The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-15 00:00:00

EVEN lAN G, MAY 15, 1858.

sent instance there was something more than personal or
private interest to be considered. And first let him re-
mind the house, what Lord Ellenhorough had stated
atrealy, that the promise given in the house that the de-
spatch .should be published was given on the authority of
Lord Ellenborough alone. and nob of any other member of
the Government. He (Lord Stanley) could say for himself
and he believed also for his colleagues, that they never
heard of the promise being given until they heard it in
that house, and that they had heard it with some surprise
and regret. But then the right hon. gentleman (Ur. Card-
well) asked why, " when you had time to consider, did
you not recall your promise ?" " The house," the right
honourable gentleman said, " would not under the
circumstances have asked you to produce it." His an-
swer to that was-- and it was one which he believed
must have occurred simultaneously to every hon. gentle-
man who heard the question put—that the promise, once
having been given, placed the Government, as regarded
the publication of that despatch, in a position totally diffe-
rent from that which they occupied before. He quite al-
lowed that, as far as the hon. member for Birmingham was
concerned, no pledge so given ought to have stood in the
way of recalling it, if by such recall the public service
would have been consulted ; but the Government had to
consider what would have been the effect on public opin-
ion of withdrawing a promise so given. (Hear, hear.) They
must have said—" It is true the despatch has been sent ;
it is true that the Minister, the author of that despatch,
thought it one which ought to be laid before the house ; it
is true that that despatch contained the deliberate expres-
sion of our policy ; but on second thoughts we are led to
believe that the sentiments which we entertain, and which
we have expressed to the Governor-General India, are sen-
timents of such a nature that to make them public would
be most dangerous to our influence, both as regards Euro-
peans and natives." For his own part he firmly believed
that to have bold that language would have been a course
fraught with infinitely greater danger than would arise
from the production of the document itself. (Hear.) He
thought that a course, half disclosure and half mystery--
that a course which would have stimulated the curiosity
of the public and left that curiosity unsatisfied would have
led to a belief that the despatch in question contained mat-
ter infinitely more grave and more alarming than any that
really appeared on the face of it. (Hear.) It alight have
been unwise to give the promise given in that house. He
regretted to say he thought, under the circumstances, it
was unwise—(hear); but that promise once given, it ap-
peared to the Government a less evil to go on than to draw
back, and that of two public dangers it was better to choose
the lesser. (Hear, hoar.) But the right hon. gentleman
the member for the city of Oxford, making use of a con-
venient
and expressive phrase, had talked of a Cabinet
of limited liability. What was the meaning conveyed
in that expression? Undoubtedly it was true both in con-
stitutional law and common sense that for every act of
every member of the Cabinet all the members were respon-
sible. But bow responsible ? Surely responsible under cer-
Lain conditions—responsible not only for acts but for si-
lence, for silence gave consent. It surely could not be con-
tended that any set of men, no matter under what circum-
stances brought together, could be held responsible for an
act which they did not commit—for an act the commission
of which they kneW nothing, and which, when they knew
it was committed, they regretted and disavowed. (Cheers.)
The right hon. gentleman the member for Kidderminsier,
who ha I displayed in a house less full than it now was,
even more than his accustomed ingenuity, r nd asked " Why
if you intended to repudiate the course which has been
taken did you not do so at once ? and why did you wait to
see what popularity you might be able to gain from the
publication?" That charge was ono he (Lord Stanley) ven-
tured to deny ; and if the Government had taken a diff r-
ent course they would have heard much sharper taunts and
more vehement imputations from the other side of the
house. (Hear.) The right hon. gentleman the member for
Kidderminster had spoken about the Jonah of the Cabi-
net ; but what language would he have held if, nithout
reflection, without deliberation, without taking time to
weigh circumstances so novel and so grave, the Govern-
Ment had at once given up as indefensible the conduct of a
colleague so eminent and invaluable in every respect ?
