The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-11-13

II
allow a succinct history OF this remarkanle
oomnany of merchant princes, who, start
inc ~ humble suppliants for mercantile priv
49, mon the coasts of the far-famed Pc.
n;nsula of aindoostan, have extended ana
o,nsolidated their authority with money ana
w,,h arms. until the British power rules
with undisputed sway, from the himma,Ays
mountains 10 Cape Cormorin, over ianu
which was the scat Of industry ,of commeroe,
and Of the arts, when Europe was SUNK IN
barbarism In the middle ages, the mer
Chants ofvenioe alone imported into Europe
the precious produce OF India, which they
obtained through the ports Of Egypt and
IN. Red Sea. After the discovery OF the
passs 20 70 India by the Caps OF Good HOPE,
the maritime Powers Of Europe entered large
ly into n contest for the supremacy oil the
I.iatic seas and the commerce OF the eoun-
try. In this contest the Portuguese, then
in the senith of their power, were the most
successful, and for nearly . quarter OF
cen .ury monopoli,ed the trade, without IN
reference from any European rival. Sub
s.uusutly the Dutch oompstsd with the
Portuguese, and divided with them the pro-
fts Of il commerce, and at length the At
tentlOn OF the brftisn mcrCunnS w. esA
nestly directed TO the same feld.
Itwas on the last day OF the sixteenth
century that Queen EliIabesh granted the
first charter ~ the Fast India Company Civ
ing them the right Of exclusive trade In the
India seas for fifteen years, with promise oil
renewal. Previous ~ 1913, each member
of the ASSOCIATION managed his Affairs on
his own aceount. but in that year the capi-
tal was consolidated. As early a. the peri
cd of the commonwealth, public opinion be
came 30 strong against the Company, prin
cinally in consequence Of alleged abuses IN
the time of the Stuarts, that Cromwell de-
s.royed the charter which had been origin
ally only royal grant. After the restona-
ton of the royal family, the charter was
renewed BY Charles III. In 1893, govern
ment being in want Of funds, in considerA.
ton If q large loan. Incorporated rival
Joint stock company but the rivalry proved
40 detrimental TO both companies, and "
the nation nj large, that union was effect
ed in 100, since winch time the company
has existed on its present basis.
Up TO this time, the organisation and man
agement of the association had been merely
commercial but now, through the intro.
duction of native soldiers into the service OF
the Company, under the pretext OF defend.
ING their factories, the initiation was taken
in the grand scheme Of conquest and wrong,
which has given 10 the managers OF trad
inc company in London. kingdom ten
times the size Of England, with population
of $50. 900 600 of inhabitants, and which,
from a counting house in Leadenhall street,
has for a cent nv, instead of engaging in
the peaceful pursuits Of trade, engaged in
war. and made peace, and have dethroned
Princes, and ruled over kings. The Politi-
cal power of tho English commenced IN
l74s, by the conquest Of Bengal. Ambl-
ton and avarice, political and mercantile
cunning, European arms and discipline,
under the leadership Of the able Give, who
then humble lieutenant in the Company
service, finally won his way TO the Peengss
and Governor Generalship OF India, proved
all.powe-ful against the brave but enervased
Indian.
The FIRST important act in the drama was
the famous battle Of Pias.y, in which Give
deposed the rigbtful King, Suaja Dowla,
AMI elevated in his place by reasonable con-
spiracy, a vIrier, Nicer Jaiher, who, having
served the Company's purpose by paying
enormous sums Of money, and giving up
large portions OF territory, was IN his turn
driven from his throne by the English, who
elevated his sor- .n-law, Meev Cossim. in his
stead, and subsequently, deposed him Also
Conquest followed conquest, annexation
came after annexation. until In less than ten
YEAR,, the East India Company were eie'a-
tel from being refugees in an insignihcant
mud fort mt Calcutta. TO the soveieigns oi
one Of the richest kingdoms in the world,
with population Of $4,000 900 souls, and
n revenue Of IS, OO0. 900 rupees. Next iol.
lowed in rapid SUCCESSION, the annexation OIL
the extensive provinces in the northwest OF
India. extortcd from the weakness OF the
King OF Dude, with q territory OF S2,Ooo
square miles, and population OF lo'ooo'-
600.
Already, however, the magnitude OF the
Indian Empire, and the inability Oh the
Company to properly govern 1t, attracted
the jealousy Of the government. In june
l773, the Legislature altered the Constitu-
tion of the Association, and vested in the
Crown the supervision il has since exercised.
A Governor General was appointed by the
directors, but subject to the approval OF the
King, while Supreme Court Of Judicature
was established ut Calcutta, with Judges 30
lectei by the Crown.
The period from III to 1855 is memora-
bic as the term during which Warren Hast
ings administered the government, and ex
tended, with INSCRIPTIONS hand, the terri
tory and resources Of the Company. Charg-
ed upon his return to Europe with tyranny,
extortion and corruption and infamous out
RACES through his agents, upon innocent peo-
ple by torturing them with hunger Stripe
and mprisonment--with outraSes upon 10
males as a means Of extorting their jewell
or their wealth-with the determination OF
the Robillas by fire and sword, aud with de-
yastating the provinces OF Dude and Benarer |
his famous impeachment Is well known |
to the popular mind. Although acquitted |
by the House Of Peers, the history Of that
trial and It's results has become IN ineface- |
able blot upon the escutcheon Of his coun |
try, and il Is folly not TO see that the admin |
istration of Warren Hastings was the seed
that has produced the crops Of swords now
drinking the blood Of Englishmen through
out the territory Of Bengal Perhaps moth.
ing in the English tongue Is more narrowing
than that portion Of the famous philippe oil
Burke, which describes the horrible outages
upon men and women, committed by his
agents. As the browning point TO Mr.. Hast
ing's infamy, he caused the arrest Of his &C.
cuser, the Rajah Nundcomer, on charge Of
forgery, tried him before = jury Of English
men, and hung him, amid the tears and Ia
mentations Of his oountrymsn.
The fall Of Tppoo Ssib, in l792, placed
another largo kingdom at the disposal Of the
then Governor, the late Duke Of yelling
ton. When that officer had taken posses-
sion Of all the Company then thought 1T to
appropriate, il was resolved 70 form the TO
msinder into native kingdom, and place
upon the throne child siI years old. who
should be under the charge Of the British
Government.
The influence Of British authority was BY