The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-04-22
THE BnrrrsH EAST INDIA COMPANY, who

govern an empire of 100000 square miles,
and population of 100000, is a corpora
ton with nominal capital Of $3OOOOoooo
though each share Of $1,000 is now worth
$12, 500, making the actual capital S'oo'ooo'-
600 owned by 1850 stockholders, who cast,
in elections for Directors, 260O votes. Their
affairs are managed by Court of Directors
elected every three months by the stockhoid-
ers. A Board Of Control is also appointed by
the Crown, who act as advisers with the d.
rectory. This company Of capitalists associa-
ted for commercial gain, and whose governing
motive is presumed to be avarice, have the
entire sovereignty and government OF one OF
the largest empires in the world, and sway the
destiny Of more human beings than any other
government on earth, except Russia and Chi
ma.
With the exception OF the Governor Gen.
eral and the Commander-in-Chef of the forces,
the Company appoint and pay all the civil,
judicial, ecclesiastical and military officers OF
its extensive and complicated government
tive and executive power, under the dictation
Of the Court of Directors at home, and enact
all laws and regulations, declare war, make
conquests, affix territory to their dominions
and govern almost as an independent political
sovereignty. The Company define the terms
of commercial intercourse between their own
empire and the rest Of the world, except the
mother country, who claims peculiar privi-
leges for herself But they do not admit the
commercial treaties that she may make with
other nations, to be applied to their territory.
The Governor General, though appointed by
the Crown, is dependent upon the Company
for his salary. HIS pay is annually, $780,
600; Perquisites Of office, 5000 600; each coun-
cillor receives $4,000; Bishops of DiOcess,
$4,000 to $4,000; Law Judges go in mum.
ber) BIS. 900; Collectors and Magistrates each
from 5000 to $4,000.
Tho annual revenues OF this anomalous cor
poration, are double the amount Of the nation
al revenues Of the United States. Each oc-
cupant Of the land holds it from the Company
as lord paramount, subject to an annual assess
ment; and this rental or tax yields annually a
revenue of s75,OOO,OOO The Company hold
the monopoly of the opium trade, which, by
regulation, they take from the producer at
q fixed price per chest, Of about 500
The sales by the Company show an average
price of S375 per chest. From this source the
Company derive revenue OF more than $685.
100000. At the prices paid to the producer,
it is the most profitable culture in the country,
and the natives are engaged in raising popies
wherever they will grow.
The standidg army of India is upwards Of
100000 men, mostly natives, Differed by Eng.
lishmen from the regular English service, but
deriving their pay and emoluments from tn.
Company, while employed in India. The pay
of "a Sepoy is only about S35 per annum.
The Engineer and Typographical Corps at
tached to the Indian army, are the ablesti in the
British service. Under its direction and SUI
pervision railroads are being extended through
out the country. More than 1000 miles OF
telegraph are now in operation, and a line is
being extended towards the Mediterranean,
with the view Of making a connection with
European lines, and uniting London with CAL
cutta by wires; and when our submarine tel
egraph shall be laid across the Atlantic, to
connect with it, intelligence from Calcutta will
be transmitted to New York with speed that
shall out-travel the course of the sun.
The English are fulfilling in India mission
Of civilization and progress, bringing its vast
fertile plains and teeming effete population un-
der the influences of more vigorous life, and
the dominion of notler race that is to impress
its spirit upon the whole world. Though
christianity makes but slow progress, the SUI
perstitions OF paganism arc rapidly giving way,
and the barriers of castles are broken down, and
the minds ofthe natives are becoming free and
prepared for the reception of new ideas The
work Of progress is as rapid and thorough as
the permanent good of the people will warrant
Some of the most prominent men at the bar,
and in the medical profession, are native Hin
docs; and in the Courts, the English language
is heard, in all Its beauty and force, flowing
from the lips of native orators, to move the
hearts and enlighten the Judgments Of English
jurors, who listen to an exposition Of the fun
damental principles of liberty and right, as es-
tablished by the common law, from the MEM
bers Of race whose fathers knew none but
the most abject principles of degrading So
cial and political, despotsm.
These conquesrs ofcivilization have not been
achieved but by devastating wars, great pres
ent human misery, and the infiiction Of deep
social and national wrong. But it seems to be
in the order OF Providence that, through appa-
rent evil and suffering, all great national bles-
sings shall spring. Our own prosperity and
happiness have been achieved through the
misery and destruction Of another race, for
whosa vronps and sufferincS hum,n;,v ,r,