The Express.
London, England, 1858-05-17 00:00:00

C Wile
anticipate
pausing
eoneeption
likely
pee-
their

mischievously
calm-

Revenue
nn-

political
faig

the
argument
- Oode.

and
expedient
ELLlN-
slaws

.Oleo.
political

.the
on paralleled

per-
'ion of all
• Lad
On&
I my
whit&
Chide—
last tbe
quibble'
their
AMES

,
2
ett OXiireool•
TO 01t/LBSTONDIBITIL
ammirin In 0
nsima wanams tor "iltrilitilm.".l4l.l. 21.111.1,11.1.•
sua WS Milssr 110. 5w".1.41". W Ty• 'Midi • 4°
iss nstaNINS.
NATI/UMW!.
Tuts
SCHOOL FOS SCANDAL. Ms Semi&
itTO D
—B4P..relbt—Led JAOIII SWUM 'SOW CANTON.
Crawrwa
rrucusra
no NMI:PkYCSIO MATH CHLIMIL-[IRO LIRAS. Mr
iuss.-Ann LANDab 115 ISAACS OF 11111111/LF.-Own se
Saws k
Ts,. ammo. NISVIS TatiAITTO WIND. Mrms.Citng
.....hai.4llb. a:NYS BiliStiaLltrir tli-.43wastaket.s.
; NIGH WILT= AT LONDON IMMO&
1 Tins
.w:::-
Is 4161110 .Alswirssu. Its.
ftsirsinr-lisraran 111010 a. .Annessk Oh Oa
LONDON, MONDAY, MAY IT.
CAN any Member of the Ligislature—of any party
—who has taken an active part in any of the
struggles which have shaken the country during the
last quarter of a century, lay his hand on his heart
and declare that there la no word he has uttered, no
movement in which he bee participated, that he
could now wish he had left unspoken or undue? If
this be the ease with words and actions which in
the heat and excitement of put years appeared
I 1 venial or even praiseworthy, may it not be the cue
&leo with those which are actually being spoken or
committed during the fierce controversy that is now
waging about the CANSINO Proclamation and the
Eu.senottonon Despatch? Would it not be wise
in members of the House of Commons to anticipate
their own self-judgment in future years, by pausing
a moment and attempting to form some conception
of the light in which the present struggle is likely
to present itself to them hereafter, when their plo-
sions have cooled, and the consequences of their
decision have become apparent ?
We are free to confess that the more we reflect on
the Rhutenouttou Despatch, the more we regret
that great part of it was ever written. In the po•
liey to which it points we entirely concur; but the
remarks on the annexation of (Jude, by which the
announcement of that policy is prefaced, appear to
us uncalled for and mischievous. We are indeed of
opinion that the annexation of (Jude wee carried into
effect without due care being taken to occupy the
country with an army whose fidelity might be
im-
plicitly relied upon ; and that the proceedings 01
the first Revenue Commission were mischievously
pedantic, productive of injustice, and ealcu-
i lated to awaken fear and irritation in the minds of
the natives. But the errors of the first Revenue
Commissioner have been mode amends for, though un-
fortunately the military error was persisted in ; and,
hostile though we are to
fel the practice of annexation
on general principles, we y admit that the annex-
ation of Oude had become inevitable—a political
necessity. Above all, that annexation is a fed
accompli ; and an act which Lord ELLENBOROUGH
and his colleagues had no intention to rescind. We
think, therefore, it was, to say the least, a grievous
error in judgment to make an arraignment of the
policy of annexing (Jude the basis of their argument
in support of the policy they recommended far Onde.
It was making the GOVERNOR-GENERAL to act upon
consideratious to which be could allow no weight.
It was—for there could be no doubt that sooner or
later publicity most be given to the Despatch—pro-
Tiding 'arms for present and future agitators and
insendiarles in Onde. lint, generous, and expedient
though the policy recommended by Lord ELL/111-
.
1010110 M unquestionably is, the retrospective glance
is his Despatch at the history of the annexation ad
Onde cannot be defended.
On the other side, we have no desire to say one
word that could hurt the feelings or weaken the
I hands of Lord CANNING. It is true that the =co-
name which his friends pronounce on his political
abilities and his successful management of the re-
bellion appear to us ludicrously exaggerated. Lord
Centeleo is doubtless a well-meaning man, of fair
average ability ; but he is nothing more, and at the
first outbreak of the mutiny he committed one or
two grave mistakes. These we will not now
rualL Enough that it is beyond a doubt that so
hr Lord CANNING he succeeded in weathering the
storm, and that be has evinced an almost unparalleled
amount of moral courage in his calm, resolute, per-
severing resistance to mischievous and nnrefiecting
111 diatom for creel vengeance and proscription of all
natives. But uwe have said of that part of Lord
Bu.inaolocon's Despatch which relates to Ode
that it cannot be defended, troth compels us to say
of that part of Lord CANNING'S Proclamation which
announces the confiscation of all the lands of Oude—
that ft is utterly indefensible. It is in rain that the
advocates of Lord CANNING take refuge amid quibbles
&beet the special tenures of leads in Chide and their
react import. The earnest protest of Sir JAMES
OUTIAIII-1110 is on the spot, and who has perhaps
had a larger experience of Oude than any man
I now living—is demonstration rare of the sense
in which the Proclamation is understood there,
both by Englishmen and natives, and of
the effect which it must inevitably produce upon the
native mind. Sir Ougatie CLERK, avowedly, Sir
.1 °ow Lerrutucz, it is understood, concur in opinion
with Sir JAMBS OUTLU(. It is no extenuation of
the Proclamation to say that Lord CANNING, what-
ever be may threaten, is not a man to act harshly
or unjustly we do not think he i. Bat the
owners of land in Onde must feel that this
Proclamation places their retention of their lands
at his arbitrary dispose ; that it places them,
in so far am their landed property is eansersed,
beyond the pale and protection of the law ; and so long
as this is the case they will naturally feel reluctant
to lay down their arms. The mere issuing of Lord
Cciewnrs's Proclamation is calculated to prolong
and embitter the strife now raging in Outs. This
being the cue, Government would have been =-
faithful to its high trust if it had not blamed the
proposal to confiscate all the lands of Onde;
and had Lord ELLENBOROVON'S Despatch been con-
fined to a simple and courteous veto of the confisca-
tion policy, it would have been perfectly unexcep-
tionable.
This is the light in which the question already
presents itself to ell impartial bystanders. This, we
cannot help thinking, is the light in which it will
hereafter present itself even to those who are
the most irate combatants in the affray. There
have bum mistakes on both sides. We say mistakes,
for no Englishman can for a moment 'appose that
Lord CANSIIWO intended to act cruelly or rapaciously ;
and 10 MIL will for • moment give ear to imputa-
tions et ungenerous or tortuous policy on the part
of Lord Extxxisoaocou. There is not a shadow of
a pretext for pushing this quarrel el ['morrows so
far se Lard CANNING is concerned. All parties
admit that his good intentiou, and his actual ser-
vices, entitle him to such respectful treatment
es
will worse any shook his feelings may have NW-
tuned. Bet this deference for Lord Caninno--ar
for any patio servant—may be carried toe ler. We
ousel afford to have the British Government in
India placed in a Wee position there simply to
meths Lard Caisuso's holing,. If the Imperial
•