The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-09-08 00:00:00

SWEDEN ANL, NORWAY.

manor Of ILIA NA.INSTIC THY VINO Of SWICDYN AND
NORWAY TO TUE STORTHINO Of NORWAY.

The absolute veto of the King forms an clement so risen.
dilly connected with the stability and equilibrium of a representa-
tive government, that all objections founded upon local consider*.
nions cannot invalidate the evidence of princiPles and of facts. If,
however, a doubt timid exist upon this point, the events of our days
hare demonstrated, the annals of every ^ountry indimte, the taw
consequences as originating iv the same faults. Several nations
hare been the theatre of a bloody struggle, the main origin of
which was the refusal of au abso:ute Trio; and this fatal mistrust.
inciting minds to excesses, the consequences of which were not fore.
seen, snr.it g against it the dignity of the throne and the real wants
of the people. has issued in giving Sovereigns more power than
they hid at gut required. These lessons ought to have a decisive
influence with a loyal and faithful people, who cherish towards
their Sovereign the same attachment that they entertain for the
guarantees n'oich insure their rights.
The King has seen with pleasure that the Storthing of the king-
doms of Norway has. in the important question of the veto, recog-
nised in principle, what; tinder existing circumstances, and on ac.
want of the reasons they have alleged, they have not considered
they could recognize in reality; but, by this mode of viewing the
question, the Storthing insulates Norway as much from flovern.l
meats constitutionally absolute, as from Governments constitution.'
all representative.
If it be incontestable that the Constitution of a State, ought to
be adapted to the wants and habits of the people, and even to ha
geographical position, it would be a fatal error to wish to subject to
the same forms, nations whose characters almost always differ; but
it is evident that Norway, accustomed for upwarils of a century
and a half, to be governal by the tole will of the Monarch, sees
with displeasure that the new form deprives her of a support, and of
a powerful defender agabist the encroachments of the legislature.
The little part which the Norwegian nation took in the administra-
tion, previously to the form of the present f lovernment, removed her
citizens from tile management of public affairs. 'l'he consequence
resulting from this is, necessarily, that the class of the persons
filling state attires were those who would nt.tundly obtain the
most mlitience in the Legislative Assemblies. The possibility
that the. se functionaries *Light abuse this influence cannot be de-
nied, the more so, as the King does not possess the consti'u.
/lona' right of dismissing thenn ; and the King, not having the
absolute veto, cannot arrest the effect of resolutions framed, pos.
sibly, with the sole dente of dindifishing the control of the
Monarch over those lilting state offices. The King is divested
of sufficient authority to operate what the welfare of the State
demands when the laws ere decided by those Rho are to put them
in executirn.

The Storthlng having =premed in their very humble Address
the desire that the 17th Section might undergo revision, before the
79th Section was abolished, his 31ajesty, in admitting in part the
ressons which the Storthing allege .in justification thereof, does not
hesitate to declare, that he will with pleasure accede to every de-
sire on the part of the Storthing, on occasions when loan do so
without injury to the prerogatives of the Sovereign, the power of
which is as necessary to the liberty of the people, as is that of the
rights of their Representatives. Ills Majesty, however, conceives,
the he ought to Hz the attention of the National Kepreeentat'on
oti the evident and sensible difference which exists between the
results of die stipulations of Section 711 of thi. Constitution, and
those of Section 17. The King can by this latter Section give and
abolish, in the interval between the meetings of the Storthing, pro.
visional Ordinances respecting Commerce, the Customs, Industry,
and the regulation of the Pat ; but it is, at the same time, en.
acted, thit these provisional Ordinances must not contain any.
contrary to the Constitution or to the laws adopted by the
Shoaling, and especially to those which, in virtum of Section 79.
are independent of the loyal sanction. Now the examination of
this text, and the inductions which may be derived from It. destroy
the fear that the sail provisional Ordinances, although abrogated
by one Storthing, may be reproduced under another form, and
that thus a pullet legislation, solely reserved to the Sovereign,
joined to the absolute veto, would render almost illusory the Mgt,-
fame participation of the Storthing. These Ordinances, all provi-
4iunal, submitted to the revision (Watch Storthing, and not acquit.
ing the force of law until they have been adopted by that WO,
cannot, therefore, be compared with laws, becoming such in vir-
tue of the above-cited Section, by the single.authority of a trench
of the Legislative Power ; for there is an immeasurable distance'
between an Ordinance which may be annulled every time that it is
pr dared, sad a law which, rejected three times, preserves by
right the character and J.ermaneece of a law i even in this ease, If
the conscience of the King induced him to refuse his sanction to
laws of this nature, who could promulgate them without declaring
himself in op, n rebellion with the 3.1 Section of the 'Constitution,
which declares that .• the executive power is vested in the person
of the King."
In the existing order of things, equilibrium is not even esta-
blished. To effect it, the King ought to possess the right,. et the
third presentation, of imposing upon the storthing the
.projects of
law which be would have caused to have been proposed ; but his
Majesty is far from aspiring to such a right; he only mentions it
to chew how far theories may become dangerous, I.y establishing,
in principle, the germ of discord and mistrust between two Powers
which never can maintain the national independence until they are
comyletely united.
In order to bring about, in the most safe manner, this equili-
brium, the object of the constant sidles of .he King, and which
ought to be that of the %lathes and mature deliberations of the
Storthing, his Majesty. peiposes that the 79th Section of the Con-
stitution, and all that is connected with the rights therein stipu-
lated, be repealed in coucturethse with the present text of Sec-
don 17.