(Cheers.) They know what were the teeli gs which me-
vernetl public mon and regulated political parties; anal he
did not think it was necessary to offer any long or laboured
justification for having felt great reluctance, for having
made- it a subject of deliberation and reflection, and for
even having allowed some trifling delay to intervene before
they consented, by expressing their disapproval of conduct
which they could not wholly defend, to incur the loss of
one whom they felt to be the chief ornament and support
of the Cabinet. (Cheers.) The sight hon. gentleman the
member for Kidderminster said, when the Government
stated in that house what the despatch contained, and when
they stated their disapprovalof the policy of Lot dCanning,
the despatch was virtually published, and the nett was
comparatively immaterial. If the right hon, gentleman
really held that opinion it was an exculpation not only of
the members of the present Government, but of Lord
Ellenborough as well; because, although there might have
been some little suspension in the expression of their opi-
nions, although by steno of those ingenious artifices which
be had often seen practised in that house they might have
contrived to save off inquiry, it was idle to suppose chat
with regal(' to a matter of this kind any Government
could have maintained, or that any Government n
have bean tolerated in maintaining, a policy of silence and
neutrality. (Cheers.) How stood the case ? Oeo of the
most important events occurred—an event he did not hesi-
tate to soy which might materially influence the fortunes
of a campaign. It was known that the Government here
must decide upon that expression of policy. It was known
that their decision would be final. It was known that
their decision had gone or was going out to India ; and
then the right hon. gentleman told the Government they
might have acted, but they might have kept their own
counsel, for Euelend would net have felt any curiosity to
know whether they had disavowed or sanctioned the pro-
clamation of Lord Canning. He (Lord Stanley) thought
such a course of action would have been simply impossible
on the part of any Government, for we lived in a state of
society when secrecy in regard to important n affairs
, could not be m intained beyond a very limited time.
(Rear, hear.) From that publicity great public advan-
tages were derived, en must they submit to its it:conve-
niences. (Cheers.) Turning from the question of the de-
spatch, Ito came to tho other point—ought that deleateh
to have been written at all ? Why, the Government was
asked, did they not wait to hear any explanation ? that
Loud Canning might have to give before they pro-
nounced any disapproval of his proclamation. He did
not want to go into the question of the prive,o ;ease-.
He was glad to escape them dealing with that part
of the subject. He was quite content to rest his case on a
statement made very recently by the right hon. gen:lenian
the member for Northampton, who said, speaking of his
experience of Indian affairs, that it was the practice of the
Indian Board in its correspondence with the Governor-
General to receive from the Indian Government first of all
a bare narrative of facts, and afterwards—sometimes long
afterwards—to receive explanations of the narrative so
sent. He would ask if the matter did not press—if there
was no urgency. They were told, and he agreed with the
sentiment, that it was their duty to consider the feelings
of Lord Canning. No one in that house could speak of
Lord Canning with more respect than he did. He never had
joined in the vindictive and insensate cry that had been
raised against him by, he believed, but a small portion of
the Indian public. (Hear.) He thought that on the whole
Lord Canning had done his pact well, and conducted the
affairs of the Government of India with ability and sue-
, cesa. (Hear.) But was there nothing else to be considered
in connexion with this question than the feelings of Lord
Canning? (Hear, hear.) Were the lives and property of
men to be as nothing in the scale? (Hoar, hear.) Wass he
confiscation of property nothing ? Was it nothing rm
a population of 5,000,000 men against us? -to make their
reconciliation more hopeless, their resistance more despce
rate, their revenge more implacable? (Hear, boar.) Was it
nothing to protract a war already sufficiently difficult and
dangerous, and that, too, at the most inconvenient
and unhealthy season of the year? (Hear, hoar.) Ho
quite understood why the right hon. gentleman wished to
consider this subject without considering at the same time
the merits of Lord Canning's proclamation. (Hear.) The
right hon. gentleman would have had thorn wait for some
explanation of Lord Cauning's views, but the Government
thought that every day and every hour in which that pro-
clamation was made public in Oude was so much fielded to
the dangers and difficulties of our Indian position. (Hear.)
