The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-10 00:00:00

ebtlaillft

LONDON, SATURDAY. APRIL 10, 1852.

Before the dissolution of Parliament there must,
inevitably, be brought under the consideration of the
Legislature the necessity for t n immediate revival,
for a total re-organization, or (it may possibly be) for
an absolute abandonment of the present system of
carrying on the affairs of our empire in Hindostan.
Elsewhere, in our impression of this evening, will
be found given, verbatim et seriatim, the nineteen
suggestions about ',to be submitted to the notice of
the House of
,Peers, by the moet distinguished
Governor-General of India now living—the
Earl of ELLENBOROUGH. The experience which that
Noble Lord has had of the working of the existing
scheme of government in those three 'presidencies,
qualifies him in a peculiar manner to pronounce an
opinion as to the advisability either of its continuance
or of its rejection. Removed as Lord ELLENBOROUGII
was from the head of the Board of Control, on the
23d of October, 1841, to the supreme command in
our Oriental possessions, arriving, as he did in India,
on the 28th of February, 1842, and recalled, as he was,
towards the close of April, 1844—after hating employed
the sword of Sir CHARLES NAPIER for the conquest
of the Ameers in Sinde, and the sword of Sir HUGH
Gouurt in the subjugation of the Mahrattas in
Gwalior, achieving in one quarter the victory of
Deleanee, and in another the success of Ma n
ortunity to
value tae harajpoor—
the Earl of ELLENBOI:OUGH had ample op
estimate at its true v
Oriental administration e machinery of our
'
In speaking of its opera-
tion, therefore, be is not
darkness. He is rather sPeakingadd at random or in
subject which has fallenressing himself to a
particular knowledge. He i 3
under . his on
question involving°m naen. ting, mow re-
ov over, upon a
measure the destinies of the Britile great
in
nmpaire—one
eerious
consequently peculiarly entitled to thes
scrutiny, and to the most deliberate refimos-t
Imperial Legislature. Upon the settlement of of
the
existing difficulty is dependent a commerce
middle
e la.
of the
considerable in magnitude than the mercantilee"emore
hours of all the trading nations of the
or
and of Carthage,
of antiquity united together—larger than the ages
biped commerce of Holland, of Venice,
Besides which the matter on the eve of being dee:
bated in the Lords and Commons affects in an ex_
traordinary manner the futurity of a portion of the
human family numbering scarcely less than
150,000,000 ! The subject is, therefore, manifestly
one of vital importance to all those who are really
interested in the maintenance of our national wealth
and of our national authority, and—what is of more
consideration than the integrity of an empire_
the steady and progressive advancement of civiliza-
tion.

It must, in consequence of all this be presumed
that the advice tendered by the Earl of ELLEN-
NOROUGEI to his fellow-countrymen, in the present
instance, is not advanced by him otherwise than with a
profound sense of his responsibility in offering it.
To imagine otherwise were to regard him as capable
of turpitude such as, happily, has never yet been re-
corded of an English statesman. We believe the
Noble Lord to be actuated by loftier motives
than the gratification of a feeling of vengeance.
we feel assured that he is not less aware
than the rest of the world that the ingratitude dis-
played towards him by the Court of Directors has
already been avenged in histery. The simple but
splendid narrative of his administration will consti-
tute henceforth sufficient evidence for posterity, as
well as for his contemporaries, that in availing them-
Lives, labiaby
instance, of the powers accorded to them
street were solely charter, the Directors in Leadenhall-
also irreparam (but 1
't must be avowed
tier]. It is 7) damaging their own reputa-
from any remenr, however, we feel satisfied,
no-
minal heads of the iee of his treatment by the no-
ELLENBOROUGU has nailiall Government, that Lord
the re-organization 0717 spoken in reference to
system hitherto carried thet rather anomalous
out
ministration of Hindostan. IL,o
legird to the ad-
remarobler motives
iNElirqptbarowe here referred te,'hia
(77`i.'"-iriotiCri,--- ernborb lug no less than nink:tble notice of
is attributable. Foremo teen separate
..ff-'-'--."-' resolulions,
7ZI-ft/...40-!-'q • rempitiO, itt, of course, the one pro„r:arn"g these
....d6Ltn;,..
pedie
t. _ f closing from and after the 30;,"1:40fthe el(-
(.....,
ir- : - 1854 connexion between the East India c APril.
"aPany

