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

S A TIT _RD KY

confiscation which had been shadowed forth ill the procla-
mation had in fact led to the present rebellion in India.
The hon. member referred to Tucker's Memorials of the
, Government of India, in which the author, ono of the most
experienced public officers of that country, expressed a
very strong opinion of the impolicy of a course of conduct
which would alienate the affections and confidence of the
people of India. He wished the house to ask themselves
the question whether they intended to hold India in future
at the point of the bayonet? Because the only mode of
holding India in future would be by sending out legions of
troops, and to garrison the whole country, from Cape
Comorin to the Himalayas, if the policy expressed by Lord
Canning were carried out. (Hear, hear.) He contended
that the proclamation of Lord Canning, which threatened
to despoil the whole of the proprietors of Oude, would
have a far more serious effect upon the minds of the peo-
ple of India than the despatch of the Earl of Ellenborough.
As to the conduct of Lord Canning ou receiving the des-
spatch, he did not contemplate that the Governor-General
would tender his resignation without some inquiry, and if
ho found that his friends hal withheld the letter which he
had sent, promising explanations, his opinions would be
greatly modified as to the causes which had led to the send-
ing of that despatch. But the whole of this question had
been brought forward solely on the grounds of love of
office, and believing that the return of the Whiga to power
would be productive of no good to the Liberal cause, and
above all with regard to the best interests of the Indian
empire, he should support the principles contained in the
despatch of Lord Ellen borough, and give his vote against
the resolution before the house. (Hear, hear.)
Lord ADOLPHUS VANE TEMPEST said that having
travelled much in India, and possessing, some knowledge
of the country and its inhabitants, he felt it his duty to
lace an amendment to the resolution on the table. It had
occurred to him that there was no logical sequence in the
resolution of the right hon. member or Oxford, and that
it was unfair to ask the house to. express an opinion on the
effect, and at the same time to preclude them from dis-
cussing the -cause which had led to that effect. This he
contended was neither just nor fair. (Hear, hear.) The
right hon. member said that an electric feeling had passed
through every house in the country on hearing from the
Chancellor of the Exchequer that he disapproved of the
policy indicated by Lord Canning, but he thought that
electric feeling was really only felt in the houses of certain
ex-Ministers, who thought they had discovered in it a
means of displacing the present Government. (Hear, hear.)
It had been sail by the hon. and learned member for Cork
that that there was no principle of confiscation contained
in the proclamation of Lord Canning, but he contended
that principle was clearly aril broedly stated. That
learned advocate of tenant-right had contended that the
rights of the proprietors of which the people were to be
dispossessed were only feudal rights. That argument had
been most ably confuted in the magnificent speech of the
learned Solicitor-General. (Hear.) He conten led that
the proclamation of the Governor-General was contrary to
all European as well as Indian precedents. The course
pursued in the Punjaub and Gwalior had led to greet ee-
salts. That policy was the policy of Lord Ellenborough,
and how could they justly visit that noble lord with cen-
sure now? 7Wbatsver censure had been passed on Lord
Canning, ho had to thank the late Secretary to the Board
of Control for. No Minister had ever been so lavish of
private correspondence as had that right hon. gentleman.
He (Lord Tempest) believed that Oude could only be paci-
fied by moral means, and he believed, whatever might be
the result of this motion, that ultimately the country
would endorse that policy which had been so ably pursued
by Lord Ellenborough.
Mr. DILLWYN presumed that in the case of an adverse
vote there would either be a resignation of the Govern-
ment or an appeal to the country. He did not see why
they should be desirous of bringing the late Government
back. As a Liberal he was anxious to see liberal measures
advance, and that was not the case when the liberal Go-
vernment was in. In case of either resignation or an appeal
to the country; it was clear that there could be no legisla-
tion for Judi.'. this year. As to liberal measures, it was
quite clear that the Liberals could not form a strong
Government. There was a more united body behind the
Government now than could be formed on the Liberal side.
