The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-06 00:00:00

EVENING, APRIL 6,

debate, namely, the feeling of this country. It was clear
that British colonists, by their superior civilisation, could
successfully resist barbarous tribes, but for that purpose they
should be allowed to act for themselves. This country had
not allowed the colonies to act for themselves. There was
a place in this country called " Exeter Hall," which repre-
sented a most respectable, but most mistaken feeling.
Now Exeter Hall. said " we had no right to take that
territory, because it was contrary to morality to do so."
He asked the Right Hon. Secretary for the Colonies if he
was prepared to maintain our colonists in Africa? If they
were to be maintained, it must be against the aborigines,
and the best mode of doing so would be by giving the
colonists the power of self-government. But they might
rest assured, if they gave the colonists power to maintain
their dominion in the country in which they had been planted,
the result would be the natives would be exterminated.—
(Hear.) .It was a lamentable consequence, no doubt, but it
was one from which history showed there was no escape.
The black man would disappear before the white than. There
were, however, compensating circumstances. Africa'was now
to a great extent like America when discovered by Columbus,
but Africa colonised by a European race would become what
America now was. The first step was a painful one, and
would be productive of much cruelty and immorality; but
the result would be the planting of a population far more
moral, and far more capable of spreading civilization and
Christ ianity over the wild regions of South Africa The people
of this country could not bear that the colonists should re-
main en Africa at the expense of England. This country
might defend thorn against Internet foes, but the colonists
must be left to defend themselves against internal aggression.
The Right Hon. Gentleman said that he was about to give
the colonists the power of governing themselves. The people
of England must decide whether the colony was to be main-
tained, but if they decided that it should be retained, they
might rest assured that it would be at the expense of the
African community, and that no power .of theirs would pre-
vent the extermination of the African race.— (Hear.)
Mr. ADDERLEY did not think that any consequence
such as that alluded to by the Hon. and Learned Member
for Sheffield would follow the granting of self-government
to the colonists at the Cape. The Right Hon. Gentleman
had stated that the question was one which ought to be
dealt with cautiously, and with care, and delay. He admit-
ted that it should be dealt with cautiously and with care—
and with delay also if delay were possible. Much wouldde-
pend on the dispatch which the Right Hon. Gentleman in-
tended to send out, and even the not sending it—the silence
of the Right Hon. Gentleman—would lead the colonists to
form au opinion of the future policy of the Government
towards them. He was glad to hear the expressions used
by the Noble Lord the Member for the City of London with
reference to the conduct of Sir H. Smith. Those expressions
of the opinion of the Noble Lord were, like himself, noble
and generous. Whatever might have been the faults of Sir
H. Smith in his civil government, he thought nothing in
his conduct could justify the dispatch Earl Grey had sent
out to recall him. The Noble Lord had taken credit to the
late Government for conceding a Constitution to the Cape.
He believed the Noble Lord had done what he could
to forward the granting of that Constitution; but he thought
the Noble Lord had nut taken sufficient precaution to pre-
vent the measure being frustrated. He was firmly con-
vinced that if the colonists obtasned self-government they
would not give up one inch of their territories, and that the
result would be the formation of a British colony in those
territories. With regard to the present vote, the only fault
he found with it was that it was too small. It was impossi-
ble 'for any one to suppose that 480,000/. represented the
whole expense incurred during the last year for the Kafir
war. Whatever the expense might amount to this country
must pay (it, and he saw no reason why the real amount
should not be stated. The amount, whatever it might be
had been incurred by our own Minister. It was the penalty
we had to pay for one—and he feared it was not the only one
—of Lord Grey's experiments in colonial rule.—(Hear.)
The great question for consideration was how to prevent
the recurrence of so expensive a war. He had great con-
fidence in the present Administration and he had reason
to believe, from what he had heard, that the Right Hon.
Secretary for
the Colonies would givs
satisfaction
to the • colonists, as he had given. satisfaction
to those interested in the colony at home, if he
immediately promulgated the promised constitution. He
trusted by the time the next news arrived from the Cape
that the war would be over. He hoped it would not be the
sham submission of which they had received information by.
the last mail, because they had had experience that those
submissions were only temporary, and were the result of
successes by the British forces. Sir Harry Smith had
now, for the first time, a sufficient force with him, and he
felt satisfied that that able and gallant officer would not fall
under the unjust censures that had been cast upon him.
