The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-26


barrier interpreting between the direct represen
tative institution and the legislation Of the country,
founded upon the elective principle wisely adapted
to their own institutions-founded, although
upon the elective principle, yet with a diffarsnt
basis, and representing different class of int.
rests; and it is singular enough that the two great
countries-now, may say. almost the only homes
and refuge OF hDerty throughout the world-these
great countries under which, with diversities OF
institutions and diversities of habits there exists
at the same time great uniformity of principle,
and great similarity and identity of laws as OF
iahgoage-tnat these two great countries should
nave formed their constitutions starting from pre-
ciseiy opposite points of view. In this country the
rights Of the people and the liberties of the people
have been of slow and tardy growth. We started
from the other end of the scale with almost un /.
nmiteo monarchlcal power, and aristocratic and
feudal power of boundless extent. By Glow degrees
the rights Of the people, as the enlightenment OF
the country proceeded, have risen their way and
acquired their due preponderance, and they have
attained in this country that state in which will
venture to state that, not except the great Repub
! lie of the United States, there is no country in
which larger measure of rational liberty is en-
joyce than that of which have the honor Of being
native. [Appause.] We have reduced in this
country the power Of the crown and the power oil
| the mobiles to an amount which deprives the one
and the other of all offensive power, of all offensive
privilege, [hear,l and leaves them only SO much
influence as to steady and balance the machine Of
| the constitution, and prevent the rapid and con
| slant fluctuations might rise from the uncheck
| ed exercise of the immediate popular will. TAP.
| pause. s9
Now, starting from the other and opposite point
let us look to the great example of the Republic Of
| the United States; injustice-I don't hesitate Il
use the word-led to resistance; resistance led tc
revolution; revolution led to the full enjoyment
and full success of the popular principle and ropu
lar rights; and yet in the very flush Of triumph
and success, when some excuses might have beer
pardoned, in INDUCING spirit 30 congenial to the
feelings OF the country, and which had acquired &c
great triumph, the far seeing statesmen of that
day foresaw it would be necessary, to certain
| tent, to check the performance of that purely
/ popular influence, and to interpose. Not, indeed
| that they borrowed from the mother country, but
lnterposed some check which would tend as bal
ance to the constitution, and counterpoise and
| equivalent to the House of Lords in the mother
country, as far as such an equivalent counter
polse Gentlemen, much no doubt may be said
against the doctrine Of hereditary succession and
more especially hereditary legislation. Yet let me
be permitted to observe in reference to word or
two which fell from the president this occasion.
| He has quoted one instance in which the example
| of the father is not wholly lost on the son; and
some seven or eight and twenty years ago was
| led-a much younger man-to visit that Republic
which he has likened to an infant Hercules; SO my
son. inherting his fathers desire, has visited that
matured Repu blic-there seen the rapidity Of the
growth of the institutions, and the moral and ma
teral prosperity of the country, and been able to
estimate how rapid and great the growth of a
country whose institutions are deeply interviewer
VI
country. Loud applause.l Gentlemen, no doubt
hereditary legislation much may be said against,
much that is very plausible and much that is very
sound; and far from me be it to say that all the
members of that house to which / have the honor
to belong are perfect models of legislators, laugh
ter or have made ample of all the advantages
they possess. Yet will venture to say that there
are advantages in that hereditary legislation of the
House OF Lords which are not to be overlooked in
an Old country like this, and which form an i'm
portant element and link in our free monarchical
| constitution. Gentlemen, it is something perhaps
that the certainty, in the course of human events,
OF being called upon to perform the duties of le
gisation encourages the eldest sons of peers at an
early period OF life to devote themselves to public
service; and, instead of wasting their time in idle.
ness and folly, to apply themselves to the public
interests, make themselves masters of public af
fairs, and to enter life not as members of an ex-
elusive body, but applying to the favor of the peo
pie tor seats In the popular house of representa-
tlves. Applause Here they learn their habits
OF business, there they learn sef-sacrice and de-
voton of their time and labor to the public service;
and when in the course Of nature they succeed to
the Upper House they bring with them those ha bits
OF business, those habits ofabor, but still those
sympathles and those affections, directed towards
the interests OF the public and commonalty of
the country, that they could hardly learn in any
other school 60 well in popular assembly
elected by a popular franchise Gentlemen, /
may also venture to say there is some advantage
As we all know the next object to the ACQUISITION
of position and place in society is the power in
this country of transmitting that power and place
to those who are to follow; and depend upon it,
IN stimulating to great exertion and calling forth
noble enterprise by it in the ranks of the army,
and the law, of commerce, or of professions be it
known to all the motive is not small one, which
looks not only to securing present and personal
advantage for oneself, but for transmitting to our
posterity the permanent advantages derived from
that position, and something perhaps from the
name OF those who have gone before them. Now,
gentlemen, allow me to say, is the House of Lords
M hioo0 Hak. a..
an exclusive branch between which and the rest of
the community there ia an impossible gulf. There
are countries in which noblemen and the com
monalty are SO far separated that from generation
to generation they are within the Same country,
but not connected together-in different societies.
and incapable of passing the barrier which subsists
between them. Happily, far different is the case
with us. The House of Lords in this country is
constantly receiving fresh renforcements and in
huence from the popular element, constantly re-
ceiving reinforcements of new blood; while Oh the
other hand, in the second generation at all events
the younger sons of the peerage merged in the
commonalty, and become portion of the gene
raj mass of the community without any separat-
Ing barrier. Gentlemen, think could hardly
take stronger instance of the manner in which
these renforcements of the House of Lords take
place than those which have occurred in the last
ten months-in three cases, the only three in
which have had the honor Of advising the crown
to grant peerage. These three cases are drawn
from three different professions One was noble
ana Eatiant omCeT, connected originally with
distinguished family, but still more distinguished
for having been for many years the right. handed
councillor of that distinguished and lamented man
this country has lately lost In the chief COM
mand ofthe army he had attained military name
and his services were well known to every mill
tary officer, and his conduct in that position was
we'll and highly appreciated. TApplause.l The
second was q gentleman of family of recent
origin, but, whose services in the diplomatic
career have reflected even additional iussre
upon that great name which you in this town
had many years ago the honor and priyi
lege OF calling your own representative bearing
the name of Canning. [Hear, hear, and cheers. i
tne third was q gentleman whose parents were
OF the very humblest class, whose parents had no
higher rank than gmall shopkeepers in little coun.
try town, who started in public life with no advan-
tages beyond those of his own ability and his own
energy, and yet by his own labor and talents with:
out any adventurous advantages passed through
all the higher ranks of that laborious and learned
profession to which he had devoted himself 1t
will ever be satisfaction to me that advised the
crown to call to the House of Lords, as Lord HIGH
Chancellor of England, the son of small trades.
man of Lewes, who has illustrated his own name
and character as Sir Edward Sugden, and who has
reflected, will venture to say, still higher honor
BY the name Of Lord Truro. Hear, hear, and
cheers.] Gentlemen, can hardly give, think,
three stronger instances to show. that while &C
cording to the working of our constitution, seat
in the Lords is object of Just and laudable ambi