Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-09-09
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
FROM ON CoRRESPoNDENT
LONDON, AUGUST "a, 1854.

said to be unique, although, happily, England is
not singular, even in Europe, in having represen-
tatve system. In other countries the Legislature
meets and disperses with certain solemnity, and
with forms suitable to the occasion but no where
else we believe is there the same amount of regal
observance united with genuine freedom of Govern
ment, SO much of the shGdop of the Crown cast
upon the substance of freedom. Theoretical poll
ticians call the anomalous foreigners call it in
comprehensble republicans rdicule it despot shake
their heads over it as a thing that must explode,
and resent it threatening their power They cannot
conceive why amidst all the regaity of the occasion,
the Queen does take the opportunity of getting
little more and little more of the work of le-.
gislaton into her hands, and why the people are
well satisfied to submit their laws the royal will after
they have made them themselves. Meantime the
try goes the Queen and the people, neither party dis
contented and nobody wanting any change beyond the
utmost Improvement Of the present system The Queen
prefers deriving her dignity from the respect and aec
ton Of the people and the people desire to cherish all
her privileges and digntes whilst aiming to purify,
tend, and improve their representation in their
House If there be any thing anomalous in this let it
stand as an anomaly for it is perfectly harmless
1t is state Of society in which the heart element mod
fes that Of the head the affections qualify the logic
Surely may live happily by congenal tradition
of Europe in present discussion and looking about
there for something in the shape of constitutional
Government we turn to Prussia There is the shape,
put not the substance. Whilst the Prussian Chamber
could, by stretch of Imagination be supposed to exist
they could render their sovereign other account
than that which he chose to dictate and who will
pare the King of Prussia under his emotions and his
tears with the Queen of England, giving her constitu-
ona to the acts of the Commons and with her
clear steady voice commenting the work of the session
. manner equally remote from Indifference and from
agitation.
Next to the United States the Norwegian Parliament
probably the most democratic in the world and but
for the summons being issued by king, it would be
trely The Storhing must meet every three years
but the King calls them together and he dismiss them
at the end of three months let them sit longer they
desire it. The popular element predominates, as is
shown by the first work of every Parliament being the
election by the Commons of the Upper Chamber out of
their own number. The absence of hereditary ars-
tocray thus separates the Norwegian constitution from
the English and must look elsewhere if we would es
tablish parallel Hope is held out that we may see it
In Spain long At present the spectacle Of the Queen
of England meeting the English Legislature is unique
one To intelligent foreigners the spectacle must have
its charm apart from the storied windows the splendid
chamber the peers in their antique robes the privileged
position of the Speaker of the Commons as representing
the people, the brlancy of the audience and the mag
ni6cence of the Court.
In reviewing the last session of Parliament it ap-
pears to be most in unison with the thoughts and re-
collections of every to begin with pro.
posed and withdrawn defeated Foremost among the
victims is the reform BILL measure which Lord JOHN
RussHLL proudly said would show the world that although
England had just entered upon war; of which no one
could the extent ree the Duration yet the Gov
eminent and the Legislature still had time and inclina
ton to attend to matters of home policy This reform
BILL although it was framed by that enlightened adyo-
cate, Lord JOHN RUSSELL, in spirit of comprehensive
beray, was warmly opposed and very feebly support
ed in Parliament; and out of doors, the country
ed to be too intent upon the opening have space
for second idea. The bill was soon seen to be in q
hopeless condition, and virtually extngushed within
month after it brought forward. The next great
Ministerial defeat the oaths BILL both
wise and just but combining opposition from many and
dscordant quarters 1t added to the opponents of the
Jews the adversares Of the Roman Catholics The Scotch
education bill of the Lord Advocate met with the
fate chiefly because it conclated no party support
Another Ministerial defeat the subject the poor
The m6roglio the Irish part of the question in
great measure occasiohed this result These seem to
have been the principal defeats the minor
need not be repeated
If turn from the failures to the successes of the
sessions shall find very little to boast Of The Oxford
University bill brought forward with far too much
detail and the most remarkable feature the session of
1854 exhibited in the discussion upon this BILL in the
great superiority in liberal and statesmanlike views of
the House Of Lords the House of Commons. The
former assened almost without comment and entirely
without cav to the very of relief dssenters
which had been resisted in the latter for fear it should
endanger the safety of the bill Thus after cycle Of
one hundred and fifty years. again the phenomenon
familiar to the students of history House Of Peers
ceeding in iberaty House Of Commons plunged in
gous rancour and absorbed by party and local feeling
The bribery BILL although passed. must be pronounced
q ialnre Five elections have been held since it was
enacted and already notice has been given that four of
them win be contested account of the corrupt and
Illegal practices with which they said to be tainted
Whatever good there may be in the bill owes its place
there to the House of Lords
During the session two new Offices have been added to
the ista Secreariat Of War and Ministry of Health
Both required by the exgency of the public service
Two measures may be regarded with unaoyed satsfac-
tion-the consolidated fund bill of Mr. GLADSTONE and
the merchant shipping consolidation bill of Mr. CARD
WELL. Both measures solid, useful and unosenta-
tious and prove that under the untoward cir
cumstances the element of improvement is to be re
pressed. Thus much for home affairs.
AS respects the war, two leading events claim atten
tion-the capture of Bomarsund and the entry Aus
trian army into the Principalities. Thus hostes
proceeding in earnest and Austria has proved herself
earnest The Court Of Vienna has again sent q probe