With reference to the resolution before the hone), he would
not meet it with a direct negative, because he thought
Lord Canning had been harshly used. At the same time
he thought there was great weight in what the Solicitor-
General had said, and that much of the blame ought to be
visited upon the late Board of Control. He (Mr. Dillwyn)
begged to move, " That this house generally approves of
Len' Canning's policy up to the time of the Gude proclama-
tion, and is satisfied with the firmness and judgment he
has evinced during tile crisis in India; but this house
declines to give any opinion upon the Oude proclamation
until it has had further information on the state of eude
when the proclamation was issued, and also Lot d Canning's
reasons for issuing it."
Colonel SYKES said he had a thorough conviction that
Lord Canning did not intend to carry out the proclamation
to the letter. A great deal ha I been said about the proprie-
tary right. What was the proprietary right? Take an in-
stance. Holkar wished to extend his park. For that purpose
he desired to purchase a small piece of laud. The owner said
the land had been rte the possession of his family from
generation to generation, and he could not sell it. And he
did not sell it, and the park was not extended to this day.
How about the proprietary right in that case ? How could
it be said that proprietary right in this proclamation
only applied to the native princes and leaders ? In
1819, when Lard Dalhousie confiscate,' property, was it ,
made a party question of here. (Cheers from the Ministe-
rial side.) He did not say that the Government were not
justified in the despatch awl its sentiments, but they were
when he received the despatch, would throw up his post
serious wrong in p.pu
rbol isbahbi
yg it;L r•
dT he consequCanning,enceshm. s
pi gi
rhitte led e
niv earner,
id
wouldtell
notwhat
allow India to be sacrificed to a party squabble.
trusted andthat who
the housecou
Mr. H. BSILLIE slid he had been asked how it was
tahnadt assn don
would .bn
b Indiae ? to
H itse
trflia
that he had been able to give an answer about the procla-
mation without previous notice. This explanation was
very simple. When he saw the proclamation in the news-
papers he saw his noble friend the late President of the
Board of Control, and he said to him, "I am sure to be
h
asked about the proclamation, what shall I say ?" and then
noble friend dictated the answer which had been given.
The hon. gentleman who had just sat down said he did not
believe that Lord Canning intended to carry out the letter
of the proclamation. Why, how were the people of Oude
to know what the intentions of Lord Canning were? It
had been said that the Zewindars were making their sub-
mission. He did not believe it. Ile had received letters
from persons in high office stating that we should probably
have to do our work again. He (Hr. Baillie)
noneam sttoy.
0. p
pHo
see
but was
the told r
rebellious
oi
shsee
pdoi
yd s so. I
t there b
had
knew that the
t
proclamation had issued against the advice of those to
whom Lord Canning ought o have paid respect. Sir Jas.
Outran' had strongly advised Lord Canning to issue an
would
said
Idbe
that they ought to have waited for explanations from Lord
Canning. But Lord Canning had not communicated with
the Government, but was every week writing private
letters to their opponents.
Mr. VERNON SMITH l comp aimed that a strong per-
sonal attack had been made upon him by the Solicitor-
General. Those members of the Government who had
spoken had cond.-sinned the policy of Lord Canning, and
upon that point he took issue with them. He had no
doubt that in issuing that proclamation ha had taken the
advice of Sir John Lawrence, if that advice was to be ob-
tainer'. In dealing with Orientals it was necessary, in the
first place, to show them that power was to be exercised
over them, and no doubt that was the policy which Lord
Canning adopted, intending to show theta conciliation
afterwards, (Cries of Oh, oh.) Whether honourable
gentlemen who cried " oh, oh," were so well acquainted
with Oriental affLirs as to be able to contradict him upon
flint point, would probably appear in the progress of the
debate. A great deal had been said theteveeine about the
proprietary rights of the soil which were affected by this
proposed confiscation,
and the zernidars had been lauded,
but those who know anything of India would be perfectly
aware that they were oppressors of the people. He be-
lieved that the position taken by the Soliciter,General was
utterly untenable, and that the Government hid been most
hasty in publishing th • eir despatch without waiting for any
explanation that might have been offered, and he believed
