Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-05-25
THE MISCHIEF OF NEEDLESS AGITATION.

There is on record, and is to be found copied in
Southey's . COMMONPLACE Book, aspeech of the
English Lord Keeper FINCH, on opening the ses-
sion of Parliament in the year 1878, containing pas
sages as worthy of attention they were at the
time when they were delivered; and Substituting
for the term Lord and Sovereign that Of the
Sovereign People quite as applicable to the actual
state of things in this country as they ever could
be to any supposable state of things in any country,
at any time, past, present, or future:
We are newly gotten out Of an expensive war; =
. said he and gotten out of itupon terms more hoR-
orable than ever. The whole world is now in peace
with us, all ports are open to us, and we exercise
free and uninterrupted traffic through the ocean.
!. Cur Constitution seems to be so vigorous and So
strong that nothing can disorder it but ourselves.
No influence of the stars, confgurations of the
heavens are to be feared, so long as these tive
houses stand in good disposition to each other,
and both Of them in happy conjunction with
: their Lord and Sovereign. Why should we doubt
= ita Never was discord more unreasonable. A
8 difference in matters of the Church would crafty
: the enemies of our religion, and do them more
service than the best Of their auxiliaries. diff
ference in matters of State would crafty our ene
mics too, the enemies of our peace, the enemies
' of this Parliament; even all those, both at home
and abroad that hope to see, and practise to bring
about, new changes and revolutions in the Gov
ernment. They understand well enough that the
best health may be destroyed 10y too much care of
it; an anxious scrupulous care, care that is at
ways tampering, care that labors so long to
purge all i'll humors out of the body that at last it
leaves neither good blood nor spirits behind. In
: like manner there are two symptoms which are
: dangerous in every state and of which the his
: torian hath long since given US warning. One is
where men do qnieta mouere, wien they stir
those things or questions which are and ought to
be- in peace and like unskilful architects think to
mend the building, by removing salthe materials
: which are not placed as they wouh have them.
: Another is Hcana res parU8 sasagRis nsoti6us
ag,,fur, when things that are not5f the greatest
moment areagtated with the greatest heat, and as
much weight is laid upon new and not always
very necessary proposition, as if the whole sum
of affairs depended upon it. Who doth not see
that there arein all Governments dfienlties more
: than enough. though they meet with no intestine
; divisions; difficulties of such nature that the
united endeavers of the State car hardly struggle
with But, afteraall is done that can e;they will
still remain insuperable. This is that which
makes the crowns Of princes, wien they are worn
by the clearest andsahe nobles tile and supported
with the mightiest aids yet at tie best butwreahs
Z of glorious thorns. He that would GO about to
3 add to the cares and solicitIdes Of his prince,
{ does what in him lies 20 make those thorns pierce
deeper, and sit closer to the royal diadem shan
lever they did before. mo zeal can excuse t;afor
las there may be religious zeal, a zeal for God,
: which is not according to knowledge, SO there
s,may be State ZEAL a zeal foi the public, which
is, not according to prudence; least not accord
{ ing TO the degree Of prudence which the same
: men shave when they are not under transport Of
: such a fervent passion: ::"-P Parliamentary HIS
lory,rsos. 4. p. 676-'7.