The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-19 00:00:00

INDIA.

Lord J. RUSSELL then proceeded to say, that having
noticed the two speeches made on the important subject of
Parliamentary Reform, he would pass on to the question of
which he had given notice to the noble lord, the Secretary
for India. It appeared from all the accounts which were
received—and very gratifying they were—that the pacifi-
cation of Oude had been effected, that the only large body
of mutineers which remained, had gone into the kingdom
of Nepaul, and that, generally speaking, the revolt had been
put down throughout India. (Hear.) He therefore wished
to know whether it was intended to ask that house to give
a vote of thanks to the Governor -General of India, to the
distinguished general in command of the troops, and to the
other officers, civil and military, who assisted in the great
and glorious event of the pacification of India? (Cheers.)
He would say further, that he 'should have left it entirely
to the discretion of the Government to name the time at
which they might think fit to propose the vote of thanks
were it not for certain papers which had been laid on the
table of the house. (Hear, hear.) A copy of those papers
he held in his hand, and they contained a copy of the
answer of the Governor-General to the secret despatch.
They contained the Governor-General's answer to the Court
of Directors, and also the despatch of the noble lord oppo-
site, dated the 9th of December. He was not going now to
revive the question of the wisdom of the proclamation issued
by Lord Canning. He would admit, for the sake of argu-
ment, that it was unwise to issue that proclamation, though
that was not hi§ opinion, but he owned that it appeared to
him that after that matter was settled—after the Govern-
ment had sent out their opinion, and after Lord Canning in
a very able despatch had at least shown that he had reasons
for his couduct--(hear)—there were but two coursesto pur-
sup with respect to a man in the anxious position of the Go-
vernor-General of India, charged, during a time of as grave
an emergency as had ever happened, with immense respon-
sibility, at one time proposing measures, which did not meet
with the approval of the Government at home, and at
another time directing military operations which were not
in conformity with the judgment of Lord Clyde, namely,
either to tell him that his judgment was erroneous, that he
was unfit to carry on the government of India during this
great emergen4, and that some other person would be put
in his place ; or else to treat him with confidence—(cheers)
—and to show that that confidence was not niggardly be-
stowed. (Cheers.) It was with wonder that he (Lord J.
Russell) had read the despatch of the 9th of December,
which appeared, by its cold and sneering tone, to convey 'a
distrust, which her Majesty's Ministers did not think fit,
for some reason or other, openly to express. (Hear.) There-
fore, that despatch had created a doubt whether it was the
intention of the Government to do justice to Lord Canning
for his high services, such as had never been surpassed, ih
the suppression of the mutiny. (Cheers.) He should be
happy to find that he was mistaken in that suspicion, and
that it was the intention of the Government to propose a
vote of thanks to the Governor-General, to Lord Clyde, and
to the other officers who had distinguished themselves in
India. (Hear, hear.) With respect to Lord Clyde, no man
could entertain the least doubt that any difficulty would
be felt ; for no man in a military position had acted with
greater vigour, decision, and jddgment ; and he hoped that
that gallant general might return and long wear in this
country the laurels he had gained in India. (Cheers.)
Mr. RINNAIRD said that, as the dreadful events of the
mutiny were over, there was a general expectation that
some distinguished mark of merit would be given to Sir J.
Lawrence. (Cheers.) The late Government of India actu-
ally made a provision for any honour that might be conferred
on that distinguished man, for they gave him a pension,
and there would be a general feeling of disappointmen if the
man who was considered the saviour of India had not some
mark of favour from the Crown bestowed on him. (Hear.)
Lord STANLEY assured the house that the Govern-
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