Cheyt Sing was to be
robbed. Why? Because he is too rich. His successor is to be reduced to a
miserable condition. Why? Lest he should grow rich and become
troublesome. The whole of his system is to prevent men from growing
rich, lest, if they should grow rich, they should grow proud, and seek
independence. Your Lordships see that in this man's opinion riches must
beget pride. I hope your Lordships will never be so poor as to cease to
be proud; for, ceasing to be proud, you will cease to be independent.
Having resolved that the Rajah should not grow rich, for fear he should
grow proud and independent, he orders him to pay forty lacs of rupees,
or 400,000_l._, annually to the Company. The tribute had before been
250,000_l._, and he all at once raised it to 400,000_l._ Did he
previously inform the Council of these intentions? Did he inform them of
the amount of the gross collections of the country, from any properly
authenticated accounts procured from any public office?
I need not inform your Lordships, that it is a serious thing to draw out
of a country, instead of 250,000_l._, an annual tribute of 400,000_l._
There were other persons besides the Rajah concerned in this enormous
increase of revenue. The whole country is interested in its resources
being fairly estimated and assessed; for, if you overrate the revenue
which it is supposed to yield to the great general collector, you
necessitate him to overrate every under-collector, and thereby instigate
them to harass and oppress the people.
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