The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-03-29 00:00:00

RECENT STATE TRIALS.

The following is a translation of the memorandum
of the King of Sweden and Norway upon the official
minutes of the judgment of the Norwegian State
Court of Justice against the Prime Minister Selmer:
"What my predecessors on the throne of the
Kingdom of Norway declared relative to the judg-
ment of the State Court of Justice in the years 1827
and 1845 I here repeat most distinctly. No judg-
mentof the State Court of Justice can be acknowledged
by me as settling any Constitutional question nor as
carrying with it any precedent in any way binding on
me or my successors. I declare, consequently, that I
shall not, in consequence of the judgment of the State
Court now delivered, consider myseff in any point or
in any way circumscribed in my right to govern the
country in future as heretofore, with all the authority
which according to the Constitutional law appertains
to the Xing. Respecting the important issue involved
in the first paragraph of the judgment, I consider it
particularly necessary to declare that the judgment
of the State Court cannot annul or alter the Consti-
tutional order hitherto acknowledged, according to
which no alteration of the Constitution can become
valid without the consent of the King. On my
ascending the throne I took an oath on the Constitu-
tion, such as it has been understood in that
practice of many years, and such as it has been
declared and confirmed by the most learned
men and by the Storthing itself. But I have
not sworn, and I am prevented by my oath
from rendering unconditional sanction to any altera-
tion of the Constitution that a large majority of the
Storthing may decide on. This would be nothing less
than a surrender of the position in the State which is
assigned to the sovereign power by the Constitution,
and which the King of Norway is bound to maintain
and defend. The duties devolving on the Union King
demand, besides, that I should in every way maintain
the position of the power in the State which alone can
secure the union existing between the two countries.
Such a duty is laid by the Constitution on the Union
King, and must by the inner necessity of things be
secured to him. Both countries are equally members
of the union settled by free will and legal form, but both
nations are also bound by said union, and the King, as the
representative of both, has not only the right but the
duty to watch over and see that this settlement is
strictly maintained. I repudiate, therefore, most de-
cidedly any partial attack on any of the guarantees
for the stability of the Union, and one of the most
important of these guarantees lies in the uncondi-
tional right of sanction on the king's part to any
alteration of the Constitution in either kindom.
Every Commonwealth must be founded on obedience
to the law, on respect for right and justice, and on
the Constitution, such as it has once been fixed and
carried out and understood in the course of time.
The great principle cannot be impugned without the
most serious results to the honour and welfare of the
people. To give my approval to the substance of a
judgment such as has fallen on the State Minister
Selmer would be to render myself and the
Norwegian people also responsible for the said
judgment and for its results to the country and to
the Union. It is known that encroachments have
been made in the process of the trial and in the com-
position of the Court, in a manner contrary to the
principles of an impartial administration of Justice.
Deep is my sorrow that such a trial and such a judg-
ment should have come to pass in our country. But
I find, nevertheless, that, under existing circum-
stances, I ought to interpret my duty in such a way
that it will be best and most judicious for the welfare
of the country to allow the State Minister Selmer to
retire. He has also himself respectfully announced
his wish to leave the Ministry. I decide, therefore,
that the State Minister Selmer shall retire from
office. I express to the retiring Minister my gracious
and warm acknowledgment of his long official labours
and faithful services to the country and to myself."
The King the same day nominated Mr. Selmer
a Knight of the Seraphim, the highest order of
Sweden.