The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-06-14 00:00:00


exercising a supreme power. It was not fair to
argue against the, privilege from the abuse of it. if
Portiamcnt'aras to he, stripped of this privilege,
timid -they, on the mime principle, lerre to the
,other House tho,conititaptl of Illepublie purse{
'fir to the Crown. the.command '41)4 &novel of the
f‘a et and *coy ...Ptsoc 044 WVirktbecome even
of fOries akol their l'eneflonsl. iirtt they found
Slaraeris Burdett represetillog tiftnielf as a mar. ,
Ityr to ,the good old amine for which Hampden
bled, attd, Russell and 5j dney died. But these il.
lustrions !martyr; lo; freedom had not sefferual its
consequence of any Contest against the privileges
of Parliament, or by an exercise of the tyratinicil
power of a Housed Commons; but because
:they
hailltot the advantage of a fair trial by jury, ia
consequence of the wicked interference of the JIMA
detestable government that ever existed. 'Longa
these eminent patriots had stiffend by an otiose of
the trial by jury, that would not be a goOd argu.
ment against the advantages of a trial by jury ill
all cases. lie begged, therefore, to call the wen.
tien of their Lordships to this question, as most
impurtant to the security of the liberties or the
subject. But it might be asked, whether they
should give to the flow of Lords, slid the other
House, powers which were not given to the King?
This argument. however, would not stand the test of
examination. The functions of the King were those
of qracc, of favour, and mercy; and for the per.
formaoce of such functions no midi powers a we ne.
misfits.; because they seldom, in their exercise, came
in conflict with the passions or the prejudices of the
public. Besides, the King had other efficient secu.
rities, and did not, therefore; want such powers.
Another good reason why 'such powers had not
been annexed to the Crown was, that the King was
an individual; and it might not be wise to givesuelt
powers to an ind cidual who had also tire command of
the army, and the whole bales/tee of thegoiermeilt.
Parliament, on the contrary, originated ail the re.
venue laws, and various statutes imposing restrie.
(ions or burtheus °pm' the public; which would
be likely to excite discontent amongst the people;
and consequently Parliament required privi.
!eget for its protection. Be hid before referred
to the Revolution, and should ask their Lo,ollll'B
whether they forgot the violent mobs which had
been excited in support of the dos:time of new.
resistance—whether they could put out of their
consideration the mobs and the hypocritical cry, •
which for the ,wt. of purposes, had beeth at
later periods, raised under the sanction of the
Government?. The privileges of Parliament,
therefore, werelosu44.4 upon the obsolete news.
sity of the case; anti with a view to the maintenance
of that freedom of discussion, which woe 'so inti.
mutely . and essentially conuected .with the rights
and .liberties of the nation. • if • this were so,
tlkei,'.lke. *Ovid ask, what
,was tho:dertger that
this power would be atatsediV iAd this seg.
!tested 'Another question, whelk** Parlitalleat
had the power to, alma ? TOG power had,
unquestionably, been exercised in the beet
times of the Constitution, though he would ad.
mit that there may have been Casa lately in which
it had been ezescised, when it would have been .
much better for Parliament to have furberne. ila
should deny, however, that the power had ever
been abused to the oppression of the nation : sod
it was, due, in justice to all Governments which
had the administration of public Whirs, however
he might have ili&red with some of them, us kn.
portant questions of 'national concern, that they
had allowed was great
.a latitude of tlisenasioa at
was consistent with the interests of the Guttered,'
invite, and the freedom of- the -country. Could
this lenient and fortiearant practice have osisow
from accident, or was it owing to portico/at fa.
diriduals, or .to particular periods ? Or was it' • •
en; on the contrary, the result of a general
principle, 'Which was acted upon by all Goverio.•
meats, and which was not liaWe toiegenerete We' '
Oast? But at alrevents, Ike-Parliament was
aecered against this abase, loy;,tfte,`rety nature of
its: Wad( Olen. -It. as its not easyba bane.. a number of
perms to agree to an actodzopprtiasiew; and parti.
' culanly'ital heir own members widie'equatly subject'
to thepplyo) and consotpnently bad a direct interest
in not oppressing:the "people. • But even supposing'
the members of the liumperof iCommons conspired
together for the abuse of their power, would sot
the other hretteltes of the legislature afford seen.
rities against the soutinnance of the evil ? Their
laurdships would have jurisdiction judicially Nowt •
soy such question if brought before them) mulling
Crown could interfere by the power of dissolution;
The only danger of abuse, therefore, would be
confined to a conspiracy between the three branches
of the Legislature, melt of which had a endear.
rent but separate security against any unjust of
oppressive able of the power of the other breaches. •
But such a conspiracy was too monstrous to be
contemplated as possiWe, and would amount
to a dissolution of the compact between the •
government and the people. Ile bad thik '
stated his sentiuteuts at more Joni* than. pers.4:
haps he should have done, though *taw yet re.'
!Maned various other. considerations irshich might -
be urged upon this important (position. 'fie had '
felt it necessary, however), to elate thus -meth, iti
order,. it possible, to bring back these who ape
peared to entertain • erroneous opinions; sweet it
subject, to a temperate consideration of its instare,
and Lionise of the ceneesinencre that might Weir '
front the accomplishment of their nen Views. 'Mt
was fully sensible of the danger lie inewrred of
misrepresentation, and foresaw the oblnquy to
which he should consequently be astiased, It
oftsrubi have been easy for him to have totes
ritio popular side of the question, and courted
tthe applause of the people at the expenee of shay
eerily and principle. list such a course wee lit.' '
ik suited to his habits, and still less' cOniiiittatt'l
stiith the feelings and principles by whielts".B
public ,conduct had always been govisetied.iitiflial
• was settaililq.uf. the effect of those eats whits" ie- •
quired twit/ave.-talents nor virtues to practise ; but "
on titP,ennteark, succeeded hest its the absence of ;
moth;. to vilifying. and calumniating the characters
of Poillitt Inetts•i. 'Or-beheld with indignation and '
slit pcs thttbieatt_litlificeti of those, who, renoone.
ing.eil the ,ebligaiJoes ef faith and honour, and
.iteeiskinkthrongh all the heads mid engsgeriseeste 1; iliaLO(l.l/1 1,40
.taaiOns.iiiiiefiqi. suriczy iskpumule. •,
i. .!