Lord Ellenborough did not and could not know that iur-
ther explanations were on their way. (Hear, hear.) But
it was said, why not write to India and receive an
answer before sending out such a despatch ? He confessed
that be thought not only the panple of England and the
peop'e of Oude also, would have had reason to complain of
such a course, but that Lord Canning himself would have
bad fair grounds of complaint. (Hear, hear) What
would have been thought if they had waited patiently till
a vindication of the proclamation arrived, and then at
the end of summer—just as if it related to a matter of
some trifling impost to write to Lord Canefing that the
proclamation he had issued at the beginning of the year
was considered to be wholly inexpedient ? (Hear, hear.)
Another ground of censure had been discovered by the
right hon. gentleman opposite. He sail if they thought
it necessary to censure Lord Canning's policy in this parti•
cular, why did they not recall him ? He must say that
gentlemen opposite were hard to please. At one moment
they made it a matter of grave accusation that fault had
found with the proclamation without waiting to hear the
grounds on which it was supported; and at another mo-
ment they told them not merely to censer() the proclama-
tion, but to recall the Governor-General without waiting
for any explanation whatever. (Hear.) He asked gentle-
men opposite to read. the despatch as the Government read
it, and as it was originally intended to be read ; ho asked
them to read it as a document not intended for the public,
but for the Governor-General of India. The language of
the despatch was addressed, not to the Sepoys, or the po-
pulation of Oude, or to any class by whom its meaning
misunderstood, lint to the Indian Government, and the
groat object in view was to point out emphatically and
plainly the wide distinction that ought to be drawn b
tween the conduct of the Sepoys and the revolted popu-
lation of Oude. (Hear, hear.) They had heard much of
the class of persons who it was said would be chiefly
affected by the proclametio of Lord Canning. It as diffi-
cult to discuss the question of the rights of the talookdari
without going into the perplexing controversy of the
tenure of land in India. These talookdars were de-
, scibed as a class who could only be dealt with after
a severe fashion, but there could be little doubt that
their rights of property were regarded as hereditary. They
were described as a disorderly class, who kept up forts,
carried on private war one with the other, and maintained
large bodies of armed men. He did not care to enter into
the argument how far that description was accurate or
otherwise. If it was accurate—if there was in Onde a
powerful landed arietocracy surrounded byarmed retainers
he would submit that in a military point of view, and as a
matter of policy, that was not a class of mon they should
drive to despair. (Hear, hear.) But it was not the fact
that this was the only class of persons who would be
affected by the proclamation. He bad it on the highest
authority that a large portion of the soil of Oude was oc-
cupied in very small holdings, and that there were numer-
ous village communities composed of such person.. (Hear.)
The principle of endowment in land was as well known iu
Asia as ie Europe, and there were rummy mosques and
schools endowed in that way. How would those endow-
ments be effected by the proclamation? (Hear.) They had
heard a good deal about the danger of offending the reli-
g;ous prejudices of the natives of India. He ventured to
think that is declaration such as that contained in the pro-
clamation, which would at least have the appearance of
sweeping away all endowments, would, especially if it was
rui,-represented by those who had an interest in doing so,
produce a most injurious effect ou the naives of India.
What was the case of Scinde ? It is that certain feudal
princes after the conquest of the country, were deeired to
surrender their jagheerdas-s and receive them back. What
was the precedent of Oude? It was that they who did not
surrender should hate their property confiscated. If that
precedent had been followed no objection couldhaventa.
made, but what was the policy indicated by the proc I
tien ? A few persons are rewarded, but the property
aof
the great mass of those who remain neutral,. who in n
Asiatic country equally with
will alw-ys be the great majority, was by
the words of the proclamation confiscated .
those who had taken an open part in the rebellion. If
they came in, their lives and honour were saved, but no-

thing more. What is the reward offered to those
who have protected Engli Hives ? They will be entitled to
rewards, consileratiou, aet leniency. Tt has been said,
and I think with truth, that it was never intended to act
up to the proclamation. There is ne doubt about that,
but we are considering the effect of the proclamation on
the native mind ' • and my hon, friend the Secretary of the
Board of Control asked with great truth how the people of
Oude were to know that these toreats were not to be car-
ried into effect. I look anxiously for information as to the
effect of that document. I have no special knowledge on
the subject, but it is impossible not to know that private
letters have been received from persons high in military
position, expressing the greatest anxiety and alarm as to
the result of this proclamation. (Cheers.) The right hon.
