NEWS OF THE WEEK.
IF a measure were complete without details,—if the mere passing of resolutions, and the sanction of a principle, were sufficient to set great questions at rest,—then, indeed, the members of the British House of Commons might fairly be allowed to congratulate them- selves on their labours of the past week, the importance of which it would be difficult to exaggerate.
On Monday and Tuesday, the remainder of Mr. STANLEY'S re- solutions for the extinction of Colonial Slavery were adopted by large majorities. Although many disapprove of the mode in which this great work is to be accomplished, it is gratifying to find that not a single voice was lifted up avowedly in defence of the system which is now staggering under a deathblow. The victory, which the bette'_ feelings of our countrymen have gained, is one which the philant.i.ropist may well rejoice to contemplate. How great a change has been wrought in the land, since the slave-trade, with all its horrors, was strenuously defended, by men still living, and in the high places of power! The only question now is, in what way the curse and stigma which that trade entailed upon us, can be most speedily and completely removed. As severe wounds never heal without leaving a scar, so national crimes of long con- tinuance and deep dye can only be expiated at a heavy cost. This penalty the people of England are about to pay. The loan of fif- teen millions, for which we were to receive good security and in- terest at 4 per cent., is converted into a grant of twenty millions without any interest at all. This is the only material alteration in the Government proposal ; and it was sanctioned by the House of Commons, by a vote of 304 to 56. The report of the Committee was received on Wednesday, and a bill founded on the resolutions was ordered to be brought in.
Having thus in some sort disposed of the, affairs of the West, the House, on Thursday, proceeded to grapple with the East India question ; which was brought before it by Mr. CHARLES GRANT, in a speech three or four hours long. The following are the reso- lutions which he concluded by moving: they are sufficiently concise, and certainly no member could be said to pledge himself to sup- port the details of the measure by voting for them.
"1. That it is expedient that all his Majesty's subjects should be at liberty to repair to the ports of the empire of China, and to trade in tea and in all other pro- ductions of the said empire, subject to such regulations as Parliament shall enact for the protection of the commercial and political interests of this country. 2. That it is expedient that, in case the East India Company shall transfer to the Crown, on behalf of the Indian territory, all assets and claims of every descrip- tion belonging to the said Company, the Crown, on behalf of the Indian terri- tory, shall take on itself all the obligations of the said Company, of whatever description, and that the said Company shall receive from the revenues of the said territory such a sum, and paid in such a manner and under such regula- tions, as Parliament shall enact. 3. That it is expedient that the Government of the British possessions in India be intrusted to the said Company, under such conditions and regulations as Parliament shall enact, for the purpose of extend- sag the commerce of this country, and of securing the good government, and promoting the moral and religious improvement of the people of India."
The East India Company have agreed to the terms which are -here indicated; and as the House of Commons has passed them without a division, the question may be regarded as in a fair way of settlement. Mr. GRANT explained in his speech, that the Company were to retain the government of India for a fixed term of twenty years ; that an additional Presidency was to be esta- blished in the North-western districts, now included in the juris- diction of the Bengal Presidency ; that the control of the Gover- nor-General over the subordinate governments should be rendered more definite and efficient; and that a body of Commissioners should be sent to Canton, to watch over and protect British in- terests in the place of the Company's Factory. One very essen-
ELATES! EDITION.) tial point, which is not hinted at in the resolutions, but which Mr. GRANT laid much stress upon in his exposition of the new scheme, is that which refers to the abolition in India of all dis- tinction between Europeans and the Natives, and the subjection of both to precisely the same laws. The settlement also of Englishmen in India, instead of being discouraged, is to be pro- moted in future. The guarantee fund of 1,200,0001. is to be in- creased to 2,000,000/.; and is to be considered as a security for the
payment of the dividend, as well as for the capital of the Com- pany. The proprietors may claim to be paid oil' at the rate of 100/. for every 5/. 5s. annuity, whenever the political government of India shall be taken out of their hands. In other re-
spects, the plan is essentially the same as that which
was proposed to the Directors some weeks ago, and which we very fully discussed at the time. Mr. GRANT stated that his
bill was prepared and ready to be brought in, as soon as the reso- lutions had been regularly adopted by the House. The scheme, on the whole, appeared to give satisfaction to most of those Who made remarks upon it. Mr. WYNN, Mr. MARJORIBANKS, and Mr. CvTLAR FERGUSSON, all expressed their approbation ; and Mr. BUCKINGHAM was the only member who stated a contrary opi-
nion.. Time, however, has not been given, nor is the House as yet sufficiently acquainted with the machinery of the plan, to come to a decision as to more than its leading features.
Lord ALTHORP has at length set about the extinction of Tithes in Ireland, apparently, and we hope really, in good earnest. He
moved a resolution, on Wednesday, to enable Government to ad- vance a sum to the Clergy sufficient to cover the tithe arrears of 1831 and 1832, and the amount due for the current year. This money is to be repaid by the produce of a land-tax, to be laid upon all titheable land. Where the arrears have been discharged, the tax of course will only be collected. prospectively. The land- owner must pay the tithe which, by the terms of his agreement, was to have been paid by the tenant ; against whom he will have his remedy. It is not explained what is to be done with the small tithes, the collection of which is so grievous to the Irish cotter. Are they to be valued and commuted also? We hope so, however difficult the operation may be ; otherwise the business will be only half done after all.
The resolution formed the topic of a long discussion last night. Mr. O'CONNELL gave Ministers his support, and thanked them for the measure. He also took the opportunity of lauding Mr. LITTLETON'S first proceedings in his office of Irish Secretary. How long this good understanding will continue between them, is of course problematical—possibly it may last a week. Some opposi- tion to the transfer of the obligation to pay the tithe arrears, from the occupier to the landlord, was manifested on the part of several Irish 'members ; but upon the whole, the Government proposal was well received, and the resolution was carried by a majority of 270 to 40.
• At two o'clock on Friday morning, just before the House ad- journed, a most useful and excellent measure was introduced by Sir JOHN CAMPBELL, to abolish imprisonment for debt except in. cases of fraud, to simplify and cheapen the mode of collecting sums due on bonds and bills and to render freehold and copyhold property liable to be taken in discharge of simple contract debts. We trust that, notwithstanding the late period of the session, Sir JOHN will push his bill through the House of Commons at all events. What may become of it in the Lords, Heaven only knows : we confess that our hopes of success in that quarter, for a measure which strikes a blow at aristocratical privileges, however iniquitous those privileges may be, are any thing but sanguine. And we find that Lord BROUGHAM, last night, in pursuance of the deep line of policy which he has adopted, was THE FIRST to suggest the postponement of the measure to the Peers !—a sug- gestion to which they, no doubt, will most willingly accede. Should the Chronicles " Tory Plot" to overthrow the Ministry succeed, it is clear that whoever goes out, Lord BROUGHAM intends to stay in.
