The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-21 00:00:00

Mon. Friend made no disorderly observations. The ex-
pressions used by my Hon. Friend referred to a public I
document which I myself have read in this House, and
respecting which I can assure the Noble Lord—although
I have no desire to revive bygone topics—he is entirely
in error. That public document wes publicly quoted
from by a Minister, with a view to convey the impres-
sion that a large quantity of capital was being invested
in the island of Jamaica in the manufacture of sugar,
while there was a subsequent paragraph in the same
memorial, stating that the persons who had so mitfde the
investments were already insolvent.—(Hear.) I re-
collect aright, that is an accurate account of the memo-
rial, and if so, it certainly justifies the observations of
my Hon. Friend.—(Hear.) I have endeavoured to vin-
dicate the language of the motion of the Hon. Member,
and I cannot say that I can recommend him in any way
to alter it. It seems to be good English—to be good,
straightforward language, conveying in Parliamentary
phrase the intentions of the Hon. Gentleman who brings
it forward, and I cannot conceive by any possible perver-
sion of mine by what hallucination the Hon. Member
for Stoke has arrived at the version which he has given
to it; but that we shall vote against his amendment is,
I imagine, perfectly clear.—(Cheers.) We shall do so
because we want to obtain an object in making it, which
is an inquiry into the administration and government of
those dependencies. But there is a second reason why
we should vote against it, and that is that we ought to
maintain the character of the House of Commons for
straightforward dealing and common sense, and not let
it go forth to the public that we can be deterred from the
performance of our duty by a manoeuvre which has not
even the merit of dexterity. We have before us the
case of a rebellion in a most important colony—sup-
pressed by violent means—by the public execution of
many of the subjects of her Majesty—by the institu-
tion of courts-martials—we have these facts before us,
and I want to know what can better authorise an inquiry
on the part of the House of Commons than such circum-
stances, especially when we have had two high authori-
ties in the House rising in their places, and alleging ex-
actly different causes why that rebellion occurred? One
tells you it was financial reform caused it, another that
it had been long suppressed, and that it was a deeply-
seated political cause. If there is such a difference of
opinion, it is one of the best reasons why the House of
Commons should investigate it. I am now only going
to quote a few lines from one document in relation to
this subject. It is a passage from a dispatch.
of Lord Torrington, not is the volume con-
nected with the affairs of Ceylon in every Hon. Gentle-
man's hands, but in the blue-book on the colonies, and
I think it is of the greatest importance, if the misgovern-
ment Qf Ceylon is at all caused by its financial state, that
we should understand the opinions of the Governor on
the subject of retrenchment. After a very long dispatch,
in which the Noble Lord analyzes the whole condition
of the colonies, he went on to say, that paradoxical as it
might appear, he was concerned to say he anticipated
greater difficulties in combating the expenditure than in
providing a suitable amount of revenue, many sources of
which appeared to be untouched, or to be capable of ex-
tension by judicious management. Here, in June, im-
mediately before the rebellion, you have Lord Torring-
ton's matured opinion on financial reform—it is increased
taxation, and not retrenched expenditure, that is to
maintain his government.—(Hear, hear.) If this increased
expenditure has produced the rebellion, we have no
reason to suppose that the country has been properly
governed, or that the Governor is equal to the occasion;
if, on the contrary, the cause of it was of a deep-seated
and political nature, which baffles a general remedy,
I know of no better subject for the investigation of a
Committee than the detection of the real cause of the
disturbance which has cause'd incidents of so sanguinary
a nature.—(Hear.) I will not touch upon the subject
of the other colony of British Guiana, saving only this,
that it is a colony suffering which aims at retrenchment,
and that the Goverr,ment at home had quarrelled with
them on that accor,nt.—(Hear, hear.) It this is not a
subject under present circumstances worth investigation
by a Committe's of the House, I know not what is; and
I cannot sups:Jose that the House will offer much support
to the lieu. Gentleman the Member for Stoke in the
amendmeeit he has brought forward. As for the warn-
ing of toe Noble Lord, that unless we are very precise
in our instructions to the Committee it may last as long
as she Coffee- Plantation Committee of last session, .1
carinot agree with him that the length of that Com-
Irsittee was'a subject for public regret. Why, Sir, what-
ever may be the policy approved of by Hon. Gentlemen,
they must approve of the efficacious services of any.
Committee the result of which is a substantial altera-
tion in the f policy of a Minister—(Hear, hear)—
and the last person who ought to censure it is the Mi-
nister who, inconsequence of its investigations and
report, is obliged to change the almost solemn settlement
of a question.—(Hear, hear.) These are the general
views I hold on'this subject; but at such a late hour I
cannot venture -to detain the House with any details.
There never was a case, I believe, in which a Committee
was more propetly appointed. I think the House is
much indebted" to the Hon. Gentleman who brought the
subject forward—not with malignant asperity, but with
singular ability.—(Hear, hear.) I think, also, that un-
der the circumstances the House should not hesitate in
opposing the amendment of the Hon. Member for Stoke;
