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    suggestion of the Home Secretary was not...

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    Imperial Parliament. Monday, February 15...

    _^ - ————^—territory . A change which he ( Mr . BailUe ) thought ad-SKKKonld be that some restriction should be placed iSn tbTunUmited power of the Minister ^ the Crown . rC teir . ) That was the opinion of the Court of Directors in 1833 , as appeared from the correspondence that then took place between the Court and the Crown . What the Directors proposed was that , when the Indian Minister and the Court of Directors differed in opinion , there should be an appeal to Parliament upon the merits of the case . But the Government of the day was strong , and the Directors failed in their object Mr . Baillie concluded by moving for certain papers . Mr . Vernon Smith said that Mr . Baillie had cast no light upon the origin of the mutinies , which remained as mysterious as ever . There never had been any policy of annexation ; no Government had laid down such a principle . With regard to the annexation of Oude , he was of opinion that Lord Dalhousie had acted with great discretion . The King of that country had been ^ tinctl y ¦ warned by Lord William Bentinck and Lord Hardinge that , if he refused to reform his government , he would Srfeit his throne . It was by British bayonets that he was enabled to tyrannize over his subjects ; and , even although the seizure of the country was the caase of the revolt , the act was justifiable . All the authorities in S which the Government consulted at th « . fame were in favour of the measure . The discontent of the Oude Sepoy was owing to the monopolies which he had enjoyed being broken up . However , he ( Mr . Vernon Smith ) would offer no opposition to the production of the papers . Lord John Kussell vindicated the political character of Lord Dalhousie . The misgovernment of Oude was so notorious as far back as 1801 , that Lord Wellesley concluded a treaty with the Nawab Viziex , which pledged the Prince to act in accordance with the advice of the Company . That treaty was constantly violated , but English soldiers were obliged to perform the odious duty of enforcing the misrule of a vicious Court . At length it became necessary either that our troops should be withdrawn , or that Oude should be seized . The home

    Government decided on the latter course , ana ^ . ora umhousie could not do otherwise than obey . It was unfortunate , however , that the annexation should take place contemporaneousl y with the Persian war , and without a sufficient force in hand in case of an emergency . Lord John Manners contended that the deposed King of Oude had really taken the advice given to him by us so that there was no justification for the annexation . Besides , if the treaty of 1837 , prohibiting the annexation of Oude , was in force in 1856 , it had been flagrantly violated . His Lordship quoted a letter of Lord Auckland , and declarations of Lords Ellenborough and t » \ .+ * oK ^ t . r that thnt t . rp . a tv is valid , though

    „ Lord Dalhousie had asserted that it had been disallowed by the Home authorities . By fraud and chicanery they had won the kingdom of Oude , and it seemed that they are determined to hold it by blood ; but for himself he disclaimed all responsibility in these transactions , lie concluded by moving , as an amendment , for copies ot correspondence between the Secret Committee a !^ L Board of Control in the years 1837 , 1838 , and 1839 . Mr . Mangles , as a member of the Court of Directors , was ready to take his full share of responsibility for the annexation of Oude , which he believed was a just and necessary measure . The treaty of 1837 was really disallowed He did not believe that the annexation of

    Oude had had any appreciable effect on the mutiny . The H indoos in Oude are in our favour , as had been proved by the natives having maintained the authority of the Government at stations deserted by civil officers . The rising is nothing more than a military mutiny . — Colonel Svkes ( likewise a «' rector of the Company ; addressed the House to the same effect . —Mr . Kinnajrd thought Mr . Baillie ' s speech had not been answered . — o ! . t ~ . «» t PiiriM / irnH < r «< rnrded tlie annexation oi

    Oude as one of the most unrighteous acts that ever threw a stain on this country . If the treaty of 1887 ¦ were abrogated , the King of Oude was not informed of the abrogation . The act had been justified on account of the alleged degradation of the people ; but Bishop Heber said that , when he visited the country , he never Baw so industrious a population . —General Thompson said that the Government had goaded the Sepoys into rebellion by insulting them in connexion with their rem . aB ~ . 0 4 l * n . twin / tan n f Tl « llll WflH Oflrt execution ui * "

    ligion * xne mo i"" ^™ «» •*• " ~» - •—of the foulest murders that ever disgraced a country . f" Oh oh / " ) Tho English officers had tortured thoir prisoners , and then boasted of if . Ho sometimes wondered what we had dono that such men should bo decreed to be our countrymen . Many of tho torturers and the tortured aro now before tho name God ; and ho bou « w « ri thfi Hindoos would have tho beat of it . ( " on ,

    , , —^ oft . / iu—Mr . ^ N » w » KaAT »? . wft »^ not , rpr ! epftrcd . t * Ufe L * H , polluters of our women and tho murderers of our children defended in that House ; still Ices tlmt a general officer would be found apologizing for tho enormities of tho Sepoys . — -General Thompson , in explanation , said thut , except ae to their vlotlma Mng put to death , ho did not believe in the outrages said to , have boon committed In India by the Sepoys . —Mr . Patrick O'Bbipn having offered a few observations , oxoulpatiug General luompson from the charge of wishing to sympathizo with Sepoy atrocities , tho amendment of Lord John Manhhrs was withdrawn , and tho motion was agrood to .

