The daily union., 1846-05-02
THE DAILY UNION

sometimes msapprehended, into public triumph"
M. Thers then proceeds to refute the idea OF
those who hold that France is at present the most
corrupt of all countries" He admits that the long
continuance of peace has impaired the enthusiasm
and elevated spirit Of the nation but he holds that IL
has purified public morals and manners. "lf" he
says sour hearts are less elevated, our hands are
more pure" Rejecting the opinions of those who
thus backen their age and country he rejects equally
the judgment of those who hold that government can
only go on through subserVience to private interest
and that corruption is an inevitable evil. Between
these opposing opinions, in his view, lies the path o
true craftsmanship II is the Of those states
men who endure the evil with impatience and stand
ready to apply at each instant even the smallest
practical remedy. He goes on then to contrast the
state of things in England and France.
81 come now, gentlemen, to the heart of the mat
ter; and, upon such subject, must invoke the au-
thority Of example. Did | choose 10 ransack the
history Of the ancient republics or those Of the mid
die age, | could present to you long enumeration
of the measures resOrted TO TO prevent intrigues.
But choose rather to apply my attention to neigh,
boring country which is yet not, perhaps, model
in its political institutions mean England. Con-
slider what has passed during the last $50 years in
England. You will there the most illustrious
and honest statesmen, the most practical mea Of the
country, lending their support to propositions like
that before you-to propositions which have not
failed, but have triumphed, and eventually taken
their place on the English satute-book.
England has passed through the same revolutions
as France. England had its assembly which sacri-
feed its king. Il had, too, a powerful man who
rose 10 the mastery OF its government then restor-
alton; and finally revolution, (not unlike our rev.
oution Of 1880, which took place in 1888. Will
liam Of Holland, who had married the daughter OF
James the ID, assumed the throne of England, and
only from that epoch dates the true representative
government Of that country. Well, William, too,
wished To be master-not TO reign only, but 10 goU-
ern. He ALSO wished this. Is 1t very astonishing
Loud applause at the left William wished what
all princes wish; and for myself, say, very weak,
very foolish is he who wonders at it! Very osak d,
he tohO submits to Il! Applause al the left.
"WillIam employed the means which he found at
his command lie employed the offices paid on the
civil list Parliament saw this, and four years af-
ter in l692 the House Of Commons brought for
ward a proposition. The House Of Lords, less
prompt TO pursue such a courSe, resisted. Confer
took place between the houses and the follow
ing proposition was the result Exclusion Of all
oihce-holders receiving salary pension from the
civil list, and exclusion OF all members OF Parliament
engaged in the collection of the revenues imposts
William refused the BILL and the House Of Com
mons, proceeding even 10 investigation OF HIS mo-
tves presented address declaring that those who
had advised the rejection of this measure had be-
trayed at once the monarchy and the country. Then
William, a sagacous prince, yielded; and from that
year. about 100, the ofce-hoders Of the civil list,
and the members of Parliament employed in the col
lection Of certain revenues, were excluded. | may
add, that the exclusions were enacted by an emu
meraton of the employments, new Offices having
since been created there at present IN Parliament
some members belonging to the civil list, and to the
household Of the king and Of the princes. But the
general principle was established, and the public
opinion Of England, satisfied on the subject grew
calm"
Several further propositions however, were pre-
sented upon the subject under Queen Anne and
George the /. As some Of the salaries of the
civil list had been concealed it proposed to
tender the oath to members of Parliament accused
Of secretly receiving such salaries This plan was
not adopted. 1t was then proposed to exclude new
classes of functionares, BECAUSE new lmposts hav-
ing been laid, new Offices had been instituted. But
the controversy did not break ont in full force till
the ministry Of Walpole. He had held power for
twenty years, and he had studied every method Of
influence. He was attacked in the
House of Commons, and in the House of Lords,
by the most illustrious men Of the day-Lord Ches-
Lerfeld and Mr.. Puteney. Then the exclu-
of thsir numbcr-a most difficult measure,
since the whole force Of the opposition rallied on
proposal tending to exclude ofce-holders
Of an inferior rank. The struggle lasted long; final
" Wapole was vanquished. The victorious oppo.
sition adopted the measure which 1t had brought
forward when it was only an opposition. All the
subordinate ofhce.hoders were excluded. This
was the second struggle. Finally, at later
lay, about 1880, under another administration,
new method of acting upon the Parliament was
discovered. The exclusion Of all members of Par
lament, interested in the supplies, was called for.
These members were called contractors. Fox sus-
aned this struggle with great ability and with vari
Gus success in the course Of which scenes occurred,
which, in this chamber, you would not endure.
Upon one of these occasions some votes having
been bought up during the night before by the min
ister, Fox rose In his place and said there are
wreches here they have betrayed their faith; they
have sold their votes. Let them go over into the
ranks of my enemies The confusion was fright
ful. Some time after, the contractors bill passed
The cabinet of Lord North was overthrown. The
Rockingham ministry, in which Fox took part, sue
ceeded it, and passed the measure. This was the
third struggle In our tlme since the union of Ire
land and England, the application of similar meas
ures to the Irish Parliament has been demanded, and
this legislation is now completed. Thus, during the
past $50 years, several times proposition tending
to exclude oHice-holders from Parliament has been
sound judgment.
"Here we have precedents. These are not instr,.-
ments of partisan attack, devices of an opposition.
1t is great nation eecting to limit in its Parliament
those means of Influence which it regards as iegit-
innate.
81 shall doubtless be told that the example of
England is not obligatory upon France; doubtless
not obligatory, yet, perhaps, conclusive. Surely, if
in England there were in the government power.
ful Capitalization, and multitude of ofices-and if
in France there were but small Capitalization and
few offices-then should understand how such
being useful for England, would not be
useful in France. But the fact is just otherwise.
France presents a strong central government, and
many Offices England, only weak Capitalization,
and but few Offices. | could here, but for fear Of
wearying your patience, compare the two countries
and the two governments, and show you, in France
the necessities of the public defence demanding
from the country concession of strong authority
to its government. In England, on the other hand
an island protected from danger-the country is re-
eved from the obligation to grant to its government
the same amount OF power.
"The result is, that in France we have govern
ment which executes everything through functional
ries named by ITSELF paid by itself, and rendering to
it implicit obedience; while, in England, the local
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