humanity, he would most heartily and cordially Support the
cordance with these opinions, at the same time recommend- " amendment of the noble lord. (Hear.)
Mg that the co-operation of' the Kaflir chiefi should he ' Mr. GLADSTONE said the philosophical theory of Mr.
sought, if they could be prevailed upon to discontinue prat-' alookinnontliti not meets help the inquiry. Hem:reed a itS tin
Bee% which were discordant to the feelings of the British noble lord at the head of the government that the more we
nation. They were, if possible, to improve the morals and separated this question from the inculpation of individuals
habits of the Kaffir., and so, by obtaining a healthy aseen- the better, partly bemuse the matter was so diffieult, and
daney over them, to secure the maintenance of peace. The partly, also, berms, that house must come in for its full
hon. gentleman who had made the motion before the house share of blame. (Hear, hear.) What was past lie am
seemed to think that the proper policy would be to leave willing to emssitter as part. Ile had very little imp, that
the Kaffirs entirely to themselves. But there were certain the house would be able to establiih as against the
practices which belonged to those tribes with which British colony any portion of claim for the expels's, of
dominion had never been able to harmonise. The hon. the present war, but, if the government should
baronet the member for Southwark hail treated their witch- be able to effect that object, all he could say
craft in a vein of pleasantry, but he (Lord J. Russell) would was that they would deserve eminently well of their
remind the house that it was a practice among the Kettles country. (" Hear, bear," and a laugh.) What he was
when one of their rommunity become rich in cattle or agri- most anxious to impress upon the house was this—that the
cultural produce to accuse him of witchcraft, and on that future war in sums degree in our power, and that we should
pretence to kill him and confistette his property. Hundreds not commit ourselves with respect to the future by any .st t
of instances of murder and confiscation had thus occurred, of indiscretion or any oinismon of that which it no, 011.
and it was not to he exported that a British magistrate or duty to do sow. (Hear, hear.) Ile was very much in the
governor would look quietly on and nut attempt to put an predicament in which the hon. member for Northampton
end to scenes seine's were so abhorrent to their nation and (Mr. V. Smith) had stated himself to he. Ile did not acre
nature. (Hear, hear.) Sir 11. Smith had been accused of with either of the proforma* now before the house. All that
despotic habits, and almost of tyranny and cruelty in his could be dent. by a eummissittner could he done by a so-
government. But the objection he (Lord J. Russell) had venter, if the bonen! had confidence in the latter. Oleo )
seen mule to him war that he had behaved with too much With regard to the apptintinent of a (menthes., he o ooko:ol
leniency to the chiefs, and he had a letter in his pocket not dwell on the old objection so common to all gut-dews
which complained that whereas Sir 11. Pottinger had se. of this kind—that it tended to shift the responsibility from
cured Sandilli, Sir 11. Smith had set him free, and asserting the executive government to others—because that ma.
that if the latter had instead sent the turbulent chief to a ment, however true and important, might be comeaSe
convict settlement, the peace of the colony would have of being modified. But, in this particular east' all
been preserved. Well, hr admitted that Sir 11. Smith had the objections to a parliamentary committee had
been deceived in his anticipations of tranquillity, bit that special force. It was °bijou. that one effect of a
he was not altogether unaware of the approach committee would be, to hang sip the question, and to
of disturbance was proved by the fact of his stop the discussion of it probably for two so'ssitnet of par-
writing home that the state of affairs required his lioment. (Hear.) We could all sketch out what the pro-
resence on the frontier. He certainly did not expect so reeding: before it would Igo. The comtnitnim wtoultl meet.
