Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-12-31
SATURDAY. DECEMBER 81, 1851.
rcoM,luNIcArEp.l

affairs in Eugland presents much 9stter for serl-
Gus reflection II is difficult, in this country, to
estimate, with any certainty. the amount OF good
or i'll likely to result from the nroads which the
innova,lB spirit of the present day threatens to
make upon the English Constitution. That great
and radical changes will be made, can hardly be
doubted by those codversant with the progress OF
events within the last few years. The s'war OF
opinion has not only begun. but is carried on
with a bitterness aud obsrnacy, which Will re-
ceive no check until power. unsupported by right,
makes some concessions to the demands of a peo-
pie in some measure awakened to a sense ct the
evils which they have~hitherto so long and SO
meekly borne. The interests and feelings OF
large and powerful classes of the same people
are in direct collision, and no man can tell when
the obstinate and unyielding spirit which strives
with both pasies, frightening opposition and
driving angry feelings fearful excess, will be
stayed The, attachment of Engishmen to the
existing establishments. covered with hoary abus-
es and reverenced OF account of their very anti
guilty, has become loOsened; and a wise concllla-
tory spirit, which will admit OF compromise and
concession. can alone save the pride and power
Of the English arls;ocracy.
There is Que item of intelligence, brought by
the late arrivals, Of no small interest; because,
wh.e IT was unexpected, it afforts evidence OF
the great change Of public sentiment IN re-
gard TO one part of the aristocracy hitherto sus-
taiaed by the deep reverence with which mankind
hav, ever tegard, i the Ministers of Religion
The Lords Spiritual Of England have not only
been exposed to the Insults Of an excited pOpu-
lace. out have been bearded in their hish places
IN Parliament Sarcasm and bitter irony stung
them TO the quick, and tor once disturbed their
awful ADD quiet dignity. Is the sanctity with
which the Bench Of the Right Reverend Clergy
was once invested. indeed gore? Has 1t, indeed,
become question, with the people of England
how far the presence of the high dignitarles OF
The Church in the House Of Peers has been favor
able to the interests Of the Kingdom, and whe-
ther their privileges could not be taken from them
without deirment to the English Constitution?
Ii it is true that the extension OF great and I'M
portant political privileges TO the high Ministers
Of the Church are regarded with undl,gu'sed jea
lousy-if free ant; open investigation of this
strange feature If the Government Is allowed,
not only NiihuLt the rebuke. but with the encOu-
ragement, Of his Majesty's counselors-then
may the fate Of the hierarchy Of England be in
deed predicted. The Kings Ministers, in open
Parliament. have thrown out bitter reproaches
not even disguised under show of respect. Pc.
tical subseryiency tn those in possession o! pow.
er and patronage, aud an unwillingness to lend
any and to measures tending to ameliorate the
condition Of the people, and to extend to them
political privileges which they justly claim, were
openly charged. and, under the authority Of a
highly popular Ministry published to the world.
This circumstance is suspicious to liberty in
England; for When the inquiry is made. and the
history of former times looked into, the people of
England will no where see, among their long line
of Spiritual Rulers. the bold and fearless defen-
ders of their own rights against the croachments
of power, or in all their annals, political indepen-
dence joined with ecclesiastical power. They
who supported the harsh government of the Tu.
doris, were mitred Bishops-they who advocated
passive obedience under the Stuart dynasty, en-.
courasins the ,llfated Charles to the commission
of the arbitrary acts which alenated the atfec-
tons Of his people, and finally cost him mis- life
were the Rulers Of the Church-and. in later
times, the Ecclesiastical Aristocracy have been
animated by the same spirit, always as a body
the opponents of libcrty--always the advocates
of intolerance aud Of the abuses of power The
neople,-whU contribute, under an odious aud op,
pressive system, to their support, now look
with jealousy at their large revenues and the
power cxerted 80 lately against them,-will re-
coIlec, these things, and if the question is ever
h,o,,,bt within their determination, the Prelates
of the Church will be told that their own proper
Dnrrun Ter attended to, when they