The Express.
London, England, 1861-04-20 00:00:00

(Stamped, ld. Additional.) [TWOPENCE.

Mon dated 17th December lad, a bill bad been introduced
into the legislative oouaoil of India to enforce tontracta for
the delivery offfioulturtogroduce ; and, if sot whether
such mesaure been introduced with the sanction of the
government of India ; and, whether he would lay upon tho
table of the house copies of that report and minute, and of
the Act 11 of 1860 of the Indian legislature, together with
the correspoodence thereon between the Governor-General
of Ind* the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, and the In-
digo Planters' Association, and other documents and
Ripen relating to the cultivation of indigo in Bengal.
The subject, he observed, was of the greatest importance,
and he made a statement of the condition of the indigo die.
biota in Bengal, and of the oppmerion of the 110* which,
be mid, be should not have dared to present to the hours
unless he could read it from official documents, which de-
scribed incidents so horrible that they would be incredible if
not established by evidence of impartial whams,. The
Indigo Commission bad recommended that the tempo-
rary set of 1860 should be abandoned and net renewed,
and in this recommendation the Lieutenant-Governer of
Bengal. Mr. J. P. Grant, concurred; notwithrtatriNJ.
which, a bill to enforce contracts for the delivery hf rtget•
cultural produce, by treating non-fulfilment es a criminal
cameo, punishable by • heavy fine or imprisonment, wag
introduced into the legislative council. Re contended that,
as the ryete had been led to expect that the temporary act
would not be renewed, they bad ground far emplaning ef
a breech of kith, and he =premed his earnest hope that
Sir C. Word had repudiated, or would repudiate, so *A
which mut destroy native confidence in the pledges of their
government.

Mr. VA NSTITAR7 aid the statements ths hon. 111111111-
hor for Southmark were so usdair, illieral, aad onesiassi,
that they aboald ace go forth without contradiction, tae
they meta be injurious to se eater rising body of I
the iodine planters. He (Mr. Tansit
rolltrTketio escretimy 0 MUM whether his atteatio% .
bilearillipliCA• the i 0
dated iiakatta, April TT l•opoeid die bd.-
year. roe his ism part,
he bad read an the reports, mil he met say
that the planless lied .been acquitted of the seam
charges made whist thew
Mr. MlitiTNAlßDsaid that the boo. member for Booth.
wark had rather tanderetated them overstated the cam, and
many of the facts which be related occurred not yam ago,
but width' the tad tow month'.

