, 1860-06-28
Indtas


The proper adjustment of the affairs Of India
is u problem which the wisest statesmen of
England tiud d most difficult one to solye. We
quote the following paragraphs in regart to this
subject from the Philadelphia North 44ntrie1n:
The manipulators Of India affairs are net
agteed as to the best system for the govern
ment Of the country. When the East India
Company handed over its POSSESSIONS to the
Qneen-who thereupon took the ti.ls Of En-
press Of 1ndia-it WAS found that its affairs
were in lamentable confusion. Debt md def
cheney Of revenue stared the new proprietor in
the face. She had succeeded to a burdened in
heritanee. In this emergency, Mr. James VIII
son. Of the Board Of Trade, a gentleman with
high reputation for financial ability, ,wss deputed
to Iodia, With yerY extensive powers-ana,st
carte blanche to reform the existing abuses alto
gether. Wc have no doubt that her majesty's
government Was actuated By sincere desire to
satisfy the people Of Hindostau, and to develop
the enormous resources Of their land. But Mr.
Wilson met with difficulties At the very begin
ming of his career. lie had an unsynrathiIluR
| council At Calcutta to he]ph,m. His measures,
| rapidly conceived and bol1ly proposed, alarmed
| the timid aud made The brave stand still. He
began naturally with the finances Of the cpun-
try, and with the mode Of 1evyiug them, aud be
found, in the course Of his inquiries, that the
latter WAS at the root Of all tho d.sss:isfaction
I
we're unfairly and oppressisc!y taxed. and that
many illegal modes Of extorting money from,
them were continually prac.ised, and had in
fact become established abnses.
No man can reform abuses from which ott er:
derive handsome income without creating
host Of enemies and this is precisely what Mr
Wilson has done. Foremost among bis assait
ants is Sir CHARLES Trevs!yac, Governor ol Mad
| rag, and ci.derdnt secretary 10 the treasury
This iunctiouary has thought proper 10 issue
in his official capacity, minute" condemna
tory Of Mr.. Wilson's plans. Such dariug &C
tion in India The natiye Journals, finding Al
unexpected auxiliary in 50 high au authority q
the Governor Of Madras, hare become embold
ened to uttsr their grievances. Tbs GoEerno
Gcneral, alarmed al this symptom Of 1ebellio1
has quilted the cool shades OF Siula to 1etur
to the burning atmosphere Of Calcutta, and a
the arrangements Of the Indian Court have bee
thrown into disorder. Mr. Wilson il, Of courx'
proportiouably indignant at 50 public an attac
, upon his ystem, which he 80 confidently rr.
dicted wonld set every thing to rights; and,
short, hot water, as vel; as hot weather, is tt
order Of the day in India.
We have not space now to enter into the d
tails Of Mt. Wilson's plans. Perhaps we mi
do SO at some future time. But vs. mar ri,
= mere outline Of them. He found on assumir
= his new oftica that there WIS deficiency in Il
. revenue for tbs year Of 50. COO (about al
;, oQQ, 600, and that the public debt amounted
u nearly El00. 900 ,003, the interest on which n
e*.46o, 600 annually. To mset 1he difficulty
= proposed, not new loan, but ineseased taz
lion. H. will impote an income tax Of two p
cent.. on ali incomes between $50 and ESQ, 4
q Of four oer cent, On Ill incomes abovs ESQ;
y license duty Of two shiliugs aJear On art1sa'
r. eight shillinKs year ou retail traders, a
n. aud on professional men. Imported tobacco
- | to be taxed Mt sixpepce q pound when IN auuf