formidable a state of affairs as had arisen; hut there It would be eompored of gentlemen having a multitude tot
were numberless instants s tole men of great to other avocations. They would examine the witnesses who
and experience in government who had been sum might he ready at hand. They ',mild rend for others from
prised by the breaking out of an insurrection, which they the ('ape. Thome other witnesses would nut arrive until
had, an they thought, taken ample means to prevent. the end of next session. We should then have the old story
(Hear.) Besides, Sir Harry Smith hod the assistance of able again, and we would be in great good fortune if wto
men, among others, of Colonel M'Kinnon, a man well or- had the report ready for discussion in the session of
go:tinted with the frontier, anti very capable of assisting 18.13. It was the nault of hi. own conviction. and exp.-
him a ith information and support. Weil, this war having rience that the lord government—a government centred in
broken out, and being similur in character to preceding the colony—was the only government that could be stoma
wars, of which thin country bad to incur the cost, and the and healthful for a colony constituted in a legitimate
I colony to incur the peril --a' ith thin exception, that, whereas and normal manner tor freemen of our own roes
in n former war ten thousand Kettles had broken into the But, if we were to hare a government hers
' settled and peaceful parts of the colony, the pre- let it be the (lumen's government. If we wanted to govern
sent was fir removed from those districts -having the colonies in England, we should only agaravotte the noi.-
broken out, further measures were to be considered, and he chief by taking the charge of any government into that
trusted that they would be considered most dispussionotely. house. The Secretary of State Wils the proper ottleer in
(Fleur, bear.) Ile trusted that it would be dispassionately such cases. Ile had the necessary experienee ; the hoes,
coniiderea with reference to the engagement. into, which had not. Hi+ mind was constantly airectoil to time suite-et,
Iwe had cutenal, with reference ate time implied promise of and it wasinnussible to find fillown gentlemen of that
protection we had given to the colony, and with referenet• house who cotes! apply theinselsea to the consideration of
to the safety lof the settlers, and oh' those great tribes of men the question with anything like the ads antager po or. ...„;
who have settled there under our rule. In considering the by the Secretary of State. If he looked at the question as
I question Ite thought they could not merely say, with the a matter of reason, then he thought the Secretary tof Stat.•
I hon. baronet opposite, that the Cape should Have free insti- ought to be the best governor of a colony. if lie look, ol
tutions, and then he let't to defend itself. Ile (Lora J. even at the practical experience of parliamentary tune
limosell) was fearful that if they adopted that rourte they mittees, then he must say that he our not odways anise, d
would be responsible for an 1111fIlellW amount of bloodshed, with the results of the lolomm of such committees. ; I leer.)
and the most dreadful of civil war ; for no doubt a war of He had heard .01110 allusion that night to the affairs 01
races would take piece in the etoltmy, rind we should he re- Ceylon. Now he did not think that the character of that
spondlole for looking on, apparently as governors and pro- lions,', or of the committees of that house, load been at all
Menus' while, in flea, we wee, t•miteuted spectators elevated by the result. of the investigations of the Covl.oti
of such scenes of murder and ravage as were horrible committee. (Hear, bear.) in the history of the rage
even for the mind to contemplate. (Hear, hear.) Disk- question they would find other illustratiolur of the evil. of
missing that alternative, Vierenore, there came another following that course now pro owed to be taken. The noble
question which he thought ought to be fairly considered. lord (lamed John Itursell) had that night thono• to
They might consider the plan that had been adopted by more than reetotint the failure of their pater in
Lord Glenda/ ail the government of Lord alelbourne, this direction. (Hear, hear.) The most at titbit Ann.:,
namely, that of cioleavimrilig to restrict rather than no and the strongest group of measures, over adopted in the
cern(' the frontier, and to make treaties with the native wog utis e government of this country with regard to tow
tribes in the hope that they would observe them. lie Cape, were adopted in the time of Lord Glettelg, upon the
should remark, with regard to that plan, that it seemed to reemuniendation of a mommittet• of that house. The coon-
have been fairly tricot by men who wished it to succeed, inittee rat in iteli-6. Ile (Mr. Gladstone) hall sensed on
and hitherto `Meet. hall nut iwen entomensurate with the that committee along with Sir F. Buxton, who, it net the