Ir.:

and the Government—followed by others suggesting
the immediate transmission of funds to meet the
dividends on East India Stock, and the interest on
East India Bonds, payable on the usual days at the
Bank of England, and the transference of the powers
at present vested in the Commissioners for the affairs
of India to a President of the Indian Council, ap-
pointed by the Crown, and to the members of an In-
dian Council, numbering altogether twelve instead of
twenty-four, as hitherto, and subiect on their election
to approval by the same supreme authority. Such
are the more important among the nineteen resolu-
tion, speedily to be submitted to the House of Lords
by the Earl of ELLENBOROUGH. The Legislature
will have before many days have elapsed
to decide upon their value—remembering
that the expiration of the powers as hitherto consti-
tuted, presents to the nation an opportunity inestima-
ble of its kind, and such as must not be lightly
foregone. In re-organizing the system of our
Indian Government it will be necessary to
do this thoroughly, or to take no step whatever in the
way of alteration. Under the sense of their rapidly
approaching responsibility our statesmen should
remember those who, under similar circum-
stances of importance, have actually taken
the word " thorough " as their motto—nil
actum credens cum quid superesset agendum. For
in all human likelihood the ulterior fortunes of the
British empire will be affected in an extraordinary
manner by whatever course may be pursued in re-
ference to the future conduct of our Indian Go-
vernment.

It is absolutely essential, under existing circum-
stances, that a clear, distinct, and unequivocal under-
standing should be arrived at between the several
constituencies and the candidates for their favour at
the approaching general election. Never was there
a period when greater care and discrimination were
required in the exercise of the elective franchise—the
most important trust that can be confided to any
member of a free community—a national privilege
conceded not for his individual advantage, but for the
benefit cf the community. It is impossible to over-
estimate the magnitude of the interests involved in the
result. It is not merely the principles of free trade
that are at issue, or whether the commercial policy
happily commenced in 1846, and which has already
produced such extraordinary and unparalleled pros-
perity throughout the entire country, bringing com-
fort and contentment to the cottages of the
labouring population, is to be persevered in or reversed.
It is not merely the question of the large or small
loaf, of untaxed food, or unrestricted commerce, that
is to be decided or. Deeply, vitally important as
these subjects most unquestionably are, there is
something still greater at stale. The peace and
tranquillity of the nation would be seriously endan-
gered should a Protectionist majority be returned to
the ensuing Parliament. We emphatically repeat,
what we have already stated, our solemn and deliberate
conviction, that "the Corn hzescould not be tampered
with without bloodshed, or re-enacted without revolu-
tion." GOD forbid that so fearful a calamity should
occur—that internecine conflicts should again pol-
lute our soil, or that we should once more behold
" Civil dissension, with its Tip'rous tooth,
That gnaws the bowels of the Commonweal."

