Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-11-19

sSafosiy be ihsxmsa hy whom ,oi rete "'i"e'', Nc 70
similar ilusrs,ion Of tho general acquisition and
Of property. which he'd taken place IN tho mass Of
tho Nation. Is furnished in the fact mentioned by sior-
ans that when tho Parliament which passed the meinVr
abic Petition 81 Right assembled In l62S. the aggregate
property oi the Membeis Of the House Ut Commons was
computed supas three times that Of the House OF Peers
people, thus possessed OF intelligence aud OF ndrpend-
.nt yehoods derived from their own industry. could not
but feel and assert their rights new power unknown to
the former struggles Tor English liberty had arisen IN the
State. To naughty and steel clad Barons leading bands
OF submissive vsssals from their sovereign by the
sword the pccaous boon OF cxortcd, and yet partial
the mockery Of feeble and scrse tariis-
cnts fitted TO DO the tools OF tyranny 'has the guar
dams Of eedom-had succeeded the majestic spectacle OF
people, prepared TO vndcac aud maintain their inherent
liberties in their right by the safe and saluary agency
OF their freely chosen representatives in vuous and
| independent House OF Commons. Westminster aES 81
Stephens had taken tho place OF Runnymede not IN form
only, but spirit and truth. aud the people hence
forward battle Tor their liberties in free Parliament,
inspired by the genius and wants OF the age, aud un
| swed aud unseduecd by power.
Such was the sublime mission OF the Commons
OF England the commencement OF the seventeenth
century. They had reconstruct tho edihce OF Pub
lie Liberty from its foundations; TOR, however gon-
aud animang historical recollecnons, were the
ea Charter OF King John, the subsequent conrma-
and extensions OF that chatter in the time OF the ear
lier Henrys and Edwards, yet nunments OF British
freedom they had long ceased he needed OF regarded IN
the practical administration OF tho Government. The
Crown claimed and exercised the power ot dispensing with
the laws at the land at Its wio putting ITS arbitrary
the place aud upon the footing OF ecisa
enacmenisof lcvying upon the people without
their mp1sonSg obnoxious individuals, even
such protected by privilege ct Parliament at ples-
sure.-and finally. M intcposing between man aud has
Maker ami prescribing one, under the pains and
penalties OF temporal power tho form IN when nc shSua
render his worship God. surely Government IA which
such aud fearful powers were exercised by single
will over the v.S liberties properties aud conscenccs ~
men, could sound claim to be considered system
oi freedom. Aud these powcrs had heen practically
exercised by the Kings o England for mote than century,
the time of which speaking However differing,
therefore, with Hume other questions connected with
the history Of these eyenu times, cannot but ee there
much foundation for the strong remark made by him ia
the Memoir OF his life where he says IL ridlcu
lous Ia consider the Engllsh Constitution. rs existed at
this period, regular plan Ut liberty"
Twas the task OF the noble OF PATRIOTS and States
men, who appeared upon the s1ge, TO restore this
boosted Constitution 10 ts primitive ireedom-to realise
the picture which had been dawn Of BY it, earlier orsel,s
and eNpounders-tn wipe out the abusive prccedens
which had marred and defseed ii--snl Ia provide
and lasting SECURITIES To protect II from similar inrosds
IN future Never was a set Of men better qualified and
furnished for their task. Among hsm besides HamPien
who became in the later stages OF the contest
the great OF Coke, Selden. Sandys, Eliot Pym
Seymour. Philips, 81. John aud ysnc. These all
profoundly versed in the history and laws OF their own
county initiated from early youth in the study Of the era
ure and political institutions OF the Tree States OF antiquity
with whose spirit they were largely mbued and coming
actve life nj time when tue graSest questions which can
affect the feelings and Interests nj man in society, had ar
for decision they had trained them-, the du
of the highest practical craftsmanship. They well me
rt the ogy pronounced upon them by celebrated En
gsh DIV nc. Bishop WarburOn who, after referring the
period Of which speaking that at which "the sp
mt of liberty AT its height in lag and adds-and lie
interests conducted and supported by set OF the
genuses tor government that the world
embarked together IN c.mmon cause"
Such period in the history OF the land OF Fore Fa
there from which have derived the model nnd the spirit
of many OF Tree institutions every account
the attention Of Americans Bat II is farther
commended special sympathy and regard from the
fact that precisely this epoch that
Try settled from England From this time, the hisior
Of England and America become tied and dove tailed into
one anohcr and 50 continued for near two centuries
Then began that series Of action and reaction between the
old and world whicA may be considered the great
connecting link OF modern civilization, and which has
eFted and will continue important influence
upon the desnies OF the human Our ancestors the
fret emgrants America left their native shores Pc
rod when as we have Just seen, the spirit Of liberty there
at ats hegkf Tha: spirit has been cherished by their
descendants here with faithful and steady devotion, aud
the sacred flame, kept alive by the recoeeons Of the
as well rs the hopes OF the future will yet. may trust
light the world 20 freed m through the paths OF peace
Virglnians especially must warmly remember that
II was 10 the jealous patronage and spirited protection Ot
the band OF patriots, who at this time struggling for
the ancient liberties O Engaad, that the early CoonsIs o
State indebted for the vndc ation and esiab
lishmeni o their franchises IL mainly through the
generous eAeron OF one that noble band whose
name have already mentioned Sir Edwin Slndys, (who
was for time Treasurer the Virginia Company En-.
