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

CENSURE.

Mr. CARDWELL then moved the following resolu•

tion
" That this house, whilst in its present state of infor-
mation it abstains from expressing an opinion on
the policy of any proclamation which may have
been issued by the Governor-General of India in
relation to Oude, has seen with regret and serious
apprehension that her Majesty's Government have ad-
dressed to the Governor-General, through the Secret
Committee of the Court of Directors, and have
published, a despatch caedemning in strong terms
the conduct of the Governor-General ; and is of
opinion that such a course on the part of the Govern-
ment must tend, in the present circumstances of India,
to produce the most prejudicial effect, by weakening the
authority of the Governor-General, and encouraging the
further resistance of those who are in arms against us.
He said, he rose to bring before the notice
of the house what he believed to be one of
the most remarkable occurrences that had been wit-
nessed in the history of the British Administration.
Ho did not intend to occupy the attention
of the house for any lengthened time, because he did not
mean to say anything that did not rest entirely on facts
patent and indisputable, or upon the statements of those
whose conduct it was his painful duty to impugn. (Loud
laughter from the Ministerial benches, and loud cheers
from the Opposition.) It appeared that on the 12th of
last month there was received in this country a
letter from the Secretary of the Government of India to
the Commissioner in Oude, concerning the draft of an
intended proclamation, which it was announced was in-
tended to be proclaimed in Oude as soon as the fall
of Lucknow had occurred. That important
document was, immediately taken into the
consideration of her Majesty's Government, and in
order not to mistake it he would state it in the language
of the advisers themselves. The Chancellor of the EX-
chequer said—" I think it right to take this opportunity
of stating that when we received notice of this intended
proclamation we took the subject of it into our considera-
tion. (Hear, hear.) There was full time for reflection.
Toe document was receive I on the 12th April, and the
despatch in answer to it was indicted on the 18th, bit
the answer was not despatched till the 26th from this
country. The Earl of Ellenborougb, however, said,
" reisction only the more strongly induces, ale
to think it was absolutely necessary to send the letter as
originally written, and then when I read that proclama-
tion I felt it was my duty to express my own sentiments
on the subject, which were adopted by my noble
friend. So that he apprehended there was no
doubt with regard at least to the writing,
approving and transmitting of the despatch, it we'l
the deliberate act of her Majesty's Government collet'
tively. (Opposition cheers.) It was known to the
house the manner in which the Government of India
was conducted, that of sending to the secret committee
despatches concerning the treatment of the native princes
arid states, which, in their judgment, required secrecy.
That course was pursued on this occasion, and that despatch
collectively adopted by her Majesty's Government wag
sent to India on 26th April through the secret commit-
tee of the Court of Directors of the East India Cow'
pany. With regard, then, first, to the document itself,
it was clear that it was the collective act of her Ma-
jesty's Government—(loud cheers from the Opposition)
---and that it was sent to India through the particular
channel of the secret committee of the Court of Directors,
What were the terms of that despatch he shoull here'
after describe, not however in his language, but excle'
sively in the language of those who indited, or were,
responsible for the despatch. From the 26th of April
to the 6th of May the important information came
within his knowledge— (hear, hear, and cheere)—but on
the 6th of May it having become known through
the channels of the press that a proclamation had been
proclaimed in Oude, which was not the identical draft
of the proclamation to which he bad before referred, but
a proclamation, in the language of Lord Derby, mode'
rattly modified from the draft of that proclarer
tion. That being the position of things, the hon. member
for Birmingham put a question to the hon. member lot
Inverness. The right hon. gentleman then read the,
question and answer, and also that of the Chancellor et
the Exchequer, who stated that the Government dieter
proved of Lord Canning's policy in every sense—(heart
and cheers)—and referred to the publication of the
despatch which had had the effect of raising in the
public mind an apprehension that Lord Canning won't'
be recalled, and in consequence of there being
no valid reasons given for such conduct he had put the
present motion on the paper. After referring to the
manly course of Lord Ellenborough in taking upon bier
self the responsibility in this matter, and,resigned in ten'
sequence, the right hon. gentleman said that it Wl'
clear the writing and sending of the despatch was the
collective act of her Majesty's Government, and not the
separate act of any one member of the Government'
(Cheers from the Opposition.) It was not his intention
to ask the judgment of the house on the despatch is re'
ference to the policy of Lord Canning—(cheers from the
Opposition)—but to condemn its publication. He e'"
jetted to such a document going forth to the world in
reference to a responsible Minister of the Crown,
as being likely to weaken his authority, especially in a
foreign land. (Hear, bear.) The right hon. gentleman
defended the clemency of Lord Canning's govern;
merit, which had gained for him the name °`
"Clemency Canning," and said that it was the cluti,
of the home Government towards its GOVerliOrGenere`
of India, if they were dissatisfied with him, to recall
him ; but if they were satisfied with him, it was their
duty, in difficult circumstances, to sustain and cordially
encourage him. (Hear, hear.) Such conduct as the
Government had pursued, in publishing this despatop
was likely to spread dismay amongst the European!i
in
India, and encourage our enemies to every kind of re-
sistance. ( Hear hear.) The resignation of Lord
Ellenborough did not affect the question in the
manner in which he ( Mr. Cardwell) had laid It
before the house. Th• language of the head 01
the Government had relieved him of the necessity of
arguing in favour of impugning the conduct of the Go-
vernment in this respect, he having stated it was not
capable of a perfect defence. The question was of greet
mportance to the country and the colonies. Tnes",
first passed a resolution to entrust the Government 01
India to a responsible Minister, but bearing this matter
in view, he asked if for the future there was to be
"limited liability" in the Cabinet—(cheers)—and wag
there to be no solidarity in the Government to wh°..
""
the greatest interests of the world were to be entrusted'
The right hen. gentleman, in conclusion, said the 38
India Company had set the Government an example i¢
reference to this matter, and he called upon
the house to relieve Lord Canning's c° At
it
duet from the censure under which- 5,
laboisred from the publication of the despatch in rga.
tion, and the statements that had been made by her
jesty's Government in respect to his policy.
Mr. DEASY seconded the motion.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL.—Sir, I was at soul°
when I read the resolutions which the right hon gen_ct
man has pub into your hands, to know whether the Aua
of it was to support, however, indirectly, the policy of r
ef
Canning in this proclamation whether it was by 111
helping those operations in India, the opposition to v: 60,
the right hon. gentleman considers the conduct of th it
vernment is calculated to prolong—or whether,
was rather to facilitate those operations in this enu _
against the Treasury bench—(cheers)—the oppositeenro_
which the right hon. gentleman considers had been P h
epee°
longed too much. I confess that after hearing the 400
of the right hon. gentleman, I have come to the conel.n.°_es,
that it was neither the first or the second of these nakl e_er.
that he has in view. (flair.) The first objectis
feetly legitimate one, and the furtherance of it has
,
into no unskilful hands ; but he must remember thavvrch
in an assault upon a Ministry there are rules of strife fo'ur
require you boldly and manfully to state and pre" that
case. And from those rules I will show to the honssot first
the hon. gentleman has widely deviated. I Tit% sight
lastly'
ask the house to observe that the resolution Of
hon. gentleman is what is called a complex prop throe.
It must be resolved into its parts, and its parts see ,onon
In the first place, it asks the house to pass no olnIP,„.Tn
the proclamation, or upon the policy of Lord Can for
the second place it is a censure on the Governnr
having, as is alleged, published the despatch which fir
tamed that censure. Now, I maintain, in ,1113 art of
place, that if the house is to accept the first P

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