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Leader (1850-1860), 9th July 1859, Edition 1 of 2, Page 813, Untitled Article

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    • INDIA, AND . • INDIAN PROGRESS.
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      AMERICAN POLITICS . Both parties ( Bays a New York letter , are training for the Presidential election next year . Many a change must take place between noyr and then ; but at present parties stand thus : —On the Democratic side there is little prospect that Mr . Buchanan can be re-nominated . The Southern party at present appear to be concentrating upon Governor Wise , of Virginia , upon the platform of Southern rights and the constitutional necessity of passing a slave code for the protection of slave property in the territories .

      A creed like this is complete death to any party shouldering it in the Northern States . The friends of Mr . Douglas represent the opposing views . They stand upon squatter sovereignty—that is , the right of the people of the territory themselves to admit or to exclude slavery , and to pass laws regulating it . Many Democrats see , or think they see , in the Cuba question an issue upon which the whole party can be rallied , irrespective of their views upon the slavery question . also little har

      On the Republican , side there is - mony ; but they will probably be able to concentrate their vote upon the person whom they may nominate . Governor Seward , of New York , is at present the favourite . Mr . Banks , of Massachusetts , and Governor Chase , of Ohio , have also each their backers . In the present war , should it continue , the United States will adhere to the position which they have always occupied as to the rights Of neutrals , and as to articles contraband of war . There is no probability that either party will depart from the settled policy of the Government upon those questions .

      It was said that General Cass Was preparing a circular on the subject of neutral rights , and that he does riot acquiesce in the British view , but insists that all regular articles of commerce , with the exception of powder , lead , muskets , saltpetre , &c , are not contraband of war ; . he also insists that the fact of goods being on board vessels carrying the flag of the United States exempts them from seizure , the broad ground being taken that the flag carries protection with it .

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      Testimonial xo tub Rev . J > r . Emhrton , o » Hanwkll Colusok , MIDDLESEX . —Qn Wednesday lost a deputation from Christ Ohurcli , ISnllng 1 , wnlttid upon Dr . Eniorton , and presented to him iv riphlyclmscd silver vlnc-lc « f ISpor ^ ne , with tliTue ornainontnl branches , on triangular unso on a riohly-chaaod ailvor vino-mounted Plateau , ono of tho most olegant plocoa of plate we havo evor stion . Tho Inscription was moat flattering to tho worthy Doctor .

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      The matter , then , appears to be this : there is a debt of ninety millions—an excess of expenditure over income of about six to seven millions , while the Government of India is vainly offering . . ' 6 . per cent , for money to meet the pressing exigencies of the public service . We appeal to our readers if it is not utterly impossible for Ministers , if they do their duty to the country , to delay legislation on this question of Indian Finance beyond the present session ? It is the question of the day , and ought to take precedence of all other questions—even that of Parliamentary Reform ; for we believe it to be the merest idling to talk of

      INDIAN FINANCE . In our last issue we directed attention to the present desperate condition of the Indian finances ; and the despatches from Calcutta which arrived on Tuesday morning show that the credit of the local government in its own territory , is at this moment as bad as it was an the darkest days of the rebellion . Even after the massacre of Cawnpore , Four per Gents , were not lower than 29 to 30 per cent , discount , while in May last they were quoted in Bombay at 33 per cent , discount , and in Calcutta at 29 per cent , discount , the Fives selling at 87 , and the New Five-and-a-Half per Cent . Loan at 90 £ . It requires very little penetration to perceive that this Five-and-a-Half per Cent . Loan will prove a failure , and that the Government will ultimately have to raise the money in the English , market .

