The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-02-16

oWeipo Alugs. James WOulQ never nave lOSt
his head as his son was fated to do--that son
whom be had warned, when Charles wa
promoting the impeachment of the Earl OF
Middlesex, "You will live to have Il belly
ful Of impeachments.' Charles could not
see that the power had departed from the
Crown and abode with the Commons; he
hardly recognized the fact when he went to
seize the five members-most people think
they were actually arrested, but they were
not-and was met by stthe members ecoWling
at him, and audibly muttering Privilege !
PriVilege!'" This event is commemorate at
the opening Of each new Parliament, when
the members for the city of London, in court
dress, take their seats on the Treasury bench,
which are afterwards vacated for the minis
tiers Of the day. This Mr.. Jennings records,
but be follows a multitude to error when be
says that an annual. search for Guy Fawkes'
is made on the eve of the session; this in
spection of the cellars does not date from the
time Of James I, but from that Of Charles IL
or James II, and had its origin in the fact
that the vaults were then stored with coal
and fuel, while the adjacent wharves were
crowded with c~ombustibles.
When the Commons had finally secured
their place in the constitutional organization
of England, and 'sbulldozing" was no longer
possible, bribery came into vogue. This is
q familiar subject to al readers Of English
history. Massey has found no trace of the
practice after the Grenville administration
(17633-'75.) though up to that period money
was received and expected by members, with
out any consciousness Of infamy, very much
as the voters in certain boroughs claimed and
received "head money" from the candidate,
as a matter of right and custom. A letter of
Lord Say and Sele, November Goth, 1863, is
extant, returning a check for $500 given him
by the Premier, ''as good manners would not
permit my refusal Of it when rendered by
YOU But corruption, though not open cor
ruption, prevailed long afterwards, and
money was used as well as place. The Leg
!slative Union with Ireland was put through
by sheer bribery. A sum Of 81, 260, 900 was
spent in buying rotten %bor0ughs from their
owners; twenty-five peerages were created
twenty-four peers were advanced; pensions
and places innumerable were given, and as
much as Go, 900 was paid for an individual
vote. TO pass the Reform bill, Lord Grey
had to promise between $50 and 300 peerages,
promotions in the peersge and baronetcies.
Charles Butler used to say that the votes Of
O'Connells 'stail" could be had for e200 a
session each, ,'provided the money was laid
before them in gold" Everyone knows Lord
Melbourne's views on the subject Of orders
and peerages. "a Carter" he said, when
the Queen pressed him to accept one, .smay
attach to us somebody Of consequence whom
nothing else can reach but what would be
the use Of my taking it? cannot bribe my
self. J" Lord Beaconsfield thought differently;
when he went out last year he made fourteen
creations, nearly all Of which were political,
and the total number Of peerages created and
promotions conferred during his six years
administration was thirty nine. Mr.. Glad
stones between 1868 and 1874 numbered
thirty-six. Mr.. Gladstone's purity cannot be
questioned, but he makes the most Of his
patronage. Sir Harcourt tombstone, for in
stance. will soon receive a peerage; he re-
tired from Scarborough last year to give Mr..
Dodson, a seat, and it has always been Mr..
Gladstone's custom to translate a bishop to
8 vacant see, and elevate a new mar to the
episcopal bench in his place, thus satisfying
two men, while, as in the cases of Durham
and Liverpool, Lord Beaconsfield filled the
vacancy by direct appointment. It is curious,
by the way, to notice how seats in Parlia-
ment appreciated in value. We have already
told how representation was once Stunned
as an expensive honor. ..sSome hundred
years ago. wrote Wallar, in 1878, ''some
boroughs sent not-they could get not none
to serve ; but now it is the fashion. and a
fine thing they are revived. Formerly the
neighborhood desired a candidate to serve;
there was a dinner, an end but now it is a
kind OF an empire" When Mr.. Coke was
elected for Lynn in 1856 bis agent sslet loose
the tap" and spent $1,000 over and above
the ordinary expenses. John Evelyn com
plains bitterly in 1896 of the confused, de
and riotous manner of eleeting
ii 1851, . breakfast for the
voters in a small constituency cost e75O, and
1t dinner the free and independent consumed
4, 72O pounds Of beef 60 say nothing Of veal,
mutton, pastry and poultry,) 81 dozen Of
vine, 70 pipes of ale and 1865 gallons of
'pirits, converted into punch. IT was when
be Indian nabobs came into competition for