Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-11-21
MIR. RIvEs, DISCOURSE.


I
assembly whose deliberations hung suspended the des,
MES Of British freedom greater Of profound ca
pscy Of mastery saesms nship of resolue and intrepid
purpose OF comprehensive and far reaching saascy
comprised any assembly. Hampden "the pi.
lot" Glare ndon calls him. "that the vessel
through the temPcss and rocks which threatened it, was
there with Pym and Seden and ST. John and Hois and
Vsne he younger TO second his vigilance, and cooper
ate in tho execution Of their councils. With them
associated the noble and usiioas OF Bedford
ct ESSEX OF kmbolton, OF Northumberland, OF Brooke
and OF Ssy and in their earl and important sbsfs
tor the reformation OF the State, the vruous and accom-
pished Falkland with the gallant and chvarous Grenyl.
stood side by side with them patriotic fellowship Such
band 81 patriots and worthy Of the great
mission which they called Of building up from
its ruins the citadel OF English liberty, and surrounding IL
with new and lasting deonces They entered their
task with WISDOM hmness and energy which showed they
knew their errsnd and with hearts and minds equal
toh After the impeachment and anest OF Stafford aud
Lsud the bold and reckless counsecrs and agents the
King in all his nvasions OF the public liberty and the primo
conpiraors against the laws and constitution OF the
Try, they proceeded to review in detail the long list OF
uona grievances and expressions and apply each
| appropriate and efectual remedy.
The imposition OF Ship Money they solemnly declared
to be against the laws and OF the realm the right Of
property and the liberty OF the subject and passed act
OF Parliament directing oil proceedings in virtue OF wits
Tor evyns Ship Money and particularly the judgment OF
the Court in the Of Hampden be formally raeafcd
and eaHetAed They put nm end to all equveosion re-
speeding the Kings claim levy Tonnage and Poundasc
which had been long in controversy by another Act de-
clarng IN explicit terms that subsidy CUSTOM mpoet
any charge whatever shall be imposed laid any
chandise, imported exported by subjects denizens
lens efAout Pariianssnf. After pro-
vidng these fundamental barriers Tor the protection OF the
people against arbitrary axation-barers eieetual that
there has never been attempt since to overlap them in
the domestic administration of Engand-ths enlightened
and never TO be forgotten Parliament proceeded TO provide
security, and Indispensable for tho
protection OF personal liberty against the power srbs
~ imprisonment, which have $ frequently and
wantcnly exercised by the King this reign and shame
essly sustained by the decision OF his Judges In Act
passed by them for the abolition OF the hateful and niqu
tous tribunal OF The siaChamber, was specially enact
ed sacred principle OF English liberty that any
son be committed by the prvy council any OF them,
by hS Rnss special command he shall have his writ Of
habeas in the return TO which the officer in whose
custody he is shall certify the true Of AIS COMMIT
Hent, and the Court whence the writ issued SHALL
within three days thereafter determine whether the
certified legal aud sufficient ground TO the de-
tenon OF the prisoner and discharge remand him
cordinsy So important safeguard this for the liberty
of the people, that founded upon and adding only
lew supplemental details respecting ITS execution which
pasaed in the reign of Charles H., has been styled by
learned CONNIE the Laws OF England the bull
aeark Of tAe Constellation.
melancholy and disgrsceul experience having shown
what servc tools Of tyranny Judges who held their offices
at the pleasure Of the King prone become Charles
was prevailed upon by the representations OF this
Parliament to give all the Judges patents during sooi
teharoUr nsead OF patents during pleasure. Thus
ther great principle, which than half a century
afterwards incorporated into the Act Of Settlement
afundamente security Of the public liberty prsc
es assertion al this early PERIOD TO the wise and ygant
Statesmen who ruled the Parliamentary Councils. of
England. Seeing IN the long and frequent dsuse OF Par
lemertS, during prolific
cslamiues and OPPRESSION well fragrant violation Of
the vital principle OF free Constitution, they provided
another security for public liberty (a that time Of the high.
est importance) in the for Triennal Paaments by
which Chancellor or Keeper of the Great Seal was re-
CURED under heavy penalties issue wrts for Par
Lament within three from the termination of the last
and IN O HE failure the Peers enjoned do
and if they failed then the Sher and their default
then the electors themselves authorized hold
nons and it was farther enacted that future Parliament
should be dissolved adjourned without their
lese than fifty days from the opening OF the
The nation showed it, OF the value of this acquisition
by celebrating achievement with bonres and every de-
monsustoa OF public Joy.