      Charles Wood . If he pay off the 5 per cent , loan with a 3 £ per cent , one , backed by the Imperial guarantee , ire venture to predict that the natives of India would subscribe in much the same proportion as at present , for the following reasons , because : — 1 . The security would be absolute ; 2 . They would be utterly at a loss otherwise what to do with their money ; 3 . It would finally Settle this part of the financial difficulty ; and 4 . It -would prove that England is really in _ earnest in having assumed the government of India . We shall return to the subject again , and have also a few words to say on this subject of compensation to sufferers by the rebellion .

      a viewed ¦ with some apprehension . But would it do so in . this case ? We do not think so . What the wealthy native of India looks to , in lending money to the local Government , is Security . The conversion of the tiebt by the Imperial Government would do more to consolidate English power in India than the suppression of half-a-dozen rebellions , for it would demonstrate to the natives of Uindostan , that having conquered the country we meant to hold it ; that the Crown having accepted the Government did not fora moment shrink from accepting , also , the burdens along with it . We would beg to throw out the hint to Sir

      Indian debts being secured on Indian revenues . Imperial and Indian finance are indissolubly united . England cannot abandon , or be driven out of India without utter , destruction to her supremacy as a nation . The Crown has assumed the government of , and will unquestionably hold , that magnificent dependency . The disposal and control of its finance is under the immediate direction of Parliament ; and , once for all , we warn our readers that its debt is practically a portion of the public debt of the nation , and that they are as much interested in the budget of the Secretary of State for India , as in that of the Chancellor of the Exchequer . Either India must be made to pay its expenses , or it must le abandoned , or the deficit must be

      drawn from the treasury of the nation . But if India is ever abandoned or lost to this country , there is no inhabitant of these islands , however humble his degree , who would not , in such , an event , soon be made to feel , even in . diminished personal importance and security , that his country had ceased to be a first-rate power , and that the flag to which he had before looked with pride and confidence , could no longer protect him . England cannot choose , but accept , the high destiny chalked out for her in the Divine legislation of the world . It is her great mission to introduce the arts of peace and civilization and self-government , to two hundred millions of our Indian fellow-subjects ; and while ruling with a . rod of iron , tp protect the weak against the strong , and deal out even-handed justice to all .

      _ . , . There is one reform which should be oarriod out without loss of time . The Indian debt is ninety millions , and we are very near the truth in saying that on this sum an average rate of about 4 J per cent , interest is paid , or upwards of four millions ster ^ - ling yearly in all . If this country is really responsible for tho debt , why should we be made to pay 4 J to 5 por cent , for tho money , when it could be obtained for 3 to 3 J per cent ? There appears to be no formidable difficulty in Sir Charles "Wood opening a loan of ninety or a hundred millions with tho imperial guarantee , and converting all those Indian Four ,. Five , and Six per Cents . Wo arc utterly at a loss to perceive how the nation cotild permanently suffer by suoh a step , while on the other hand upwards of a million of the Indian annual deficit would at once bo written off .

      Now wo have read over and listened to all the objections evor urged against the conversion proposed , and fail to perceive their weight in auoh a crisis aa the present ; There is no doubt that as a matter of high state policy it ia most dosiniblo that natives of India should bo largely interested in tho public debt of their country . There ia no doubt that any atop which may dissolve the connexion

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      DISCONTENT IN THE BRITISH ARMY IN INDIA . The discontent amounting , in . military phrase , to mutiny , which displayed itself in one or two British regiments in . India , is completely allayed , and full investigation has served to place the fact beyond question , that the discontent or mutiny was limited to these one or two regiments , and was not shared in or countenanced by any other portion of the British army . The conduct of the Commander-in-Chief , Lord Clyde , in this emergency has elicited unmixed praise . The malcontents were found to be mostly very young soldiers , "who had been made the victims of evil advisers , but as they had displayed unftristakeable symptoms of being heartily ashamed oftheir folly the judicious lenity extended towards the offenders cannot be too highly

      applauded . The truth must be told , that the offenders' regiments had been lef t too much to themselves . The soldiers were not sufficiently paraded or exercised in their military duties , and , above all , their officers were not sufficiently associated with the men . It was this comparative idleness , and want of personal supervision that paved the way for that display of insubordination which the rest of the British army in India utterly repudiates and openly condemns . Other regiments , where officers and men mingle together in healthful recreation , have displayed nothing but the best and most loyal feeling . A lesson may be learnt from what has just occurred which , if rightly applied , may prove of inca lculable benefit to our Indian army .

