The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-26 00:00:00

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

Lord J. RUSSELL moved that, after Monday, the Ist
of August, orders of the day have precedence of notices of
motions upon Tuesdays.
Mr. DISRAELI did not wish to offer any opposition to
the motion, because he thought it desirable to facilitate
the progress of public business. But tho house ought to
part with the privilege of bringing forward motions with
due caution ; and he hoped that in assenting to the motion
there would be a clear understanding that if in the present
state of public affairs any great question of urgency should
arise on which independent members should wish to take
the opinion of the house, the noble lord would take care
to afford the necessary opportunity. (Hear, hear.)
Lord J. RUSSELL felt grateful to the right hon. gen-
tleman for the facility which he was disposed to afford to
the progress of public business, and considered that if any
great public question should arise the house would have a
claim on the Government. (Hear, hear.)
The motion was then agreed to.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA BILL.

The house then went into committee on this bill, Mr.
Boverie in the chair.
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY said, he had given notice of
the
secret clauses, two of which raised a question whether
secret committee should not have the power of tendering
their advice and opinion, and if necessary, of recording
that advice and opinion on all orders that may reach them
from the President of the Board of Control. The object
of his clauses was to impose something in the shape of a
check to those wars which had produced so mach mischief
in India, Ho contended, moreover, that all the recent
wars in India had been entered into in consequence of the
secret committee not having power to check the proceed-
ings of the Board of Control. He moved the insertion of
the following clause in the bill :—" That the secret com-
mittee of the Court of Directors shall consist of the chair-
man, deputy-chairman, and such other director as shall be
selected and nominated by the Court of Directors ; and
that the said Court of Directors shall select and nominate
such third member on the first Wednesday in April, 1854,
and shall certify the maid. appointment, and in the case of
vacancy all future appointments, to the Secretary of State for the Affairs of India, under the seal of the East India
Company."
sir C. WOOD—The objection to this clause is, that it
is the law as it stands. (A laugh.)
The clause was negatived without a division.
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY then moved the clause of which
he had given notice, which was as follows :" That the
said secret committee shall transmit to the supreme go-
o f S
fromta-t e
verement in Ihtlia all orders of the s.aid.. Secret
as by the law is now required as to orders emanating Secretary
the President 4 the Board of Commissioners of the Affairs
f India, except that if the said secret committee shall
think
may tender their advice and opinion on the
fit th©y
' effect of any such order or orders, and if they deem it ex-
pedient may enter a protest in writing as to the effect of
such order or orders, an d t
the
suchsaid t
spercorteestcsomshmalilttbeee,daunl,yi
recorded at the office of t
also at the office of the .
of Stattoe
inter-
fere b but
nothing in this act shall
besacjodnstSruere arydtinany way
with the power of the said Secretary
any order or orders that he may
hinkfitat o 8 tdairt eeetto ieslisaule
think
transmit through the said secret committee.,,
Mr. HUME said, as this clause would meet t.whehoahtjehcts
he had in view, he would give it his support.
wanted was to empower the Court of Directors or the
secret committee to record their dissent whenever they
happened to differ in opinion from the Board NOGGoft Control.
was sorry he could not, consistently
with
his sen4e o
duty, support the clause.
Mr. DISRAELI wished to make an inquiry of the Go-
vernment with respect to the statement of the hon. bast.,
that her Majestv's
and security of
tadifilo.i,nisters were responsible for the peace
rest with those wlio 0 aud*
thatd tho responsibility should
excised the power. He wanted to
know whether qv poi% er of recalling the Governor-Gene-
- • ~ if India. wipe lo lio left with the Court of Directors ?
,:A.
.' - : , ald not, go into any question as to the propriety of
..
~ , . • *.! *pat power with the directors ; but he thought it
7'.0 j iii,1:1,,,
..ritet•
..., onitof the most important powers which could be con-
y.. .4. •,,,- :_?____ ~ it l'and if her Majesty's Government were to be held
, 77_ .
..,
...le forthe government of ludia, it appeared to be
f..... )
p: , ?..-fip
shwas,„;.i.,,..ssile tha hey.could fulfil that responsibility
ii ~..)4/. '. 1,:-!; , g. made in the power of recalling r7,..:4,•:•:14 21 e It General.
y
the
14, ..`;* -,e'ly 44 : OGG had confined his observations to the secret
')-. '
' '
. • stions of peace and war, and of negotiations with
• had the last twenty years rested
native Princes, for
with zjezifs GoTeniraot, and he Proposed to eon.
her