The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-10

gaidarce nc would not ray. Now, SO far we're those
attempts rom taing advanced by that government.
that the first was sgnaliy put down by the Earl Of
Clarendon, and the latter by The Ho,ao SECRETARY,
sustained BY the good of the great body OF the
people; bGt democracy might either mean q total
exclusion of the monGrckcal princinlc or il might
only mean justice TO The people. Now he wonld ask
if those governments O. Europe were prospering in
which that element was entirely excluded Now,
emitting the cases OF military occupation which
prevailed IN some parts OF the continent, aud which
were no goyTnnents at all, there were on the con-
tinent two leading systems Of government. One
was the high mona,ehieai principle Che woald not
use offensive word and call il despotc) which
was carried ost in Austria and Russia and tho basis
of which was belief chat you secured order and
good government by having an hereditary sove-
reign, endowed with an imaginary perfection, which
woud enable him, with the assistance of certain OF
the high nobility or others. whom he might call
around him. TO assist him with their counseis. 10
provide for the interest and advantage Of his people
with paternal and fostering care The notion at the
bottom of this system was the same as chat which
used to be expressed by some OF the old school IN
this country, that the people have nothing to do
with the laws but to obey them; and the sovereign
and ms ccunci being IN these countries both iegs
lative and executive, the notion was carried out
there which it never was here. H. indeed, we could
have perfect sovereign, a being endowed with
pereminent wisdom, who was abie to do what no.
! thing but higher power could-to provide for the
| well being OF large commnnty-this system might
then be attended with beneficial results. IN the
words Of the poet:--
NunquaIn lbertas grafton satat
Guam sub togc pic.
But such Il being az lie iad described never having
! appeared, tho unfortunate result Of trusting any
man with unlimited power bad been to corrupt him.
/ and make him arbitrary end ambitious, while, with
respect TO the people, IL lad led 70 the acceptance
that they were not TO be allowed any time for
thought Or reflection, that they were 10 receive st
/. the hands of laternai government that which It
might think best for thcsn, and that they were to
IN f'e nf. Al
never rise to the degree and power Of manhood.
These monarchs were in the habit Of saying rs the
Emperor Francisco Austriad deay on one occasion to
bis rrCfcs ors, Z do not wart learned men, want
| good subjects That was, II don't want people
TO he educated, for then they would learn how to
help and aid themselves, and they would see that
there has been mcnstrous impcstufe in our sys-
| TEN o. government, and that system must break
| down." II there WAS any degree Of enlightenment
growing in the people, the only remedy had been
70 put u down, 70 stop il; and i this could not be
done by spies, inIormers, aGd the rpockery OF
I tribunals, then was force employed. There was
another totally opposite principle. which
adopted in this country. and carried out here
~ the greatest perfection, although i was
We had here an hereditary sovereign. by which, he
believed, order was secured and we had council
Of persons who, hy their property and station il life,
had the means Of acquiring, ana who, therefore.
Wcr. assumed 10 have acquired the requisite know
ledge for the discharge OF the legislative ctons
but then, instead Of rcpccasiag the people, and
preventing them from thiniling--.ns.cad o. assum:
ing this pa;ernaI care ever their lntlrests-we in
,itcd them 10 look 10 their own interests and to
govern themselves; to consider and gUlato, il their
municipalities and IN their various districts, those
things that conduce 10 their own happiness and
comfort, and then being possessed Of this political
education. we were not afraid to eutrust TO them
the power u returning to the lower house Of parlia
| Iaent representatives who might carry into effect
what they deemed best for Tie interests el Che
! tion. This vas that pTinsilic 81 democracy which
gave to the people that just right which they had,
and he trusted would also maintain TO be governed,
moi according to the notion that they were 70 Their
infancy and childhood. but that they free mon.
il free state ctuaou by motives az high, good and
great rs any who wore entrusted With the govern
ment and capable q tonang iof themselves o. mons
AS to the persons who might hest represent them. IN
asnuch from their large diffusion tney eoala not
act except through species of corporate re-
presentation. Tho former the principle Of fear;
this was the pGincipic OF confidence. and upon that
NJ had always maintained the propccty Of greatly
charging tire franchise Of the country He be-
Icycd j, would soon te found by al nations that
the only SAFE basis which governments could rest
secure was the confluence and affection ottlr people.
| As. However. hey were a.! creatures Of impulse.
this would ii Itself pc too slight basis 70 rest up
a.: hey mus also depend upon that poi zeal cica-
Ton which ,hcy had gained IL consequence u the
cnEtdenc, Which had been renoseL III them and
wErh would enable trcm 10 ar Cor themselves, to
eNeTcist q souLd Judgment. and t. appreciate those
= ~ noTa qualities. and these Intellectual powers
nhrt might best suit Others 10 take share II the
frrrcsontat 10, ~ tie country. II tnat
va" noble iofo who talkcn Of setting u tie mon
a"'bcal and depressing the democratic principle.
iIyidrca 10 operate any change il onr Institutions
y, rctrogradc sonsc. and 30 Emit IL, confidence
tiDnt We had hitherto rcroscd in tic people % Eng
laad Ifnot. on via; ground did nc bring this for
Na'd as u prominent claim N his own government
e, lower Wa he prepared 70 Soy that there
should be no extension Of our present franchise
u 60, there end to the principle III con
idence, and We should hayctha monstcg-a sort Of
oigaTchical democracy, III which the representative
a. = ~ T.
four and half OF five million aduits. (Hear) That
was total subyersiop VI the whole system. and
III fact the adoption Of that deadcnng principle Of
want Of confidence in the life and energy 81 the ma
ton, which would be totally destructive t. any 90
ycrnmcnt which entertained j. Cheers The noble
lord might say what lie would, but he (Sir w. +.
WOOD believed that 10 government could now stand
Tor many months-ccrtainly not for years--in this
country, which should again commit the fatal
Of one Of the greatest lnen who ever held power in
this county. when he declared hmsefopposed TO any
reform III the representation Of the people. Our
whole life in this country of progress, and
why should we stand stand still in this respect more
than in any other The honorable mcmbcrf for Sur
rey (Mr. Drummond) said to those who advocated
the extension Of suffrage, " You admit there is dam
ger IN that extensions but you tell NJ TO rely on the
people being afcctonatc, vol disposed. and enlght
encd Supposing, however, these good dispositions
to be oyerpowered, where you = Now. lac wished
70 ash the honorable member whether, if consi-
derably larger number OF refsnns than at present
were admitted within the pale Of the constitution,
they would be nore dangerous there than without
Their numbers and power would be Just the
same in both cases. The honorable members
remark, that the stronger Of two animals would,
if starving, soon take the food from the weaker,
would have been very strong illustration before
the repeal OF the laws. and when as in
1917 and 1919, we had large number of people in
starving condition. with an unreiormed House of
Commons, whom they believed 10 be the author Of
these calamities. But Parliament was reformed,
, and. as u consequence. these laws were repealed
And fl,t,sh al beph n WA in
contact with his constituents in the disastrous year
ls47. (wbcn the loaf selling Mt I'D. that was
now .purchasable for DID, TO tell them that 1t was
not the hand of man. but Of God, which had afflicted
them. He could not have told them that during
the existence of The corn laws (Cheers.) His
honorable friend had also said : What have We to
do with the ballot surely that is matter fer our
constituents Unfortunately, however, without