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      INDIAN NOTESThe last official report from Dr . Jameson of the progress of tlie Government and other tea plantations in the Kangra district , is most interesting , for it shows that this valuable district is now available for European occupation . The year before tho proportion of second class tea manufactured at Holtu was two-thirds of the whole , and last season the proportion of second class was reduced to one-sixth . The total amount manufactured at Holta was only 13 , 190 lbs ., but the total yield is about 26 , 000 lbs ; but the plants now in the ground will , ' when in full bearing , yield . 1 , 500 , 000 lbs . The improvement in the quality Is owing to the careful gathering of tno raw leaves , and better manipulation under the guidance of . Chinese ; but by tho help of t us ^™~ tendence the native tea makers have likewise become more skilful

      . . _ . This year tho cultivation has been greatly extended : 21 , 000 lbs . of seed have boon distributed to the zemindars , several of whom have engaged in tho cultivation . Tho Financial Commissioners had held a mooting of tho chief zemindars on tho subject of ? e ! el It " fat on , which had hud most favourable resuits At Holtft about 800 acres nr « now under cultivation i ^ nd ^ 5 , 000 , 000 of plants . On the recommendation of Dr . * Jameson , the factory has boon increased , aa likewise tho establishment . The oSv last year was 1 , 600 / ., and tho return , 26 , 000 lbs of tea , lit * s . I » or lb ., 5 , 200 * ., leaving a profit of 3 GOOJ . Tho nito ia evidently a higher ono than pan bo maintained with an increased supply .

      From othor diatrHcta good accounts are given . At Dhurmaala ft new faotory has boon built , to which Toj Sing , a native cultivator , brought in 0 * 0 lbs or

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      between nation and its finances is to be No . 485 . July 9 , 1859-1 THE LEADEB , 813

      India, And . • Indian Progress.

      INDIA , AND . INDIAN PROGRESS .

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      SOUTH AMERICAN « PIIjTICULTIES . " Advices from Buenos Ayres ( says a contemporary ^ , confirm tho impression previously inspired by the known pacific policy of the Government . of that State , that no warlike action would bo taken in answer to the threats launched by the Argontirie Confederation , unless purely with a view to selfdefence . The attitude now assumed by the Confederation is one of lawless aggression , and furnishes fresh evidence of tho blighting effect ? of the regime of those military adventurers who are never long absent from the scone of Spanish American politics . General Urquiza has induced his tools in tho Senate of the Confederation to grant him carte blanche in his attempt to force Buenos Ayres to re-enter the Confederation—an attempt which Buenos Ayres declares slio will shed the lastndrop of her blood in resisting . Urquiza ' a attempts to onlist in his cause the Governments of Monte Vidtfo and Paraguay appear to have boon unsuccessful . Meanwhile , tho policy of Brazil will bo narrowly watched . In a commercial sense tlio conduct of Buenos Ayres has of late been a pattern for the communities in those regions ; for , though tho entire Confederation waa equally liable for tho English debt , aho ia meeting tho entire charge alone , and her fiscal policy haa boon distinguished by many features of liberality . English and French interests of importance being involved in tho struggle now threatened , it is hoped that tho Governments of England and Franco will discountenance it by « vory moans in their power .

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      STATE OF MEXICO . PnivATE advices from "Vera Cruz represent Mexico to be in the most avful state of anarchy and financial distress . The central government had started an expedition , under Cobas , to Tehuantepec , but it was supposed that want of means would frustrate the design . It was also rumoured that Cobas had been killed at Chirtla , in the state of Puebla . Mr . McLane , the United States minister , has just returned from a visit to San . Truxillo and San Tecomapa . He wns busily engaged in arranging a treaty , but he had not , up to the latest dates , succeeded . No intelligent foreigner of large experience in this country any longer expects to see the government constructed on a permanent basis , or in fact on any sort of basis ^ as both parties are almost wholly inactive from sheer exhaustion .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), July 9, 1859, page 813, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2302/page/9/