The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-19 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.--(THIS EVENING.)

The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
NEW MEMBER.
Mr. H. LEWIS took the oaths and his seat on his elec-
tion for the borough of Marylebone.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The Neath Water Bill was considered and ordered for
third reading; and the Edgware, Highgate, and London
Railway was read a second time.
ABERDEEN BOROUGH.
Mr. 11. VIVIAN moved an address for a copy of two
reports made by Captain Donolly to the Lords of her Ma-
jesty's Collodi, on the subject of the petition of the inhabi-
tant householders of the borough of Aberdeen, praqiiiir fur
a municipal charter.—Ordered.

NEW WRIT.
On a motion of Mr. BRAND a writ was ordered to issue
for the election of member for the borough of Southwark
in the room of Mr. John Locke, who had accepted the situ-
Lion of Recorder of Brighton.
STREET RAILWAYS.
Mr. BRADY gave notice of a motion for the appoint-
ment of a select committee on this subject.
RELIGIOUS PERSECUTIONS IN SPAIN.
Sir R. PEEL ackod the Secretary of State for Foreig,ta I
.ft.altita v,uetner no naa any oujecaOn
the nature of the communications which had passed be-
tween Sir A. Buchanan and the Spanish G. vamanent,
with reference to the recent persecutions in Spain ?
Lord J. RUSSELL said thefe had been a communica-
tion with the Spanish Government on this subject, and
made some :other statements, which were not audible in
the gallery, from the low tsne in which the noble lord
spoke.
THE MANAGER OF THE MARYBORO' DIS-
TRICT LUNATIC ASYLUM.
Mr. DUNNE asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland
when the decision of the Lord Lieutenant with regard to
the manager of the Maryboro' District Lunatic Asylum
would be carried into effect ; and whether the manager,
when removed, would be appointed to any other asylum?
Mr. CARDWELL said that an inquiry had been made
into this subject, and the result was that it was determined
to remove. the official in question, which would be done

shortly.
CONVICT REFORM IN IRELLND.
On the motion for the adjournment of the ,house at its
rising until Monday,
Mr. W. EWART inquired of the Secretary of State for
the Home Department whether the system introduced by
Captain Crofton into Ireland for the discipline and reform
of convicts would be taken into the consideration of the
Government.
Mr. CLIVE said that any advantage resulting from the
reform in question by Capt. Crofton would be considered by
the Government.

Mr. LAYARD asked the Secretary of State for India
whether a bill had been introduced into the Legislative
Council of India to enforce contracts for the delivery of
agricultural produce ? He expressed pleasure at seeing the
right hon. gentleman (Sir C. Wood) in his place. He be-
lieved the question to which he drew the attention of the
house was one of extreme importance, and if he was
correctly informed, our countrymen in India were
guilty of the most reprehensible conduct. Last
year there was an outbreak in Bengal in consequence of
the proceedings relative to the question of indigo cultiva-
tion in that presidency. A bill was then introduced
into the Indian legislature,, which rendered the breach
of contract in the cultivation of indigo punishable
by fine or three months' imprisonment. The cultivation of
indigo was promoted by the system of advances, and the
effect of this system enabled the planters to act in
the most oppressive manner towards the ryots, who
were the owners of the soil. An inquiry had been
made into the subject, and 4,000 answers were obtained
from different witnesses who were qualified to give correct
information,who had made report, from the perusal of
which he had risen with mingled feelings of horror,
indignation, and dismay which he could not ex-
press. (Hear, hear.) The law in question was en-
trusted to young magistrates in many cases, and it armed
the planters with a power which they exercised most ex-
tensively, and the consequence was that numbers of the
unfortunate ryots were imprisoned or fined for a failure in
the fulfilment of their contracts. The hon. member then
read extracts from the stet ments of Mr. John Peter
Grant, Lieutenant General of India, and other resident
authorities in India to show that the result of the system
was to inflict the grossest injustice, and he contended that
unless some alteration took place there were grounds for
apprehending an outbreak in Southern Bengal. In re-
ea.a by the, act there was great want of faith towards
the natives„ for when it was first passed it was with the
distinct understanding that it was to continue only for six
months. However, it was reintroduced last March, and he
strongly condemned this policy, which had only for its
object the benefit of a few planters in Southern Bengal,
and was calculated to render this country hateful to the in-
habitants.
Mr. VANSITTART asked the Secretary of State for
India whether his attention had been drawn to the report
of the Indigo Commission, with the minutes of evidence
taken before them, and appendix, dated Calcutta, April
27th, 1860 ; and, if so, whether he has taken any
steps to carry out the recorrimendations contained
therein. He said he had gone carefully through this
report, and contended that the planters were exonerated
from the charges brought against them. In his opinion
the conduct of Mr. Grant was most objectionable, for he
throw the whole weight of his authority into the scale
against the planters. He said that in many cases the ts
were a money getting body, and were in many cases aryo b-
sentees, and they induced their fellow-ryots to
act in such a manner that the planters were
unable to meet their liabilities, and ther
actin rr*
perties were sold. He could not see the polle i
e e
g
in a hostile mannertowarde the planters in India,.to whom
. considele degr
fd
tc
the zemindars and ryots wereina inidebted
rabfor much
eime
forp t-he-e
merit, and this country
maintenance of its power in that country. Heir
India to
)
the testimony of several competent authoritiesn
show that the planters were the friends of improvement
and progress, and that instead of being open to censure
they were entitled to the greatest praise.
Mr. KINNAIRD asked the Secretary of State for India
whether he had received a copy of the correspon-
dence regarding the cultivation of Indigo, between the
Government of India and the Governnueet of Bengal,
which took place between July and November,
1860; also of the correspondence connected with the
issue of the Indigo Proclamation, dated September, 1860;
tablend whether
ouhe h any obction
ed to lay the same on the
of the hse.ad He defendthe statements of the hon.
member (Mr. Layard), and he expressed a hope that
the house and the Government would not blind themselves
to the emergency that bad arisen in India in reference
to the question. The facts stated by his hon. friend (Mr.
Layard) could be proved, and it could be sho that the
cultivation of indigo was impolitic and
trusted the papers for which he asked wo dbe produced,
toress wn ive He
.
and that justice would be done to the unfortunate ryots.
%Sir ELPHINSTONE referred to the debates on the
subject in the Indian Legislative Council, to showr that the
statements of the hon. member for Southwark M . L.ayard)
Werelso passed a eulogrum on
were
an justified by facts.
the planters, who, he argued, not inferior.to any other
body of her Majesty's subjects.
OETKOVE paid that the greatest injury would