The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-02-13
Our Qolio.
FEBRUARY l775--ls75.

Not notable for any striking public events
an America. the month of February
hundred years ago Is memorable for Par
liamentary proceedings which defeated the
possibility Of reconciliation between the
Colonies and the mother oonntry. In our
day such important matters would be
known partially on the day of their oc-
currcnec. And, on the next day, the
myriad leaved journals would scatter the
tidings everywhere in their details, and
the streets Of our cities and towns would
be vocal with the newsboys shout, " Full
account Of Earl Chaiham's great speech !
full account Of Dr. Franklin !" But the
Colonis,s, in 1875, remained for many
weeks without information Of movements
and measures which concerned them so
nearly. On the lst of February, 1775,
the Earl Of Chatham brought forward in
the House of Lords bill to reconcile the
difference between England and her colo
nies. This plan "for true reconciliation
and national accord provided that no tax
should be levied in America except by con-
sent of the Colonial Assemblies and those
Assemblies, on their part, were to make
free grants of money, to be placed at the
disposal Of Parliament. Ths authority of
Parliament was to be conceded, as well as
its right to regulate the trade of the whole
Empire. 1t was proposed to lay the drafl
of the bill on the table for consideration,
but before the business could take that
proper and usual course the heat Of the
Earl Of Sandwich preeipitated conclu-
sion. He denounced the measure as one
that deserved contempt /" 1t ought" he
said,p to be Immediately rejected. can
never believe ii to be the production of
any British peer. 1t appears to me rather
the work Of some American. / fancy |
have In my eye the man who drew it up
--one Of the bitterest and most mischiev
Ous enemies this country has ever known. "
As Sandwich said this, he turned bis head
toward Franklin, who was present. The
effect in regard to the doctor was to bring
from Chatham one Of the most emphatic
eulogies that some American" or any
American ever received in the British
Parliament The conciiatory proposition
was, however, voted down two to one on
its first reading. The historian Bancroft
remarks: "The wifulDess of the Lords
was happy for America, for Chatham's
proposition contained clauses to which it
never could safely have assentcd, and
yet breathed u spirit which must have
calmed its resentment, distracted its coun-
ellis, and palsied its will 1t had no choice
left between submission and independence. "
In the House Of Commons, Immediately
after the defeat of Lord Chatham's propo-
sitioh in the House of Lords, the Minis
try introduced measures for intimidating
the Colonies. First in the order of pas
sage was a joint address to the throne,
adopted by the Commons and coDcurrcd
in by the House of Lo=ls Tho. address
declared that rebellion already existed in
Massachusetts, countcuanced and foment-
ed by unlawful combinations in other col.
onies. The address was reported on the
9th of February, and adopted after de-
bate which lasted till half.past two on the
morning Of the 18th. On the 9th, (having
passed the Lords) il was presented to the
King The Lord Chancellor aud the
Speaker Of the House, with majority of
both bodies, went in state TO the palace,
aud in presence Of the representatives of
the great powers of Europe, presented the
address. OF course It was 9 gaciously
received The King in his reply pledged
himself TO enforce Z obedience TO the laws
aud the authority of the supreme legisla-
ture. In this phrascology, the recogni
tion of the supremacy Of Parliament and
of hw in royal speech, we discern signs
of the lcaven which only worked quicker
in America than in Europe. Before the
fall Of Charles l. such an admission of the
authority Of Parliament would have been
simply impossible. After the restoration
Of the monarchy, and before the revolution
of 1858, any such concession Of the duty
Of the crown to play second to the author
lty Of the Parliament would have been
improbable. As both address aud answer
originated with the Ministry they must be
regarded in some degree as a bid for pop
MAR endorsements open show iu order
to obtain public comalittal to programme
which had been arranged 10 private coun-
Gil The necessity for this grew out Of
the freedom Of debate and the growing
liberty Of the press. Let those who tiro
OF The reports Of legislative speeches and
proceedings take note that the uttcrances
of Legislators have far wider aud icnce
than the immediate hearers, and that the
consequences Of argument aud discussion
20 much further thaa the settlement Of
the perhaps unimportant matter immadi-
.ately in question.
The opposition in Parliament denounced