The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-21 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

THIS DAY—Morn., 37 min. aft. 8 —Even., 13 min. aft. 9
TO-MolllloW.—Morn., 45 min. aft. 9 —Even., 15 min. aft. 10

ry.,1Ant..0,9t. 44,6• i
4.:10--IMIFF,491.0)", 44110
.

LONDON, FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1858.

The discussion on Mr. CARDWELL'S motion has
been again adjourned, and it is fortunate that
such has been the case. Fresh information has
come to hand, which will be found in another
column, and which will render it im-
possible for any professing Liberal, to vote in
favour of the factious resolution. Mr. BRIGHT'S
brilliant oration of last night has removed the
last doubt that could be entertained on the point.
The Hon. Gentleman fairly entered into the ques-
tion. There was no reticence—no arriere penseel
Ho showed that the real matter in dispute
was not the welfare or safety of India—
the 'vindication or glorification of Lord
CANNING—but simply whether the present
Government were to remain in office or to be re-
placed by their predecessors. It was determined
that a desperate attempt should be made before
'Whitsuntide. Some topic should be discovered
to get rid of the present Cabinet, and to subst'.
tute the family clique—atreagthened by the ur.-
expeoted adhesion of Lord Jorrx RUSSELL and
the tribe of GREYS and ELLIOTTS—" whose name
is legion." The celebrated despatch was, un-
fortunately for the Sabbath-day conspirators,
selected, and on that they staked their political
reputation.

Every thing has, however, gone wrong. The
suppregsed information has oozed out. We
know that the proclamation has been universally
and unequivocally condemned in Tudia—that Sir
COLIN CAMPBELL, Sir JAMES OUTRAM, Sir JOHN
lawnivicv.,, and Colonel FRANKS have each pro-
tested against it—that no person of weight or in-
fluence on the spot has ventured to support it.
It was concocted by the red-tapists at Calcutta in
pursuance of the very system—the cJnfis.:mtion
polioy—that occasioned the outbreak. The
Governor-General can no longer be designated
as "Clemency CANNING." Ile was only mild,
when resolution and energy were required ; but
'when mercy ought to have Wen displayed—
when those who were doubting ought to be per-
suaded into the right course, then an unfair ad-

vantage was taken. It is not on the part of the
Ileneal civilians alone that the unipn of the bully
and coward are perceptible.
Mr. BarenT has satisfactorily disposed of the
ra
mour so ingeniously started, and industriously
circulated, that it V 7 Oa in concert with some mem-
ber of the Government that he asked the cele-
brated question which led to the publication
of the despatch. That has now been satisfac-
torily explained, and all the calumnies and
arguments founded thereon have been dispersed.
He also placed the question on its true founds-
tin, which was thepolicy of the Proclamation,
and not the publication of the answering De-
spatch. That publication was indispensable. It
could not have been avoided, under the circum-
stances. An answer, clear and distinct, was
essential. Rad it been withheld, the results

would, indeed, have been terrible. The war
would have been prolonged, and the ranks of the
mutinous Sepoys reinforced by those who were
comparatively innocent, and who might be re-
garded as patriots fighting for their homes and
families—for all that renders life worth having—
rather than as truculent rebels.

We have already, on many occasions, com-
plained of secret diplomacy, and the true
Liberals have echoed our objections. Bat,
surely, it would have been far worse if
there had been any suppressio veri on such a point.
The real governors of the 'United Kingdom, the
chosen representatives of the independent consti-
tuencies, had a right to demand full information,
and, if it had been denied, to censure the
Ministers who sought to substitute autocracy
for Parliamentary Government. There would
have been fair grounds of complaint if it
had been kept back, and none but the
most factious opponents—men actuated by the
most insatiate cupidity could object to the course
adopted by Lord ELLENBOROUGH, we say " Lord
ELLENBOROUGH," for he was alone responsible,
and with chivalrous devotion, he bore the burden
and sacrificed himself in the cause of truth and
justice.

Lord Jam RUSSELL should be the last to com-
plain of such an act, or to seek to render the en-
tire Cabinet liable for the mistake—even if it
were a mistake—of one of its members.
He himself has committed indiscretions, and there
was, on one occasion, much stronger grounds for
making the then Government liable for his inde-
pendent acts than the present for those of Lord
ELLENBOROUGH. The real question, however,
and that on which judgment must be pronounced,
is the spoliation policy of Lard CANNING. It is
impossible to evade that leading point, or to ride
off on a collateral issue. Terrible may be the
consequences if the interests and welfare of India
are disregarded. We do not, however, believe
that any consistent Liberal can vote for the resolu-
tion, or assist in producing the mischief that
must follow a proceeding so injudicious and un-
warrantable.

It now appears that Mr. V. SMITH has received
no less than four lettns from Lord CANNING,
all of which have been carefully suppressed ! His
former colleague, Lord GRANTILLE, acted more
fairly, for he immediately communicated to
Lord ELLENBOROUGH the substance of the only
letter which he had received respecting
the proclamation. He also stated that
General OUTRAM had objected to its se-
verity. It would, indeed, have been strange
if the views of that distinguished officer, written
on the spot, and with all the evidence
whereon to found a decisive judgment, had not
been acted on. We believe, too, that the opinions
of Sir COLIN CAMPBELL, Sir JOHN LAWRENCE, and
Colonel FRANKS were identical with those of Sir
JAMES OUTRAM.

How Mr. SMITH can reconcile his conduct with
that becoming a man of honour and a gentleman
we are at a loss to understand. The whole
House—the whole country—men of every shade
and variety of political opinion have united in
condemning the course which he deliberately, and
after consultation, with, his former leader, had
adopted. But he was thoroughly reckless, pro-
vided he could turn out his opponents he cared
not for his own reputation. He may have heard
of " the engineer hoist with his own petard,"
and he may soon witness another illustration of
the adage, in which he himself may serve to
" point a moral and adorn a tale."
One of these letters was forwarded to the Duke
of CAMBRIDGE, as relating to military matters
Why was not that forwarded to the Go-
vernment ? Mr. Smraur and his noble
counsellor seemei to have ignored altogether
the Government, and to have thought that their
existence might have been altogether ignored.
We ought not to belie-ve that many men occupying
a high piesition in society could have acted such
a part. Whatever may be the result of the pre-
sent motion, nothing can replace Mr. SMITH, or
obtain for him the public confidence. He has
irretrievably damaged himself, and must hence-
forward be contented to sink into the insignificance
from which he should never have emerged.

WHO WAS IT?