Hastings's government, that I have charged this with everything that is chargeable against him, namely, that, if your Lordships should ratify those principles by your acquittal of him, they become principles of government,--rejected, indeed, by the Commons, but adopted by the Peerage of Great Britain.
Burke warns that acquitting Hastings would legitimize corrupt governmental principles.
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As he is not to obey us, but we are to obey the law in him, our Constitution has made no sort of provision towards rendering him, as a servant, in any degree responsible.
Who could conceive that men who are habitually meddling, daring, subtle, active, of litigious dispositions and unquiet minds, would easily fall back into their old condition of obscure contention, and laborious, low, and unprofitable…
Those who are servants in name, as well as in effect, do not like to be told of their situation, their duty, and their obligations.
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