henevolt•nce of the project or the ability and seal of the men chairman, was at least the conductor and manager of the
who had been appended to carry it out. Then there came inquiry ; and he was bound In ray that lie had never are a
the plan that had been adopted on the advice of Sir B. member of parliament thwharge hi+ duty with more
D'Crban, Sir I'. Maitland, Sir 11. Pottinger, rind Sir 11. zeal, energy, and ability, or with a groat, r
Smith—namely, that of extending, our frontier to the command of the sultjert before him, than in the
border, of time river, where the military posts could observe case of Sir F. Buxton in the coterie of the sittings of that
the 111C1111i00, of any %swage tribe, and 'adopt the hest committee. liut what was the remit ? A total chawee of
means of restraining them, together with forts stuttered policy was reemninended nod W.l. aliftiot,4l; end that total
through the colony where the army could concentrate, nun change afterwards proved a total failure ; stood the fact was
defensive measures be Carried 011. ills opinion was that that the wars in that colony since that period had le oit
system, with all its erspenses and hazards, was, after all, the more bloody, costly, and ruinous than they hail ever be ii
moot conristent with humanity on the one hand, and before. (Hear.) There was here, then, no elleOUrago.M. lot
with security on the other. He thought that if the whatever to proceed to appoint moths,. committee to examine
committee should approve of the plan that had hitherto into the relations oethis country with time Katfir tribes of the
been adopted -always supposing that the first thing Cape frontier. (Hear, hear.) But lie had a still greater
to loe done was to give Sir Merry Smith any rein- olgertion to tins counts Ile beli..sed that the appointment
foreementr he might re sire to nowt the immediate danger of a committee would be a do elitist stop in the very weed
—(hear, hear)—that then it would he advisable to have direction. lie was consiticid that is Wan Utterly impossilar
perions examined who were well acquainted with the wants fur them, in this country, to devise lay satirliwtory system
and peculioritiesof the colotiy.The viewsof government would of adjusting their reboiling with tilts...Kaffir tribes. It was
he fully stated to the cotionitew, and it would he fur thrum absolutely necessary that this shoot,' be ,'• by the men on
dispassionately to consider this gnat question, not as tone that the god. (Hear, hear.) II.• would ask them in what position
concerned the present government, or the present colonial they would be placed tifte•r transferring the management
secretary, but as one intimately coinnet•ted with the interests to a committee: of that howse risould tm war menu break out
of this great empire. (Hear, hear.) The quertions they (Hear, hear.) Why, they would Ime even more respotaiible
would have to coarider were, whether the policy that had then than now ; and still more nugatory than now would
been loomed was a round one, and if not, whether a better then be the diseursion whether they or the futility should
one could be adopted, with a likelihood of producing lone- undertake to defray tht• costs fa' Mortalities with the frontier
fleial results. Ile was quite of maim that a committee people. (Hear, hear.) These were time main objectimi
could far better spend its time in that way, titan in enolt•a- which hr had to the apnointment of a committee. But lie
enuring to areertain whether Sir 11. Smith had acted im- must fairly confess that he war nut prepared to prop.e any
prutit•ntle in his proclamations tor his interviews with the other remedy of a domestic charm•ter. Ile was satisfied fit it
chief+, or whether Lora eirtoy had drone wrong in remising this country could never do it ; kind time only coltelosion to
with approbation the information communicated to him by which it was porrible to el/1110 wan that it was ad.
that officer. It war with that view he should propose the visoble, by measures as runtime as they pie:toil, but
amendment of which he had Riven notice for the appoint- in a manner nn six•etly 11. they could, to transfer
ment of a committee. That committee might conic to time the management of the whole molter into the hoot!. of the
conclusimi that instead of the plan lit. otrtoposokil, and instead colonists. Perhaps this was not the time to dialiss Ma
of rootaining Sir 11. Smith a. High Commissioner, a special nierirure in full. But he could siot separate it from the t'onsi-
commission should be sent to the colony ; but he thought it deration of this particular ea.•. The main intlumment he
would loe• premature for the hour° to come to such a eon- had to vote awaited the appointment of 11 committee a ems in
elusion in the first fort:owe, end therefore he mould the anxiety he felt to avoid any step the effect of which
eonclutle by 1011V1111{ , " That a statist committee he ape would be to give a fresh parliamentary sanction to the 'wet
