The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-11-13

Crompeit-Lesitimaey-- HhigS and Tories u

Mn. EDIroR The attempt to stigmatize the me-
mory of Cromwell and his associates by leaving him
Of the group Of British soveregns in the new Par
lament House, might be congenia to the principles
of royal family resting its claim to the throne The
so called principle of legitimacy.
BY tracing the progress of sentiment on the SUBJ
ject of legitimacy in the present royal family, and
recurring to the circumsan under which it &C
CURED the throne, we shall better understand the
opinions under which ii now acts in the case.
| la this instance it cannot decide from any consi-
Iteration properly connected with the glory Of the
country. Cromwell did to exat the cha
racter and to augment the resources Of Great
Britain, during the ten years Of his administration,
than any OF the soyereigns thereof with excep-
ton, have done in an equal period of time for the
last two hundred and forty years. 1t may, indeed,
startle the English bench of Bishops to affirm that
his religious tolerance was better than the policy
which, in the MAN, they have pursued during the
last one hundred and fifty years. Greatly as res
pect number of that Bench Of Bishops, think the
conduct OF Cromwell, in this very important matter,
preferable to theirs. should certainly also come
in collision with the Tory party Of England in
the expression of any opinions favorable to the
party which has ruled in that country with the
cepton of about fourteen years from the year l762
down to the present moment; period of eighty one
years
They commenced possessing this ascendency from
the era at which by the lapse Of time and course Of
events, the eldest line IF the Siuarts ceased to excite
fear; from the moment at which series of conflicts
and victories fought and gained principles utterly
hostile to those Of legitimacy had given stability to
the iiIegitinate house of Hanover. use the words
legitimacy and Legitimate here in the affixed to
them by the adherents of the divine right Of
succession As the house of Hanover now APP
pears disposed to forget that it ever had
claimed any other title to the crown than that
of Legitimacy in the modern meaning of the word,
it may be excusab.e in US Republicans of North
America to recollect the facts of the case. When
any transatlantic principalties and powers UNDER
take to intermcdde, by newly assumed principles,
in our concerns shall exercise the liberty guaran
teed by the doctrines, vaor and skill of our fore.
fathers, and by mercifu Providence sustaining
them, to interrogae them closely with respect to
their own.
From the accession of George the First to the end of
the reign of his son. George the 3D. the Wing party had
the ascendency in Great Britain; and the principles
Of the Revolution were often celebrated and eulo-
gised When the arm. of France were laundering
through Europe in behalf Of the legitimate living line
cfthe Sluats, there alternative for the safety
of the regning house but base itself on the right
Of the people to change the succession in extreme
emergencies. On any other principle, the strength
of the argument was in favor of the Oldest Stuart
line and indeed of other princes Of Europe who had
nearer relationship to the deposed sovereign than the
Hanover branch.
The rebellion of Ills was crushed that of l745
overthrown in the decisive field Of Cuoden
George the 81 acceded to the crown in 1850; the
Earl of Butte, Tory, had been his prcceptor. The
Earl Of Waldegrave informs us in his memoirs that
George gave early indications Of extraordinary
obs,inacy of temper and the Earl of Butte, know,
gave this obstinacy of temper direction favorable
to Toryism. These principles and this temper soon
began their development; the great Wing leader,
Chatham, speedily dismissed; or, TO speak with
more precision, was compelled by artful intrigue TO
resign, and the Earl of Butte and his Tory friends
grasped the reins Of power
Henceforward there was an end OF all royal favor
TO the principles Of the Revolution except that en-
rary power Of popular opinion. Even of the
Wings modified them tina, they might leave the way
open TO promotion and many Of them wholly aposta-
tzed from them, frightened at the energies arising
as the natural fruits of Legitimacy and Church alli-
ance Herewith at the epocha Of the French Reyou-
ton.
The general grounds and manner Of supporting
those principles anterior to the of the accession
OF George the Sd, may be seen by reference to nu-
merous publications from 1858 to l760. An extract
from which appeared in 1862, the work of Sir
Michael Foster, learned English Judge OF high re-
putation will show the doctrine this subject of the
true Wings of that period. The title of the work is
"A report of some proceedings the Commission
Of Oyer and Terminer, and gao delivery for the trial
Of The rebels in the year l746 in the County Of Surry
and Of other Crown cases. To which added dis
courses upon q few branches of the Crown Law. ,,
He observes that the radical mistake Of the adj o-
Gates Of hereditary right q. G. jure divne) arises
from this :--"Tbey not 10 have sufficiently at
tended to the nature and end, Of civil power whereof
the regal dignity is principal branch. They seem
TO have considered the Crown and royal dignity
merely as a descendible PROPERTY; as an estate
or nteres, vested in the poses.or for the cmolument
and grandeur Of himself and heirs in regular inva.
rable course Of descent. And, therefore, in ques-
tons touching the succession they constantly resort
TO the same narrow rules and maxims of law and JUS
tice by which questions Of mere property, the title
TO a pigsiye lay STALL are governed. And thence
conclude that the legislature ITSELF cannot, without
manifest injustice, interrupt the ancient legal es-
ablished order Of succession. 1t cannot, say they,
/ give to one branch of the Royal Family, what by
right of blood belongs to another"
Thus they argue. And if could conceive Of the
crown, as inheritance Of property, should be
tempted to argue in the same But had they
considered the crown and royal dignity descend
ible OFFICE, AS A TRUST for millions, and ex-
tending its influence to generations yet unborn; had
they considered it in that light, they would soon have