William Pitt

“ It was true, the bill was said to be founded on necessity; but what was this? Was it not necessity, which had always been the plea of every illegal exertion of power, or exercise of oppression? Was not necessity the pretence of every usurpation? Necessity was the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It was the argument of tyrants: it was the creed of slaves. He had heard no particular reason offered in favour of this necessity, except that of destroying the corrupt influence which had been exerted by the company and their servants in both houses of parliament. ”

“ But surely this was an argument against the principle of the bill; for if government possessed themselves of this source of influence and corruption, it would no longer be the influence of a company, but that of the executive government. He asked, was it not the principle and declared avowal of this bill, that the whole system of the India government should be placed in seven persons, and those under the immediate appointment of no other than the minister himself? ”

“ For his part, he was ready to declare, that in his opinion the whole of the right honourable secretary's system was nothing more on one side than absolute despotism, and on the other the most gross corruption. He concluded with observing, that he wished this bill not to pass without a call of the house; for he was assured that not a member of parliament, when he heard of this bill, would consider himself uninterested in its discussion. He thought it one of the most bold and forward exertions of power that was ever adopted by ministers. ”