Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-09-11
The Insurrection in India.

IL 70 evident from the movements In
England that the disturbances in India
are supposed to threaten the integrity of
British dominion. The outbreak has
been sudden and dangerous. and no sat-
isfactory reason for it is given. Russ
sian agents could not have brought
about SO general disaffection and yet
have remained undiscovered. The grease
ed cartridges were recalled in time to
prevent their giving any substantial cause
Of offense to the Mohammedan and Brah
rninieal faith of the soldiery. It's prob>
able that the real cause lies deeper
than this-that it is bat another instance
OF the ready contagion of individual in
differentiation and crime among large
bodies OF men. To US il does not seem
singular that these native troops are in
revolt. 1t is only remarkable that they
have not before this broken into rebellion.
We do not mean that these troops had
occasion to hate the English government.
On the contrary. we think that if there
was n reason for the fidelity Of any subs
ject Of the British government in India,
reasons did exist for the faithfulness of
the army. The Sepoy soldiers were trea-
ted with a kindness that probably reach
ed NO other class, aud in their pay and
equipments they enjoyed advantage
which made their lot appear princely in
comparison with that OF others of their
class. But it is strange that these Sepoys
have not discovered before now that they
would he, if properly commanded, the
masters Of India, and it is more singular
that, acting under the impulse of this dis
covery they have not before now made
some premature attempt upon tho gov
eminent Of the country.
We need but recur to the history of
English rule in India to see how uncer-
tain must be the tenure OF English power
as it is at present sustained. In 1852 the
English had scanty leave accorded them
to establish a factory at a station to the
southwark of what is now Calcutta. In
1856 they gained permission to hold land
for trading purposes on one of the
branches Of the Ganges. In 1896 they
built their first fertilization on the Hoogly.
In 1904 they were in possession of Fort
William. with a garrison of 1879 soldiers.
aud of q small station at Madras. 1t was
from this last place, when Fort William
was taken by the Mahometans in 1856,
and the English murdered in the Black
Hole. that Give came to punish the out
rage. with the hole force that could be
then raised-about two thousand men,
English and native. From this year,
1856, it is that British rule in India dates
The East India Company from that
time steadily advanced in prosperity. AT
the close OF the year 1900, from these
outposts at Madras and Fort William,
they had extended their territory until il
embraced more than $4,000 square
miles. In 1895 it extended over 500, oOO
square miles; and now, by reason of pro.
tectorates and further conquests, it en-
braces more than one million square
miles. and more than one hundred mil
lions Of inhabitants. To accomplish this
result we think that not more than SO. O0C
European troops have been employed in
any one year within the limits of India
The forces which the East India Compa'
ny paid were made up OF natives formed
into regiments and drilled by English Of
6eers. and Of native soldiery commanded
by their own chiefs and acting as auxil
FAIRIES. The natives formed into regi
ments-the well known Sepoy troops
whose revolt in the Bengal presidency
has set the signal of rebellion-number
in all the presidencies, not less than $50,
600 disciplined men. They are accor
ding 10 the testimony Of all the English
generals from Wellington to Napier, mel
who need only to be we'll commanded t.
tight as well as any European troops. II
the Bengal presidency. where this rebel
lion broke out. there were 10000 of thes
Sepoys, OF whom it seems, by the last &C
counts from Europe. $4,000 are now be
sieged in Delhi.
Good troops as they are, and of al
arms. it seems that they are oyerawed b,
some Ave thousand European troop
which are besieging that city. The rea
son is that they are without any comman
doris Of experience. the non. commission
ed officers only being natives in these reg
iments, NIL the others being European
No Hyder Ali or Tppoo Saib has as ye
shown himself ac,ong them, and as hab
It's OF discipline avail troops but little un
less there are commanders ready to EN-
ploy this discipline. it is possible tha
these soldiers, shut up within the wall
Of Delhi may soon degenerate into rab
ble-rout. and be cut to pieces by Genera
Barnard; or by Sir Colin Campbell, i
they hold out until his arrival on th
scene.
The mutiny. extensive as it has beel
in Bengal. and ominous as are its sign
in the Madras and Bombay presidencies
has yet exhibited one remarkable featur
it is exclusively military rebellion
aud in this fact. and in the facts to whicl
We have alluded. that the mutineers hay
no leader. is the hope of ultimate Englisl
supremacy. even against the fearful odd
at which the Europeans fight. Broker
BY internal quarrels and struggles 70
precedence and booty, these masses o