Sir J. YEMOWIEION proessted against the statements of
ihe how member for Southwark as eonveyieg anything but
a fair
of BerepresentatinpL on el the general character of the planters
Mr. HANBY SEYMOUR did not think that the bon.
towbar foe Southwark had token a trie view of the subject.
The growth of *dip r squired sroleetioti.
iesey oxides/red the mop. perhaps end en its being
pleated daring an hoire's ram, and advantage was net
' taken of that circumstance the planter could sot get the
produce tar than year. It seemed to him, therefore, that
the case was one which called fur special legislative.
Noe was this legislation new, fee it had been introduced by
Ldbd Weliamßentinck and existed till repealed from hew
under the influence of a false sentimentality. It would net
be for the benefit of the people to drive away Batik
capital and en hom India, and be should therefore
hasupport** tive Councdef Calcutta in the course they
d kes.,
Sir C. WOOD said that with vegard to the papers which
is hedireen asked to lay on the table of the house, the
tact MU t* the been laid oil the table of the house
for some time. Other papers which be bad been asked to
produce were not yet:panted. With regard to the general
subject, he believed that the facia stated by the hoe.
Member for SoulltwarkWere literally true. (Hear, hear.)
Ile did sot wish to blame the indigo planters ialivn sally,
many of whom were hotiourable and good men, for what
had twee doge. And fe one of the wont cams the owner,
Mr. Hill, had been absent in &lewd for three or four
years, when the tremactions occurred. A great many did
their beet to mitigate the evils of the system, and to brine
about a better state of relations between them and the
ryoeir ; but the fact was they inherited an evil system, and
eneyone kiss, however good the dispositions of iodivi-
dnals.reight be, how difficult it was to root out an old }ys-
tem. Though many of the grime abuser which ifteb•lor-
merly perpetrated had been mitigated,• yet it was true
that much of whet the hon. meinber fee Southwark stated
had taken.piace Within the het Oro, odour years, and even
within the last few months. (Hear, hear.) Kelnappieg,
confinement, aod removal from place to place, were ordi-
nary occurrenoes,'aud in one case at individual had been
removed free place to place, and wen nev.e& heard of apli.
(Hear, hear.) Thine were circumstances which really
reduced the system of indigo planting in this district
to one of forced labour. (Hear, hear.) He could
not depy that many planters would be subject
to considerable km, and. he should be willing to do anythieg
that m' ht soften that loss. The act, however, could oily
be jostled, in his opinion, as a temporary measure, and it
was ea a faimorary minium oaly that he gave it his seer
tins. The cultivation et Indigo was Aggi kale
to a certain extent, but it was not more exciiipt=tl
man
many other kinds of cultivation. The argument used by
his lion. friend (Mr. Seymour) was precisely the argument
which was formerly used by the West India planters,
for they also said, if you delay for an hour
the whole sugar crop will be spoiled. (Hear, hear.)
The fact was that the price given to the ryot in this district
was perfectly inadequate. (Hear, hear.) There was no
difficulty 111 getting in the crop elsewhere—in Behar and
Madras, for example. But in three or four districts of
Bengal, where a vicious system prevailed, contracts were
forced upon the ryota, and when not forced they were
sometimes forged, for they were male with people lying
on their deathbed. It was not to be expected that the
ryota would voluntarily cultivate a crop by which they
lust seven times the rent of the land. The ryota naturally
refused to grow a crop of that kind, and they deserved great
credit for the little violence that had taken place. NV hen
Mr. Grant went into these districts the whole population
came oat to meet him and asked for protection. He said
that a more striking scene could not be +deemed ; and Lord
Canning wrote that they bad escaped a great crisis, and
that he had not been in such a state of alarm since the
siege of Delhi. (Hear, hear.) By the judicious conduct of
the government an outbreak bad been avoided, but a great
crisis was impending. Many of the planters had takeu the
advice of Mr. Fergueson and he hoped a better state of re-
lations would grow up iretween the planters and the ',eta.
There was an act passed iu 1830, which he believed to be a
very great mistake, because the ryota were just as swept!.
ble to the influences of trade as any persons in thiscountry.
Bat he had expressed in a despatch which was sow on the
table of the house an opinion which he hoped would be
considered a sufficient reason to show that the legislation of
IMO was not satisfactory. That act was abused hi the
gross injury of the ryota, and was repealed in
He presumed that the government of India were not in
poseseaku of the home despatch at the time of the bill
founded upon the report of the India Commission being
introduced ; ho trusted that when the Legislative Council
had area that deapetch they would withdraw the hill, and
he believed he might state that if the bill was not already
withdrawn, it would be so immediately after the despatch
had been received in India. (Hear.)

