Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-03
HsNhs EE[sN
O. =. Q's. ADp"ESS no THE PEERS OF
GREAT BRITAIN.
From Tie L,nG2n li.raiar :.erald.

What miniltSt thou tndt h'llpI ""'''" t''S w.
Were all thy children hiui and natdr1t'-tie"y :
PAxls, Oct IL, 1881.
Most Nobls Peers-i hdUe thc honor 10 tijorm y9"
that the Hereditary Pecrsge IN France IS o1ot'Shed
This is a fact ray Lords--net an op,m,onIho' a
hope-not Il conjce:urc-but Tact" Inc hcteui-
tary Pecragc in France is abolished
FIRST of all, my Lords, allow Tie TO record the
fact aud to direct attention TO ito circurS'1n-
ces of the case; second, let me show you now this
fact has been brought about; and, tiird permit mo
most respectfully TO s.cw you that tic natural ana
necessary result, of continuing to refuse TO the peo-
pie Parliamentary Reform w.ii be TIE abolition oil
the Hereditary rcerigc in Great britain
The Hereditary rcrrage in Franco Is abolished
This is fact. y fact which took place only
yesterday. \ fact which your rejection OF Reform
i'm England hdstoncd and rendered certain" A
fact which will have an iInusnsc influence tho
destncs OF France, En-. land, AMI the Wotla. Ana
fact, to which, if you shut your eyes, anu remain
insensibe you must be NJ once the most inco"Sido-
rate and ignorant of mon. speak most respect
fully my Lords, when say this. L neither des-
pse affect to dcsPisc, your power, your wealth
your titles, your houors or your influence. > am
too well convorsunt WIN, your history TO lpuic 10
you faeblencSs cowardIce; and the scahoid has
not unscldom proved that The British Pcefagc has
been adorned by examples of the most sublime ana
touching patriotism. Bat my Lords, we do not
live in an age when the people are satisfied with
the feats of their OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES when wealth
and power mpcnsatc for the absence OF virtue and
Justice. NV Lord Edon is nj the head OF tins par
ty though he was once the clerk of lawyer: and
| believe tho Duke of Cumberland IS not the mos,
influential Member of your Lordshlps' House, al
though he is brother of King Wiliani the Fourth:
The Hereditary Pccrage iii Franco is abolished'
This is Il fact, my Lords, and W IL tell you IN a
few words how the event has taken place. Although
France s'be the of Europo'-to adopt the
tempered and judieious expression OF ono oil your
I.ordshps-l believe you are by no means lnatten-
tive to proceedings nor Indifferent TO Inc re-
suits of our Rcvolut | Will therefore take 1t
for granted, my Lords, that you are aware that in
August, 1890, It resolved hy the French Cham
Der of Deputies to leave the Discussion OF tac
French Pccrage, and especially OF It's hereditary
character, to the decision o! tue iegsIatlVe Scs-
sion of 1881. You also, iaiaSiHe, aware, that
the King OF tic french--our Citizen ihg-has
desired an He edtary PGcragc ronl the moment he
accepted the Thronc-that has present ministers
although they have proposed Il law ahoiiahing ITS
Hereditary character, yet advocated the necessity
of its retention: and that the bankers, capitalists
and rich landed proprictors OF France, shared the
same opinion and desired the same rcsalt; and yet
my Lords the Hereditary Pccragc has been abo
ishcd. You also not ignorant of the fact, that
during the last ten days the Chamber or Deputies
has been occupied with the discussion of the
French Peerage Bill, or, to SPEAK with more cor
rrctncss with the debates on the new article of
the French charter which is to decide on the Ia
ture character and existence of the French Peerage
You may probably, have also read either in tho
French English Journals. the eloquent and tai
ented dcfcnces of this Hereditary Pcerage which
have been made by VI. Thiers, by Royard Courd,
by NJ. Guzot, by NJ. Jars, and by NJ. Kerutry;
delenccs which will remain recorded III the pages
Of European history splendid specimens of eio-
quencc and Parliamentary talent, when even the
names of my Lords Londonderry and Dudley shall
DO completely forgotten. For my Lords. lie assur-
ed OF one thing that the abolition Of the Hereditary
Pceragc in Franco is Il European facts the com
menccmcnt o.: era Ill the hi'Ory of the world,
and will lead to consequences which you are tcu nm
potent to control though that iinpotency be most
potent.
Ycsterday-no further back then ycstcrday-my
Lords, the Deputies OF France and the French
Journals, that the Peers Of Great D:i:ain-evcn
you, Most \ obc Lords, had decided by minority
of FoRTY-oNE in favor o. corruption, bribery, nomi-
nation boroughs, the right OF Old Saruu 10 return
Members Of Parliament, when the right was
denied to Birmingham and to Manchester. They
sarnt that by your vote you had decided that (ha
House Of Commons did no. understand the ,4cston
Of Parliamentary Reiorm-did not know the Gle
ments of which it wa5 composeG-that it really
and faithfully represented all the interests in the
kingdom-and that the people we're all wrong, and
that you all right. This the news of
yeserday-the intelligence of yesterday; and Wi!
explain to you the effect which your decision
produced. and the opinions which we hold respect
ing it.. When the public learnt the fact, the pub
lie exclaimed, what intauation" What madncss'
and not one, tut thousand said, 'The Peers of
Great Britain have mmited act OF moral sui
eide.
Perhaps, my Lords, ifyou d,igncd in the course
your deliberations to think Of that country which
lie ''lhe of Europe" you hoped by your vote
to show ''that at least the English Aristocracy
would not submit''-' that ut least the Revolution
lists in En- land would have clauce'--''that at
least popular principles and opinions would tr
unph on your side of the Chaunel"--und ..thut
this should be the death blow TO Democracy al! the
world over" Well, then, my lords, if This was
your opinion, your wish, your hope, | assure you
that you have been dritu'cd: for no sooner was
your decision known than The Chamber Of Dcpu-
ties hastcned TO declare that Hereditary Peer
age in France was abolished. When the result
of the Reform Bill was known at Paris, the Dopu-
ties who doubted did SO no longer; those vino hest |
tated and reflected found their hesitation removed
and their reflection enlightened; and upwards of
your huHGred DcpHticS prOCecdsd 10 tie CHGHbcr 10
decide tile Jite # the Hereditary French
Peerdge.
VI. Jay and NJ. Enoqf, both men Of talents, no.
noT virtue, ana patriotism, but no desired still to
lowing principle the basis Of the Pceragc
Law:
.The dignity of the Peers is here ditary-it is to
be Transmitted iii direct line Of succession, and by
order Of primogcniture"
This proposition vas combattcd bv General La
marque, and only by him; ciSe thought 1t
necessary to attack such foundation by set phrase
in speech, after the vote of tie iOGsc of Lords Or
the British Reform Bill; and the cry fthe ioIity
wasr "Iet proceed TO the vote" The manner OF
voting, my Lords, was favorable to the cause II !
the PceTagc for it by secret ballot, each mem
Der placing i'll the urn, either black white BALI
and thcTes1rS, the Deputies who desired TO pre-
serve all Hereditary A:iSiocgacy, but who feared
10 dsplcasc their electors by openly supporting that
system, had the opportunity Of dcposing ;hcir vote
IN favor Of system " CH hey desired, but which
my Lords, That there not many Deputies who
acted 50 dishonesty and with little honor and /,
frankncss; but still 1t must be admitted iH,st tLisI
mode Of voting favorable to tho cause Of