Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-10-22 00:00:00

MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT' ON INDIA.

MR. R. P. COLLETT, AT PLYIfOUTIT.

The question of India was one which must be brought
before the House of Commons, and be dealt with in the
shape of legislation, therefore constituents had a right to
inquire of their representative what course he intended to
pursue. This great calamity, the details of whfeh were
so horrible and heartrending, might tend to beneilitial
results ; he believed, in fact, it had already led to• a
highly beneficial result—that of awakening the attention
of the people of England, and at last seriously directing
' their attention to Indian aff lire. The conscience of the
country had been raised to the awful importance and
responsibility which attended the government and direc-
tion of about 200,000,000 of human beings. Whea
addressing a large assembly he liked to speak the truth,
whatever might be the consequences, and he stated
without hesitation, that the English people were to blame
in not looking after and attending properly to their
Indian affairs. England had acquired. a large empire by
what might be termed haphazard. It had been acquired
by no principles they did not know how they got it;
they had got it by a series of events, which the most
daring romance—writer would hesitate to make the
groundwork of a novel—so strange a fiCtlme was it. It
had been obtained haphazard, end had been governed
haphazard; it had been used as a digging for the
extraction of so much gold ; it had been' used to make
fortune?, and there had been an immense amount of
jobbery and corruption., The Government had not been
so bad as it might have been, or yet so good as it might
be. It had not been exactly wicked, but it had been a
careless, self-seeking. low, unprincipled, huckstering
Government. Still, the worst form of European govern-
ment, was much better than the best native'rule. How
was this revolt to be death with ? Oa thin point there
could be no serious differenee of opinion, for he believed
every Englishman whom he might address, would agree
that England must put forth her whole strength and
energy for the purpose of putting it dow with a high
hand. It was absolutely necessary to restore the Prestige
which we have lost, and show nations that we are not to be
insulted and offended with impunity, and without return-
ing' a severe and jest punishment. In fighting for our
Indian empire we were, in fact, fighting for our own
empire, for there were those on the continent envious of
England's greatness, who were found to say that her sun
was declining, and it' we failed to put down this mutiny,
would say that we had lost our native energy; that our
country was on the wane; therefore, let them fight abroad,
or else they might have to fight at home. It was with
satisraction that they saw their soldiers had not
deteri•rated. The men who were fighting under
Havelock, were as valiant as those who fought under
Wellington. The English troops had not only beaten the
Indians, but had beaten those very Sepoys whom they

had themselves trained and instructed in arms. If,
in the abs,nce of reinforcements, they had been enabled
to ho!d their own, it might be confidently hoped
that when the reinforcements• arrived, we should be
speedily victorious. There would be an army as great,
or greater, than that in the Crimea, and led by an efficient
commander—S:r Colin Campbell. He was a man who
did not owe his position to high birth, but he had earced
his rank by his achievements and behaviour in number-
less battles; bit be was afraid he would be hampered
with bands of red tape. However, if he was, he must
break them. He was not the one to breathe the cry of
vengeance, but matters could mot be minced. The ring-
leaders must suffer death, and after the mutiny had been
put dowri it was then the time to talk of clemency, and
not at present. Nothing world give him gieater pleasure
than to see a gang of the high caste Brahmins breaking
stones on the roads. Transportation would be the
punishment or all excepting the ringleaders, who must
suffer death. The higher the caste the greater had been
the atrocities. The fourth question was the most

important of all. That was, " liow were they to prevent
a recurrence, and permanently secure their Indian
empire ?" This was a question which must without
delay occupy the attention of Parliament and the
country. It was necessary the people of England should
speak their minds, and whatever was required to be done
would by the voice of public opinion be carried into effect.
Public opinion was as necessary to ventilate the
G wernment department as the air which they breathe
was necessary to ventilate a room. Indian discussions
were never attended by the members of the House;
but th s was because the debates on the subpct were
never read ; and if the people had read them more interest
would have been felt by the members. It was nominally
ruled by the East India Company, but really by the Board
of Control, and it did seem to him that under this system
there was a sort of juggled hocuspocus existing, and no
one knew who was responsible for what. All governing
powers should be vested in a Peirne Minister, who elope
should be as responsible for the G)vernment of India as
he was of this country. In organising a future Indian
army great care should be laten that the European
element was larger in propertion than hitherto. A native
army must be organised—as the army could not be entirely
an European one—and it mast be reorganised on different
principles. Hitherto high caste Brahmina had been
selected, and these were the men who were at the bottom
of the mischief. Civil reforms must also be male, and a
new system of magisterial jurisdiction, so as to secure to
every man, as far as possible, his rights and privileges.