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territory . A change which he ( Mr . Bailhe ) thought advisable would be that some restriction should be placed upon the unlimited power of the Minister of the Crown . ( Hear , hear . ' ) 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 npon 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 distinctly warned by Lord William Bentinck and Lord Hardinge that , if he refused to reform his government , he would forfeit his throne . It was by British bayonets that he iras enabled to tyrannize over his subjects ; and , even although the seizure of the country was the cause of the revolt , the act was justifiable . All the authorities in India which the Government consulted at the time 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 . " Verno ' n Smith ) would offer no opposition to the production of the papers .
Lord John Russell 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 Vizier , 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 At length it became necessary either that our troops should be withdrawn , or that Oude should be seized .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 , and Lord Dalhousie could not do otherwise than obey- It was unfortunate , however , that the annexation should take place contemporaneously 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 Broughton , to show that that treaty 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 . He concluded' by moving , as an amendment , for copies of correspondence between the Secret Committee and the 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 Hindoos 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 Sykes ( likewise a director of the Company ) addressed the House to the same effect . —Mr . Kinnaikd thought Mr . Baillie ' s speech had not been answered . — Sir John Pakington 'regarded tlie annexation of 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 saw so industrious a population . —General Thompson said thjat the Government had goaded the Sepoys into rebellion by insulting them in connexion with their religion * The execution of the princes at Delhi was one of the foulest murders that ever disgraced a country . ( " 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 the torturers and
the tortured are now before tho same God ; and ho believed the Hindoos would have tho best of it . ( " Oh , oA 7 " - )—? Mr . » N » w » KaAT » . wft »; jnot , rprspftr £ ^ polluters of our women and tho murderers of our childron defended in that House ; still less that a general ofllcor would be found apologizing for tho enormities of tho Sepoys . — -General Thompson , in explanation , said thut , except as to their viotimu lining put to death , ho did not believe in the outrages said to , have boon committed in India by tho Sopoys . —Mr . Patrick O'Bribn having offered a few observations , oxoulpnting General Thompson from the charge of wishing to sympathize with Sepoy atrocities , tho ainondmont of Lord John Manners was withdrawn , and tho motion wna agrood to .
VACATING OP SEAT 3 . Mr . Wrightson moved for leave to bring in a bill to alter and amend the Act of the 6 th Queen Anne , c . 7 , so far as relates to the vacating of seats in Parliament as the acceptance of office . —The motion was at once put from the chair , and the House divided , when there appeared— For the motion 91 Against it 108 Majority against the motion ... —17
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 dyeing establishments in England , Scotland , and Ireland , and to 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 Annesley moved for a copy of the report of the medical officers of the Foot Guards , which states the average mortality in that brigade . —Mr . Sidney Herbert suggested that the returns should extend over fifteen years instead of ten , and include the number of officers discharged on reduction of the army ; and he moved an amendment to that effect . —After a few words from Colonel North , who conceived that further information was necessary , Sir John Kamsden said he had no objection to offer either to the motion or the amendment . — The motion , as amended , wa 3 then agreed to . The debate on the Government of Iudia 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 Residences ( Ireland ) Bill , explained its objects , which are , to ascertain the law upon the subject , now uncertain ; to consolidate and 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 tinpe . —On the motion of Mr . Napier , " the Churches , &c . ( Ireland ) , Bill was also read a second time . CHURCH RATES ABOLITION BILL .
Sir John Trelawney moved the second reading of 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 said the question was not so much that of Dissenters as of Churchmen . —The motion was seconded by General Thompson , , as the bill did not provide any mode of . supplying the deficiency , suggested that it might be made up by a land-tax . — Lord Robert Cecil moved , by way of amendment , to 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 the maintenance of the fabric of the churches . —Mr . Ball , replying to Lord Robert Cecil , observed that the Dissenters of all classes far outnumber the Churchmen . They would willingly pay a voluntary contribution towards maintaining ecclesiastical edifices . —Mr . Drummond thought that trie history 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 churchrate . —Lord Stanley supported the bill , being of opinion that the voluntary principle in Church matters is the best .
