Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-02-14

lOsb JducS IL Ills CTOWH, anu SIlOulu nave
lost Mr.. Lincoln his-election. 1t was true
Of this and subsequent reigns, as DR.. Bur-
net recorded, that he thatwill 60 about to
walk warily."' p, ,r
The reign Of the Stuarts Is ain era of con.
hicts, signalized by the State craft of the
kings, and the protests of the Commons.
The first Stuart, James /, had invaded even
the presenceof the house, sent Its members
to the Tower, and contemplated the behead-
/ ing of others. He had even torn their pro-
ceedings from the journals. 4 Prerogatiye
went SO far that in the time of the first
Charles no Parliament met for twelve years.
Irregular leyies OF money and men, and the
seventies Of the star chamber and high
commission, drove the people to exile In
America, and to despair Of their liberties.
These institutions were the lsubservient
Parliaments Of the time-all its members
being the tools of tyranny: AT last a
minister proposed the siip-mony tax.
Hampden opposed; then came the re-
action and the revolution. The Par
lament conquered; only to be in turn driv-
en- from their places by the Protector, be-
cause their debates were disagreeable.--
When the restoration came, the 'healing
Parliament" met; and the king was their
suitOr, butsnot Tonga suitor. sHiSministers
were in Parliament. The republican ele-
ment was weeded out. 1t would have been
worse, but that the profusion of Charles II
In his pleasures was so great that ''no min
ister could find sums sufficient to buy a
Parliament. He stood, therefore, on his
prerogative, strained as far as hedurst and
made all the use of 1t he could" Crafts
man, No. 442.) He even depended on for
eign gold to bribe his Parliament and PAM
mn. his MI 81 Tho
eighteen years, large number of members
practiced on, and large number notori-
Ously bribed. When a new Parliament was
called their disposition was so sordid, and
the batteries around the throne so detesta-
BILE that the English historian bushes as he
records their slavish submission. Russell
and Sydney shine out of this time only by
the halo around their martyr-brows. When
Charles died his brother, James Ii, added to
this corruption another strain of the pre-
rogative, and degree of bigotry which
was, wholly his own. The Parliament of
his time had been managed, both at their
election and when they met; and so success
fully managed, that when James looked
over the list of returns, he declared there
were not more than forty names which he
could have wished not there. Itsat year.
A few brave words from Coke of Derby,
and helwas sent to the Tower for undutiful
reflection OIL the king. Then came another
reaction. 1t was sudden, and the revolu-
ton of 1858 was accomplished.
From that time the influence of the Crown
upon the Parliament has been most appar-
ent and deleterlous by their corrupt depen-
dency on each other. tine ofthe first griev-
ances to be remedied by the new dynasty
was che publication of the Commons. A
place bill was brought in. By it all mem
bers of the House of Commons were inca
pacitated from holding places of trust and
profit. This was the model of our consti-
tutional clause. 1t was passed in England
finally, but rejected by the Kings veto.
Mr.. Hallam (vOlume three, page 1877 says:
.The banefulsystem Of rendering. the Parliament
subservientto to the Administration, either by off
and pensions held at pleasure or by clandestine
corruption, had not ceased with the house of Stuart
William, not long after his accession, fell into the
worst part of this management, which it was diff.
cult to prevent, and according to the practice Of
Charles reign induced by secret bribes the leaders
OF parliamentary opposition to beray their cause on
particular questions, 4ni,tr 5,rau1.1,f g-lrN
Secret service money was proved to have
been used among members. Hallam enum-
crates the, facts, and from them it will APP
pear why, even after the place bill failed, a
check was still put upon the number and
quality Of placemen in the lower house.
AhV. PhORCi~tCuSuy -tuCur WAS bilt
ment, as our American ancestors provided,
of all the servants of, the Executive from
the legislative councils of the rnationo One
thing, however, they did establish. In 1894,
the board of revenue were incapacitated
from sitting in the House. In 1899, the law
was extended. In 100, by the act of settle
nient all officers were excluded In 1706,
the law was repealed, and but for this re-
peal England to-day would exclude the
Cabinet altogether; but she preserved the
principle and limited its extension.
Zone province she did establish, which to9
day operates against an overwhelming in
fluence of the ministry. (Hallam, volume
3, page, l9D. Every member accepting an
office must vacate and a new election be
had. She excluded pensioners. These prof.
De Lolme volume /, page
476, &c. )=-0riginated from the continued
corruption of Parliaments. An "act of Sc
curityn limiting the number of persons in
Office eligible to Parliament was senacted.--
refer to these precautions in favor of lib
crty now as the argument against the pres,
eiit measure. What was reasonable then is
SO long as human nature remains the same,
now, AS De LOlne whites:
-.It 1is impossible question the policyof these
are naturally propense TO corruption; and If he1
whose and interest it is to corrupt them be urnr
shed with the means. he will never fail to do iti
power, honors, riches and the pleasures that attend
hem, are the bats by which men are drawn to- PREF
er personal interest before the public good and
he number Of those who c9yet them is 80 great that
10 his service as shall be sufficient to subdue the
rest. IT Is hard to find tyranny ins the world that
ass ot been satToducsd an y this truth he
ine Iqcre would IN the words Of the poet. be more
capable afterward Of abstaining from 1t than dog
rom his greasy otfalp lJsinsdcl9m hoe9 sldd6a
Notwithstanding all these precautions, So
ong as the ministry remained In the Com
mons, Parliament was paramount. Il In the
lime of Anna, insl7l2, bills were again
brought in still further limiting the mum
Der OF officers of Governmentwho could SIT
n Parliament. Fifty was proposed. Even l
The principle of preserving the influence
If the Crown anhappily. prevailed n The
'ame arguments now used for this bill were
ised ttheh. O. The same indi ference to- per-
onal ,pr0bityo and political integrity are OBJ ~
erVablei We'll might Queen Anne, there
ore; dissolve zone OF, her Parliaments, de-
,laring 1t was her pleasure to admit Of no
lebate. Outsofa this right arose the golden
lawn Of Walpolei The forecast of thewise \
ta,esmen of England had been exertedg In |
'ain. In vain had 'place-bills been again |
ried; In vain were elections contested for
bribery; In. vainiiwefe motions to retrenoh
tensions. George III denounced all such bills
IS "villainons; 1" and ministry did not
cripple to send Tories to the Tower forcon- |
debate, a bishop declared that
IN independent House Of Commons was as
Inconsistent as anindependent kings Truly,
vasiite exeinplifed. For thetwo powers be- |
anne dependent on each other made 50 by !