The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-20 00:00:00

THURSDAY

British Government, v.,
will dispose of that
right in such a manner
those Talookdars, Chiefs,ll" seem fitting. To
their followers, who shall m
d Landholders, with
sion to the Chief Commission'eimmediate
Oude
submia-
the Governor-General promises .1
t
h their lives andonours shall be safe. . . as regards any
further indulgence which may be elf
--e•
and the condition in which they naded to them, y
'e reafter
placed, they must throw themselves lion the mbe
mercy
and justice of the British Governmenv,
Assuredly this is plain speaking.
proprie-
tary right in the soil is confiscated."
Tht•British
Government "will dispose of that right II such
manner as may seem fitting." All inhabi
of
Oude who "make immediate submission" a.,.; to
have the promise of the Governor-General—iot
that their proprietary right in the soil shall be rt,
stored—but that "their lives and honours shall be
safe." Beyond the bare promise of safety of life
and security from dishonour (that is, from impri-
sonment and transportation beyond sea) nothing is
promised them. "Any further indulgence that is
extended to them"—that is, the restoration of their
proprietary right depends upon the " mercy
and justice" which, being interpreted, means
the arbitrary will "—of the British Government.
This is Confiscation ; no verbal quibble tail strip it
of that odious character. The "proprietary right
in the soil" of Oude may be an equitable right or
a legal right (to use our own law jargon), but a
substantial right of some kind it must bo, or it
could not be confiscated. And this right is to be
wrested from—not only those who are actually in
arms against us—not only from chief and talook-
dars—but from every one of the five millions of
inhabitants of Oude who has any "proprietary
right in the soil." Even those who " come in"
and make submission are only promised "life and
honour ;" they are not to have their land again.
The decree of confiscation is sent out against a
whole people. Every inhabitant of Oude must
lost his " proprietary right in the soil" if he cannot
prove himself innocent, and may lose it even though
he do. The first principle of English jurisprudence
—of natural eluity—that the accuser is bound to
prove the guilt of the accused, not the accused to
prove his own innocence, is wantonly and cruelly
reversed. In the whole annals of confiscation and
proscription a more revolting document has not
been recorded. Its own language condemns it.
Its English is unsusceptible of any other interpre-
tation. And the whole public of India—natives
and European aiike—have understood it in the
sense of unmitigated and wanton spoliation.
Now, we are not,going to plead in extenuation
of Lord Ellenborough's unwise reminiscences of
the original annexation of Oude. We are not
going to say one word in favour of the dictatorial
and rhetorical language of his despatch. Neither
question is raised by Mr. Cardwell's resolution.
That resolution merely censures Government be-
cause they have condemned the Governor-General
for proposing to confiscate " the proprietary right
in the soil of the province"—the whole proprietary
right—the proprietary right of every landowner.
We say the resolutio:l s censure is levelled against
the Government's condemnation. of this proposed
confiscation, for this proposal to confiscate is the
only word or deed of the Governor-General that
has been condemned.

Talk, indeed, as Mr. Cardwell's resolution hypo.
criticaily does, of the Government despatch hav-
ing a tendency to "weaken the authority of the.
Governor-General and encourage the further resis-
tance of those in arms against us !" Why, we
have it in evidence that the confiscation clause
of Lord Canning's Proclamation has, already
"weakened the authority" of the British Govern
ment, and confirmed " those who are in: arms
against us" in their determination to resist to the
uttermost. If a majority of the House of Com-,
mono adopt Mr. Cardwell's resolution they will.
sanction-.as far as a resolution of one branch of the
Legislature can—the spoliatory decree of the Go-
vernor-General. They will assuredly take the first
step towards the ultimate loss of our great Eastern.
Dependency. Sir G. C. Lewis declared, on Mon-
day night, that "He could not conceive any man
imagining that Lord Canning meant to confiscate'
the rights of all the owners and occupiers of the
land. . . . Such a policy was unknown to
times, and no sane man could suppose Lord Can-
ning to have contemplated it." And upon this as-
sumption Sir G. C. Lewis declared that he would.
vote for Mr. Cardwell's motion. But Sir G. C.
Lewis must now be awaro that Lord Canning's pro-
clamation is unsusceptible of any interpretation but
that which be declared it would be insanity to at-
tribute to it, and that in no other sense has it been
understood in India. We are, therefore, entitled
confidently to expect that Sir G. C. Lewis will at
least abstain from censuring Government for con.:
demning a policy which he thought so abominable,
that it would be monstrous to impute it to any
modern statesman. The same abstinence we are
entitled to expect from Mr. Sergeant Deasy, Col.
Sykes, and other speakers who justified thoir in-
tention
to support Mr. Card well's resolution, on
the pica that it was impossible to conceive that
Lord Canning could .contemplate a policy of spolia-
tien. And in general we implore all independent
Liberal membe►s nut to inflict on their party the
disgrace of having supported Mr. Cardwell's
Jesuitical and dangerous resolution. .

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS —The weather has .
been wet and stormy during the last few days. Heavy -
rains have fallen, accompanied by boisterous winds from-
the isouth and south-west. Though the temperature
has been cold for the time of year, it has certainly ina.
proved since last week. Still we have as yet had little
or no genial. May weather. No doubt vegetation will be_
everywhere greatly stimulated by the large amount of
wet that ha; fallen, and should the present weather
give, way to brighter influences, immense progress-will be
rapidly made. A few sunny days will work wonders. Every- ,
where the crops are looking well. Ten days ago the wheats
were beginning to look somewhat yellow, but the last
week has effected a material change in that respect, and
they are again luxuriating in the most growing and
vigorous appearance. Beans and peas are also making
great start, and the pastures exhibit strong symptoms
that we shall have a "grass year." A "dripping May,"
so say the elders, is far from desirable; indeed, the pe-
riod has now arrived when dry, warm weather will be
anxiously looked for. Abundance of wet now will cause
the grain crops to run too much to straw—nay, it is by
some averred that wheat does not require a drop of rain
after this date. At present, however, no harm has
been done, in fact rain was wanted. It has come very
opportunely, and there is no reason to anticipate other
than propitious results from the coming month.—Sasses
Advertiser.