But all these matters, and more, are now in the
hands of the various constituencies, and depend on
the fidelity with which they shall execute the trust
confided to their charge. It is, therefore, necessary
that electors should be more than usually cautious
and candidates more than usually explicit, that the
former should demand and the latter should concede
full explanations on every point connected with the
commercial legislation of the country.
Although the Honourable Gentleman the Member
for Norwich might safely appeal to his diligent
attendance, his consistent liberality, and his faithful
and efficient discharge of every Paliamentary duty
since he was placed in the proud position of one of
the representatives of the metropolis of the Eastern
counties, as affording the best guarantee for his future
conduct, he has yet afforded an excellent example to
other aspirants for senatorial honours by the publica-
tion of the admirable address to which we gave inser-
tion in our impression of yesterday. In that well-
considered document, while touching lightly on his
past career, so well and so honourably known to his
constituents, and indeed to every Reformer through-
out the length and breadth of the land—dwelling
for a moment only with pardonable compla-
cency on the well-ascertained fact that his
v3tes were ever in accordance with the principles
on which he sought the suffrages of the electors of
Norwich in 1847, and that on no single occasion since
that time has he been absent from his post when any
important question of practical reform was under
discussion—he places bis sentiments on the leading
topics of the day fully before those from whom he is
seeking a renewal of confidence. There is no dis-
guise, concealment, or equivocation, all is plain and
above board, so that he " who runs may read," and
that every voter may thoroughly understand the
nature of the principles on which he is to decide—the
verdict he is called on to pronounce.
" The first, the paramount topic," as the Hon.
Gentleman justly remarks, is, " shall this country in
its commercial legislation be progressive or retro-
grade ?” All other points sink into comparative in-
significance to that on which, as we have already
shown, the peace and tranquillity of the nation mainly
depends. As the best answer to this interrogatory
Mr. PETO ably sums up the results of the six years
we have been living under a free-trade regime. The
Hon. Gentleman says :
" George the Second's reign is usually referred
to as an auspicious era in British annals, and
was one of long peace and plenteousness. But
it bore no comparison to the present, at least
as regards the material interests of the population.
Whatever be thought of other sections of the State, it is
admitted on ell hands that never before did industrial
labour produce so great a command of substantial com-
forts. Prices have fallen, on the average, 20 to 40 per
cent., while wages have scarcely declined; in many in-
stances
they have greatly advanced, owing to the in-
creased employment which abundance of food never fails
to occasion. If it were not that this abundance could
be proved by unquestionable data, its vastness would be
belief. Exclusive of almost countless
supplies of consumable articles of nearly every de-
quite beyond
scriptiou under the modern tariff, our imports
of corn, flour, and meal have averaged upwards of
ten million quarters per annum. This is that as-
This it is that is really mak-
ing.sures a bold peasantry.
At the same time
Population. them their country's
aim h may be selected at random, as
almost any large borough may in the urban
showing a corresponding pride.
Birnn• •
—lngham last ear 1 329 new houses or manufacto-
ries instance, in the capital of the Midlands,
ries were erected '• double the number of any pre-
ceding7o,oaorot/i.sauSsimalrar°
Pauperisma 'hued fallen off by four-fifths; while
Year, andrCirmlYs'hy the smaller class of trades-
the
These are, of
Leeds, and other prosperity is recorded Manchester,
indheeadd,ltnhveLested in freehold land societies
er hives of skilled labour.
of the effects of untaxed food,
d Mr. PE is an
unexceptionable witness an
*
most satisfactory evidences
capital—their labour.
" to the activity of the work-
ing population, and the
moreree receiving
i vcionmg
"
at his hands; and few, therefore, workmen
amount
of demand for their
onlymen have given so
much employment, or behovedwormk ore kindly and con-
siderately to the numerous
ottkheocnomfort, hap-
to pronounce a well-grounded opirnei
are gain-
all matterspweat eg ne
relating to industrial pursuits, or on ts
ipnignetshs,eiarndd:iloynbterneatmd ebnyt
tohfeitrhedamilyyrliaadbso
ur who
chief desire is to be enabled to obtain ; and whose
wages for a fair day's work ;" sufficient to
procure fair
tlaY'r re
f os,
themselves and families the absolute necessaries, and
some of the moderate comforts to which the les'
ani,
entitled ; and, perhaps, to lay by somethinga
are
for vte,,
rainy day, as a provision for old age sickness, or ad.
versity.

But it is not solely on the condition of the working
classes that the question depends—although, when the
base of the social pyramid is well founded, the
superstructure will be firm and durable.
Mr. VETO shows, from authentic returns, that the
next grade—the capitalist class—are enjoying similar
prosperity, according to their respective positions.
" If," said he, " our imports of grain have been large,
our exports of manufactures have been larger still,
exceeding all anticipation. Thus, in three intervals
of five years we have:—

Yrs. Impoi ts.

Official Value of V Declaredalue
Exports. I of Exports.

1840 £ 67,494,710 116,481,015 51,406,430
1845 85,297,508 150,877,782 60,111:082
1850 100,460,433 , 197,309,876 74,367,885

" The duty on corn, you are aware, ceased in July,
1849, and our annual exports have increased by more
than 21,000,0004 in 1851, as compared with 1848, Con_