VI. That the said Warren Hastings, in the said writing, did further
convey an insinuation of an ambiguous, but, on any construction, of a
suspicious and dangerous import, viz.: "It is a fact, that Mr. Shee's
[the Resident's] authority over the territory of Furruckabad is in
itself as much subversive of that [_of the lawful rulers_] as that of
the Vizier's aumil [collector] ever was, and is the more _oppressive_ as
the power from whence it is derived is greater." The said assertion
proceeds upon a supposition of the illegality both of the Nabob's and
the Company's government; all consideration of the _title_ to authority
being, therefore, on that supposition, put out of the question, and the
whole turning only upon the _exercise_ of authority, the said Hastings's
suggestion, that the oppression of government must be in proportion to
its power, is the result of a false and dangerous principle, and such as
it is criminal for any person intrusted with the lives and fortunes of
men to entertain, much more, publicly to profess as a rule of action, as
the same hath a direct tendency to make the new and powerful government
of this kingdom in India dreadful to the natives and odious to the
world.
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