and particularly I address myself to those who are the
sincere supporters of free-trade opinions. Don't let
them be misled on this occasion, to prevent an important
investigation, because a phrase is thrown in their way to
deceive them, and because a manoeuvre of this kind is
sanctioned—not, I think, in a manner which will add too
much to the credit of the Government.—(Hear, hear.)
I therefore call on the House to support the motion of
my Hon. Friend the Member for Inverness, and to resist
in the most decided manner the amendment of the Hon.
Member for Stoke.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. LABOUCHERE said, that if the House gene-
rally agreed in the propriety of appointing a Select
Committee to inquire if any improvement could be
made in the government and administration of Guiana
and Ceylon, he thought it desirable that there should be
no dispute withl44pect to the terms in which it was ap-
pointed. He thdiight it would not be difficult to propose
words which would balance the difficulties on both
sides—on the one not to send out to the colonies the im-
pression that the House intended to make the Committee
the means of discussing, the principles of free-trade and
protection ; and, on the other that the House did not
wantito deprive them of the benefit of inquiring into
their grievances. With that view he had looked to
the words of the motion, and perhaps the House would
accede to an alteration in them which would have the
effect, as he conceived, of removing those difficulties.
He proposed after the word " inquire," to omit the words
" into the grievances," &c., when the motion would run
thus," Select Committee to inquire and to report to the
House whether any measures can be adopted for the bet-
ter administration and Government of the Crown colo-
nies of Ceylon and British Guiana."—(" Oh, oh!") If
the House appointed a Committee to inquire into 'the
alleged grievances of those colonies, they would haves
very wide field of inquiry. The whole foundation of
the dispute between the Colonial-office and British
Guiana, for instance, was this, that the latter com-
plained of the Act of 1846, and declared she could no
longer support her establishments or pay taxes in
consequence.—(Hear, hear.) Would it not necessa-
rily follow, then; If the Committee were appointed ac-
cording to the otlginal motion, that it would have the
injurious effect of raising an expectation that the House
was about to investigate the principles of the Act of
1846, and thus occasion the greatest misfortune to the
colony? Hon. Gentlemen opposite disclaimed any in-
tention of making the appointment of the Committee a
free-trade question, and he thought therefore he had a
lair claim, if that disclaimer were boom fide, and that they
did not intend to raise the question of protection, to ask
them to allow this alteration, and not to insist on words
which might lead to great misconception.—(Hear, hear.)
The Hon. Gentleman who brought forward the motion
adverted to the indignity of punishing one of the in-
surgents, who declared himself to be of a princely family,
siwith les, being evidently under the impres-
on thatash the man's statement was true, and that the
fact was calculated to drive the Cinzelese to re-
volt. But Colonel D stated that the man was an
impostor, and, indeet t " was not unusual to practise
similar frauds. Exactly e same thing occurred in
1833, when td pretender h
turnedw lout to be a low caste
Indian, and was
ipunishedmentwioitiined this to
and imprison-
ment.—(Hear.)
one at such a distanec show how diffi-
cult it was for any
to distinguish
thelrue stateiof the case. A British Geovernor was, he
thought,
entitled to a fair construction on his conde
under circumstances of peculiar difficulty and danguer.t
As to what the Hon. Member (Mr. Disraeli) stated with
respect to Lord Torrington showing no disposition to
reduce the expenditure, he was altogether inaccurate.
The Noble Lord had reduced it by 20,0001. in one half
year, so that he was enabled to lay out money on the
construction of roads. Whatever judgment the House
might form on particular points of his administration, it
was, in his (Mr. Labouchere's) judgment, impossible for
any one to rise from the perusal of the papers before the
Rouse without feeling that the Noble Lord was pos-
sessed of very considerable vigour and talent. He be-
lieved the words he" proposed would meet the object in
view without upsetting the minds of the colonists.
Mr. OSBORNE, as one of the free-trade party, must
protest against the attempt to introduce the subject of
free-trade and to hoodwink the House.—(Loud cheers.)
He hoped these independent Members who would not be
led by a mere bugbear would prove on this occasion that
they were not to be taken in by a clumsy manoeuvre—
(Hear, hear)—but would give their votes to inquire into
the system of colonial government, which, without im-
plicating Lord Grey or Lord Torrington, had sat for
so many years as an incubus on the interests of the
country.—(Cheers.) -
Mr. BAILLIE—Am I to Understand that the amend-
ment is to be withdrawn? If so, lam prepared to make
some alteration in my motion.—(Cries of " Divide.")
Mr. RICARDO,-Really, after all there is notmuch
'difference between us.—(Great laughter.) But there are
theexpressions
Committee
go ihto questions respecting pro-
tection.—(clissmofit.4.
Mr- WILWN would ghiie the amendment his most de-
cided opposition.
Mr. P. WOOD suggested that the inquiry should be
limited to the grievances complained ain of in the adminis-
tre.ion of the Crown
andcolonies, the Committee
armed be required to report whether any improvement
tould be made in such administration!.
The Earl of LINCOLN stated that, if thevaemr amendment
Were withdrawn, the Hon. Member for in
prepared to alter not the spirit but the words or hsias mwaos
lion, so as to tender it impossible to misinterpret the -ob-
jects of inquiry.
• Lord J. RUSSELL inquired what change he proposed
to make?