The Hon. Gentleman then referred to the account given of
the termination of a former Kafir war, in 1835, to show
that the submission of the chiefs could not be relied upon,
but which was by no means a real settlement of the differ-
ences between the Kafirs and the colonists. The great
difficulty was, to know how to make such arrangements for
the protection of the frontier and the future amicable rela-
tions with the chiefs as would ensure permanent peace to
the colonists. If the matter was left to the inhabitants of
the Cape, they were both ready and willing to undertake the
maintenance of their own territory. He was satisfied if that
was done they would have as strong, and as permanent, and
as peaceful a colony as England possessed in any part of the
world.
Colonel THOMPSON said that the great question, which
appeared to have been lost sight of, was how had this war
begun ? Did it begin by a bull or two goats ? Did it not
rather commence with such conduct as had brought forwari
a Gesler, and had lost Austria some of her fairest provinces.?
Was it not a fact that it rose from an English ruler desiring
literally to set his foot upon the neck of a Kafir chief ? It
was more than human nature could endure, and he was not
surprised that some of their own countrymen actually prayed
for defeat upon their country's arms. He believed the
Anglo-Saxons thought they had a right to tyrannise over
and oppress all other nations. What nation was there that
did not hate them.—(Laughter.),The lonians hated them—
the Kafirs hated them—and why? Because the depository
of power in the colony chose to set up these differences of
race against which: the Kafirs revolted. For this miscon-
duct—for this injustice, they were now, in addition to
large sums previously voted, called upon to pay 400,0001.,
together with the loss of confidence and popularity among
the natives. He thought they were bound to mark their
sense of votes like the present by veing against them.
.F.--I.eBELewas not desirous of prolonging the debate,
but he felt that he owed it to the Noble Lord (Earl
Grey) , under whom he had the honour to serve,
to make a few observations in reference to what
had fallen from the Honourable Member for Staf-
fordshire. The House would remember that that Hon.
Member had placed a notice upon the paper reflecting
severely upon the conduct of Lord Grey. and imputing to
him everything that was mean, and base, and injurious;
alleging that he was desirous of shuffling from himself to
the officers employed the responsibility of the situation of
affairs at the Cape, which he alleged resulted from the
mismanagement and mal-administration of that Noble Lord.
It might also be remembered that in the public papers and
elsewhere, where no answer could be given, those attacks
and misrepresentations were perseveringly indulged in.
Whenever the affairs of the Cape were introduced the name
of Lord Grey was always brought forward, and no pains
spared to exhibit his conduct in the most unfavourable
light. He begged to say that in any place where the op-
portunity could be afforded him, if the Hon. Member for
Staffordshire. or any other Hon. Member, brought forward a
motion on the subject, he (Mr. Peel) should be prepared to
defend it, and particularly with reference to that dispatch
to which so much allusion had been made, and he trusted
he should be able to substantiate every word and every
statement contained in it. But he understood the object of
this discussion was different. It was said that so long as
Parliament undertook the management of the affairs at the
Cape so long would they have a return of those harassing
and devastating wars, so costly and so inglorious to the Bri-
tish arms. Now that there was a prospect of its termination
it was suggested that they ought to transfer to the colonists
the management of their own affairs. He thought it was
quite premature to lay down any course of policy, and con-
tended that the course adopted by the late Government was
that which was the most advisable. They had sent out as-
sistant commissioners, and it was intended to have submitted
their report and suggestions to the consideration of Parlia-
ment. He admitted that large tracts of country had been
added to the Cape, and the most of those additions had been
made during the administration of Earl Grey. He was pre-
pared to show that these acquisitions were made in the in-
terests of the colonists; and as to their policy on the eastern
frontier, that it was undertaken for the protection of the
lives of the colonists. With regard to the statement as to
political changes by the establishment of a new Parliament,
he believed Lord Grey and the late Government were zea-
lously desirous of establishing a representative government
at the Cape, but these delays had arisen from that party of
which the lion. Gentleman opposite was a member, who had
timed their opposition so well as to prevent the good inten-
tentions of Lord Grey from being carried into effect.