    VACATING OP SEAT 3 . Mr . Wrightsox moved for leave to bring in a bill to T : & - ^ A' £ S £ " - 2 rT £ s ^ i = r «^ 3 K ^ 32 Sr ^ i = ? i ? peared— q ( For the motion ** Against it •• n _ Majority against the motion ... —*¦' BLEACHING AND DYEING WORKS . Mr . Butt moved for , and obtained , a select committee to inquire into the circumstances connected with the employment of women and children in bleaching and dS establishments in England , Scotland , and Ireland and tf consider how far it may be necessary or expedient to extend to those establishments provisions regulating such employment , and to report their observations thereupon to the House . MORTALITY IN THE FOOT GUARDS . Captain A nnesley moved for a copy of the report of the medical officers of the Foot Guards which ^ tates ^ he average mortality in that brigade . —Mr Sidney Herbert suggested that the returns should extend over Ei & S 3 a ^ f ^ .-S £ zsss ^ jzsz ^& JzS k zsr & s ^^ ssrjrsrpszz The motion , as amended , was then agreed to . The debate on the Government of India was postponed till Thursday , Mr . Roebuck , who had a motion on the paper , having consented to give way . The House adjourned about one o ' clock . Wednesday , February 17 tk . ECCLESIASTICAL RESIDENCES ( IRELAND ) BILL . In the House of Commons , Mr . Napier , in -moving the second reading of the Ecclesiastical R esldenc ^ < £ ?" land ) Bill , explained its objects , which are , to ascertain : t "/«™ ,, ;™ th « s » hiect . now uncertain ; to consolidate

    Td amend it and to render it as complete as possible -Sir George Grey , on the part of the Government , made no objection to the second reading of the ^ bill , which was accordingly read a second tmie . —On the motion of Mr . Napier , the Churches , & c . ( Ireland ) , Bill was also read a second time . CHURCH BATES ABOLITION BILL . Sir John Trelawney moved the second reading ot the bill . Alluding to the irritating contests which constantly take place , and to the decay of the fabric of the churches owing to the majority in certain parishes refusing church rates , Sir John * aid the question was not so Ohurcnmen —j

    much that of Dissenters as of . . ™ "">""" was seconded by General Thompson , , as the bill did not provide any mode of . supplying the defieienoy , suggested that it might be made up by a land-tax . — Lo rd Robert Cecil moved , by way of fJ ™^ " * * ! defer the second reading for six months . The bill proposed to remedy an evil which does not exist , and it would be the first step towards a separation of Church and State . —Sir Arthur Hallam Elton , as a Churchman , supported the second reading , but thought there should be some provision towards ^ e maintenance of the fabric of the churches . —Mr . Ball , replying to Lord Robert Cecil , observed that the Dissenters of all classes far out-__ . iL _ > . u _ r » K ™« n Thp , v would willingly pay a

    voluntary contribution towards mamtaming ecclesiasihcal edifices .-Mr . Drummohd thought that the " . story of England could not furnish a more scandalous decision than that in the Brain tree case , when the House of Lords ruled that a minority cannot make a cerebrate . —Lord Stanley supported the bill , being of opin on that the voluntary principle in Church matters is the . ,. oKiVISfinn of not

    —Sir George grey couiu ujjicu w * "v »~~» .. church rates without an equivalent , nor could ho oppose the bill upon the grounds stated by the noble lord who moved the amendment . He believed ihift the number of parishes where church-rates had not been demanded , or had been refused , amounted to about ton per cent . ; but they must look to the number of tho population , and not to the number of parishes , in coming to a conclusion in this matter . Ho believed there wore 9000 parishes , in about 950 of which church rates had not been asked for : but the number of tho population accepting church rates was 18 , 500 , 000 , while the number , incases where they had been refused oV withheld , was six million . He suggested that they should recognize the abolition of church rates wherever they ua . d been abolished for a certain time by the inhabitants , a , nd that they should relieve the individual consciences of thoso ? oAOi | b

    Their Lordships adjourned at seven o clock . ,. GENERAL WINDHAM . In the Hoxjsb op Commons , Sir William CoDiuNaton asked whether any additional despatch had been received by tho Government from tho Commandor-in-Chiof , and from tho Governor-General in India , referring to the operations of General Windham in the defence of Cawnpore la November last ?—Lord Palmekston a . u . 1 ho rather thought that such a communication had boon . received at tlie India House . The honourable bnronet know that no communication exists betwoon thouovernor-Gonoral of India and nny portion of I" > r mjosty ' s Government ; but ho believed ho might ^ onturo to say that explanations had boon given winch completely acquitted General Windham of any blame connected with tho engagement which ended with the loss eoiub

    who differed with tne iistaonsneu unumu , u ..... « iironTfrom paymont ^ f ^ hlirch ™ r atosrbut-ot' -the-same . time they should not be allowed to have seats in , the voBtry , nor to take part in any ecclesiastical business . Ho also suggested that landowners in parishes should charge their estates to a limited amount with ohuron rates . If the bill of the hon . baronet wore rejected , ho ( Sir George Grey ) would ask leave to lay upon tho tablo a measure embodying his own suggestions . Mr . BmniiairoBD Homo , who spoke amidst loud cries of » Divide ! " oppoaed tho bill . — Mr . Gaunkt supported It . —Tho ClIANOKLLOR Olf THIS EXOUWQUMH Sttld the