that the reed' of the Governor-General
would leave been a
more honest and manly course than that which had been
adopted by her Majesty's Government. Still the fact of
the recall, or the appearance of the recall, of the Governor-
General of India would be productive of the most disastrous
consequences throughout India. In dealing with this pro-
clamation, it had lof transpire,' how it hid come to
England. From his experience of Indian affairs he,
thought he was justifies in thinking that it had come in a
mass of correspondence without any covering letter at all,
without any explanetion—and upon that endue
he
thought that the Government had acted with
pre-
cipitancy. Her Majesty's Government hal announced
that they would not enter into details with regard to
Oude ; but their own Attorney-General, while eu inde e -
dent o
member, had week after week a
notice on the paper
a the House f Commons. That learned gentleinan
than others of his party, declined to bring fsr w ,
rd wiserin
the present state of India; but directly the Government
came into p weor, they opened up the question by this
into
p could not see any reason why the censure of
the House of Commons upon the Government should be
withheld simply on account of Lord Ellenborough having
left office, because if the Government were determined to
uphold his policy, it was difficult to understand the Minis-
try had
been deprived of his services, for no man was more
able than the noble lord to carry out the principles he en-
tertained. The right lion, gectlemari having referred to the
letter he had received while in office in reference to the
proclamation, was met, witht a loud request to have it read,
but to this ho declined to accede. He differed entirely
from the principle which bad been laid down, that the
responsibility rested with the late Government, and looked
upon the story as one of the most trumpery character.
(Cries of " Oh, oh," and it Read, read.") He was deter.
mined not to real, bee Lusewas a private communication.
When he received it he read it to Lord Palmerston, and
they concurred in thinking that there was nothing of itn-
poi tance in it. (Loud laughter.) There was no want of
communication to the government, for
Lord Palmerston
did submit to Lord Ellenborough a portion of A letter
which he did think of importance. (Renewed laughter.)
The Solicitor-General had hinted that Lord Canning would
have occasion to reproac him, but that could notbe the
case, for if he had erred at all, it was out of clemency
to Lord Canning, whom ho had always defended when
hon. gentlemen opposite had attacked his policy. If hon.
gentlemen affirmed that he had acted from party views iu
this matter, ho positively aud solemnly disclaimed the
falsehood. (Tremendous uproar followed this statement.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER trusted
that the prase used by the right hon. gentleman Was an
accidental one.
e h that Mr. V. SMITH stated did not mean to 1130 the
phrase in an offensive sense. Ho said he felt a great interest
in Indian affairs, and • t would be for others to judge if the
manner in which he had performed his duties while he had
been in office. ([fear, hear.)
Lord STANLEY hoped the house would do the melebers
of the Government
the justice to believe that it wet not
their desire to evade or shriek from the inquiry into their
conduct which the right hon. gentlemen opposite had set
on foot. In the statement of that right hon. gentletean,
as far as it went, there was nothing to complain of, °leapt,
as had been already shown by the Solicitor-General, that
he unduly, • f not unfairly, limited the inquiry whichhe
instituted. (Hear.) It was impossible for the house to
do justice to the conduct of the Government in censuring
a particular act of Lord Canning Without at the same time
considering the policy cud justice of the act so censuled.
(Hear.) As far as he could gather from the resolutions
and from the discussion, the charges against the Govern-
ment were twofold. In the first place there was the nar-
row issue of who was responsible for the publication of
Lord Ellenborough's despatch, and next there was tie
wider question, assuming the despatch not to have been
intended for present publication, whether it was a despatch
that ought to have been written. The question of the pub-
lication of that deep itch was one he approached with sores
pain, because, however clear the case, it was always pain-
ful to seem to exculpate oneself at the expense of one who
had been a colleague, and still more when the generosity
of that colleague's conduct
made it impossible to regard
his loss without extreme regret. (Elear.) But in the pre.

