The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1860-04-11

POhuoioeOot gnu WIG hio'oiJ VI hio O"i
country for the hundred and fifty years
then last past was sufficient evidences of it
Considered separately, tho idea that par
ticular families are entitled 10 exclusive
privileges of government and station is
simply nonsensical; and yet custom had
in England, as well rs in other countries
of Europe, made that idea practical ne
cessity. l say custom, for Britain had
shown in the dethronement and execution
of Charles l that although tho doc
trine had originated in and been sustain
ed by force, yet it was but fgment OF
the imagination when opposed TO the
united energy of the English people. So
incensed were they at their king, that
nothing but his blood could satisfy their
hatred. After the death Of that virtu-
Gus man but wicked ruler, they endured
for time the stern and arbitrary govern
ment of the fanatical puritan, and the
protectorship of his son, who had not
enough of character to be either good or
bad. Tired of anarchy and the rule
of the army, old sentiments Of loyalty re-
turned, and they recalled the seuscless
libertine, Charles II, who after a life
of debauchery was succeeded by that
combination of fool and bigot, James H..
His reign was tolerated until his fool
ish deviltries disgusted his staunchest
supporters, and he was driven from the
throne TO be succeeded by William and
Mary. And here commenced the bright
era Of English history-hcre it was that
custom was sifted-here it was that old
forms and ordinances were shattered
here it was that tyrannical usages of the
crown were ignored and trodden under
foot by the English people-here il was
that the doctrine Of the divine right re-
ceived its death blow, and hencelorth Eng
lish monarchs were to reign not by the
grace Of God, but by the will Of the peo-
pie. Acceding to custom that which cx-
perience had demonstrated to be n neces-
sity they chose as one Of their sovercigns
n daughter of the house OF Stuart-chose
from that family which had been the
curse of England since the death Of Eliz-
abeth. But in recognizing the necessity of
a constitutional monarchy, they in more
guarded manner than ever before restrict
ed the power of the crown, defining sharp
ly all its prerogitives, and protected the
rights and liberties of the citizen. Here
was the old custom-here was the good
and evil mixed. With all the burdens that
the house of Stuart had caused the Island,
all the tyranny they had exercised, all the
bigotry they had evinced, all the ingrati-
tude they had shown, all the blood and
treasure they had caused to be spilled,
they dared not yet depose them or strike
from existence the English crown, because
they were afraid that the safeguards of life,
liberty and property would be lost in the
confusion that must follow. They surer-
dered portion of their liberty (the right
rs freemcn TO select their own rulers) to
senseless custom which time and the
circumstances surrounding them made
neccssity-they submitted to a partial
slavery, in order to preserve more than
partial freedom. Nor was this the only
tribute they paid to custom in that me-
morable reign.
John Somers, in his bill of rights, claim
ed mostly for English citizens and the
English Parliament immunities and priv
ileges upon the ground of precedent. And
that bill of rights is in substance the Eng
lish constitution so called-a simple dec
laration made by an informal or not reg
ularly called Parliament, subject TO revo-
cation by any subsequent Parliament
The restrictions Of the crown-thc power
of the House of Lords--the privileges of
the House of Commons-the safeguards
of the citizen-the connection ofchurch
and State-in word the English gov
ernment, in all its frame work and branch
es, rests down upon custom, usage, pre-
cedent, confirmed only by acts of Parlia-
mcnt and subject to repeal by succeeding
Parliaments. "Only that and nothing
more"
Somers in his bill Of rights searches
through musty folios and old statutes TO
find claims whereon to rest the liberties OF
the citizen and the privileges OF Parlla-