Mr. BAILLIE proposed to alter the motion IS fol.
1""--" That a Select Committee be appointed to in-
quire into the :grievances complained of in the Crown
Colonies of Ceylon and British Guiana, in connexion
with the administration and government of those depen-
dencies, and to report their opinion whether any mea-
sures can be adopted for the redress of any grievances hr which Ono CU be 1119m2 jut ram tv ctripphgh,' ,'

Mr. RICARDO then withdrew his amendment.
Mr. HUME proposed to add the words" and whether
any measures caa be adopted for the better administra-
tionand government of these dependencies."

The motion, as thus arn:ndea, was then ag eed to
without ts division.

Mr. BAINES obtained leave, without observation, to
bring in a Bill to provide a more effectual regulation
and control over the maintenance of poor persons in
houses not being the workhouses of the union parish to
which they belong.
Mr. BAINES moved for and obtained leave to bring
in a Bill to remove doubts as to the appointment of over-
seers of the poor in cities and boroughs.
On the motion of Lord J. RUSSELL it was ordered
that the House, at its rising, should adjourn to Two
o'clock to-morrow.
On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EX-
CHEQUER, Colonel Anson was substituted for the
Marquis of Granby on the Committee on Ordnance and
Army Estimates.
In answer to a question from Mr. HERRIES,
Lord J. RUSSELL said that he would ask the House
to proceed with the Jew's Bill on Friday, and with the
Army Estimates on Monday.
The Consolidated Fund (8,000,0001.) Bill and the Com-
mons Inclosure Bill were each read a second time.

_
The House then adjourned at Half-past Twelve
o'clock.

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ST. JAMES'S TIIE:A T BE.
Season 1849.
FREXCEI PLATS and OPERA CONNIVE.
On FRIDAY NEXT,
The Performances will commence at Half-past Seven o'clock, with
POLICHINELLE.
To conclude with the popular Opera Comique, entitled
LA. DAME BLANCHE.
Georges, Mons. Bonnamy ; Anna, Mdlle. Charton ; Jenny, Mdlle.
Guichard.
Mr. Mitchell begs also to announce that, notwithstanding the in-
creased expenses of the present entertainment, the prices of admis-
sion are determined as follows :
Boxes Ss. Od.
Pit .. 3s. ed.
Amphitheatre .. 2s. Od.
Subscriptions for the season may be arranged at Mr. Mitchell's
Royal Library, 33, Old Bond-street; Mr. Sams', St. James's-street;
Mr. Andrews', New Bond-street ; and at the Box-ernes of the
Theatre, which is open daily from eleven till lye.

111EATRE ROYAL, fIAYMARKE
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The public is respectfully informed that this Theatre has, during
the recess, undergone very extensive repairs and alterations and the
whole re. decorated.