PSTNING

MAY

15,

Tf,

sent instance there was something more than personal or
private interest to be considered. And first lee him re-
mind the house, what Lore! Ellenhorough had stated
already, that the promise given in the_hcaPe that the de-
spatch should be published was giien on the authority of
Lord Ellenborough alone, and not of any other member of
Ithe Government. He (Lord Stanley) could say for himself
and ho 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 beard it with some surprise
and regret. But then the right hon. gentleman (err. 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, bear.) They
must have said—" It is true the despatch has been sent ;
it is true that the Minister, the author Qf 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
I 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 hie own pert he firmly believed
t hat to have held 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 might have
been unwise to give the promise given in that house. 116
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, hear.) Bnt 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 how responsible ? Surely responsible under cer-
tain conditions—responsible not only for acts but for si-
lanes, for .ilenes 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 Kidderminsior,
who ha 1 displayed in a house less full than it now was,
even more than his accustomed ingenuity, end asked "Why
if you intended to repudiate the course which has been
taken did you, net do so at once ? and why did you wait to
see what popularity you might be able to gain from the
publicatiou?" That charge was one he (Lord Stanley) ven-
tured to deny ; and if the Government had taken a cliff 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, without
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 knew what were the teelisgs which go-
verned public men and regulated political parties; and 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 might hon. gentleman the
member for Kidderminster sail, when the Government
stated in that house what the despatch contained, and when
they stated their disapprovalof the policy of Lord Canning,
the despatch was virtually published, and the rest 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 ley some of those ingenious artifices which
he had often seen practised in that house they might have
contrived to save off inquiry, it was idle to suppose that
with regard to a matter of this kind any Government
could have maintained, or that any Government could
have been tolerated in maintaining, a policy of silence and
neutrality. (Cheers.) How stood the case? Oue of the
most important events occurred—an event he did not hesi-
tate to say 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 derision 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 England would not 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
ou the part of any Government, for we lived in a state of
society when secrecy in regard to important national affairs
could not be maintained beyond a very limited time.
(Hear, hear.) From that publicity groat public advan-
tages were derived, so must they submit to its inconve-
niences. (Cheers.) Turning from the question of the de-
spatch, he came to the other point—ought that despatch
to have been written at all ? Why, the Government was
asked, did they not wait to hear any explanation ? that
Lord 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 privates letter.
He was glad to escape frem 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. gentleman
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. Ho 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 part well, and conducted the
affairs of the Government of India with ability and sue-.
cos', (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.) Was the
confiscation of property nothing ? Was it nothing to arm
a population of 5,000,000 men against us? -to make their
reconciliation more hopeless, their resistance more despe-
rate, their revenge more implacable? (Hear, bear.) 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.) He
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 them wait for some
explanation of Lord Canning'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 added to
the dangers and difficulties of our Indian position. (Hear.)
Lord Ellenborough did not and could not know that fur-
ther explanations were on their way. (Rear, hear.) But
it was said, why not write to India and receive an
answer before sending out such a despatch ? He confessed
that he thought not only the people of England and the
piop's of Oude also, would have had reason to complain of
such a course, but that Lord Canning himself would have
had 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 impoi t to write to Lord Canning 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 said 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 censure 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 ; he 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, but to the Indian Government, and the
great object in view was to point out emphatically and
plainly the wide distinction that ought to be drawn be-
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 proclamatio lof Lord Canning. It, was diffi-
cult to discuss the question of the rights of the talookdars
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 forte,
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 fai that description was accurate or
otherwise. If it was accurate—if there was in Oude a
powerful landed aristocracy surrounded by armed retainers
he would submit that in a military.paint of view, and as a
matter of policy, that was not a class of men 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 had 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 persons. (Hear.)
The principle of endowment in land was as well known in
Asia as ix Europe, and there were many mosques and
schools endowed in that way. How would these endow-
ments be affected by the proclamation? (Hear.) They had
heard a good deal about the danger of offending the reli-
gious prejudices of the natives of India. He ventured to
think that a 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
misrepresented by those who had an interest in doing so,
f produce a most injurious effect on the natives of India.
What was the cash of Scinde ? It is that certain feudal
princes after the conquest of the country, were desired to
surrender their jagheerdars and receive them back. What
was the precedent of Oude? It was that they who did not
surrender should have theirropert confiscated. If
been
precedent had been followed no objection could have be
made, but what was the policy indicated by the
of
proclama-
tion? A few persons are rewarded, but hepropoe
inyan
the great mass of those who remain neutral,. wh
Asiatic country will always be the great majority, was by
the words of the proclamation confiscated equally with
Ithose who had taken an open part in the rebellion. If
they came.in, their lives and honour were saved, but no-

1 8 5 8.

