The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-03-10 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-MONDAY.

Mr. C. BFRKELEY called the attention of the house to
a petition that he had received, purporting to come from
Cheltenham, though in fact it came from Manchester, and
moved that it be referred to a Select Committee, to in-
quire into the manner in which the petition was gest up
and the signatures attached to it.
The motion was agreed to.
Sir ROBERT PEEL WBS about to proceed with his mo-
tion of thanks to the Indian army, when be was inter-
rupted by
Mr. Baroror, who said he had a petition to present
from 560 inhabitants of the town of Reading, expressing
great regret that war had broken out in India, and remon-
strating against the award of thanks to the army engaged
in what they believed a very impolitic and unchf stian war.
Sir R. PEEL then said, that until he was interrupted
by the member for Durham, he was not prepared to be-
lieve that it could be possible that any body of Englishmen
could be found, who, seeing what were the circumstances
of unprovoked aggression which called forth the exertions
of these men—who, seeing what in a just cause was their
devotion to the interests of their country—he said, he
could hardly have believed it possible that, in this country,
any body of men could be found to sign a petition grudg-
ing such an acknowledgment of courage and devotion as
that which he propose to offer. (Loud cheers.) The
right hon. baronet then took a review of the state of the
Punjaub since the death of Runjcet Singh, and of the
aggressions that forced the Governor-General of India
into hostile operations, and moved a seriesof resolutions,
similar to those voted in the Lords, granting the thanks
of the House of Commons to the commanding officers and
men engaged in the late brilliant achievements on the
banks of the Sutlej. The right hon. baronet stated that he
proposed the vote simply for the military services per-
formed, totally irrespective of the policy of the Governor-
General, and lie intimated that he should propose an al-
dress to the crown, praying her Majesty to have a suitable
monument erected to the memory of Sir Robert Sale.
The motion was seconded by Lord John Russell, and
supported by Sir R. Inglis and other members.
Sir 110 WARD DOUGLAS said, he would make some pro-
fessional observations on that victory for which the house
was now to return thanks. It was a consolatory conside-
ration to the nation and to surviving friends that the
serious sacrifice of life which was made—and many most
valuable lives were sacrificed—that they fell in defence of
their country, and that they bled to uphold the honour of
the British name. They fell not in the violation of the
rights of others, either personal or territorial. On the
contrary, they exercised so much forbearance and patience
as to expose Sir Henry Hardinge to the surmise that his
extreme indulgence allowed that advantage which was in-
consistent with the science of a good tactician, or with
those strategetical manoeuvres which ought to have been
observed. But the wish of the Governor-General was,
and he enjoined the instructions, that the most scrupulous
forbearance should be observed, and that they were not to
provoke aggression—his policy was decidedly pacific. But
he would show that professionally with the greatest for-
bearance, no error was committed. Here the gallant
member entered into a military statement as to the pro-
gress of the army, the principle of the passage of rivers,
and the concentration of forces, which be illustrated by
reference to a map, and from the whole he concluded that
Sir Henry Hardinge adopted the wisest course—a course
which was in accordance with the best rules of military
science. (Cheers.) There was no doubt but gallant offi-
cers were placed •in great difficulty on that important
occasion ; the troops were brought up under peculiar cir-
cumstances', but they advanced under the guidance of a
man whose mind was well stored with that energy and
with those intellectual resources which that crisis de-
manded. Those difficulties which he had to encounter
were all surmounted, the movement was conducted with
great military skill, and the result had been a victory of
vast consequence to the British name, British character,
and British interests. There never were military opera-
tions conducted with more intelligence—with more energy
or with more vigour—and which were well displayed under
severe privet ons. And that distinguished regiment, the
Sixty-second, although greatly inferior in numbers, having
eone into the action with only 21 officers and 700 men,
faced the foe—exposed to their tremendous fire—to their
iron storm moved on with unexampled steadiness,
not shrinking, although at one time seventeen out of the
twenty-one officers and half their men were struck down.
Yet they attacked the enemy with the greatest confidence,
and stood their ground until the most dreadful havoc was
made in their ranks. But if there were any error com-
mitted as regarded that distinguished regiment he thought
with the right hon. baronet, the gallant deeds and success
of that day should obliterate the recollection of any tem-
porary casualty. Not wishing to occupy more of the
time of the house, he would express his entire concurrence
in the vote of thanks and his deep sympathy for the loss
of those brave men who fell in the midst of a victory so
brilliant and so glorious.
The resolutions were then agreed to unanimously.
The house went into committee on customs and corn
importation, and the resolution re,pectiug corn was moved
by Sir R. PEEL.
Mr. VILLIERS moved as an amendment that the duties
on corn should immediately and totally cease.
Colonel SIBTIIORP, in a humorous and spirited speech,
met the amendment with a direct negative.
The debate finally merged in an angry discussion, full
of personalities, in which Lord J. RUSSELL, Mr. PER-
RAND, Lord C. H.AMILTO,, and several other members
took a part. It was at last terminated by Lord ,loner
RUSSELL'S observing that in the then temper of the com-
mittee, the best thing that could be done was to move
that the chairman report progress, and ask leave to sit
again next day.
This proposition was acceded to.