It may produce wicked, flagitious,
tyrannical acts; but in no country is it law.
The duty of a sovereign in cases of rebellion, as laid down in the
Hedaya, agrees with the general practice in India. It was usual, except
in cases of notorious injustice and oppression, whenever a rebellion or
a suspicion of a rebellion existed, to admonish the rebellious party and
persuade him to return to his duty. Causes of complaint were removed
and misunderstandings explained, and, to save the effusion of blood,
severe measures were not adopted until they were rendered indispensable.
This wise and provident law is or ought to be the law in all countries:
it was in fact the law in that country, but Mr. Hastings did not attend
to it. His unfortunate victim was goaded to revolt and driven from his
subjects, although he endeavored by message after message to reconcile
this cruel tyrant to him. He is told in reply, "You have shed the blood
of Englishmen, and I will never be reconciled to you." Your Lordships
will observe that the reason he gives for such an infernal determination
(for it cannot be justly qualified by any other word) is of a nature to
make tyranny the very foundation of our government. I do not say here
upon what occasion people may or may not resist; but surely, if ever
there was an occasion on which people, from love to their sovereign and
regard to their country, might take up arms, it was this.
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