The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 10 (of 12)Burke, Edmund
History
The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 10 (of 12)
Burke, Edmund
Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1760-1820; Political science -- Early works to 1800
My Lords, you have here also the lights of our religion, you have the
bishops of England. My Lords, you have that true image of the primitive
Church, in its ancient form, in its ancient ordinances, purified from
the superstitions and the vices which a long succession of ages will
bring upon the best institutions. You have the representatives of that
religion which says that their God is love, that the very vital spirit
of their institution is charity,--a religion which so much hates
oppression, that, when the God whom we adore appeared in human form, He
did not appear in a form of greatness and majesty, but in sympathy with
the lowest of the people, and thereby made it a firm and ruling
principle that their welfare was the object of all government, since the
Person who was the Master of Nature chose to appear Himself in a
subordinate situation. These are the considerations which influence
them, which animate them, and will animate them, against all
oppression,--knowing that He who is called first among them, and first
among us all, both of the flock that is fed and of those who feed it,
made Himself "the servant of all."
My Lords, these are the securities which we have in all the constituent
parts of the body of this House. We know them, we reckon, we rest upon
them, and commit safely the interests of India and of humanity into your
hands. Therefore it is with confidence, that, ordered by the Commons,
I impeach Warren Hastings, Esquire, of high crimes and misdemeanors.
I impeach him in the name of the Commons of Great Britain in Parliament
assembled, whose Parliamentary trust he has betrayed.
I impeach him in the name of all the Commons of Great Britain, whose
national character he has dishonored.
I impeach him in the name of the people of India, whose laws, rights,
and liberties he has subverted, whose properties he has destroyed, whose
country he has laid waste and desolate.
I impeach him in the name and by virtue of those eternal laws of justice
which he has violated.
I impeach him in the name of human nature itself, which he has cruelly
outraged, injured, and oppressed, in both sexes, in every age, rank,
situation, and condition of life.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Vakeel states Mofussil Jumma, of Salbarry, for 1,191
S* R* 96,229
Purchase money 53,755
------
Per annum, loss 42,474
SPEECHES
IN
THE IMPEACHMENT
OF
WARREN HASTINGS, ESQUIRE,
LATE GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF BENGAL.
* * * * *
SPEECH ON THE SIXTH ARTICLE OF CHARGE.
April and May, 1789.
NOTE.
After Mr. Burke had concluded the opening speeches, the first
article of the impeachment was brought forward, on the 22d of
February, 1788, by Mr. Fox, and supported by Mr. Grey on the 25th.
After the evidence upon this article had been adduced, it was
summed up and enforced by Mr. Anstruther, on the 11th day of April
following.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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