The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-10-15
From the Philadelphia News.
THE BRITISH EAST INDIA COMPANY.

It may not be uninstructive at the present
moment to give, in the brief and imperfect
manner which q newspaper article will only
allow, a succinct history of this remarkable
company of merchant princes, who, starting as
humble suppliants for mercantile privileges
upon the coasts of the far,famed peninsula of
Hindostan, have extended and consolidated
their authority with money and with arms, un-
til the British power rules with undisputed
sway, from the Himmalaya mountains to Cape
Comorin, over land which was the seat of in
dustry, of commerce, and of the arts, when En-
rope was sunk in barbarism. In the middle
ages, the merchants of Venice alone imported
into Europe the precious produce of India,
which they obtained through the ports of Egypt
and the Red Sea. After the discovery of the
passage to India by the Cape of Good Hope,
the maritime Powers of Europe entered largely
into contest for the supremacy of the Asiatic
seas and the commerce of the country. In this
contest the Portuguese, then in the zenith of
their power, were the most successful, and for
nearly quarter of century monopolized the
trade, without interference from any European
rival. Subsequently the Dutch competed with
the Portuguese, and divided with them the
profits of its commerce, and at length the at
tention of the British merchants was earnestly
directed to the same field.
1t was on the last day of the sixteenth GEN.
fury, that Queen Elizabeth granted the first
charter to the East India Company, giving
them the right of exclusive trade in the India
seas for fifteen years, with promise of renewal
Previous to 1913, each member of the associa.
ton managed his affairs on his own account, but
In that year the capital was consolidated. As
early as the period of the Commonwealth, public
opinion became so strong against the Company,
principally In consequence of alleged abuses in
the time of the Stuarts, that Cromwell DESTROY
ed the charter which had been originally only
royal grant. After the restoration of the
royal family, the charter was renewed by Charles
III. In 1898, Government being in want of
funds, in consideration of large loan, incor.
porated rival joint stock company; but the
rivaly proved so detrimental to both companies
and to the nation at large, that a union was
effected In 1902, since which time the Comma.
ny has existed on its present basis.
UP to this time, the organization and man.
agement OF the association had been merely
commercial; but now, through the introdue.
ton of native soldiers into the service of the
Company, under the pretext of defending their
factories, the initiation was taken in the grand
scheme of conquest and wrong, which has given
70 the managers of a trading company in Lon.
don kingdom ten times the size of England.
with population of 100000 900 of inhabitants.
and which, from counting-house in Leaden
nan street, has tor century, instead of enga-
glng IN the peaceful pursuits of trade. engaged
IN war, and made peace, and have dethroned
Princes, and ruled over Kings. The political
power of the English commenced in i748. bv
the conquest of Bengal. Ambition and ava.
rlce, political and mercantile cunning. Euro.
pean arms and discipline, under the leadership
OF the able Give, who, then humble Ieuten
ant IN the Compsny's service, finally won his
way TO the Peerage and Governor Generslship
OF India, proved all powerful against the brave
put enervated Indian. The first important act
IN the drama was the famous battle of Plassy,
IN winch Give deposed the rightfnl King, Su.
raja Dowla, and elevated in his place by trea.
sonabe conspiracy vizier, Nicer Jaffier. who.
having served the Company's purpose by nav
ing enormous sums of money, and giving nm
large portions of territory, was in his turn
driven from his throne by the English, who ele-
Vated his son-ln-law, Nicer Cossim, in h;s stead.
and subsequently deposed him also. Conouest
followed conquest, annexation came after AN.
nexation, until, in less than ten years. the Fast
India Company were elevated from being rein.
gees in an insignificant mud fort at CaIcutta.
70 the sovereigns of one of the richest kingdoms
IN the worio, with population of 80, O0O. 600
souls, and revenue of 25,000,OOO rupees.
Next followed in rapid succession the annexa.
ton OF the extensive provinces in the north.
west OF lnola, extorted from the weakness of
the King OF Dude, with TERRITORY of 40 600
square miles, and population of IL, O0O. 900.
;. ATeady, however, the magnitude of the In.
oian empire, and the inability of the Company
to properly govern it, attracted the ;ealousv &c
the Government. In June, 1873, the Legsla.
ture altered the constitution of the Assoc;st;on.
and vested In the Crown the sunerv;.;or :, has
since exercised. A Governor General v.s CO
pointed BY the directors, but subject tn tbs an.
proval of the King, while Supreme Conf IF
Judicature was established at Calcutta With
Judges selected by the Grown.
The period from It'll to l785 ia r,a,,o-obIa
as the term during which Warren Hast;nos I'D. .
ministered the Government, and extended' With
unscrupuious hand, the territory and resources
OF the Company. Charged upon his return to
europe with tyranny, extortion, and corrup.
non-with infamous outrages through his
agents, upon innocent people; By torturino them
with hunger, stripes, and Imprisonment
outrages upon females as a means of ertort;no
their jewels or their wealth--witb the ar.a.na;
nation of the Rohillas by FIRE and aword and
with devastating the provinces of Onda cd
Benares-his famous impeachment i vail
known to the popular mind. AItbongb ac-
Quilted BY the House of Peers. the h;sforv If
that trial and its results has become an nat.
faceabie blot upon the escutcheon of his conn.
try, and it Il folly not to see that the admins.
tration OF Warren Hastings was the seed that
has produced the crop of swords now drinking
the blood OF Englishmen throughout the terri.
tory OF Bengal. Perhaps nothing in the Enc.
hsh tongue is more narrowing than that nor
ton OF the famous philippe Of Burke, which