§ Sir T. Turtonrose, pursuant to notice, to move for certain papers tending to throw light upon the conduct of the Indian government towards the Polygars. His object was to vindicate the character of the country, by the investigation of the parts of the Indian system, which called most loudly for enquiry, and as far as that should be found possible, affording redress where in jury had been done. He wished also to impress the necessity of correcting the whole system on which the government of India had been for some time conducted. The 852 transaction to which these papers referred, was but one of many which had left a very dangerous rankling in the minds of the natives. The systematic interference of the Indian government at home and abroad, with the prejudices and habits of the natives, had excited great dispositions in their minds to hostility towards the British interest. He adverted particularly to the late lamentable transaction at Vellore, which had originated from an interference of this kind. The whole system called loudly for enquiry and reformation, which he was anxious by every effort of his to expedite and carry into effect. With this view he gave notice, that unless the noble lord opposite (Folkestone) should be prepared to bring forward the Carnatic question in a fortnight after the commencement of the next session of parliament, he would himself call the attention of the house to that subject. He should now only move for copies of the instructions given by the Bengal government to major Bannerman in 1799, for the regulation of his conduct towards the Polygars, and also several other papers connected with the same subject.
§ Mr. R. Dundashad no objection to the production of the papers, but entered his protest against any inference of criminality in any one in the measure of disarming the Polygars, which had been rendered indispensably necessary by the disorders these Polygars were eternally committing. He should himself move for further papers, with a view to place the whole subject in a fair light.
§ Mr. Addingtonentered his protest against the prevailing practice of moving for papers with a view to crimination, without any ground whatsoever to induce a presumption that there had been criminality.
Lord Folkestonesaid, he should be ready, early in the next session, to proceed to the discussion and decision of the Oude question.
Mr. Grantrose to state, that nothing could be more erroneous than to suppose that the late unfortunate affair at Vellore arose from a system, or a design to interfere, in any manner, with any of the habits of the natives. There was no such design at home or abroad; and though such an idea had for some time been prevalent here, he could assure the house, from a particular perusal of the papers relating to the transaction, that there was no ground whatever for the opinion. The principal motive of the authors of that lamentable 853 transaction, seemed to be a wish to restore the sons of Tippoo Sultaun to the throne of their father.
§ Mr. W. Keeneentered into an historical detail of the proceedings with respect to the Polygars, which he defended.
§ Mr. Wallacevindicated not only the court of directors, but the government of Madras, from the charge of interfering with the habits and prejudices of the natives of India.—After a few observations from sir A. Wellesley, the papers were ordered; and also several other papers moved for by Mr. Dundas.