ATTENDANCE OF VOLUNTEERS AT ELECTIONS.
General PEEL said—The question I am about to put
to the noble lord the member for Tiverton arises out
of a report which I have seen in the rimts
'pectin; the recent election for the borough of Tiver-
ton. The report stated that the election was tired
for two o'clock, at the Town-hall, but that long before that
hour the streets stem crowded, and they were moreover
enlivened Lv the Tivertou Rifle Corps, and Lord Palmerston
was escorted Fy them from his hotel, the Three Tom, to the
hustings at the Town-hall. My object in asking this question
is to prevent a precedent being established upon what, iu
my opinion, was a very novel and most improper proceed-
ing ; and I hope to hear from the noble lord an Renitence
that orders will be issued from the War.offsee to prevent, in
future, the appearance of volunteers at elections. (Hear.)
I, myself, should Le prepared to go much further, and
to say that with the exception of drill and exercise,
and everything connected with them, I should like to see
the volunteers prevented froni appearing in arms without
the consent of the lords-lieutenant of their different coun-
ties. (Hear, hear.) I think it ought to be left to the
volunteers thermal/es to decide to whom military honours
were to be paid, but I think the house will agree with me
that their appearance at elections is uodesimble and impro-
per. (Hear.) We know the objections which exist to the
appearance of regular troops at elections ; those objections
are much stronger with regard to volunteers, who might Le
actuated by local arid party feelings, amid who moreover
were net subject to the discipline of regular troops, which
can alone render it safe to allow the presence of armed men
in crowded assemblies. (Hear, bear.) I may be told that
ibis was not a contested election, and that the only object
of the volunteers was to pay a mark of respect to a very
distinguished individual, and whose connection with Tiver-
ton was • great honour to it; and if this had not been an
election, so far from complaining I should be one of the
very first to approve of what they haddone ; and I can assure
the noble lord that it is out of no disrespect to him I make
these remarks. (Hear, bear.) But to say that as election
is not to be a contested election before the question has
been put by the returning officer was hardly possible. How
do we know that Mr. Rowcliffe may not have been intimi-
dated? (" Hear, hear," and a laugh.) I own that a man of
his nerve is not very likely to be intimidated, but
still a man of leas strong nerves might have
been intimidated, and feltunable tenet up to what he consi-
dered to be his duty at that opportunity. (Hear, bear.) The
noble lord had pmt it to the volunteers whether the army
was to be reduced, and was met with loud cries of " No.
no." (laughter.) I do not say that much harm was occa-
sioned by the presence of the volunteers on that occasion,
but I wish to preecut a recurrence of such an event. I inlet
the house will agree with me that this is a question which
ought not to be paused over in silence—(ben, hear) —aril I
hope BOOM steps will be taken to prevent its recurrence.
(Hear.) If the volunteers have the right to support one
man they Lave a right to support another ; said what
would be the came supposing %popular colonel of a voluetfer
' force were to become a candidate in a locality with which
he and his corps were contacted ? (Laughter.) I mean en

disrespect by these remarks to the noble lord —(bear)-1
mean no disrespect to the volunteers. (Hear, hear ) No
man can feel more interest than I do in the volunteer
movement, because I am reopeesible for having recom-
: mended the acceptaeoe of thew lerViCell, which had been
refused by the previous goverument ; but I certainly wish
to see them relieved from occupying that position which
they occupied at the late election for the borough of 'I iver-
: ten. The question I wish to put is to ask the First Lord of
L the Treuury if it be true that at the recent election for
Tiverton he was escorted to tho hustings by the Tiverton
Volunteer Rides, and if it is the intention of the govern-
' ment to sandiest the attendance of volunteers with their
anise at elections? (Hear.)
' Lard PALMERSTON, who on rising was received with
cheers, said—l am sure, sir, I have no ground of omankint,
nor have the Tiverton volunteers any MAW to complain al
the manner in which the right hon. and gallant pattern's
has asked has question. (Hear.) I quite admit that as a
general principle it is quite improper that armed bodies
should participate in election,. I do certainly remember
that on the occasion of an election for Sligo some few years
ago the polite were put in COOfiDeMOIIi, the militia were
ordinal cut of the town, and the regular troops were
brought in merely to insure the freedom of election.
(Laughter) That was an exceptional cue The statement
which the and gallant abler has reads is quite true.
The fast is, that when I was going from the hotel to the
enact-beene, I found that the Tiverton Voleeteers, who are
a line belly of mem—and it would de the hes. and gallaab
gentlemath soldier-heart good to serthem, both on oreomb
el the fume= of the men, their precision of step and or
emnite aserameete—(hear, hear)—wished to accompany
me to the court-hem with their hand ; sad I really
thought that as there was no eontest and no probability of
me. it weak be • piece of political replevy on my
Pet to Totem, . mod 1 therefore ' tie „ hopour
theypepeeed Mod do moc.iti" new," and laughisi) 4 ".
Now as to affisiddige, hon. sad gallaamtegitilit
man says that even Re. Row might be •
althowgh as fa, as he knows he was not likely to be in-
timidated. Rut I say, notwithstanding our escasionai
sparring matches, be is • free-born Briton--
"8l fraetue illabatur erbis
Impavidum ferient ruble,"
Leen)—and that be was the last man to be intimidated
th Merton Volunteese. Well, that yes the case. 1
Mate, believer, that although the volunteers
marched with me to the sourt.hosee they went and de-
posited their arms at the usual pia, and appeared at
the election, though in uniform, as part of the
unarmed population of the tow% After the elec-
tins they nareard with me hack to the hotel,
and in the eveniag whoa I 1* the town al
insisted oe accompanying me on the first Maga— a
laugh)—andwhile I was waiting for the train et the We
ton Junotiee statiem, they performed admirably several
military niovements, and gave me two volleys. (" Hear,
hear," and laughter.) With reference to the bud question
of the sight hon. esoll pliant gentleman, I believe it is the
intention of Lord Herbert to send a circular latter to the
lonlialieutenewit of counties, Meting that it is not :olvis..blo
that the volunteers shoat take post in ;my way in •
election. (Cheers.)