To give, besides, a nen. proof of the paternal sentiments of the
King, hi, Illaserty consents that the following shall Wadded to the
WM Section :

" The King, on refusing his sanction to a project of law, will
make kne.wn the reason." which have tritium' his refusal."
The Storthing having already rceogrered the principle that no
foreigner an be naturalised a Norwegian eine= without the appro-
bation of the King his Majnty considers it Dec , on this oc-
casion, to communicate the projects of alterations in that portion of
the fundamental law which relates to tlss subject.
The King observes to the Storthlng, that Norway, to Sourish,
has need to preserve her Patriarchal Government. The masses
which inhabit the valleys read the summits of the mountains, after
having addressed their prayers to heaven to obtain protection, im.
plore the All.Powerlul to endow their King with the power, the
couraire, and die will, to protect and defend them. These people ,
do not imagine that their Protector can experitnee obstacles in the
good which he intends to do individuals, nor in the prosperity which
he wishes to introduce into the country: Thaw people, in fact, and
his Majesty by the certitude that it is so, desire that the balance
should bet qua'. They wish that the King would propose, and that
the Assembly would accept or refuse, and that the King would ac-
cept or refuse, acco:ding to the interests of the State. This is their
way of viewing these matters; their feelings are suffeciendy known
and their hopes are directed towards us. Let us have no other in.
tweet than their welfare, and Norway, in preserving her indepen.
denee, will present the spectacle of a happy nation under her Leas,
and under her l'oosthutianal King, enlightened by a wise and con-
sistent represeotation.
On these motives his Majesty judgss expedient to propose, ten-
formably to the 112th Section of the fundamental law,- thst the
Storthing should resolve that Sections 17, in, 711, tilt, ft, 82, and 82,
of the Constitution, should be henceforth in tenor as follows :
SECTION 17.

-.-
The King can enact and abash ordinance% which concern can.
merec, the customs, industry, and the police; they must not, how.
ever, be contrary to the Constitution, nor to the laws established by
the Storthing (conformably to Sections 77 and 78, hereinafter cited.)
They saall have, provisionally, the torce of law, until the next
Smrt Ming. If they are not adopted by the Storthing, they Cannot
Le renewed. and the former laws concerning the uhjuct in question,
shall be again in vigour.
SECTIOW 711.

If the King approve the resolution, he shall affit thercto his sig-
nature, and theoceforward it shall have the force of law.

SECTION 7t.

If the Kiog do :.iot approve the resolution of tht Storthing, it

Ancual Medium of Five Periods of Peace, rEe

10.111 to 1701 1719 to 17. 1794 to 17112 In 14312 1316 to 1822
Vont years' %seven year; (nine ycani (ooe year (Nevelt ) WS'
average.) average.) average.) only.) average.)
X
3,11.6.265 4,169,699 4,761.965 13,6)5,299 17.910,820
1,42.1,231 3,122,429 3,187,139 7,2119,291 8,324,987
.4f9.333 1,333604 2.251.081 3 6(11.237 4 097.310
399,394 941.396 219,833 142,401 2.246.56
6,318.413 9,291,338 10,411,4111 29,430 141 31,810.092
214.212 714,105 1,795,747 3,919,1111) 3,219,416
114.613 213,841 889,5411 1,161.179 181.712
737.676 2,001,690 3,605,626 10,11911,833 17,693.333
6.449,394 I 12220,!14 18,621,942 41,411,259 33,128.495
80.663 109.35-1 1195.0151 12s1.s1is 2,3211,725
39.454 1.1.854 70,917 90,513 145,217.
39.974 87,296 2'94,103 427.016 423,810
152.201 171.091 117.247 1118,c69 1.0112,831
757.92'1 1,345,212 1,368 311 8,005,237 8,772,181
2,1.44,228 2,412,917 2,317,98; 4,302,1;17 4,337,211
1118,115 437.483 921.492 2.390,193 1,314.673
34:4,413 1,121.529 975,318 1.234,313 1 543,141
1580.422 1091.337 789,179 1.421.221 613 9'3
143.249 23" *76 75!,,240 1.950.418 3,699.718
213,002 133,671 121,077 163,134 ' 764,118
337.546 1 , f.." 36,161 2.239,464 5.3.29.410 8,39c1 MI
16,491 72,984 661,402 1.050,899 1.71344
331.C3!1 664.067 1,e62.522 3,92,1113 3,030,367
Nothing. 26,470 39,131 284,831 4,3.53,737
1.397.333 1,030,910 3.831.712 6.053. C 27 9,248,633
259.139 609,219 1,319,504 1.623 966 2,281,423
62,701 18,3013 1311,864 461,8•2.1 431.220
38 294 741 1,090 1.381

cannot again, wishout having previously undergone modification,
be again submitted to the Bing during the situng of the Storthing
then assemblt J.
_ Secriox 80.

The Storthing diall continue assembled so lcteg its that bsdy
judge necessary ; not, has-ever, longer than duce months without
the permission of the King.
When, slier haring linislted their titan:rt, or after having ken
assembled Miring the spare of time fired, it is dissolved by the
King, his illnjrsty will give his resolution dh the preposiljo-ts not
then decided, either by adopting or rejecting them. in the Liter
ease. the King will act fordt the reasons which induced him to re-
fuse his sanction to the project of law presentecL