Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-08-31
what England has done for Us.

Extract from speech of Hon B. F. Hallett,
on the life tenure of Judges, delivered in the
Massachusetts, convention for revising the con-
stitution, July 20, 1883:
Sir, as to this matter of taking our lessons of
government of England, or what England has
done for us, or what England has given to us,
say England has given to us nothing good
that We have not improved; and l also say,
that as to the life tenure of judicial Offices.
which we derived from England, there was
some reason for it there, where the sole power
is in the hands Of the King; but there is no
good reason for it here, where the power Is in
the hands of the people. The courts there
may, by being independent of the King, pro.
tect the people, but they would do all that a
great deal better if elected by the people in
spite of the King. With us we want judges to
protect the people, in spite of the King. With
us we want judges to protect the people against
the legislature and the executive.
But touching this matter of what England
has done for us. The gentleman from Marsh
field [Mr Summer] said the other day, upon
another topic, that England had given us five
great institutions, and he went on to enumerate
them One was the doctrine that the atmos
phere could not be breathed by slave. Eng.
land gave us that doctrine! No sir, England
gave us exactly the opposite doctrine. England
gave us slavery and fastened it upon US. will
tell that gentleman what five institutions Eng
land has given us.
England gave US religious persecution. Well
thank her for that, for it planted our colo
nes. .a.s
England gave US taration without representa-
ton. thank her for that for it achieved ou
independence.
England gave us insult to the new States
and sought 10 crush them by commercial res
trictions / thank her for that, too, for it cav
us onr glorious UNION.
England gave us search on the high seas
and impressed our seamen. thank her 70
that also, for it forced US into the war for
second ipdependence-a moral, intellectual
commercial, and manufacturing indepen denc
, as important as any we had achivcd over tn
mother country
Lastly England gave us the institution c
slavery, and for tha, do not thank her. In
stead of an atmosphere in which slave coul
not breathe she poisoned the atmosphere of th
colonies by importing slaves compelled
breathe 1t. Aud, sir, but for England, W
never would have had the question raised her
as a dscordant element in free institutions.
Let not the gentleman from Marshfeld CON
here with his euoges upon England and El
glish aristocracy. which are to go back to th
!. country, the great oppressor of labor, to be t
ken up by those who frequent the house
';my Lady Sutherland" to abuse America, ar
supercliously thank God they are not iii
these publicans. want no such sympatf
from England. These very philanthropic pc
onages-these high lords and ladies Hho tai
hold of this sore, that they think, under Il
general constitution of our country, do it Fl
what? Not that they love America. but b
cause they would inwardly exult to see ar
thing fostering in the heart of America whit
they think (but, thank God. falsely thin
It will impair, if not destroy its free institution
IS l have no faith in such sympathy from En-
!" land for America. l look for true sympatl
c from her masses and her great commoners,a ,aI
not from the sckly aristocracy.
: I7The following fact exhibits in Gle
light the influence Of railroads upon popu
tlon There were seventy two towns in M;