Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-12-17
SWEDEN.
Ertroci Of Il Letter to The Editor of Tie Nationa
Gazette, ddlcd

" tc
Gazette, dascd
STOCKHOLM, Sept. Oh, 1921.
"No part of the continent of Europe enioys
the same political tranquility as Sweden. This
tranquility grows out of her wise constitution.
ana Tie faithful administration of It.-Havinr
been detained IN this country for a considerable
time on commercial business. shortly after the
present constitution was adopted, | shall brief
ly mention some circumstance connected with
II, and give you ITS leading features, ur, To use Il
tavourite expression Of the late Lord Castle
reigh, its fundamental features.
"hftcr the detironernent and Punishment of
Gustavus Nv. you doubtless recolIcct that his
uncle, the Duke ot Surderfnania, was proclaim
cd king under the title Of Charles XIII.
Ills iIst act, after concluding peace witt,
'ussia, was to summon the States General to
ssemble to take into consideration the state of
the nation. Deputies were. accordingly elect
ed, and the Diet assembled in this city, where.
IN addition to their providing for the immediate
wants oil the country. they adopted the present
constitutions;
1t may be proper here to observe. that this
assembly was wholly free from any influence Of
the crown, the Duke of Surdernania being then
very inlrm, and in addition to this, as he was
the last of his family entitled to the throne, he
had no motives to induce opposition 60 a liberal
form ut government. Tho present constitution
may therefore be considered as the deliberate
act ut the nation, through its Immediate repre-
sentativcs.
1 shall now proceed to give You the outlines OF
this form ofgOvcrnment. The Diet is commas
ed OF four Estates, as they are termed, viz: the
representatives of the nobility-of the Clergy
OF the burghcrs. or those who reside in cities,
and tOwn-andO of the Peasants. They assem-.
Die IN the same building, but in different cham
bers, and each branch has its presiding officer.
No law can pass without the concurrence of
three branches Of this legislatures; sanctioned by
the King. The constitution declares that the
person ut the King is sacred, and he can do no
wrong; but a heavy responsibility falls upon his
ministers, of which he is allowed nine. The
Chief Justice, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
aud the Chancellor, are eX otlicio members OF
the %cablnet; and three out ofti,e other six, must
hold civil offices under the government. Father
and son, nor two brothers, cannot be members
of the cabinet at the same time.
The constitution enioins upon the Ministers
10 keep a journal of their proceedings. with the
names of every member present :. each meet
ing, and every individual is considered person
ally responsible for the acts OF the King in conn
ell, unless His dissent tiierefrom is entered upon
the journal. Wheneverthe Diet assemblies. the
Constitution provides, that there shall be APP
pointed a committee called 1.-The Committee OF
the Constitution, :" whose duty it shall be. To re-
cure the Ministers to furnish them with the v.i.
Sinai journal oi tue cabinet, and it is euIuincd as.
a DUTY upon THIS committees, 10 examine that
Journal earthly, and TO report 10 tie Diet wl.e-
ther or not there has been any violation of the
constitution during its recess, a,l if so, prose.
cution or Impeachment is directed to be forth
with commenced against the Ministers who
have sanctioned this violation.
That provision, therefore, winch directs the
appointment OF this committee, may be consider
ed as tile life preserving principle of the con
stitution. 1t may also be regarded as ahumane
principle, inasrnuch as il tends to prevent crime;
for Judge Blackstone saws, that preventive ms
tice is more humane than furnishing Justice.
The constitution declares the Judges shall be
independent ofthe crown. All criminals are
allowed to appeal twice TO the higher tribunals.
That is to say, they are allowed three distinct
trials, and may afterwards petition the King for
a pardon.-Capital Punishments are rare here.
Justice appears to be administered without sale
or delay.
He was elected BY the representative of the
reople, and he continues to govern by the free
consent aud applause of the great mass of the
nation.
The King entcrtains a high opinion of our
country and its Institutions. Upon all occa-
sions lie shows the most marked attention to Mr..
tinSles, our esteemed representative.
Prince Oscar is Vice Roy of Norway, and
resides at ChrIstlana. lie is now about % wears
ut age, and is considered a Young man of very
handsome talents. He married a daughter OF
Eugene Beauharnais, formerly Vice Roy OF
Italy. Prince Oscar will possess one great adj
vantage over his father when he comes to- the
throne, and that is, he is not ONLY thoroughly ac
1naintcd with the Swedish language, but, being
educated IN this country, be Is well versed in the
manners and custom Of thr rooolr.n