The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-01-02

The pat1aTcha ages. AS the rural hamlet sprang up in
the shelter oil the old ancestral ball." the vassal
educated to regard the honor of his lord Identical with
his own and To consider the relation that subsisted be-
tween them as matter OF congratulaton to himself If
IT was has duty TO contribute to the support of the
immortal dignity his lord was under the recinroraj
obligation of protecting him against foreign Injustice
If II was incumbent upon him to render certain ser
vices on certain occasions, he always received for
them an adequate recompense and, in all cases. these
services too carefully prescribed admit of any
serious misconstrucon 10 offer many opportunities for
gross injustice and high handed oppression The relation
was one OF mutual advantage It's effect To cement
closely together the various classes which society was
divided, and TO rcpress for the time that spirit OF jealousy
which has snce sprung into existence wherever the dis
ncuons OF rank have been recognised and authorized by
law. There was also another element at work, which
operated check upon the exercise both of royal and
baronal power-the religious elemeDt-whch, quietly
within the walls OF the monastery and the abbey, brought
into existence power against which king and court
could not together prevail. OF course this power de-
pended upon The reverence which the people should feel
was therefore lost by the clergy OF promugatng the
doctrine, that obedience TO the behest of temporal
authorities was altogether secondary and subservient
that obedience which He required who, from an eternal
throne, had proclaimed himself King of kings and Lord
OF lords
The combined tendency of these several elements as
we have already said produced state of affairs by no
means undesirable Each operated successfully as check
upon the others But another institution of great imports
ance, by prescribing the bounds within which each of
these should act operated with them for the perma-
nent security OF the popular rights, and lar towards
establishing those principles of legislation which The
Englshman now regards as his proudest boast. From
the earliest PERIOD the English monarch had been accs-
toned TO assemble from time to time, for the purpose of
dehberatng upon matters pertaining to the common inter-
ests OF the realm his lords temporal and spiritual together
with such others of his subjects had rendered Them
selves conspicuous either by prowess in battle wisdom
in council The people, indeed were not directly repre-
sened in these assemblies but the adopted
by them, having received the royal sanction became at
once the law OF the land it gradually pass that
only such edicts thus originated were regarded law
and the mutual jealousy of those who composed the as
sembles prevented them from uniting in the oppression
of those whom they exercised control Their de-
alterations were therefore, directed mostly to the settle
men of questions growing out OF their nerferences
in each others Jurisdictions and thus, before long, the
rights of all parties became settled and distinct
Thus, long usage, the quiet enjoyment of privileges,
the undispued exercise of rights, established at length
of unwritten constitution, to which all were wont
appeal and by which all were willing to be governed.
Under this ac authority full security provided against
violence and wrong. The sturdy yeoman pursued his
labors and his sports, without fear OF interruption, with
out danger of moestaton Certain to reap the fruits of
his industry he applied himself vigorously to his toll
and when the harvest came and his labors reward
ed with abundance he could look with satisfaction to
the prospect of enjoying his possessions, conscious that
they were secured to him by the arm of the law. He
was governed by awnot by caprice; and it was in this
respect that he could claim proud pre- emnence over the
that early age, was the brthrght OF the Engshman-a
principle which kings were compelled admit. The ad
of time has but served to develop this principle
and the system of legislation in existence at present. de-
rived its origin from that which we ha-r Nefe Ggas~lbc
us the production of a distant age.