Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-11-23


who advised her to travel, now leagued
with her enemies. Where then can She
look for steady support! The most in
nocent person In the world might web
shrink from appearing under circumstaii-
ces so cmmentiy hazardous, il she were
not also the most courageous. It'll pro-
Dab!e then, she will not come over, and
the consequence is, that long time must
needs elapse before the proceedings cnn
be commenced against her They NAV
he set on foot pro fo'ma at tie beginning
OF the session, but six months at least
must be allowed for a general citation TO
appear and oppose the bill, and no one
step can be taken to forward il till the ses
sion after. Even if she should appear
andpiead, 4 measure of so extraordinary a
nature, wholly unprecedented, and touch
ing the highest matters of law and state,
cannot be hurried through like an enclo-
sure of a turnpike bill. 1t requires the
most delicate investigation, it will be care
fully watched, and in every stage, they
who urge the proprety OF delay will be
tavourably listened to. 1t cannot be
brought iii without great deal of preli,n-
mary inquiry. There must be commit
tees OF both houses TO examine evidence ::
counsel must be allowed TO attend on the
p.sit va ltCk IVY al Us SOOU DIS she
pleases to attend the committee must
report and the report being considered
leave must, upon mature consideration. be
gwen TO bring in bill. Now all this
must cause ID delay, and that delay is OBJ
ylously most material to the next objec-
tioH-tlic great doubt Of lis ultimate sue
cess.
Against this success it is argued, that
n NJ ,frs...
rise III the origin and progress of the bill.
Some of these spring from the nature of
the measure itself. The law having pro-
vided peculiar guarantee for the purity
OF the royal bed, VIZ. rendering its defile-
ment high treason, it may be asked, whe-
Their the law has not stopt here? At any
rate, when new and peculiar law is
brought III tor the occasion, may it not
be asked, whether the old and generallaw
has been enforced Do the government
then intend TO proceed crimina!y, and a.
galnst whom ! Ii the alleged treason was
committed upon the seas, does the statute
of Henry VIII. authorize trial of this
species OF treason within the realm Did
any OF the old laws ever contemplata the
case OF "a queen or princess living separate
from her husband, much more living a
broad with his permission? Besides, all
jurisdiction tor offences beyond seas is
over natural born subjects, and how can
the princess, an alien born, be subject TO
trial Ill England, for offences done be-
You'd seas! Have not those who permit
ted her TO reside abroad, away from her
husband, Abandoned all right to inquire
into into her conduct criminally? But
the dniIcuity does MOI STOP mere. The same
question may be asked as TO the proceed
mr. rlt A.
improperly suffered the princess to 90.
given up all right TO divorce her for acts
done during her absence These ques-
tons and many others, will be found TO
spring up at every step that is made i'm
this i'll advised measure. But one of the
most formidable enemies 10 It's ultimate
success will be the great length of time it
must take in its progress, and i'm this
length OF time may produce such acct
dents as would render any further pro
ceeding wholly unnecessary what then
becomes or the supporters ofthe divorce
bill! Will they not be placed in very
awkward predicamcnt They have done
their utmost to deprive the princess Char
l0tte, OF her Succession, and have failed
She IS queen in despite of them and In
tins view the measure must seem hazard
Gus 10 those who may engage in it
Speaking of probabilities, it could but be
suspected that many member of parlia-
ment will be apprebensive lest any vote
he gives may be laying up for himself
store OF enmlty, by assisting a measure
which is not likely TO succeed. Every
man whose vote may influence the deci-
sion OF this question either way, NAV be ex-
pected to reason thus The princess is
SAID to be guilty, and it's said there are
proofs OF 1t; but as long as she remained
in this country, she deiicd all her adyer-
sarles, and stood the test of two most RI
gorous inquiries iuto her conduct. In
to the time of her quitting the country
she was innocent, though compelled TO
live i'll a state of cclibacy aud seclusjon
almost from the moment OF her marriage
and during the season of her youth; vet
she resisted every temptation, and was
unlmpeachable up to the time OF her leay-
ing England. She WIS advised to 90 a.
broad and some of those who advised
her, are now TO be her prosecutors while
abroad. IT she has since erred. il little
becomes them TO cast the first stone; but
at all events, they must prove their case
by other witnesses than protligate foreign
cTs; for while she remained among Enp-
llshmeu, no evidence could be procured
against her" The writer then poes ON to
shew other considerations which would he
likely to influence member of parlia-
mont; weighing the probable conseqnen-
ces OF his vote, If the measure for which
he might give it should not succeed -
Among others, he mentionsthe little neces-
sity there exists for divorce. even should
the guilt Of thc princess. while abroad. be