Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-06-03
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1oF' fdnCe'S WIkeSDorOugh SpeeChs
Nix EOIToR:-This speech which has attractel a
great deal of attention. both in and of the State
was reviewed in mastery manner by writer in
tire STANDARD cCthe 9th Ct April over the signature
OF " Conservative" but as that writer took no no.
tee OF the historical portion Of the Speech hope
you will indulge me with spuct in your paper to
make some remarks upon th:He PORTIONS of it. as
we'll as upon the historical subjects to which he
alludes
1t will be remembered that the worthy Governor
sets out in that speech with the ecaI alton that he
Is going 20 do what is very rare in politician
'tell the truth" Yet, if Has Exceency has failed
to "tell the truth" in those parts of his speech in
which he eQdeavored to warn the people against the
terrible consequences of some Of the measures Of
the Conservatives especially oil Convention, he
may he pardoned, for in such cases he had to RELY
upon his own jud5 ment and could only give his
own opinions, and was quite as likely to be mista-
ken any other man. BIZ when passing from
tAose subjects he attempts enrighten the people
by citations from familiar history, he should be
held to the strictrst accounta bihty. | admit the
Governors object was good one-the encourage
ment OF our people IN the struggle for independence
.-but alter such promise one would haYe thought
that he would have scorned to make any statement
which was not strictly true. Nor vas it necessary
that he should, for cause which will not succeed
by the aid OF truth alone will not succeed at all,
tor does it deserve to-
will notice but two oil the cases cited by him,
giving the facts truly as they ale and let the PEG.
pie judge for themselves how far the Governor
redeemed the pledge made in the outset OF his
speech. Abiding to the struggle of the States of
Holland for independence, he says: I" They fought
Phillip the Ii, aud his grand armies and those Of
his successors for eighty years. and .her miserable
little country, denominated OutC.lst ~ men and
Gods finally triumphed, preserved its liberties and
secured permanent peace, despite the efforts of
tyrant who held millions of men in Subsection T.
i ,tal tha of
events would naturally he led to suppose that the
provinces contended single-handed for eighty
years" with the then gigantic power of Spain.
Such, however, was far from being the case; but
as the history Of that struggle is in many respects,
one of the most interesting in the world will
hastily sketch its outline.
The countries composing the Netherlands, as
they were generally called, were distinguished in
ancient history. We learn from Caesar that they
were among the most stubborn of the tribes that
opposed the progress Of the Roman arms. One of
the provinces / believe was never entirely subju
gated by them, but vas allowed to retain its an.
Gent laws and institutions. They were also among
the first who, under the lead of the noble Batavian,
Claudus Civs, attempted to throw of the Roman
authority. After the fall of the Roman Empire,
they become part of France, and formed part of
the magnificent Empire of Charlamagne When
the Empire was transferred to Germany they re-
manned for many years with France. In the ninth
ferred to the Empire and were divided into a
number of small princpalitieS, and governed by a
number ofpetty sovereigns. There Duke of
Brabqnt Count of Holland, Count of Flanders,
Count of uainault, Bishop Of Utrecnt, and many
others The prSogativeS of all Of them were more
less limited by constitutions which were for that
age liberal. In the fifteenth century the sovereign
ty all these countries fell to the Duke of Burgundy
surnamed "Phip the Good" some by inheritance
some By the usurT atoms of the rights of his neice,
Jacqueline of Hainault Thus united under single
sovereign, they became of the most Furnishing
countries in the world. Their sovereignty descen.
ded from him to his son, Charles the Bold. He was
not in any sense of the word statesman, and
possessed none of the attributes of a warrior but
personal courage. He deserved the rappeation Of
the Bold, and never deserved any other. Tie
however, nearly succeeded in crushing out the lib
critics of the Netherlands and suoverting their free
constitutions.
Upon the death of Charles, they fell by inheTi
lance to his daughter, Mary Of Burgundy, prin
cess offender years During the early part Of hei
reign, the Netherlands took advantage of the occa
sion to recover back all and more than all the
liberties which they had lost By the usurpations o
her father and grandfather. The cities OF Holland
Flanders and the other provinces, called a conven
ton at Client The result of their deliberations wa
the formal grant by the DlclIess Mary of the "GroO
PIiVilegie," or Great Privilege, the Magma Chart
of Holland Although this instrument was after
."dEuS flOIateu anu ulue6u dUOllSueu IL Uecaue III
foundation of the Republic 1t was recapitulatoI
and recognition Of ancient rights not al acquisition
of new privileges. 1t was restoration, not Revo
luton. This Charter Summarily annihilated all tn
despotIc arrangements of Charles the Bold. TIL
law, the sword, the purse were all taken from tn
Sovereign and placed within control Of Parliament
No law, no taxes, no edict could be imposed upol
them but by the consent of the provincial estates
Certainly for the fifteenth century" says Motley
1.-The Great Privilege was q reasonably libera
constitution"
Afterwards, the Lady Nary married the Arch
duke MAMMALIAN of Austria, subsequently Empero
of Germany. After few years she died from
sfsl from her horse, leaving the inheritance tohe
son Phillip, a minor of four years, which thu
passed to tie House of Austria. When Phillip
surnamed the "Fair," arrived at mans estate,
married Joanna, daughter of the celebrated Ferd
nand and Isabella, King and Queen of CASTLE an
Arragon The eldest son of this marriage was tn
celebrated Charles the V. Upon the deaths of Fel
dinand and Isabella he succeeded them as soVereig
Of CASTLE and Arragon, thus uniting them into tn
single compact kingdom Of Spain. u pom the deaf
of his father he succeeded hun in the sovereignty
the Netherlands He was subsequently elected Eu
peror of Germany, and thus became the most pow
erful potena:e that Europe had seen since the day
of Charlemagne. Though king in Spain, and a
Emperor in Germany he was but Count in Ho
land and Flanders, duke in Brabant. He was a
illiberal and despotc prince and totally disregardt
line Constitutions granted BY his grandmother Nj
~ of Burgundy, which he was enabled to do b
means of the power derived from his other dom
IONS After many years of successful warfare, /
was worsted towards the close of his career by II
Protestant princes of the Empire, especially By Ma
rice, Elector of SaYony against whom he had taken
arms to prevent the progress of the Reformation,
which he was the avowed champion This war W.
terminated by the peace of Passau in 1885, by whic
The Protesants of the Empire obtained complies
toleralOn. The Netherlands being nominaliy wit
in the circle of the Empire claimed the benefit
the peace Of PLssau and for some years it was e
tend ID to them.
Such was the condition Of things when Charl
the V resigned the Empire to his brother Zero