gentleman who preceded me quoted high authority in sup.
kp
no rotwosf
otnh policyewha t auitehdoirci at et y
s
sin not willing to make use of private reports or communi-
tdhionsethstittpermocelnatmsatorne. miladee."lt
communi-
cations, but if it be true, as I believe it is, that Sir J. Law-
rence has recommended to the Government of India a dis-
criminative amnesty—that is to say an amnesty for all
mutineers who have not committed violence, but have
given up their arms, and returned to their homes —if it be
true that such counsel has been given to the Governor-
General, I think the right hon. gentleman was not justi-
fied in adducing the great name and authority of Sir J.
Lawrence in support of his views. (Cheers ) Looking at
the immediate results of the policy of the Governor-
General, I think it was inexpedient; looking at its per-
manent effects, I believe it to be unjust. (Cheers.) I for
one, will nut shrink from any fair responsibility that may
fall upon the Government for expressing our disapproval
of that policy. That is our justification of Lord Ellen-
borough for the despatch that he addressed to Lord Can-
ning. As to the other part of the question, I have en-
deavoured to show that under the circumstances of this
case and the considerable mischief that the proclama-
tion might do, any delay in forwarding the de-
spatch was inexpedient. As to the publication,
I think I have shown that for the act of publi-
cation the Government collectiuely cannot be held
responsible. (Cheers.) If it were the object of the right
hon. gentleman the member for Oxford to obtain a full and
deliberate inquiry both into the conduct of the government
here and the conduct of the authorities in India, balieve
that he will obtain that object, and I shall be glad if he does
obtain it; but if in this motion any other objects are involv-
ed—if this is really what some have not hesitated to describe
it—a party move—if the interests of India are to be sacri-
ficed and imperilled fur the interest of political parties at
home, I, for one, deeply regret it, and regard it as an ill
omen for that new course of Indian administration.on which
we are about to enter. (Cheers.) But, personally, we have
no reason to de otherwise than to express our thanks to the
right hon. gen thatuad the member for Oxford. We have to
thank him for placing us in this position, that officially we
stand forward here as the defenders of right against wrong
—(loud cheers)—and as the champions of a policy of hu-
manity and wisdom. (Cheers.) I believe that whatever the
issue a fairer field is which to combat--a better cause by
which to stand or fall, no Ministry and no public men
could desire. (Hear, hear)
_ _ _

Lord J. RUSSELL —The house cannot but feel that this is a
matter which has been brought to a very serious issue. The
production of the proclamation and the despatch seem to
challenge some judgment and opinion on the part of the house.

My right hon. friend the member for Oxford has asked the
house to give that opinion irrespective of the merits or the de-
merits of the proclamation. The Solicitor-General and the
noble - lord who la.s just spoken asked, on the contrary, that,
the whole case lioul.l be judged, and that we should give
our opinion on a question involving the merits of the procla-
mation as well as the course the Government Lave pursued—
so that, it appears to rue, the house is redu .ed to this alter-
native, either to censure the Government for the comes
they have pursued, or to declare, on the other hand, that
Lord Canning is deserving of the most severe reproba-
tion. • (Hear, hear, and loud cheer.) Sir, that is the issue.
You Cannot agree to my right honourable friend's reso u-
tion without passing a censure upon the Government.
