The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-01-27

ClNcS nOl luc ilaWllOrH DuSil SWGcteT SllduG
To shepherds, looking ON their silly sheep,
Than doth rich embroidered canopy
To kings that fear their subjects treachery:
Shakespeare.
Perhaps there was never on the English
throne a prince of more mild and amiable
character than the unfortunate Charles the l.
and perhaps there never was one who exhi-
bitcd more fully decided disposition to yield
himself to the views and wishes of his sub
jects, and who pursued the desire of making
himself agreeable to his people with SO little
advantage and success. But the fact is, the
temper Of the times was in direct opposi-
ton to the benign and plant temper of
Charles. A wild and turbulent spirit of liber-
ty had taken hold on the people, which, aided
by the enthusiastic fury of fanaticism, led
them ON to the most extravagant and unreal
sonable excuses. The mind of the placid
monarch was not calculated for the govern
ment of these unruly spirits; his accomuTo-
dating temper was rather willing to relin-
quish right which he deemed justly his
own; than to excite disagreement between
the subject and the throne /; and while he was
full of the spirit of concession, the insatiate
nation was proportionably unlimited in its de-
mands.-From one encroachment upon the
legal and established privileges of the crown,
the rebellious people proceeded on to fresh
heterogeneous; and every additional relin-
punishment ofthe harrassed prince, only serv-
ed as stepping stone from which some high
or branch Of kingly right might be reached
and Topped away.-Thus with the humane
and amiable motive of quieting and concilia-
ting the minds of his tumultuous subjects, the
prince was induced to resign one privilege
after another until he was at length entirely
stripped of his prerogative, and left power
no chnJ, of, I, ~ 20
tacks of his adversaries. This want of firm
ness and determination in his public mea-
sures, have considered as Charles master
failing-or at least as the chief deficiency
which untitled him for governmental author
ity 4 prince, who, with somewhat less of
the milk of human kindness in his bosom
than this unfortunate man possessed, could
have decided and acted vigorously, might,
in my estimation, even amid the turbulence of
human reason which marked those distract
ed times, have kept his seat firm on the En-
glisli throne. Men, particularly those who
are engaged in the overthrow Of rights, which
they know to be just and legal, are apt to be
encouraged by any thing which appears like
submission in their opponent, and on the
contrary are often affrighted from their pur-
pose by one firm and positive act of resis-
lance. Had Charles therefore in the early
commencement of those difficulties which
finally resulted in his dethronement and de-
captation, instead OF acceeding to the I'M
reasonable and unwarranted demands OF
the parliament, taken decided stand in sup
5 porl of his prepogative, and made examples
of a few of those daring rebels, in all pro-
liability his rights would have been pre-
} served and his throne established on the same
n substantial basis on which it had stood during
the reigns of his ancestors. But the unhappy
king was too humane for his station-and so
S pacific were his views that he even seemed
: to prefer the abandonment of a branch of
s prerogative to the retention of it by violent
:. measures. This spirit of concession thus
r continued to operate until he found that his
k prerogative was almost completely abolished;
: he then began perceive the necessity of act
It ing with more decision and firmness-but it
K was too late; the shadow of power that re-
: manned in his hands was insufficient to effect
IS the purpose, and being now brought to des-
k peratc extremity, he reused his latent pow
: ers, and displayed degree Of energy, which
|, had it been excited at any earlier period, ere
: his authority had dwindled into name, might
c have been effective in subduing the dark
l. spirit of rebellion which stretched its ensan-
o guincd wing over his throne-and in es-
i tablishing that throne upon the secure ground
l. of legal--hereditary and acknowledged
@ right.
e 1t is curious to look occasionally into the
% affairs of men, and observe the singular cham
W gcs which take place in the opertion OF
i their minds at different periods of the time.
IS Henry VIII. about century before the
p reign of Charles, sat upon the same throne
is in the plenitude of his power. lie was a
" man, as every one knows who has consulted
! history, of great energy ofpurpose and stern
,e ness Of authority. He possessed many good
" and estimable qualities, and many desirable
/ requisites for the government OF an extens-
Il i've nation; but at the same time he scrupled
= little in the use of the most violent and ty-
n ranical measures, for the very smallest iota
t. of his prerogative. From him these acts OF
/ oppression were patiently endured. and even
n willingly submitted to as matter OF rishtfui
; privilege; and notwithstanding his frequent
o infringements upon the liberties OF his sub
IS ects, in his lifetime, as Hume observes, he
% was almost adored, and his memory mas
G been handed down with respect ana veneer
Il alton. But under the unfortunate Charles
: the people became restless, and encroached
!, on the privileges of the crowh-Charles De-
n sirous OF peace, and Wishing the happiness OF
Il his subjects, willingly relinquished part OF
IS his perogativc, for their satisfaction he'sY