78*]

the oppofers of the bill, that as the Company’s legal right to the ap- pointment of all its own fervants, and to the entire management and regulation of its internal affairs, had been f0 clearly proved as not to admit ofa quellion, and that the rapacity, mil-conduct, and dif- obedience of the fervants in the prcfzdencies abroad, was f0 notori- ous as to be allotted on all hands, no reafonable objection could now lie to the exercife of that right, when its eztpediency, and even ne- ceility, were f0 evident; and that as every delay in the prefent cir- cumfiances, mull be ruinous in the big-heft degree to the Company, and proportionally prejudicial to the nation; it was to be hoped, that no farther oppofition would be made to the carrying of the commiilion of fupervition into im- mediate execution, and that the prefent bill would be rejected, as founded upon falfe principles, and of an unconllitutional and danger- ous tendency.

To this it was anfwered, that the evidence given at the bar, and the arguments oppoft-cl by the counfel againlt the bill, contained the flrongefl reafons that could pofiibly‘ have been brought to {leew the ur- gent neceffity of its being palfed. That they fully demonfirated the evils in [ndia to be of fuch a mag- nitude, that nothing lefs than the legillature could reform them; that no powers could be granted to the

lupervifroti, competent to the re-

medy of fuch enorrnities; that the commillion was befides faulty in its principles, as the governors and councils in the refpeétive prcfiden- cies in India, were joined in power by it, with the fupervifors who were intended to be lent from England;

.ANNUAL.REGlSTER,nnt

that as the number of the forme? was permanent, they muft foon, by death or ficknefs, become a majority ; that by this means, the capital offenders, who were the authors of all the evils complained of, would become the judges of

their own crimes, and the redreffers ‘

of their own opprefiions; was it then by men, who had long rioted with the molt unrelenting cruelty in the diftreffes of their miferable fellow-creatures, that jullice was to be refiored to her proper courfe, and the mifchiefs which their iniquities caufed were

‘to be removed?

That the legiflature had a fu- preme controuling power, to which all things mull, and ought to fub- mit; that this power could never be applied with greater propriety, or benefit, than in the prefent in- ltance, when the welfare and fecu- rity of many millions, and the pre- fervation of great countries and revenues depended upon its exer- tion. That laws, as well as char- ters, mull fubmit to a change of times and feafons, and mull be altered, modelled, or repealed, as circumfiances, and the nature of things require ; that it could never_ have been intended, at the tizne of granting the Company’s charters, to give them a power oflegiflation over great countries, in which it was not polhbly to be fuppofed they ever could have any other footing, than a pernrifiion to trade as in-,. mates and llrangers. That India af- fairs were now under the confidera- tion of parliament, and while mat- ters were in this fufpence, it would be abfurd to allow the Company to proceed on their own" bottom, and to {natch the bufinefs out of their hands: either there was, or

there‘