Sir George : Grey could not agree to the abolition of church rates without an equivalent , nor could he oppose the bill upon the grounds stated by the noble lord who moved the amendment . Ho believed that tho number of parishes where churchrates had not been demanded , or had been refused , amounted to about ten per cent . ; but they must look to the number of tho population , and not to tho number of parishes , in coming to a conclusion in this matter . Ho believed thoro wore 9000 parishes , in about 950 of which church rates had not been asked for ; but tho number of tho population accepting church rates was 13 , 600 , 000 , while tho number , incases where they had boon , refused or withheld , was six million . Ho suggested that they should recognize tho
abolition of church rates whorovor they ha . d boon abolished for a certain time by the inhabitants , and that they should relievo tho individual consciences of those whojUfForqd with tho Established Church , by exempting them from paymont ~ f ^ Rul clrrat 08 rbut-ot' -tho' 8 anie time they should not bo allowed to havo seats in the vestry , nor to tako part in any ooclosiastioal business . Ho also suggested that landowners in parishes should charge tuolr estates to a limited amount with church rates . If the bill of the hon . baronot wore rejoetod , ho ( Sir Goorgo Groy ) would ask loavo to lay upon tho table a measure embodying his own suggestions .
suggestion of the Home Secretary was not a mere compromise , 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 , wheu 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 year , 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 Hardwicke also thought a larger sum should have been asked for . —Earl Guey 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 in 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 . — Lord Panmure said he believed there was nothing more unpalatable to a regiment , however weak it might be , than to withdraw it from the field , where it had earned i ts 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 , according as 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 provided for the appointment of an officer , to be called an official examiner , and it would be his . duty to attend on the part of creditors in the first instance ; but , if the
creditors did not choose to help hind , or undertake the task of examination themselves , it would then be his duty to examine , inquire , sift , and scrutinize , on . part of the public , the conduct of the traders brought before the court . There were provisions for the improvement of the conduct of the official assignees , and above all for the improvement of the mode of remuneration . His Lordship desired to abolish the distinction 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 difficulties in the way of abolishing tho 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 be introduced by Government either in that or the other House . —After a brief and rather vague conversation , the bill was read a first time . Their Lordships adjourned at seven o ' clock .
GENERAL WINDHAM . In tho Hovbb op Commons , Sir William CoDitiNaton asked whether any additional despatch had been received by tho Government from tho Commandor-in-Chief , and from tho Governor-General in India , referring to tho operations of General Windham in the dofonco of Cawnpore in November last ?—Lord Palmb ' kston said ho rather thought that such a communication had boon received at tlie India House . The honourable baronet know that no communication exists bctwoon the Govornor-Gonoral of India and nny portion of her Majesty ' s Government ; but ho believed ho might vonturo to say that explanations had boon given which completely acquitted Gonoral Windham of any blame connected with tho engagement which ondod with the loss . QXfl _ P . ft . r . t ... of tho baggage and tents .
GOVERNMENT OV INDIA . —ADJOURNED DKUATIJ . Tho adjourned dobatowus resumed by Colonel Svkks , who defended tho Company , denying ' that tho double Government necessarily caused doluy in tho transaction of business ; assorting that tho Company hod but . " anxious to enoourago Chriwtiunity in India , but w « s obliged to observe caution lest tho nutivos should ho alarmed ; expressing hia boliof that tho mutiny i » « ' Htary rising consequent on a religious panic ; and urging tho danger of leaving In tho hands of tho Minister
Mr . BjBRBsconD Horn , who spoke amidst loud cries of » ' Divide ! " oppoaed tho bill . — Mr . Garnet supported It . —Tho Chancellor ov the Exouuquuii auld tho
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172 THE "LEADER . [ No . 413 > Februar y 20 , 1858 >
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Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 20, 1858, page 172, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2231/page/4/
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