The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-03-20
The Use of Torture in India.

/
that part OF British India known as the
Madras Presidency. The facts are made
known through the official report of COM
missioners appointed to make investigation
into alleged cases of torture, Submitted to
the Governor in Council of Fort ST. George
on the 10th of April, 1855, and presen ted
to Parliament by command of her Males
ty." This report forms the basis of the
article in the Edinburgh Quarterly. The
| reviewer says that the Indian Government
Is chargeablc with something more than
passive acquiescence in the torture system
which formerly prevailed under the native
governments; that in British India the hor.
rors which formerly prevailed in Dude have
been perpetrated; and that the British ad-
minstra;ion of the land system, "although
tar more merciful than that of the native
governments, has not been such rs 10 put
an end TO the traditiouary evils which have
attended the collection of the land revenue
IN every part of India" And this position
the reviewer proceeds to establish by the
facts narrated in the report of the commits
sloners above referred to-
In debate which took place in the
House of Commons, OH the lth Of June
1854, for the creation OF this commission
II was formally alleged that in the colec-
| iion of the land revenue in the Presidency
ot Madras the Government officials were
IN the habit of employing torture. The al.
legation WAS denied and even ridiculed by
the Board OF East India Directors, by many
members OF the House of Commons who
had resided in India, and were supposed to
bc familiar with the administration of the
Government there, and WAS disbelieved by
majority Of the House. The statement,
however, was solemnly and earnestly re-
peated and persisted in, and in the end the
President Of The Board of Control was COM
PEELED 10 give his assent to the investiya-
tion, though still declaring his own disbe.
lief Of the allegation; and the commission
WAS appointed. The Government of Mad
ras is represented to have cordially co ope-
rated with the commission. Everything
WAS done that could bc done to sccure Il
full Investigation. Lord Harris, the Gov
enor, who also dsbeievcd the statement,
issued orders to all subordinates TO give
every assistance in their power. and the
ampeSt provision was made for the cxpen-
ses Of lhc inquiry.
The land tenure which prevails in Mad
ras is peculiar. 1t is known rs the 'ryot
very system" The ryot, or cul;ivator,
/ holds directly under the Government. The
collection oG rent, Tux, or assessment, is i'm
| the hands Of Government officers. The
I Government, in fact, is the landlord. The
/ system is similar in the Bombay Presideu-
/ cy; but there the tax or rent is fixed l., a
/ permanent assessment. In Madras il is
p ,tl
and the ryot is at the mercy Of the collec-
/ tor rs 10 the amount OF his land tax, rs to
/ the cultivation Of his land, and rs TO the
! permanence of his tenure" He is ten.
! ant.at-wi!l.in the most dcpcndeu. sense of
the term. In the arrangement f all de.
tails, the Government, through its own
officials, is the direct and immediat, actor.
"For every increased valuation, TO-. every
. interference with the liberty or tie mode
of cultivation, for every disturbance or
change OF tenancy, the Government is di.
rectly and Immediately spon,ible." There
fore, says the reviewer, The S,arting qurs-
I ton which Tie Madras Commissioners had
to try was, not whether instances of lana
lord oppression, even in The revolving form.
Of torture, had occurred in the Madras
/ Presidency, but whether Government Itself
in lis capacity Of universal L,n5IorI va,
not. through It's own native ocH,i,ls ,I,rgn.
able with these atrocities And bs 7n.
Guiry was limited 10 the las, seven ycors
SO tlat. SAYS the reviewer "our wonpJed
pride has not even tho palliative tina, ,bcs,.
enornitics were rcrpciro,ed ot = rcmo,c
period."
The inquiry was originally J.,iope1 to
I be confined TO tLo usc nf to,,G,e far '11ho r,I,
lection of revenue but was snbseoncnily
( extended TO n resort 10 the same crurhv fIr
police purposes; and upon both counis o,
il!c Indictment aaaips, the Government :.
is painful to be obliged to record ,ha, a
verdict of guilty has been returned. The
Commissioners declare. rs the only con.
,