palmed to inquire into the relations imween this country mischiertus and unsound system of mauagio., the basal
and the Kaffir and other tribes on our South African atenrs of the colonies from home. Ile contended
frontier." that these wan on the Cape frontiers were alto-
Mr. V. SMITH was not inclined no make this a party geotlit•r local affairs. And it they asked him Why
question, and in prtsff of his intent' logged to say that he wan anxious to throw on the coolooists the
he did not otitprove of either of the iorfoloonats before time buishon of conducting thou, wars, he would reply that it was
tlllUne. Ilis notion Was that the matter Wan e•ntively one not entirely, not even mainly, becalms, of the great loli11111:
for the executive government. (Hear, hear.) Ile ole econforny which he believed would result from the atloptimi
jested to stooling out a commission, because it would in en eat that policy. Ile war not ashamed to say that atto rrelt r-
fect miscasts. the governor, un'i lower him in the eyes of enee to public honour, no duty was Mon' ilIClllll6,llt 011
the natives : and he objected to a committee beeause he that house than to lessen, wherever possible, the weight of
could not conceive what information they could acquire taxation pi...string upon the public. Ipt
was at any rate not
which war out already in pcsassien of the executive for them—the retort-+e nt:diet sof the people, mil specially
(Hear, he or.) He believed that the whole of our policy in sitting then' to use the taxes of time people—to do anything
the Cape .more IsOn lad been erroneous, and that was the which could rentli•r More tut, largt•r than the mill estate,
opinian of one of the hest anti wistat of governors, Sir 11. sits of the empire demanded. Theriahre, it was nut nor Mein
Potting, r, alio said that if in his power he would minimal to be ashamed of propounding principles 0: 11'01011a3•o
not extend the limits of the colony. (War.) The noble in connexion with the government. (Hear. Mem) Ile
lord het alluded to the government emigration of 1519; nevertheless felt that there were much higher principles
but was it not astonishing that snore that time the annual now involved: and it was not eon grlllllll'n for tiloanet. alone
emigration had not exceeded 7(fn, awing the entormous num- that he notvor.itint the lx,floWal 011 the ratting, of tile me
ben emitatitly going to America rand Australia. (Hear, restricted regulatiun of their own local affair, and rumoring
hear.) His noble friend add, "you oiu.t protect the those local offitira_the moot eat mead of their War. With the
settlers." Grated, but how for were they to go? (Hear, aboriginal and frontier tribes. Thir Wan no virimetry
hear.) At'as every man who chose to settle on a distant %Memo Ile granted it could not be aectomplishml in a day.
rock to claim continuous pmt ction from the mother eoun- They had des lewd far already front a sound system of
I try ? Were time (Sipa colonists to have continuous military colonial policy ; nod it might not lak easy to get
(Hear,
from us and to do nothing for theinselvei ? hack at once to a healthy system. All he entrutell
I(Hear, hear.) They were unwilling to defend themselves, of them wit% not to travel *hunt it, to keep it in
1 and consequently were always culling fur military assistance. view, and whatever steals they took to make certain
Mr. Smith then entered at much lo.ngth into the practical that thaw steps evert, in the right direction. It was cer-
ports of the questitm, urging that the Cop' was not a colony tainly not a visionary system. It Was the system under
on whose account much expense should he incurred by time which they had reared their old American eolonista Those
mother country. He tint not see what witnesses could be colonist% never asked the 'nether country to curry on
ealled before a committee, except °tibial.< who had already, the colonial wars with the Indiana Olean Mar.)
by their acts and destpatehes, expressed their opinion on the The Indian wars of the North Amman colonists
question of the government of the ramie. At the same had never cost this rummy million.. (Hear, Mar)
time he contended that our system must b' changed, for we Their system, then, was natural ma had worked at II;
had nettle no progress svhatt•ver in civilising or conciliating their system now was unnatural and a orked Molly. Ile
the natives, lie adeetutsa the restriction of the power of asked them not to coutinutt in the %know, system. The hon.
the governor or the roleny in regard to military enterprise. number who had last spoken had said that it ails mile,
Mr. F. SCOTT would support Lord John Russell's for members of the house to make 8111.Vellen on the,....uh-
ain,ndluent. Ile comoleirmed the " Bombartes nitro., jecti, seeing the pamphlets written on the el.llollie. Whil 11
RlMlliey " of Sir 11. Smith, and said he conridered Lord John left them nothing to say. Ile quite agreed with three hon.
