Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-10-03


against him by grand jury, defraudesi
justice by a pretended coutriiion. and
abusing the leniiy of The law and the
mercy OF his prosecutors, bribed one Of
the witnesses against him 10 go abroad.
But in this case what is the reason for a
Bill of Pains and Penalties Has The
queen fed from justice Is there para
mount state necessity for punishment 3
Are there any circumstances leading us
10 suppose that justice will be defrauded
if this bill does not pass? That the
queen has not fed from justice, is not on
~ the admission, but forms one of The
chief charges OF her prosecutors. This
point, therefore, requires no proofs
there then paramount state necessity
We confess we are unable 10 perceive IL.
The queen, il is well known. has for
many years unhappily been separated
from your majesty, and during the last
six years, indeed, has resided out of This
country. Ii is impossible, therefore, for
any sober minded man TO m aintain that
there IS a danger lest the succession TO
The crown be tainted. As little, or nearly
as little, is there any danger for The flu
lure. The great point of the succession,
th.D-tbe only one on which the con
duct OF the queen is paramount in
ierest 10 the state-is not affected. -.
Even If we &C step further, and inquire
whether the behaviour OF the queen has
affected The public morals OF England:
to this question also, we must reply in
the negative. The queen has been seve-
raj years resident abroad whether as
her enemies affirm, her life was licenious
or whether as her friends siouily main
tain, she upheld her royal characteristic
influence of her example could extend
only TO the Inhabitants Of Como or OF
Athens. To the wives and daughters of
England she was extinct-removed from
their sphere OF action as effeciually as if
she had been dead-and TO their ears the
details Of her domestic life, the scandal
tales of her neighbours and her servants,
the scenes of immortality which are al.
legged TO have happened, are now for The
first time, 10 be revealed by The inquiry
your majesty has been advised 10 sci on
foot.
II, then, there is no paramount necessi
~, nor even p,ima facie case OF policy,
for proceeding against the Queen by Bill.
LET us next inquire whether the ends Of
Justice will be defeated if this bill does
moi pass? Ills difficult to say they would.
Ii the law of England has made no pro-
vision for trying Queen on a charge OF
immoral conduct abroad, the reason is
probably to be found in the conclusion
we have just made, that such confuci
does not seriously affect the State. But,
on The other hand, we are compelled 10
represent that the ends of justice NAV he
grossly defeated by ihe passing of the
bill now pending in Parliament. -. For
what, let us humb!y ask, Is The situation
OF the Queen? Separated from her lus-
band during the first year of her MARI
age, she has been forced out Of that circle
. "A a. Al
Ions which alone are of power 10 keep a
vile holy and safe from evil. For ihe
period To which the accusation extends
she has been also removed from HE con
troll OF public opinlon-the best remain
iug check this world can afford upon ie-
male behavior. Many women. unhappily,
there are in England, who have abandon
ed husbands warmly attached 10 them,
and large family of children depen-
dent upon them for maternal care
but no one has YET been exposed 10 such
an ordeal. or threatened with such dis
grace as the Queen.
Much distrust, 1t must also be mani-
fest. will attach to the witnesses. |, is
well known (witlIout undue prejudice We
may say iD that the standard of morality
for female conduct is not so high in Italy
as il is in England and The consequence
story, however improbable, which affects
the honor OF a weman. Again, the wit.
ncsses do not give evidence i'm their own
country and their character in their own
neighbOrhood IS moi at stake. Ii persons
OF some rank IN England have accused the
Queen falsely, what may we nOtexpect
from the stray servants OF an Italian town
from the .jetSam and fOtSam of licen.
tious peOple-from the caves troopers of
The whole Continent, solicited and brought
together by an emissary of The British
Court, who Is even now ransacking The
MiIaDese for evidence against the Queen?
There are other circumstances tending
10 pOllute The stream OF justice in this
high matter. 1t is moi in human nature,
(say the suspicious) thai, in voting on
bill, some of that political affection which |
the House of Lords may entertain should |
aOt enier into theIdecisioD. Ona judicial
proceeding, men vote on their own judg- |
ment on law they often vote from Tie |
confidence in The Judgment of Others.
And in whom do the House of Peers re- |
nerally place their confidence in The |
men ho have advised your majesty 10 |
bring forward this soTrowlul busiDess-in |
the same men who brought down The in |
formation as accuserS-in the same men |
who examined il in Secret Committee.
styling themselves Grand Jurors-in The |
same men who are about TO decide on the |
conduct Of the Queen, and their own |
characters, for third lime, in the charac. |
Ter of judges. There are other circnm-
stances tile prejmdging Of the case, by |
leaving the Queen out of The Liturgy
the casting her out from all Royal honors,
even before any charge was made-ihe |
refusal OF llsl of Witnesses, and of |
specification of The charges in short,
there are circumstances, without number, |
which show Az unfair bias in The minds |
of tie nOMprfnl AID almost reaisiless