History Of The Panjab

Syed Muhammad Latif · 1891 · Public domain (published pre-1930) · archive.org ↗ · the OCR came from another scan of this work, the boxes may sit a page off

1No middle course

2open now,

3Lord Hardinge’s

4warning had proved

5unavailing.

6The Panjab annexed

7to the British posses-

8sions of India, March,

9The Darbar held at

10Lahore,

11The Proclamation of

122Ist March, 1849,

13The conduct of the

14Sikhs described,

15572 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB.

16proved unavailing. It was therefore clear that there was no middle

17course open to meet the impending crisis, and, that the only measure, at

18once just and expedient, that could be adopted, was the annexation of the

19country to the British Empire. The boy-king had been already restored

20to power and placed under the control of a Council of Regency, selected from

21amongst the Sikh sardars themselves. That was the utmost ‘which a con-

22siderate and humane Government could, in justice to the country, do for

23the declining Sikh State. It was hoped that by a return to good faith, and

24the observance of prudent councils, the Sikh Darbdr and chiefs would be

25able to organise a Sikh Government under the young prince, but the ex-

26periment proved a failure after a fair trial, and all the good wishes of the

27Indian Government for the Léhore Darbdér were destined to meet with

28disappointment. All indulgence had been shown, and everything possible done

29to preserve the independence of the country, but the representatives of the

30country would not allow its independence to be preserved. They had in-

31vited the struggle which had ended in their ruin, by their own acts of

32treachery and deceit. The consequences of a breach of faith on the part

33of the Sikhs had already been foreshadowed. “If this opportunity,” said

34Lord Hardinge in his manifesto at the close of the first Sikh War, “of rescu-

35ing the Sikh nation from military anarchy and misrule be neglected, and

36hostile opposition to the British army be renewed, the Government of India

37will make such other arrangements for the future Government of the Panjab

38as the interests and security of the British Power may render just and expe-

39dient.” It was abundantly manifest that a repetition of the indulgence shown

40would have been inconsistent with sound policy and the true interests of the

41people, who had been impoverished by years of anarchy and misrule, and

42would have proved injurious to British prestige in the Hast. Few will, there-

43fore, be disposed to question the wisdom and justice of the policy adopted by

44the Governor-General, in declaring that thenceforth the Panjdb was to form

45an integral part of the British dominions in India,

46A Darbdr was held at Léhore on the 29th of March, 1849, at which the

47following Proclamation of the Governor-General, announcing the annexation

48of the Panjab, was read aloud in the presence of the young Mahardjd and the

49remainder of the Sikh chiefs who had refrained from acts of open hostility

50towards the English :—

51For many years during the time of Maharaji Ranjit Singh, peace and friendship

52prevailed between the British nation and the Sikhs. When Ranjit Singh was dead and .

53his wisdom no longer guided the Councils of the State, the sardars and the Zhdlsé army,

54without provocation and without cause, suddenly invaded the British territories. ‘heir

55army was again and again defeated. They were driven with slaughter and in shame from

56the country they had invaded, and, at the gates of Lahore, the Mahardj4 Dulip Siagh

57tendered to the Governor-General the submission of himself and his chiefs; and solicited

58the clemency of the British Government. The Governor-General extended the clemency

59of his Government to the State of Lahore, he generously spared the kingdom which he

60had acquired a just right to subvert, and, the Mahardj4 having been replaced on the throne,

61treaties of friendship were formed between the States. The British have faithfully kept

62their word, and have scrupulously observed every obligation which the treaties imposed

63upon them. But the Sikh people and their chiefs have, on their part, grossly and

64faithlessly violated the promises by which they were bound. Of their annual tribute no

65portion whatever has at any time been paid, and large loans advanced to them by the

66Government of India have never been paid. The control of the British Government to

67which they voluntarily submitted themselves, has been resisted by arms. Peace has been

68cast aside, British officers have been murdered when acting for the State ; others engaged

69in a like employment have been thrown into captivity. Finally, the whole of the State

70and the whole Sikh people, joined by many of the sardars in the Panjab, who signed the

71treaties, and led by a member of the Regency itself, have risen in arms against us and

72have waged a fierce and bloody war for the proclaimed purpose of destroying the’

73British and. their, : ia former gj ‘ s

74SriSatg weuthagit Singh die ty ar yrocod by its act anidianbigrayy Gigalceort it required