gland and always the gallant ani faithful friend Of the Co
lonyD that It was rescued from the brutal tyranny u Ar
gall, and placed under the sale guard OF Representative
Assembly oi ITS choice. The questions vi liberty, IN
the affairs U the Colony and in the administration of the
governmental England indeed became intimately blend
ed that the meetings OF the Virginia Company numbering
among It's members OF the distinguished public
cf the day, became forum in which the political prin
cPes OF the two adverse parties freely and openly
debaiedi and the Spanish Minister, Gondomar advised
kng James annul the charter tho Company, because
It's meetings were, Is nc said "bua seminary to sedous
parliament"
England than it became apparent that great aud deadly
struggle between the claims OF Royal pTerogave the
one hand and the born and sturdy spirit OF popular
independence on the other Imminent and inevitable.
la the Proclamation he issued ascending the throne
announced his iavOte dogmas Of the divine and ndeeas
be night OF Kings and the duty OF subjects render
absolute and implicit obedience in the unmt-
gaed and revolving. Incidents occurred his journey
from Edinburgh to London, the very kOnsHsOE Of his
English Royalty which sufficiently svinced that these
havagsnt preensions the idle and absurd
ped9nuy o his buastsd King craft too many historians
have been wont to represent them. poor wretch who
mad been detected In soe peut larceny he ordered ~ be
hanged without any fOrEi Of al-ten Of the Reverend
Clergy who presented to him the Mhlenay Petition,
called rom the thousand ministers who said have
signed IT, were committed to prison by his command for
modes; and respectful exercise OF the hunbesi right Vi the
sublect-and tie crowds Of persons of every rank who
were drawn together by loyalty and curiosity greet e
arrival Of their new sovereign rudely rspeltd and
dispersed by Proclamation iOrbidding ihs Of peo
pie" This debai Of the King, be admitted.
most unpromsng as well ungricous, beginning Of a
reign.
IL was not long, however before his innate hostility
more dangerous and vide reaching chaTactss PsTia-
men was to be assembled. In the proclamation Of tho
hing snmmoning this assembly. he SuthoratVey pre-
enoed TO the people the sort Of persons they should choose
Tor ihpT representatives. nud declared that Il any person
should presume 10 take upon HIM tho place OF knight
zen or burgess, contrary to the purpJr End effect OF that
proclamation, every such should be fined and im
pfisontd Tor his offence THIS bold interference with the
freedom Of elections, the mCsdecste well fUndamen
iapnv'ge Of the naion, followed in few DAYS by
danEg attack apon he ytA principle rsfafent az an
inde pendent representative body. One Of the kings pyy
eounscos had been candidate for the county Of Buck
Ingham, which, nevertheless, preferred and returned for
fepesontauye SIR Francis Goodwin, person Of more con
genial popular sympaiios and principles. The Lord
Chsnce, tho Kings chief officer and tesper Of L Goa
'eitnet dsfsgndns the inherent right OF every Represen
al'e BODY 10 be the solo Judge Of the returns and qua
csons VI s members, undertook the election of
sH ffancis go win, a. being contrary the late Pfocs
NATION oi tic King, end issued writ for election;
upon which the C0ur candida returned Immediate.
y after tie mcosg Of Parliament this matter was bronRh,
UP Tor he consideration u the House Of Common who
aiisf debate ehafscerLed 10y high resolve and that no
Hfr III g.l.