You cannot acquit the Government without declaring Lord
Canning to be totally unfit even for tl e meanest official situa-
tion. (Cheers ) I listened with great pleasure to the very able
speech made by my hon. and learned friend the Solicitor-
General. At the same time I must confess that I wish he
had more entirely ab tndoned the forensic habits of his profes-
sion. (f ries of " Oh, oh," and cheers.) For, sir, it was evi-
dent, and I will prove it immediately, that upon every part
of his case, whiaz he dw, It with great effect and abil.ty upon
those circumstances which were in favour of his argument,
he entirely suepressed every fact and consideration opposed
to it. (Hear, hear.) As an instance I may mention that
which he placed in the beginning of his speech when he de-
clared that he would not give an opinion or pass a judgment
upon the annexation of Oade : ho contrived. in two• or three
instances to show that, according to his opinion, the Govere-
meat of her Majesty end the Admiuistra ion of the East India
Cons pa y had been guilty of as foul a wrong as was ever com-
mitted ; for the hon. and learned gentlemen said that he
would only state that which was undeniable, that there Nyasa
tozaty with ()tide, by which it was agreed to guarantee the
Vizier of Owls against external and internal enemies. That
is perfectly true an uudeniabie' but there was another article
in that treaty which said that the Vizier of Oude should be
bound to listen to the advice of the East India Company,
and to follow that advice. And, sir, it is notorious that while
for 10 years we kept that article f the treaty to which he
referred, while wo protected Oude against external and in-
ternal enemies, that at least for 49 years of that period the
Vizier of Oude entirely neglected and violated that other
article of the treaty. (Hear, hear.) But this, if we ore consider-
ing 0 ede, is a main point in the discussion, and it is un-
deniable that, whether we were justified is our proc..ed-
jugs or not, the honourable and learned geWleman
thought fit to omit that fact from his argument. I shall
proceed to notice in order same of the statements of the
Solicitor-General. When 1 tell the house that they ought
to feria an opinion on the proclamation, I could not
avoid observing that that was an imperfect document, one of
the mesa important passages in the proclamation being
omitted. The Government, though they had not received
it zt ; an official document, were quite a e are that it appeared
in the public lie espapers. Where was the wisdom in asking
the i,01.18' to judge of a document that was incomplete, and
the omitted part containing much in vindication of the general
tone and policy of the proclamation itself ? The passage o
which I allude declared that those who came forward and
gave their support to the restoration of peace and order
weuld have their claims for the restoration of their former
rights fairly considered and liberally viewed by the Governor-
General. Could any man say that that was not a passage of
immense iznpo Lome, indicating, as it did, the desire of the
authorities to open the way fur the reconciliation of those
who ceased to be in arms against the British Government.
The Governor-General stoke in a liberal and forgiving spirit,
yet that portion of the despatch was not noticed by Lord
Ellenborough. To the men who appeared in arms, whokilled
our soldiers and endeavoured to starve into submission the
garrison of Lucknow, Lord Canning said—" You shall not
now suffer the pona'ty of death or transportation ; you shall
not even be subjected to a few weeks' imprisonment for your
off aces." Yet Lord Ellenborough took no notice whatever
of that part of the proclamation, though it cannot be denied
that it strongly bore the character of mercy; but immediately
the draft proclamation arrived in this c uutry it was eagerly
taken hold of with a view of fixing censure on the Governor-
General. (Hear.) I must now call the attention of the
house to the perilous situation in which Lord Canning has
been placed—a situation requiring the highest qualities of
heart and head. He had to provide for the safety of the
British Barr son, small in numbers itself, an 1 diminished by
the demands for reinforcements to distant portions of India,
while it was only relieved while it had the relief
of two wings of European regiments. He was
exposed to an extensive and perilous mutiny,
having at the same time to consider the welfare
of 150,000,000 of people in India, over whom he was
appointed. Placed in that position that while others trem-
ble t his cheek blanched with fear, or that while the murders
which were daily and hourly committed on the European re.
giments, roused the passions of others, his blood was never
moved to vengeance. I remember, when thanks were voted
in this house to Lord Canning by my noble friend the mem-
ber for Tivertou, I tookthe opportunity of saying a fewwords
of commendation of the course which Lord Canning had pur-
sued, of determining that there should not be a war of races,
believing as he did the whole of those races could be recoil.
cited to British rule. Ido not remember that the gentlemen
on the Treasury benches were at Veat time so impre.sed with
• maxims which my noble friend euuaciated ; on the contrary,
there was nothing but a williuguess to join the popular voice
which depreciated the merits of Lord Canning, and there was
a disposition to withhold that confidence and approbation
which, to a public man placed is a trying position, was ono
of his highest rewards. (Hear, hear.) Then, when they
were in power came the proclarnati n—not a proclamation
issued by Lord Canning, but a draft proclamation without
explanations, purporting to be a proclamation that might be
issued when Lucknow was taken. Now, sir, I ask, what
should have been the conduct of the Government when th y
received such a despatch from such a man at such a time ?