Mr. DRUMMOND regretted the Hon. Gentleman oppo-
site had not brought forward his motion, of which he
had given notice. He did not think the change in Go-
vernment was a fair reason why that motion should be
postponed. He rose to do a signal act of justice towards
Sir H. Smith. If the Noble Lord (Lord Grey) had chosen
to object to Sir H. Smith's policy, it was open to the Noble
Lord to recal him • but when the Noble Lord went beyond
that, and pretended to censure Sir H. Smith's military ope-
rations—(No, no)—he asserted that Lord Grey's dispatch
did censure Sir H. Smith's military, operations—who, be
asked, was that gentleman who presumed to offer those
comments on Sir H. Smith? where was his experience, his
military education?—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) And when,
in contradiction to this, he bad the opinion of the Duke of
Wellington in favour of Sir H. Smith and 'in censure of the
dispatch, he thought that was a sufficient vindication of Sir
H. Smith's military reputation. He pronounced the dispatch
of Lord Grey a shame.—(Hear, hear.) He had never given
a factious vote. When he recollected the dirty Ceylon busi-
ness, he felt convinced had Sir H. Smith been a Lord of the
Bedchamber, or the relation of a Cabinet Minister, the dis-
patch of Lord Grey would never have been written—(
hear)—and what was more, the unmanly act of throwing
down the dispatch on the table of that House before the cha-
racter of Sir H. Smith could be vindicated, would neteshra...ve
occurred. He looked upon it as a very dirty job.--(ide „
Lord J. RUSSELL—Sir, after what has Just fefle
aufoeulw
the Hon. Member for Surrey, I cannot avoid sae
that
words. The Hon. Member expressed his regraseytthinetnataottitohne
Hon. Member had not brought on the debate o
share
of the
of which he had given notice. I will take iisaY
is
gthhabteLhoardd
responsibility of this matter. My own op
Grey was reluctant to recal Sir H. Smith,
been for some time convinced, and lnaa beewunh.eft.ohr.esrotsuier
time of opinion, that it was a matter of clion.u.lbtht
to indulge in
H. Smith did :not take a too saangeianeeliavediew nis own
operations, and whether he wae_nnintyl
opinion Government
anticipations too favourable. I
was anxious that Sir H.
the
Smithwasrhoultda heave
cleayseer.y eApi
portunity of , bringing h
tofrormeasonwhtoichexpietct wasthe
anticipated in Sir Harr
length accounts were
ldrechesivreed
evident Government could
speedy termination of. thea a yeas.r
It was then Lord Grey
Smith's letters and clop t
P
tthat*
re-
proposed toe he. Cabinet that. Sir beHa,gsemedithinsthuoaueldoinion-
called, and the Cabinet
Gunaenimcamouselywithr
o decis
My belief is that Lord r 7 f
sion, and lam quite sure it was rom no want of upright-
d o others. Such
ness or generosity—from no wish of throwing blame
which
a course forms no
he had himself incue
part of my Noble Friend's character. Then the Hono irable
Gentleman says
—repeating an insinuation I did not expect
to hear from him—if Sir H. Smith had been like Lord
Torrington, the relation of a Cabinet Alinister, such a dispatch
would not have been written. Sir, no doubt Lord Torrington
is a distant relation of mine, but he did not owe to that re-
lationship the appointment of Governor of Ceylon. I men-
tioned three or four persons to Lord Grey who I thought
were fit to hold the appointment. I believe Lord Grey pre-
ferred at first some other, but afterwards he informed me he
had received a suggestion, I know not from whom, that Lord
Torrington was a fit person to entrust with the Government
of Ceylon. I gave my acquiescence, but the suggestion did
not, originate with me. My
own opinion is, that Lord Tor-
rington, instead of being treated with favour, underwent an
unfair ordeal, and that partly on account of being unfortu.
nately related to me, unmerited blame attached to him, and
repeated faults were attributed to him. But I say that Lord
Torrington 's administration was successful—whatever diffi-
culties he had to encounter he overcame, whatever disturb-