Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-08-25

FOREIGN.


49, the oisee o. lie Boston i'stno,
Inc dissolution Ut tho late Parliament
has been rs singular ~ some of The aris
by Which II viii be distinguished IN fhe
'niure ihsisry OF The past tunes. u Is IN
"tt" somewhat extraordinary. thai a ui-
nis'fy which has It's due proportion of
lawyers, and some ofthese The. mos; l.,.r,
e0 OF theT profession. should have COM.
united three or four Of lie most uolshje
errors IN parliamentary his;ory.--hayiita
departed most wisely fros those Drrce-
deb,S, WHICH, II they are worth Etyir IN
ifeHiasIVss, praVi0r al l-ast sCrarit.sS q.
SaHst disorder anU coiitusiCN. NV mark
ins out certain liuc of proceeding Tor
lhe conNOCation aud dissolution OF iasqe,
bodies o! men. " II are so ,,n,gcTflH Ia
such bodies, and particularly when ac-
knoMledsed by the iaw ~ The supreme
poWerln The state, than loo much care can.
NOT be taken 10 keep them within the
bounGs prescribed by ,hc constitution.
Hence The eminent valueui parliamentary
precedents. They limit ani' control iLcse
who are beyond all ether Iiu.itatiou ami
contrcl. they are In fact. alolosl as much
the constitutional law as the form aud
substance OF parliam rni Itself.
Upon these principles ne do moi see,
with any satisfaction. the late unnecessary
departure from these prescribed asages
III the disSo'uii0not parliament and tho
We DO not tlink, torA momen1, that they
Justify any of the differences " hich have
been deduced from them, and particular
~ tie alleged anger OF the Prince Regent,
we could have wished thai more rigid
observance of ancient forms Lad afforded
no cause for such suspicious. The dis
solution of parliament Is tie temporary
farewell OF the Prince and the principal
subjects of the Kingdom. il is, therefore,
matter OF public concern, that the congo
should be upon both sides, cordial and
good humorcd and any thing which
should leave this disposition in doubt,
deiracis 20 much, III proportion, from the
expectation OF good understanding, and
perfect goo0 viii, IN the future.
Ii is perlecNg ilue, that all other parlia-
meilts, from lie Siuarts DOWN. ards, nave
been first pTorogued, and then immedi-
aiely atterw ards dissolved by proclama-
ton; thai the Sovereign has not appear
ed ~ person on such dissolution, bui has
effected II by his royal act in prOclama-
ton. Nor Is this precedent Wi,houi ANY
excellent reason. The fact ~, that lie
dissolution I'll parliament, 'es ssVt'F ntcrs-
saiy. l., III itself, an ungiacious act and
may occur under circumstances vii. \.
might exile The angry ietiliIgS OF the
Al
dtnce in removing the royal person from
all immediate contact with tliis possihle
discomfort. The King should never be
seen but 10 be beloved and Teverenced.-
A contrary practc" would detraCt froR
that habit OF awe and affection " hicl, the
interests OF government require.
Row Why was ihls precedent so urnC
cessarily neglected upon the late occa-
sion !-Nhere was The necessity Of such
haste, as 10 compel the Prince Regent 30
act III person, and 10 take away tie con-
Nenlent interval betw proro CATION anil
dissolution One consequence was about
10 follow, (and Was indeed only prevented
by the dpXterity of Lord Castercagh)
"hlch would have proved the value al Tie
usage by the mischief ensuing upon It's
violation. The speech Of the Prince i,e-
gent could not bc read to the Commons,
as usual, because their existence as
House OF Commons had ceased. But the
members had collected around The speak
er, anu an animated conversation occur
red, III which ibis practice Of the house
was demanded. Lord CaStlereagl's words
are the best comment upon the possible
effect OF this proceeding 60 | per-
celvS, gentlemen, we are gettiag into
debate now that we have ceased TO be q
house. Is il NOT prudent that we should
! ai Immediately retire g The advice vas
| more unanimously observed than would
! probably have occurred in more violent
times.
1t ceriaiRly, therefore, is some cause Of
! Tcpi oach to ministers either tbag they
we're gnoraut OF lie preceding usage, or
! that they have negligeHtly violated good
! and established precedent, precedent
! founded inlhe best constitutional reasons,
and beginning and followed up from the
! oni! uncXcePtiOnal period Of our pailia-
ncntaIy history. Tie SIP, aker, himself,
as we see, was about to read The speech,
! contrary 10 llIe very naiu ARE Of d disscIn-
| ton but having consulted Mr.. IIatsel,
| the excellent wriier upon Parliamentary
Law and Customs, he found THAT disso.
! luton oi parliament was 0SfaHtcy-tle CT
vii death Of Tie house aud Us officers -
and that il would be a constitutional anO-
maly TO exercise any fur,hcrsct rs Speak-
cr. IL is rather amazing TO us, that The
Speaker should find IT necessary 10 COW
suit Mr.. lIalsci upon a conclusion so ma.
nilcst aud Obvious.
The London Courier Of The 10Th Juue,
contains twenly-tw o addresses TO tbr elcc-
tors. The following (says The New York
Gazette rs pretty fair sample OF the
style Of each:
TO tbe independent Electors Of The City Of Westminster
GENTLE MY life Iavina been
passed ~ the service of my county, ! am
unused 10 addresses of this nature, and IN
professions Of any Kind am averse. Ol
myself and my prctcnsions / must speak
with Whether my conduct
has been such as to merit the coniident
OF my fellow citizens, | am The last tC
Judge but tins n:l and will cay. tia