It appears to me to be not the heroic duty, but the common
duty of a y Government to say to themselves--" This is a
male distinguished fel- humanity ; this is a Governor-General
placed in a most perilous position ; if we cast any sudden
censure upon him we may disable him to perform the duties
of his position. There have been no charges of cruelty brought
against him which should induce the withholding of our confi-
dence in his wellintentiened government of the people of
India." (Hear.) Why, sir, if that had been their belief,
they would have written to Lord Canninga general despatch as
to their views of his conduct, asking him for explanations of
the draft proclamation which he had sent them, and recom•
mending to him in general terms the policy they wished
him to pursue. If such a despatch as was usual had been
written, it would have been not only fair and common justice
to Lord Canning, but fair and common justice to your own
empire: (Hear.) That, however, was not done. The Ministers,
or rather Lord Ellenborough, who ha i their confidence, im-
mediately wrote a despatch to Lord Canning, which appeared
to be something more like a letter in the spirit of a political
invective which Junius intended to be published, ono of tee
most severe lampoons that a political opponent could indite,
rather titan the grave rebuke of the President of the Board of
Control to the Governor-General, who, be conceived, had
overstepp duty. (Cheers and laughter.) Sir, I was about
to read one or twopassages from that letter to show the state
of mind of the welter. Ho says :—" Other conquerors, when
they have succeeled in overcoming resistance, have excepted
a few persons as still deserving of punishment, but have, with
a generous policy, extended their clemency to the great body
of the people. We cannot hut think that the precedents from
which you have departed will appear to have beea conceived
in a spirit of wisdom superior to that which appears in the
precedent you have made." (Cheers and counter cheers.)
Hon. gentlemen seem to admire this. (Renewed cheers) No
doubt they consider it a very fine style of waiting, which may
rank with any production of our classical writers. But do
they consider the position in which the Governor-General w
placed? (Cheers.) Was it light in a Minister to hurl these
_ him
sareasms at his head—to point these antitheses—to l d
eu ever
with this abuse ? And this was not a man
able convictedfor
dreadfulo of
punishments, noteis ent
seen described by various nicknames for fwho
ou bsv
nlshl oebomrmec eynyyalo. re
have
cle-
mency. ei
to hurl at a Governor-General these sarcasms
11 ram ee
nn
te ys.e
seem
e ta
or ,
eh:o
earn
that
ca etehriss.)is
t organstheaohnfoltuhirte:v,Gte
invectives.
I Can you supposJ that such a themrea,nainsahtistocemoonviincutienio gover-
nori li s
not
ootf India
La.
vei
g 1
os
fay; either
ctetiiosourneemtahi inn gine r iseportelsieern
t; eviotshiet:ohne.
thee, or else he ought no
(Cheers.) after all it appears that this was the
Geeoetbeerealw. yolo7ult.olitoougthothiiitnitoiwn raitewtaoyttlioet,Gliolyveurunboeri
Other parts of the despatch I may
mentionahgeirle:elineytPhboirueu:t I will now go to the question of the
pcoun:lgation. A laboured attempt has been made, not only
in another place by the Prime Minister, but here to-night,
to lay upon the head of Lord Ellenborough the whole fault
of that publication. Lord Elleuborough seems to me to
have thought that this despatch was calculated to do great
good, aanshdai
ynt
1\1:al:so° attoineifix:
iigao4esul
disrespectfulihut ,3os
right
amt
Ihotooelalii
only regret
le:Lnugtobrlreel,iiitue publicity,
gentleman said
Ellenborough
ibaldno
rtt amthe
ef
gdesir-
ous
ir
hettvo:
air
e
meat which he has shown in this matter. (Hear, hear.) But,
if ho did not possess the quality of judgment, had he not
colleagues whom he night havelconsulled? And did not
one of tho most eminent of those colleagues, the hon. geu•