thing more. What 'is the re ward offered 'to -those
who have protected Englif h lives? They will be entitled to
rewards, consideration, and leniency., Tt has been said,
and I think with truth; that it was never ititeneW to' Set
up to the proclamation. There is nor doubt, abut that,-
hut we are conseiering the effect of the proclaanatien 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 eel.-
riecl into effect. I look anxiously for information as to the
effect of that document. I have no special knoWle lge on
the subject, but it is impossible not to know that pa irate
letters have been received from parsons 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-
thekp
no rotwosf
on wphoal
ti caynindicatedh is
ethisa
tpormo celna
tms awt ioorne,
madee.
Ila
deo bast. ,
am not willing to make use of private reports or 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 lammed to their homes—if it be
true that such counsel hai 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 not 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 circunestanc. s 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 tight
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, I believe
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 for 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 ludian administration on which
we are about to enter. (Cheers.) But, personally, wo have
no reason to de otherwise than to express our thanks to the
right' hon. gentlentad 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
—(load cheers)—and as the champions of a policy of hu-
manity and wisdom. (Cheere.) I believe that whatever the
issue! a fairer field in which to combat— a better cause by
which to stand or fall, no Ministry and no public moo
could desire. (Hear, hear )
Lord J. RUSSELL —Tie house cannot but feel that this id a
matter which has been brought to a very serious issue. The
Prodeiction of the proclamation and the despatch seem to
cleallnge some judgment and opinion on the part of the house.
My right hon. friend the member for Oxford has asked the
housd to give that opinion irrespective of the merits or the de-
enerit'e of the proclamation. The Solicitor-General and the
noble, lord who has just spoken asked, on the contrary, that
the whole case should be judged, and that we should give
our opinion on a question involving the merits of the procla-
maticln as well as the course the Government lave pursued—
so that, it appears to me, the house is redu.:ed to this alter-
nativb, either to censure the Governmeet for the course ,
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 nese ca-
tion ' without passing a censure upon the Government.
You cannot acquit the Government without declaring Lord
Canning to be totally anfit even for the 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 abandoned the forensic habits of his profes•
sion. (Cries of " Oh, oh," and cheers.) For, sir, it was evi-
dent, and I will prove it immediately, that upon every part
of his case, while he dw, It with great-effect and ability upon
those circumstances which were in favour of his argument,
he entirely suppressed every fact and consideration opposed
to it. (Hear, hear.) As au instance I may mention that
which he placed in the beginning of his speech when lie de-
clared that he would not give an opinion or pass a judgment
uponitho annexation of Oude : he contrived in two or three
instances to show that, according to his opinion, the Govern-
ment of her Majesty and the Administra- ion of the East India
Compa• y had been guilty of as foul a.wrong as was ever com-
mitted; for the hon. and learned gentleman said that he
would only state that which was undeniable, that there was a
t eaty with Oude, by which it was agreed to guarantee the
Vizier of Oude against external and internal enemies. That
is perfectly true and undeniable, 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 50 years we kept that article of the treaty to which he
referred, while we protected Oude against external and in-
ternal enemies, that at least for 40 years of that period the
Vizier of Oude entirely neglected and violated that other
article of the treaty. (Hear, hear.) But this, if we are consider-
ing Oade, is a main point in the discussion, and it is un-
deniable that, whether we were justified in our proced-
ings ,or not, the honourable and learned gentleman
thought fit to omit that fact from his argument. I shall
proceed to notice in order some of the statements of the
Solicitor-General. When 1 tell the house that they ought
to form an opinion on the proclamation, I could 'not
avoid observing that that was an imperfee, document, one of
the mos', important passages in the proclamation being
omitted. The Government, though they had not received
it as an official doeument, were quite aware that it appeared
in the public newspapers. Where was the wisdom in asking
the house 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 forwerd and
gave their support to the restoration of peace and order i
w eild 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 impo thrice' indicating, as it did, the desire of the
authorities to open the way for the reconciliation of those
who ceased to be in arms against the British Government.