By these Fundamental acts with others of subsidiary
character, which consummated. through throng of
opposing difficulties within nine months after the opening
of this memorable Paam- the fabric of Brush liberty
again IN lofty and majestic proportions With efec
tuaIsecGIies provided against arbitrary taxation aud for tire
protection OF pergon Lenyhe redress OF private
cOndcd TO Judiciary be honceorwaEd inde pendent
and the correction public abuses ensured by and
regular conventions OF free Psrliament-uoIhng seemed
wanting 10 the integrity Of the ancient and ptescrptve
rights OF English reemen For the preservation OF these
invaluable privileges, when they exposed their
peril the English people, and s who have inherit
portion Of their free institutions forever stand
indebted 10 the spirits who presided the ardu.
abouTs O The r,t session Of the Long Parliament, and
their ustrous predecessors the braye, and wi.e and
noble patriots, who had yaany sustained the sEag
gle through forty Of ncessant conflict With the
refutHbe testimony Of history before his eyes, proving
beyond controversy that this succession OF great and
patriots the ssviours and OF British free.
dom, and the real authors the very constu.
ona provisions he eKss, il ii not marvellous that
the learned, but cOay commentator on the Laws Of En-
gland whom have just quoted, should refer the complete
restitution Of Enel'sh liberty, no zee his eSpressiOn
not 10 the OF the glorious struggle haze been
viewing, but to the progae and corrupt times Of Charles
lit am hspPy 10 be able 10 set oil against so imposing an
authority that Of q accurate tudciJus and dscrimi.
mating writer the Constitutional History Of Enesnd,.
Who though TAR from approving the subsequent proceed
ngs OF his Parliament yet declares that lite earlier acts
shave given o higher claim the gratitude Of the
on and effected for English liberty, Than any which
had gone before has followed it, snd that it 10 from
ms ara OF loiO-, Father than from the Revolution OF
l6So, other ,p0eh date the full legal
| adjustment OF the liberties VI England"
These great having been carried and articles
Of pscicehon concluded with the Scots, the Parliament
after an uninterrupted session Of nre months filed with
abours and Of the momentous character deter
mined TO AXE shOrt recess, while the King making
journey into Scotland conciiate efcctuay the de-
contented spirits Of his native country. The Parliament
appointed Committee consisting OF three members
OF each House to accompany him. for the alleged purpose
OF seeing the articles Of paccaon executed by the Sets
but probably from jealousy Of the Kings designs
whose lay hrO both the English and Scottish Ar
miles, which were then dlsbandng For this esousY
foundation had been afforded by the revelation Of crcu-
stances, short time before. which seemed mpeaie tie
King IN plot TO bring the Army up London or
Dissolve the Parliament HamPden and Sir Philip StspIe
the members OF the Committee the part Of the
House Of Commons, and actually accompanied the King.
During the Of the Kings TO ScoiOud, On nsur-
recton Of the Roman Catholic population Of Ireland took
place marked by and buicbsries OF the help
less PrOosianis horrible and appalling than any
cordsd ia history Tho there hos been any sufficient,
evidence that these sehoong Of carnage in
sngaied by the King it was known that The Insurgents
| pretended authority, and some Of them boosted actual
commissions, from him. aud s not TO be wondered at
therefore, that suspicious entertained by many that
time that he was not wholly unconnocted with those
| dreadful occurrences.
Other Circumstances combined with these nAsme the
prevailing dsrust Of tho Knp's purposes and when the
Parliament nc assembled, temper Of lees olmness and
sobrey, was observed among the members. One the
hf'' proceedings Of this session was tho presentation by
committee Of what has been called the Grand ReB,oa-
sfTanee paper deliberately prepared c0ntsning vivid
and animated summary OF oil the grievances and gov
eminent which had a cled the country the
Of the King, and evidently intended signal TO the
ton that the danger not get About this time
division Of opinion. honest and conscientious on both
sides took place IN the Pstrot parry Some satisfied with
what tod been already achieved for the security Of public
liberty were willing 10 ust 20 tho future for preserving
what had been gained rather than incur the hszad Of
civil strife Others sashed slso with what had been schsv.
ed II IL could be maintained, yet believed there was no re-.
ssODabe prospect d W manonsBoe unless they should 20
farther end disnfm King Of his remaining poyer-