Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-05-15

ed from the press; but to the people the chance
and spell of monarchy was broken. That old
institution, which for more than thousand years
had reared its venerable form above the head
Of feuda lords, and hushed the voice of contend
ing factions, was beginning to totter to its fall.
The great purposes Of government had, indeed,
been essentially answered, and no small degree
Of liberty and safety had been attained But
to the people of the seventeeth century, liberty
as royal boon, and liberty as a constitutional
and inalienable right, was not the same thing.
The existing institutions evidently were not
quite adapted to the spirit of the times. There
were some, therefore, who were willing to tear
up the very foundations of government, shock
every feeling of loyalty, cut off all the assoca-
tons of age and great names which had clus-
tered around the government and made it vener-
able, and plunge the nation in anarchy and civil
war. STRAFFoRD stood as the representative
of monarchy. That he had errors, no one ac-
quainted with history will pretend to deny -
and, when judged by the sentiment Of this peo-
pie, and by the light which the las! two centu-
ries have thrown upon the science of govern
ment, his errors would not appear small. But
it must be remembered that at that time, an ex-
ample of an entirely successful government by
the people, could be found no where in the his
tory Of the world. Greece had been republic
but Greece-the land of heroism, of eloquence
and of song, had for three centuries been trod-
den by the foot of the Turk. Rome had been
q republic but Rome, which had sat upon her
seven hills and awed the world by the prowess
of her arms, was obliged to seek protection in
the strong arm of monarchy against her foes at
home.
These examples had presented to the mind of
STRAFFoRD but sad comments on the efficiency
and stability of popular governments. And
while everything was happily settled under an
cent forms and institutions, carefully poised and
adjusted, he thought it madness to try the haz-
ardous experiment of revolution, and renounce
the mature wisdom of his ancestors for the crude
whimseys of turbulent innovators. He saw
that the Commons, not content with correcting
the abuse Of government, were carried by the
natural current Of power and popularity into the
opposite extreme He saw the old constitution
trampled under foot and innovations made on
every side upon the established prerogatives of
the crown. He therefore devoted himself to the
falling fortunes of the king.
But even the great wisdom, experience and
capacity of STANFORD, exerted in support Of
the lofty pretensions of the monarch to arbitrary
power, could not stay the tide Of popular dlscon-
tent which had been accumuating for more thar
thirty years. Indeed, such powerful support O
the principles of prerogative was more fitted tt
infame than to allay the restlessness of thu
people. The influence of the monarch began t,
r decline. Law and religion, the great support
public authorty,went over to the side of factio
r and sanctioned the spirit of opposition and re
bellion. The nobility unwariy threw themselve
n into the scale which began already too much
It preponderate. The union of the Scottish Cove
nanters with the revolutionary party i'll Engano
e while it reduced the power of the prince, brougE
: great accession of authority to the people. TIL
near prospect of success which these circumstaI
," ces portended to the popular party, reused a
the latent opposition which had hitherto bee
y held in rigid constrant. The torrent of pull
n, lie opinion run SO strongly against the cour
le the demands Of the macontents could not safe
be refused. The gloomy and appalling clou,
of revolution were gathering thicker and darl
er; and the distant peals of thunder that e
" er and anon were heard from the North, we
re but faint harbingers of that wide and desolatir
a storm which was destined, ere long, to burst ov
m the head Of the devoted king
The Long Parliament had already assemble
I'D The leaders of the popular party had commenc
in the work Of subverting the monarchy and I
It. church. But it was bad omen las some though
nd for the intended reformation, that it commenc
no with the shedding of innocent blood SrRA
ne FORD was charged with high treason and broue
rit before Parliament to answer for his life. We
minister Hall,-the largest room in Europe u
,ul supported by pillars--larger than the wh(
United States Capitol was fitted up for {
scene of the trial. No more solemn and augl
assembly has been seen on earth. The royal
and nobility, and learning, and talent OF En-
re, land were there. Whatever of grandeur a
IL sublimity there is in power and pageantry, a
or the conflict of great and disciplined minds &C
I'm tending for nations veal all that was the
81, STRAFFORD stood up before that vast assemb
ny alone, unassisted by counsel to breast the unit
m opposition of three kingdoms. He was attaC
10 ed with all the rancor Of party spirit and
he the malevolence of personal hatred; but
ow great mind, calm amidst the awful solemnit
&C. of the scene, nerved by sense of personal da
fo' ger and personal honor, displayed an ability I
.ne tirely unparalleled in the history of his form
ly' life. He answered to the charges, one by OIL
" with powerful and lofty eloquence that had
been expected even from the Earl OF Straho
0e- Englands Prime Minister and greatest man
20" But no eloquence-no appeal to justice, col
> rs avail HIM. For although no charge broui
IND against him was sufficient to convict him
rue treason, yet the cause of the popular party
'ol- manded that he should die. The passions
ara the people, ashed into fury by the impol
ten measures of the court, ragged and surged lik,
by a temPestuous sea, which no human agel
50 could control. STRAFFoRD fell and the CO
Re- try was deIuged with the bloody waves of
archy and civil war.