The Governor-General spoke in a liberal and forgiving spirit,
yet that portion of the despatch was not noticed by Lord
Ellenborough. To the men who appeared iu arms, whokilled
our soldiers and endeavoured to starve into submission the
garrison of Lucknow, Lord Canning said—" You shall not
now suffer the penalty of death or transportation; you shall
net even be subjected to a few weeks' imprisonment for your
off noes." Yet Lord Ellenborough took uo 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 untry it was eagerly
taken hold of with a view of fixing censure on the Governor.
General. (Hear.) I roust 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. Ho had to provide for the safety of the
British garrison, small in numbers itself, anal 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 vas
exposed to an extensive and perilous mutiny,
having at the same time to consider the welfare 1
of 150,000,000 of people in India, over whom he was 1
appointed. Placed in that position that while others trem-
ble 1 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 Tiverton, I took the opportunity of saying a fetv words
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.
tiled to British rule. Ido not remember that the gentlemen
on the Treasurybenches were at that time so impre sed with
maxims which my noble friend enunciated; ou the contrary,
there WAS nothing but a willingness 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 one
of his highest rewards. (Hear, hear.) Then, hen they
were in power came the proclamati n----not a proclamation
issued by Lord Canning, but a draft proclamatiou without
explanations, purporting to be a proclamation that might be
issued when Luckuow was taken. Now, sir, I ask. what
should have been the conduct of the Government when th y
rec:ived 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
man distinguished f r 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 wellintenti ned government of the people of
India." (Hew%) -Why, sir, if that had been their belief,
they would have written to Lord Canning a 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 hal 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, one of tee
most severe lampoons that a political opponent ceuld indite,
rather than the grave rebuke of the Ptesident of the Board of
Control to the Governor-General, who, he conceived, had
overstepped his duty. (Cheer's and laughter.) Sir, I was about
to read one or two passages from that letter to show the state
of mind of the writer. He says :—" Other conquerors, when
they have succeeded 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 but think that the precedents from
I which you have departed will appear to have been 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, eghich may
rank with any production of our classical writers. But do
they consider the position in which the Governor-General was
placed? (Cheers.) Was it sight in a Minister to huraldthrme
sarcasms at his head—to point these antitheses—
w convictedi t with this abuse? And
cruelty—this Aa d t h
you have
lyouo ever
remark-
able for dreadful punishments, but a
of the Govern-
s ) The organs
isiswnasot anmotana whoinan
hat whom
whomb et °e
. n
cle-
mency. (Hear, hear, and cheer . .
to the hour at which
seen described by various nicknames. fomrahaismercyand
ment seem to consider that this is quite flat
and
invectives.
to hurl at a Governor-General these sarcasms i
thegover-
nor' the other ; either he
thing or
of India ?
I say either One
and is the victim of ' njus-
Can you suppose that such a man is fit to conrinue
is not deserving of this censure, and
in his present position.
(Cheers.) Well, then,aitinappears that this was the
after-all
fit to write to the Governor-
tice or else he ought not
sort of way in which you thought .
carou e,,,,1
.. g saylreo,, you wrote to him in a way totally unbe-
comingempire Other parts of the despatch I may
mention hereafter, -but 4 will now go to the question of the
publication. 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 Ellenborongh the whole fault
of that publication,
Lorden
mn Ellenborough
said (.)t
h; e
ri
Lord Elleuborough seems to me to
have thought that this despatch was calculated to do great
good, and was anxious to promote its publicity,
ogfetl
believeo u s ;to sayhim
to nothingte, as disrespectfulthe right hon, I am desir.
night, a man of genius, and I only regret th
merit which he has shown in this matter, (Hear, hear.)
if he did not possess the quality e want of j rulg-
But,
of judgment, bad he not
colleagues whom he might have] consulted ? And did not
one of the most eminent of those colleagues, the eagues, hon. gene.