The governor-general issued, on the 29th of March, the following
proclamation:--
"For many years, in the time of Maharajah Runjeet Singh, peace and
friendship prevailed between the British nation and the Sikhs. When
Runjeet Singh was dead, and his wisdom no longer guided the counsels
of the state, the sirdars and the Khalsa army, without provocation and
without cause, suddenly invaded the British territories. Their army was
again and again defeated. They were driven, with slaughter and in
shame, from the country they had invaded, and at the gates of Lahore the
Maharajah Dhuleep Singh tendered to the governor-general the submission
of himself and his chiefs, and solicited the clemency of the British
government. The governorgeneral extended his clemency to the state of
Lahore; he generously spared the kingdom which he had acquired a just
right to subvert; and the maharajah having been replaced on the throne,
treaties of friendship were formed between the states.
"The British have faithfully kept their word, and have scrupulously
observed every obligation which the treaties imposed upon them. But
the Sikh people and their chiefs have, on their part, grossly and
faithlessly violated the promises by which they were bound. Of their
annual tribute, no portion whatever has at any time been paid, and large
sums advanced by the government of India have never been repaid. The
control of the British government, to which they voluntarily submitted
themselves, has been resisted by arms.
Pages:
3984
3985
3986
3987
3988
3989
3990
3991
3992
3993
3994
3995
3996
3997
3998
3999
4000
4001
4002
4003
4004
4005
4006
4007
4008