The Express.
London, England, 1858-05-01 00:00:00

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LONDON. SATURDAY. MAY 1.

THE great debate, in the House of Commons,
on the mode in which the Home Government of
India is to be administered, ham commenced—bnt

when to terminate P Last night the House rejected,
by a majority of 447 to 67, Lord H. VANE'S proposal
to suspend legislation on the subject till another
session. After such • decisive declaration of the
will of the majority, there was nothing for it but to
go into Committee. The impatience of the House to
set to work was evidently irresistible. To gratify
this impatience, Lord PALMERSTON had intimated
his readiness to abstain from all opposition to the
plan of proceeding by Resolutions. Mr. MANGLES
subsequently gave the House to understand that he
would join in their labours, with a view to obtain a
good and efficient Council for India. In so far,
therefore, as the resolve to set to work without
delay to frame a new Home Government for India
is concerned, all is harmony. But there the agree-
ment of honourable members ends. The builders of
a new Indian Administration appear to be as much

at odds among themselves as the builders of the
Tower of Babel. There is an utter confusion of
tongues among them ; and a perfect game at cross-
purposes is being played, both as to the materials to
be employed, and the tools to be used in shaping
and putting them together. Mr. Dultattu has
begun to submit one series of Resolutions. Lord
JOHN RUSSELL is bringing forward a series of
Amendments, which, if adopted, will entirely
alter their nature. Lord PALMERSTON, too,
would fain deal with Mr. DISRAELI'S Resolu-
tions as gypsies deal with stolen children—
work such a change upon them that their
own parents cannot recognise them. Mr. Rica,
Sir HENEY WILLOUGHBY, Mr. LINDSAY—aII have
their infallible nostrums which they prefer infinitely
to the plans proposed either by Mr. DISRAELI, or Lord
JoHN RUSSELL, or Lord Fuxin/roar. The chaotic
state of the House of Commons' mind on the great task
of Legislation for India which, however, it will take in
hand, can only be adequately expressed in the words of
poor Lear, " I will do such things—what yet they
" are I know not." This is a lamentable and humi-
liating spectacle. For very shame the Legislature
ought to desist from the task until its members have
attained to some distinct conception of, and agree-
ment upon, the end they propose to attain, and the
principles upon which they intend to proceed with
a view to attain it. The adoption of Mr. Dtankfitea
Seat Resolution hu not advanced the discussion one
hair-breadth. The substance of that Resolution was
virtually affirmed when Lord PAuttturrox obtained
leave to bring in his Bill, and again when the House
agreed to go into Committee of the whole. The
vessel has only shoved off ; the port is still far dis-
tant; and how it is ever to be reached while the
steersman and all who have the setting of the sail'
aim at shaping different courses, it is difficult to ima-
gine. The utter anarchy of opinion which prevails in the
House of Commons is a practical demonstration of
the wisdom of the course suggested by Mr. ROB&
MAN—IO adopt the first Resolution moved by Mr.
DISRAELI, and then remit to a Committee to collect
information and report upon the most eligible mode
of procedure, with a view to resume the task next sew
sion, when the members of the Legislature shall have
some data for forming an opinion on the qnsstion
submitted to their decision. We shall be reminded
of the disadvantages of leaving the question of
Indian Government so long unsettled. We neither
ignore nor undervalue these disadvantages, but they
are nothing when compared with the fatal 001180.
queooes of rash legislation unguided either by know-
ledge or principle. The blame of any danger or incon-
venience that may result from delay rests not with
those who object to blind and headlong legislation, but
with those who, for sinister and selfish purposes,•
goaded the House of Commons to action in a state
of crude and unprepared opinion.

LORD Dean has been reviewing his troops pre-
pandery to their final muster far parliamentary
encounter. The proceeding is not an unusual one,
and its expediency in the present case was more
than usually obvious. More than ordinary elements
of discouragement had been brought to bear upon
the minority who follow the Tory leader's standard
in the House of Commons. Ridicule and reproach
were abundantly resorted to from the outset; but to
these have recently been added missiles more diffi-
cult to ward off, and therefore more damaging,
which those who use them calculated, not without
reason, were likely to prove of more serious detri-
ment to the beleaguered garrison now occupying
Downing-street. In every shape and form imputa-
tions of finesse and trickery have been aimed at
the Derbyits leaders ; and it has been insinuated
on the one hand that they have been attempting
to betray their followers into the abandonment of a
Conservative position, and upon the other that they
have been rendering the occupation of that position
more than ever odious and perilous by the temerity
and obstinacy of their attitude. Peculiar animosity
has been shown in all these attacks by the retainers
and hangers-on of the late Government to Mr.
Dtsasem personally. With • true instinct of
flunkeyism, the man is assailed who, above all others
in the present Cabinet, has woo for himself, by dint
of his own unaided courage, ability, and perm-
Terence, the place he now occupies in a hitherto aris-
tocratic party. We have differed for yeses ow most
great questions of public policy with the Right Hon.