The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-12 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS-(YESTERDAY).

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.
Lord SHAFTESBURY presented several petition■
against the opening of the Crystal Palace on Sundays.
Earl GREY presented a petition from Gateshead in
favour of the adoption of the recommendations contained
in the report of the commissioners upon local dues upon
shipping.
CO NIMISSIONERS' REPORT ON THE MANAGE-
NIENT OF THE WAR. -
The Earl of CARDIGAN said, seeing the Secretary
of State for War in his place, he was anxious to call his
attention to a statement on a subject which was of the
greatest importance to him, as involving his character
and conduct. In a report from the commissioners to
.inquire into the management of the war, which,
had recently been published, he felt that hie
character and conduct had been reflected upon
in a very unfair manner. He felt that as a peer •f
of that house he ought, in his place in the House of
Lords, to defend himself from those attacks. He
now begged to give notice to the noble lord that
to-mo`i•row he would feel it his duty to transmit
to the noble lord a full explanation of his conduct
as far as it had been unfairly reflected upon by the report
referred to. He felt that he could refute every charge
that had been brought against him, and he could prove
that up to the last moment of his command at the seat of
war he had paid everyattention to the welfare and comfort
of the men and horses. It was his sincere desire and
wish that the noble lord should give every possible pub-
licity to the statement which he would place in his
hands.

The Earl of LUCAN said he felt that he ought
to take this opportunity of replying to the reflec-
tions made in the report upon his conduct and profes-
sional character. Immediately upon seeing that report
he addressed to the noble lord the Secretary of War a
letter, in which he refuted in the most positive terms
every part of the report in which his conduct was
impugned. The noble lord also knew that he requested
that that letter should be given to the public at once.
As such publication had not yet taken place, he thought
it only reasonable to ask the noble lord to place the
letter on the table of that house.
Lord PANISIURE said that, in the full and elaborate
report of the Commissioners he was quite sure that it
never was their intention to-attack in any manner the
character of the two noble earls as peers of
Parliament. They simply expressed their opinions as
to what had taken place at the seat of war in the winter
and spring of 1854. He admitted having received a
letter from the noble earl who had last addressed the
house, addressed to him officially. That letter he
had referred to the commissioners. One of those
commissioners, now in London, stated that the
charges contained in the report could be sup-
ported by returns given on the spot. In a few
days be hoped to be able to lay that letter, as well as
the reply, on the table of the house.
The Earl of DERBY—The question; as it seems to
me, is not so much one affecting the character of the
two noble earls who have addressed your lordships, as
what may be the intention of the Government with re-
spect to the cases that may arise upon the production of
the report which the noble lord says will be laid upon
the table. Various persona naturally feel themselves
aggrieved at the charges that have been made or implied
against their proceedings in this report. My two noble
friends have the privilege of making statements in their
defence in this house, though I do not think that it is a
very fit place in which to discuss such matters. (Hear,
hear.) But undoubtedly one of two things ought to be
open to every noble lord. I understand that my noble
friend who has laid his letter before the noble lord oppo-
site asked permission to make that letter public, and
that the noble lord is now inclined to grant that per-
mission. I want to know whether the Fame indul-
gence, or rather sight, will be conceded to other offi-
cers who have been reflected upon. What course, for
instance, is to be taken with respect to the communica-
tion of an officer who may not have the advantage of
being a peer, er of possessing a seat in the other House
of Parliament, and who may feel himself aggrieved by
statements in such a report affecting his military cha-
racter ? Will they be precluded from making public any
answer which they may have to the charge ? Ought
they not to have the same opportunity to make it pub-
lic, whether by letter or otherwise, as others who have
greater advantages ? I want to knew what course the
Government intend to pursue with respect to the answers
made by such officers as feel themselves aggrieved by the
c'sarises in this report, and also whether it is the inten-
tion of the Government to prejudge the ease by granting
rewards for distinguished services, or by imposing penal
consequences on any officers who are so accused ? I
want to know whether that report is to stand as it is at
present, open—either for reward or punishment--to any
answer which may be made by officers whose conduct
may have been spoken of in it ?
Lord PANMURE.—My answer with respect to the
proceedings taken by the Government with relation to
that report is this :—All the Government has done has
been to take stepr, as far as they could, to prevent the
recaircnce of the evils which that report has exposed.
The noble earl opposite (Lord Lucan) asked my permis-
sion to publish in the newspapers a letter addressed to
me. My answer was that I could give no official autho-
rity for the publication of an official letter referring to a
report of a commission not before the house. I have.
however, no hesitation in saying that in case any officer
feels himself aggrieved by statements made, not in this
report alone, but in any public document which has been
laid upon the table of your lordships' house, and chooses
to address either to me, or to any other member of the
Government who may lay such a report upon the table,
anything in justification of his conduct, or which puts it
in a different light to that represented in the report in
question, I conceive it would be but justice that those
answers should be laid on the table,,and I shall at all
times be ready to do that justice either to a peer, a mem-
ber of thee House of Commons, or any officer reflected
upon. tElear.)
The Earl ot HARDWICKE said that if he were in
the situation of either of his noble friends, and that full
opportunity was not given to him to refute the charges,
he would consider himself justified in removing the de-
corations from his breast and returning them back to his
Sovereign.
Lord PANMURE said that the decorations were
given for distinguished services against the enemy.
galling contained in that report, or that could be said
elsewhere, could detract from the merits of those
services.