•
SALE OP LAND DT NEW TEALA.II).
Mr. .HOPE wicked to ask the Under-Secretary of
State for the Colonies whether it was intended to
endeavour to inetiente a tribunal is New Zeeland to decide
upon cooilicting claim of natives in cases of pruposed sales
of land by them to the goveniment.
Mr. C. FORTZSCUE entered in sane detail into the
subject of native titles to fated ,in New Zealand A ales-
' sure, he said, was eider the consideration of the home
goverment to enable the severed, of the colony, with the
advice and assent of competent persons in New Zealand,
who possessed the confidence ,of the native population, to
devise means of deciding queetionstelating to native rights '
and disputes as to the oweership elf lands.
Lord R. CECIL made a fee remarks won the state of
the colony.
MISCELLANEOUS' QULITIONS. •
Sir R. PEEL, who had, than early period of the 'vet .
ing, inquired of Lord J. Russell the nature of the commute-
meow between Sir A. Buchanan 'and the Spanish govern-
meet with reference to the persecution. in Spain, reverted
to the subject, and denying that the imprisonment 9( the
individuals had been caused by political reasons, or any
other lesson than their faith, drged Lord John to represent
to the Spanish government that this persecution was acorn-
patible with the feeling of Europe.
Colonel SYKIIS called attention to a consular notifica-
' thin, dated Shanghai, February 8, 1861, and asked what land •
oceuicined,thie notification, and on What grounds the cow-
capisuLgenetalral in Japan had abandoned his position at the
Mr. BUCHANAN made a further Inquiry.
Lord J. RUSSELL gave explanations upon the several
pointa. The circumstances which led the cnnsubgeneral in
Japan (Mr. Alcock) to abandon Jedda, were, he said, the
syders of intimidation which had been pursued towards the
foreign ministers, and the refusal of toe Japanese govern-
, meat to give them any effectual protection. With reference
to what hail fallen from Sir R. Peel, he stated what were
the allegations of the Spanish minister oo the subject of
the imprisonment of the two protestants—that they were
not charged with any political offence, but that the dis-
covery of the existence of secret societies in Spain with
revolutionary objects had interposed an obstacle to their
liberation. Upon the subject generally he suggested reasons
why, whatever were his opinions regarding religious liberty,
it was inexpedient that he should interfere actively in these
cocoa.
Other questions were raised and discussed, relating to
Captain Crofton's system for the discipline awl reform of
convicts; the alleged injustice and injury suffered by a
Relish subject, with the sanction of the Spanish Ruth.).
cities of Port Mahon; the reduction of the wages of dock-
yard labourers ; the evictions from the lands of Derrvveagh,
in the county of Donegal ; and the conviction of a man at
Bridgnorth, while absent under a sentence of imprisonment
at Shrewsbury, of killing a partridge without license, and
his being fined 20/.
The motion for adjournment was at length agreed tn.
DWELLINGS FOR THE WORKING CLASSES.
Mr. SLANEY moved for leave to bring in a bill Get facili-
tate the grant or sale of small portions of entailed lands
near great towns as sites for dwellings for the working
classes, and for other purposes of a like beneficial or chari-
table nature. The bill, ho said, would be one to enable the
trustees of entailed properties near large towns to sell
plots of land for dwellings fur the working clams, provided
that such sales should be approved of by the Inch:lsere Cent-
ciesionen, or by two magistrates. It wee merely a permis-
sive bill.— Leave given,

