Middletown transcript., 1877-03-03
a BIT OF HISTORY.
orOmwsll DIsper.lnr tho Parliament.

1 CA0AANsSAA 2AS EfOASsA8 NAAo
As the country is nsw suffering th,
frst stages of dospotic government, auc
Witnessing the rapid strides Of the Ex
ecutive towards unlimited power, W,
subjoin Hume's descriptions of Crom
well dispensing Parliament. that til,
people may know how the thing has
been done and bow it can be done
again:
The jealous Republicans in the Par
lament had not been the chief or FIRST
promoters of the wars but when it was
once entered upon, they endeavored to
draw from it every possible advantage
On all occasions they set up the feet
in opposition to the army, and cele-
brated the glory and successes of the
naval armaments. They insisted on
the intolerable expense to which the
nation was subjected, and urged, the
necessity Of diminishing it by reduction
Of the land forces. They ordered some
regiments to serve on board the feet
in the quality Of marines. And Crom-
well by the whole train of their pre-
ceedings. evidently saw that they had
entertained jealousy of bis power and
ambition, and were resolved to bring
him to subordination under their au-
thOrity. Without scruple or delay be
resolved to prevent them.
On such firm foundation was built
the credit of this extraordinary man,
then tho a great master Of fraud and
dissimulation, be judged it superAuous
to employ any disguise in conducting
this bold enterprise He summoned a
general council of officers, aud imme-
diately found that they we're disposed
to receive whatever impressions be was
pleased to give them Most of them
we're bis creatures. and had owed their
Advancement to bis favor and relied en-
iirely upon him for their future prefer
nent The breach being already made
the military and civil powers.
when the late king was seized at Hold
,uby, the general officers regarded the
Parliament as at once their creature
ind their rival and thought that they |
themselves we're entitled to share among |
hem those offices and riches, of which |
is members had SO long kept posses
ion Harrison, Rich. 0verton, and a
ew others, who retained some princi-
lie, were guided by noti0ns SO extrava-
ant, that they were easily deluded into
measures the most violent and most
riminal. And the whole army bad
lready been guilty of such illegal and
trocious actions, that they could enter
hin no further seruple with regard to
ny enterprise which might serve their
sl6sh or fanatical purposes.
In the council of officers it was pres
ntly voted to frame a remonstrancs to
he Parliament. After complaining of
lie arrears due to the army. they then
esired the Parliament to reflect how
any years they bad sitten, and what
rofessions they had formerly made of
ieir Intentions to new model the rep
sentative. and establish successive
who might bear the bur-
~ of national affairs, from which they
emsolVes would gladly. after SO much
niger and fatigue, be at last relieved.
hey confessed that the Parliament
ID achieved great enterprises, and s.
mighty difficulties. yet was
an Injury, they said, to the rest of :
e nation to be excluded from bearing !:
y part in the service of the country. :
was now full time for them to give :
ace to others, and they therefore de- :
ed them, after settling council,
10 might execute the laws during the 7
IerVal, to summon a new Parliament,
d establish that free and equal gov
nment which they had SO long prom :.
d the people /
The Parliament took this remon- :
ance in ill part, and made q sharp I
ply to the council of officers. The y
icers insisted on their advice, aud by L L
ltual alteration and opposition, the = =
each became still wider between the y y
ny and the commonwealth. Crom. 8
Il, finding matters ripe for his pur- -
Sc, called a council of officers, in :.
Ter to a determination with regard n
the public settlement. As he bad :. -
re many friends. so had be also some 'a "
oonents Harrison having assured ~ y
council that the General sought to "a :!
7e the way for the government of !: !:
'us and his Saints. Major Streater = =
sky replied, that Jesus ought then - -
come quickly, for if be delayed it till - =
ar Christmas, he would come too ue :.
E. be would find bis place occupied y =
lille the officers were in debate, Col ~
j Ingoldsby informed Cromwell that aU
Parliament was sitting, and had
ne to a resolution not to dissolve .,
mselves but to gil up the house by N
' elections, and was at that very wl
C engaged in deliberations iu regard co,
bis expedient. Crom we'll in a rage m;
nediately fastened to the house, and 20
ried body of three hundred SOL lin
IS along with him. Some Of them in,
placed at the door, some in tae lob
some on the stairs. He first ad- /,
ssed himself to bis friend, St. John, ed
told him that be had come with to
pose Of doing what grieved him to i
very soul. and what be had earn pie
Y With tears besought the Lord not fas
impose upon him; but there was a
sssity, in order to the glory of God the
the good of the nation. He sat a
n for some time, and heard the de- sea
} He beckoned to Harrison, and
him that be now judged the Par -,
he Dntch war-IRha So