The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1857-10-28
THE WAR IN INDIA.

the savage war now raging in India, had its
remote origin in the belief Of the Hindoos,
whether well or i'll founded, that the Gov
eminent Of Great Britain intends to lend its
aid by legislative provisions, to the propaga-
ton of the Christian religion in India
D'Israeli stated in the House Of Com mons
in july last, that the outbreak in India was
caused by the tampering of the Government
with the religion of the Hindoos. Itappears
that in the year 1882 an Act was passed
providing that {" loss of Caste as it is called
in India. should not work forfeiture Of social
and political rights. This law was at first
restricted to the province Of Bengal. In 1850
its provisions were extended to the whole OF
India. The law interferes with the laws and
the religious tenets Of the Hindoos in this
wise According to the liindoo Laws a man
excluded from his caste looses his marital
parental, social and civil rights He is at
once to be expelled from his house and home,
to be disowned by his family and friends,
and to be driven from all society. lie is to
be regarded as dead. His legal heirs take
possession of his property. His family, his
friends and all his caste unite in executing
the sentence. A Hindoo changing his re-
ligion, loses "caste" and the Act Of Paria-
ment Of 1850, is in direct contravention of
this old and well established regulation of
the Hindoo Government. by protecting him
in the act. In 1853 petition of several
Hindoo inhabitants of Bengal and other
provinces was presented in parliament for
the repeal Of the obnoxious law, but it re-
ceived no attention. A law has also been
passed by the Legislative Council of India
permitting Hindoo widow to marry again.
This is exceedingly offensive to the universal
sentiment of the Hindoos. English officers
and English ladies, the wives and daughters
of English officers have been engaged in cir
culating tracts among the native soldiers Of
the army with the view Of converting them
to Christianity. All this tie people look
upon as being done by the direction of the
| Government A disclaimer has been made
| by the Governor General Of India in public
proclamation, of any intention on the part OF
the Government to interfere with the religion
or caste Of the Hindoos. This proclamation
was issued in Nav last but too late to be OF
any beneficial effect.
1t was surely most injudicious in the
British Government, to touch by the strong
arm Of power, the hoary superstition of Hin.
dostan. Long before Alexander Of Macedon
entered India, with his invncible army, were
these laws in force among the Hindoos.-
Their ancient custom Of combining law and
religion is too strong to be overcome by any
earthly power. Religion and law among
them regulate everything. They prescribe
what food shall be taken, what garments
worn. how the hair and the nails shall be
trimmed, and how often the body shall be
washed. The Hindoo Devotee would sutlel
death cheerfullJ before he would violate any
requirement Of his religion.
On the other hand, nothing which the
Government of Great Britain has done could
in judgment even Of Hindoo or Mohomme
dan superstition, justify the atrocious conduct
of the natives in butchering indiscriminatey
all of English blood that have fallen iGse
their hands. The world has scarcely eve1
heard Of such acts as Nenee Sahib and hi:
followers have been guilty of; acts thai
would disgrace the foulest fiend in hell, ant
which seem fully to warrant the swift ant
terrible retrbuton that has been in some
instances inflicted by the British forces.
A RISE CoMING.-By the Louisville Cou
rier of the 18th, we learn that the river SLOWLY
swelling at the head Of the falls with three feet five
I inches water in the canal in the evening. Durin4
the previous q hours, the river had risen three
inches--eqlal to rise Of six inches altogether a
the head of the falls. This would probably mak'
Is or IS inches of rise on the bar at Portland
The weather Tuesday morning, was clear and pleas
ant thouoh about cool enough at daylight for frost