COURTS OF JUSTICE.
Mr. COW PER moved fur leave to briug in a bill to enable
the Commissioners of her Majesty's Works to acquire a alto
for the erection of courts of justice, and of venous offices
belonging to the same.
MEXICAN BONDHOLDERS.
Mr. BUTT moved for en address for copy of any conven-
tion or conventions providing for the appropriation of the
customs duties of any of the Mexican ports to the payment
of the claim* of the bondholders of the state entered into
between I Mvernor Juarez, or any other person representing
the constitutional govcroment at Vera Cruz. and Captain
Dunlop or Captain Abilsm, of her Majesty's Navy ; and
copies of, or extracts from, any corresporulence or despatches
since the assumption of the presidential power by !Colman.
Lord J. RUSSELL said he had no objection to give the
first lovers anted for; and probably the hon. gentleman
would defer the rest of the proposition until he hail seen
the papers which I, (Lord J. Russell) proposed to lay on
the table next week. _ _ .

Mr. BUTT aseesited, and the motion as thus amended was
agreed to.
INCOME AND 'PROPERTY TAX COMMITTEE.

On the motion of Mr. Ilusussu, Mr. Buchanan was sub-
stituted for Mr. Baxter, aa a member of this committoc.
REFORMATORY SCHOOLS, die. (SCOTLAND.)
Mr. KINNAIRD obtained leave to bring in a bill to pro-
vide additional mama for the establishment and niainte-
nonce of reformatory schools in Scotland.
PUBLIC OFFICES EXTENSION BILL.
Mr. COWPER nominated the select committee on this
bill, as follows :—Mr. Cowper, Sir William Dueler, Lord
John Manners, Sir Stafford Northcote, Sir John Shelley,
Viscount Enfield ; and five members to be nominated by
the comniittee of selection. Five to be thu quorum.
Mr. SCILLY protested against the exclusion of Irish
members, unless, indeed, it wee intended that, Ireland should
not contribute to the new offices. If this system was to be
adopted, let the Irish members meet on separate days and
manage the affairs of their country by themselves, and let
them not be outvoted by hon. members brought up from
smoking rooms anal coal holes. (Laughter.)
Colonel DUNNE wanted to know whether the govern-
ment proposed virtually to repeal the Union'
Mr. (X)WPER. said this bill was what was called a
gh
toe hada
serve
dm
,z ani
hybrid one—that was a public bill for a private purpoe.
If
two or three, or four Irish members. (Hear, hear.)
klbeesshtualtd I
harisvhegenbeetnkmhaenppywuoull4mheownillit-
After some further remarks from Colonel FHlNtit,
Mr. HENNESSY asked fur a more distinct (dodge from
the right bun. gentleman that some Irish niembeis should
' be appointed.
Lord PALMERSTON suggested that two at least of the
five members hereafter to be nominated by the committee of
selection should lie Irish members, to be seined by the Lon.
ic.)
Tothluencilmitt.s uomm.(L:ug
.wleiure accededter
to, and the first six members
of the nominated.