Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-10-21
ALEXANDRIA LITERARY Soc1ErY.-The

regular weekly meeting Of the Alexandria
Literary Socieiy was we'll attended last night,
and the debate On the question who had the
best right to the throne 81 England, Mary
Queen of ScoLts or Elizabeth p was very
spirited and interesting.
Mr.. A. j. Wcdderburn opened the debate on
behalf OF the light Of Mary, and commended that
the marriage OF Henry VIII. to Catherine OF
Arragan was legal and binding that his mar
rage to Annie Bolcyn was illegal. the Pope
having refused his consent to it, and that the
consent of the Pope was necessary, he being
at that time the head of the Church in England,
and having cognzance Of marriages; that his
marriage to Annie Boleyn having been illegal
Elizabeth was bastard and could not inherit
the throne His speech was very creditablc
one. f'-
Mr.. Cornelius Cox followed on the side Of
Elizabeth. He claimed the right Of the Eng
lish Parliament to change the succession to the
throne, and answered very fully some charges
which Mr.. Wcdderburn had preferred against
Queen Bess His speech showed great amount
of research.
Mr.. George Mushback, in his closing re-
marks on the side of Mary earnestly stated
the moral view of the case, and iolcibly illus
trated the wrongs inflicted upon her. ~
Mr.. VIM Z. Carnc, the last polemic, closed
on behalf of Elizabeth His speech was cz-
cccdingy interesting and instructive. He con
tended that the hereditary right to the throne
of England was not an indefcasabic right, and
that Parliament could at any time change the
succession He reviewed the whole history of
England to sustain his side, and cited numerous
examples. He ably vindicated the claim Of Ellz-
abeth, and pronounced a beautiful erlogum
upon her. {:
The debate being closed on the part of the
polcmics, Mr.. Chapman Nealc spoke in favor
of Elizabeth. He confined himself merely to
the question ''Was Elizabeth a bastard?' He
declared that Parliament was supreme and had
right, which could not be impeached, to d.
vorce Henry VIII from Catharine Of Arragon !;
that the consent of the Pope was not necessary
to his marriage with Annie Boleyn; that an
act of Parliament was superior to everything,
and that bull Of the Pope never would have
been of any forco if contrary to it-lor the
common law was superior to the canon, and
although the latter was by custom observed in
certain Courts, yet it was always under the
general supervision of the common law that
Elizabeth, although declared Legitimate by an
act of Parliament, yet that act having been re-
pealed, the former act, according to English
law, revived, and was in full force He cited
numerous authorities to support him, and very
clearly and torciby maintained his point
At the conclusion Of the discussio on vote
was taken, and decision was awarded in favor
of the claims OF Elizabeth.
The question, would repeal Of the Stay Law
be beneficial to the people Of Virginia? was Sc
lected for the next discussion, and Messrs. e..
j. Simpson, VIM. Arnold, DIR. W. Fl. Roberts,
and NJ. Ahcrn appointed to debate it. For the
meeting next Tuesday week Messrs. Chapman
Neale, A. c. Cazenove, G. w. Hoffman, and
D. Mclean we're appointed polcmics
A resolution was adopted, permitting each
member to bring friends to the ordinary meet
ings Of the society The debates which
the society may hold once month will beopcn
to the public.
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