    - promise , but would bring about a solution of the difficulty . — Mr . Slaney , feeling bound to support the fabric of the churches , and at the same time to remove conscientious objections , should reserve his vote for the bill of Sir George Grey ( " OA , Oh /"') , and vote against the present bill . —Sir John Trelawney replied , and the House divided , when there appeared—For the second reading 213 Against it 160 Majority for the second reading , and against the Government 53 The announcement was received with loud cheers . The bill was then read a second time , and the committee was fixed for that day fortnight . The House adjourned at half-past five o ' clock . Thursday , February 18 th . THE INDIAN LOAN . In the House of Lords , Lord Monteagle moved for a return showing the total expenditure , the surplus , and deficiency in the several Presidencies in India during the last ten years ; also a return of the Indian debt , and the charges for the Indian debt , and the variation of the debt from year to vear , both as regards the amount of principal and the * rate of interest ; and also a return showing the balances in the treasury at the commencement of each of those financial years . THE MILITIA . The Earl of Carnarvon moved for a return of the actual strength of the Militia regiments at present embodied , and expressed an opinion that the vote for the Militia contained in the estimates of this year ( 150 , 000 / . ) is insufficient . —Earl Haudwicke also thought a larger sum should have been asked for . —Earl Gkey held that the vote was sufficient . The Militia already costs as . much as the regular army . —The Earl of Ellenborough believed , from returns he had seen of sick and wounded published in an Indian newspaper , that our force m the East is not so strong as supposed . Whatever arrangements might be made , he earnestly hoped that they would be enabled to relieve eight or ten regiments . — _ , : j u ^ Vtsti ; AirArl rhorA wn < % nothing more ni / «*

    -i ^ ora ; »** " * = » v » v v-w .. ^ , _ , unpalatable to a regiment , however weak it might be , than to withdraw it from the field where it had earned its glory . —The motion was then agreed to . DISTRICT COURTS OF BANKRUPTCY . Lord Brougham introduced a bill for effecting various changes in the present jurisdiction in bankruptcy . By , this measure , parties would have the option of going before the district judge or the central judge . accordingas it might be found convenient or expedient . It would give jurisdiction to the bankrupt commissioners to imprison for debt , in cases of fraud and misconduct . It v sj . j * *! . „ nnnn ; ntmAnf nfan officer , to be called ¦

    proviueu ior mo a ~*** -- » -- -- _ i . 4 , i an official examiner , audit would be his duty to attend on the part of creditors in the first instance ; but , if tlie creditors did not choose to help Mm , or undertake the task of examination themselves , it would then be ins duty to exam ine , inquire , sift , and scrutinize , on . tne ! part of the public , theconductof the traders brought before i the court . There were provisions for the improvement ot ' the conduct of the official assignees , and above all lor tne ! improvement of the mode of remuneration . His Lordsnip I desired to abolish the diatinction between trader and nontrader , and declared that he brought forward the bill with the expectation that the Lord Chancellor would also propound a measure according to his own views on

    the subject . , ... The Lord Chancellor said there seemed to bo iliificulties in the way of abolishing the district courts of bankruptcy , and giving tho jurisdiction to the county courts . A bill on tho subject had been under tho consideration of the Board of Trade , and would bo introduced by Government cither in that or the other House . After a brief and rather vague conversation , the bill « fno rnn / 1 fl fir fit , tllTlG .

    of . a , part of the , baggage ana . ~ GOVlORNMENTOlTlNDIA . —ADJOURNED PKUA-nC . The adjourned debate wus resumed by Colonel »> K • » , who defended tho Company , denying tlmt tho doubio Government nocoesarily caused doluy In tho triuijmciio of bualnoso ; assorting that the Company und ^* anxious to onoourago Christianity In India , but « ' » obliged to obsorvo oau ' tlon lost tho nutivos snouiu « alarmed 5 expressing his belief tlmt the mutiny w * »» lltary rising consequent on a relrgloue panic ; ano . u b Ing the danger of leaving in tho hands of the lUMaw

    Suggestion Of The Home Secretary Was Not...

    suggestion of the Home Secretary was not a mere com-THE LEAD EH . [ No . 413 , Februar y 20 , 1858 > J- ° ¦ == o , i < r < raatinn of the Home Secretary was not a mere com-

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 20, 1858, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_20021858/page/4/