The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-10 00:00:00

THE NEW GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

BILL.

TO THE EDITOR OT THE SUN.

SIR,--Thu Indian Bill of the present government is
a very clever production, and very greatly superior to
the arbitrary one of Lord Palmerston,—the only utility
of which, and perhaps the chief object, was to get into
his own hands the whole patronage of India. There
seems to be a popular fallacy relative to the Government
of India. India is essentially governed in India by the
Governor-General, the Governors of the different Pre-
sidencies, the Members of Council, the Staff and Eetab-
lishment of Government officials ;—the chief duty of
the Home Government consists in the proper distribu-
tion of patronage, and the appointment of the best and
most competent officers for Indian service.
It would be much better to appoint Governor-Gene-
rals and Governors to India who could be trusted to
govern the country than men who require to be cor-
rected, dictated to, and interfered with at every move-
ment by the House Government. The Bill of Lord
Palmerston only provided a multiplicity of governing
powers for India, who, under different names, would
have all been doing the same thing—governing India
and performing the duty of the Governor. General for
him. The chief of these Governors-Geueral would have
been, no dobbt, Lord Palraereton hinise'f ; but he would
fulfil those attributes much more to the advantage of
the country by going oat to Calcutta and acting the
part of Governor-General there instead of in London,
and quelling the Indian mutiny. There is another po-
pular fallacy relative to ;he constitution of the Indian
Council, viz., that none but Old Indians should be ad-
mitted : there are plenty of Old Indians in India, and
holding the highest appointments of Government Mem-
bers of Council. High Civilians, Generals, C Aerie's,
&e., why should they be able to do so much more in
England than in India, where they did not prevent the
Sepoy mutiny breaking out t What is required to be
introduced into the Administration of India is a popular
element. Men independent of Government who wi I op-
pogo it when necessary, and keep Old Indians and Go-
vernment officials to their duty; it may be unpleasant to a
Government to be found fault with, or to he opposed,
but it is better than losing India, or having such occur-
rences as the sepoy mutiny breaking out. The Govern •
wants of India should be assimilated to that of Englan I ;
there should be a popular element, similar to the elec-
tors and voters for the House of Commons ; but these
should have a stake in India, and an object different
from that of obtaining cadetships or appointments for their
relatives, as this will render them dependent upon the
Indian nabob class ; and, being connected by relationship
with the official class in India, they will not be disposed
to exercise the same check as if they were not so con-
nected. At present there is only one element in the Ad-
ministration of India—al having precisely the same bias
—viz., nabobs and great men of high official rank, and
the electors are persons dependent upon them for cadet-
ships and appointments for their relations ; and those
connected with the official class are not the men who
will keep them to their duty. What is required is a class
of men who, having an important stake in India, will
have a powerful interest in seeing that that stake is not
injured by disturbances or the loss of the country, and
will hence keg) a watchful eye upon transactions and
persons in India, and keep officials to their duty. This
will be best attained by a general assembly for India,
composed of suitable persons. Lord Derby's bill pro-
duces a popular element in the Government of India,
but it is difficult to see what stake in the country, or
knowledge of it, is possessed by many of his voters. His
giving votes to persons having a stake in India, holding
commissions in the service, or being possessed of
property in India as holders of East India
shares, is an excellent idea ; but only distributing
four votes among so large a number as 5,000
voters, gives no one any power or interest in the
matter. The Government seems also to have appropri-
ated too large a share of nominations—nine members
forming one-half the Council. The Government has ob-
tained a large increase of patronage at the Horse Guards,
and has the nomination of all the chief appointments in
India, and might leave the Council to be elected by the
popular element. VERITAS.
London, April 8, 1853.