The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-12-17


The Queen alone can create a peer
oaronet, or knight, and confer privileges
on private persons. She alone can erect
corporations, and raise and regulate
heets and armies, though under such re-
strictions relating to appropriation and
expenditure OF money as make it impos-
slble for her to exercise her power to the
detriment Of English liberty. She is
the head of the Church, she convenes
and dissolves all ecclesiastical synods and
convocations, and dominates to vacant
bishoprics and other Church offices.
She sends ambassadors to foreign States,
receives ambassadors Mt home, makes
treaties and alliances, and declares war
and peace, though her power in these re-
spects also is in large degree limited by
the power of Parliament to enact or re-
Ject such laws as may be necessary to
make it effective
Previous to the Revolution of 1858 the
Government of England was mainly car
ried on by virtue of what was called the
royal prerogative; that is, by the King
III person, with the advice of ministers
appointed by himself, who were only re-
sponsible to their Sovereign for their
management of public affairs. One of
the results, however, of that revolution
was the transfer of the power of the State
from the Crown to the House of Com
mons. Instead of Government by pre-
rogative, there was then established n
Government by Parliament, from whom
all laws must eminate, requiring only the
approval of the Crown as u condition of
their enactment.
AS is well known, the Queen appoints
her own advisers, irrespective of the
wishes or approval of Parliament, and
though popularity the Ministry is sup
posed to possess the whole executive
power, no important measure is pre-
scented by them to the consideration of
Parliament through the channel of the
Ministry, and Parliament may originate
and pass acts ut it's pleasure, subject TO
the constitutional right of the Queen to
nullify them 10y her veto. The Queen
can convene Parliament and terminate
its sessions at will.
There have been but two instances in
which the Lords and Commons have met
by their own authority, namely, prev
ious to the restoration of Charles IL.
and at the Revolution in 1858. There is
one contingency, however, upon which,
under authority of law, Parliament may
meet without summons. 1t was pro-
vided in the reign OF Anne that in case
there should be no Parliament in being
at the time of the demise of the Crown.
then "the last preceding Parliament
shall Immediately convene and sit at
Westminster, as if the said Parliament
had never been dissolved" Such Par
lament, however, by statute in the
reign OF George Ill, can only continue
In existence for six months, if not sooner
dissolved.
This, then, is the power of the Queen.
She may, with the advice of her Minis
ters alone, assemble, prorogue, and dis
solve Parliament, declare war, confirm or
disallow the acts of Colonial Legislatures,
give effect to treaties, extend the term of
patents, grant charters of incorporation
to companies or municipal bodies, create
ecclesiastical districts, regulate the
Board of Admiralty, and make appoint
ments to offices in the various depart
ments of State, create new offices and
define the qualifications of persons to
fill the same, and declare the periods at
which certain acts of Parliament, the
operation of which has been left to the
Queen and Council, shall he enforced.
With regard to the expenditure of
money, it is expressly provided in the
act of settlement, to which reference has
been made, that money levied for the
use of the Grown without grant of Par
lament is illegal. The Crown is entirely
dependent upon Parliament for its reve-
nues.- W. Z. Davis, IN Harper's Mag
0zine.