Russell'. amendment us amounting to a censure upon the ine•mber, and he asked the I . member to act in ;too-
coloniel policy we had hitherto pursued. cordence with that °einem. (Laughter.) He (Mr. (ilatt-
Mr. MACKINNON anti that any one acquainted with stone)) could not go with time hon. member for Southa,ark
the difference% existing between civilised beings and (Sir %V. Molerwortit) in time assertion of WI obstruct prate
barbarians must be aware that wars between our forcer and Mph.* in these questions. The proposition of that liou.
the people of Kaffrario were inevitable for a series of yrari. member was that a large class of the colonies should la
It had been too in other countries. Our West India required to bear their town military expenses. To that pro-
islands were originally inhabited by the Cerrito pontiou he agreed; but lie entertaiiied the greatest objec-
race. The consequence was that a coostant warfare tiun to the assertion of the principle by the 'Louie of (Uns-
hod to be carried on, which was ended by the total monad. 111011, It Wan calculated to excite undue hopes, loud on the
lotion of that particular race. Again, in North America, other hand, undue fears. Thu house might fall shout of its
savage Indians inhabited it originally, whn nought and de- amitrancer, tool both with those who hoped and feared all
strayed each other. What had now become of those confidence would be lust; and the consequence woultliw that
Indians? Had they not retires' to the far west? Were those relations which ought to bind the legistutatreto all these
they not being driven hack to the Pacific Ocean, and in a whom it raped on' fur olualienew would be weakened and re-
few yeah would they not be utterly annihilated and eater- taxed. (hear.) Hecould not therefore approve of the elltalleia-
minetsd from the face of the earth? (Hear, hear.) blow tion et' any abstract principles of a colonial policy generally.
were cotillicti to be prevented between civilisation on the But this he would say, when they bad a practical qutatiou
one side, and barbarism on the other ? The governors at , before them, let them assert their abstract principle in a
the Cape had attempted to Prevent them, by establishing a' practical form. (Hear, hear.) Ile knew only one valid or
sort of neutral ground between the two portico, thinking fair objection to the system of imposing responsibiiity far
that by removing the Kaffirt back, the colonists might 1 wars upon the subunits themselves. Appeals might be
be permitted to carry on their pursuits in tranquil- made, oat the ground of humanity, against the proposed po-
lity. When it afterwards became necessary to ex. Hey • but he had yet to learn that the colonists were not
tend the bountlary further, it then 'sPleured that , is:Weedy well able to defend themselves. If they should
occasional wars and conflicts were inevitable. The Karnes' prove to be unable, this country would gladly help them.
were a set of pastoral tribes ; and every governor had had ' The only rational plan fur making a colony vigorous ma
to encounter this extraordinary difficulty, that, as the colon 1 self-relying was the founding it in freedom, mot the giving its
nmota extended the diameter of the (tape laud, it was impos- government into its OWII hands. Ile thought the Mille el. a
Bible to prevt•nt collisitous between them and the Kaffir , military expenditure umiserable resource upon which to
tribes who were retreating. Now, when Sir Harry Smith i rely for securing the attachment of colonists, and fur pre-
went out with full powr no us high commiasioner there hap- veuting the apprehended dismemberment of the empire.
Pelted to be a. great conflict existing between these tribes Lord MANDEVILLE would support Lord J. Rutstein
yh,oann.direttnie.
and the colonists. W hot did he do ? He settled the qui*. amendment, thinking inquiry might Ise advantageous.
tion in a very admire able manner, showing great tact, Judas Colemel THOMPSON expreased his opinion that we had
meat prudence, gild humanity in his manner of adjust- 1 illstreated the African semi-baritarians.
ing it. The late outbreak which had taken place Sir E. M. BUXTON objected to the withdrawal of im-
itiwas out of his power to prevent, for it had 'period interference from the colony, as the result would he
arisen, as he (Mr Mackinnon) had sail before, . that tile Kaffir. would he " eaten up." He regretted that
1 Mean aCidiliven•relto. policy
11 jsuesitlicteltaat
qnuorttioon,h,toveudnotateers,
or
rnwd
teorutchletyKwairouldasbewegreztullvdiLler,coasethiml.
tleuien bitting there, who merely took up a pamphlet, to I deal with the natives, expense would not he lightened, and
doll
,11ilycolenacviilnigat.
the
B„whisolououit
brlwk:thatre7rtatnoetnfogbotoshvtre'els,rutfthurolli.i.;;;lutyroo;
foowfatit.hheetiteii.vilisstibudle pit':
toe wouldus, have us do

Inca:,