Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-03-12
House of Commons.

The first formal record Of a Speaker
f the House of Commons of England
appears in the rolls of Parliament for
the year 1876, when Sir Thomas
HungerfOrd is mentioned as Speaker of
House. There can, however, be no
doubt that there were Speakers Of the
House at an earlier date than this,
since Peter Ge MontfOrt in the yeaI
1260 signed and sealed an answer OF
the Parliament TO the Pope, ''yice
tOtius communicates. - Formerly the
Speakers held other offices of import.
ance at the same time. Thus, Si
Edward Coke was Solicitor General To
Queen Elizabeth, and at later period
Sir Richard Onslaw held the same post
while Lie was Speaker. Sir Edward
Seymour was Treasurer of the Navy
and Mr.. Harley held the Office of Sec
Tetary of State as well as Speaker fol
more than a year; while Mr.. OnslOW
was Treasurer Of the Navy for some
years during his Speakership. 1t was
formerly usual for members when pro-
posed as Speakers to decline the office
on the ground of their OWL INSULT
ciCncy, and even on the steps of the
chair 10 beg of the House to excuse
them. Mr.. Onslow, who was elected
Speaker in January, 1927, concluded
his speech at the lar of the House OF
Lords by imploring his Majesty ''tO
command your Commons to do-what
they can very easily perform-to make
choice Of another person more proper
for them to present to your Majesty on
this great OCCASION"
Sir Edward Seymour, when he was
presented, in 1913, for the appreciation
of Charles II, knowing that it had
been determined TO accept his excuse,
puIposely avoided making any in or
der to render it more difficnlt for the
Lord Chancellor 10 refuse to confirm
his election. His appointment, how
ever, was not proved; and this is the
only instance on record of the royal
application being withheld. The right
OF tie House of Commons to choose
their Speaker without the intervention
of the Sovereign has been stoutly
maintained on more than one occa-
sion. On Sir John TrevOr's expulsion
from tie House in 1916 for taking a
bribe Of 1,000 guineas from the city
Of London for promoting the passing
of a LEGAL bill, the Comptroller OF the
HouSt hold, after announcing to the
House the Kings permission for them
TO proceed to the choice of a new
Speaker in Sir John Trevor's place,
attempted TO nominate a member for
Speaker bUt lie was at once Interrupt
ted. Several members stated that it
was an infringement of the undOubted
right Of the House of Commons to
choose their own Speaker for any per-
son who brought message from the
King TO nominate one to them. Not
withstanding this, the Comptroller
stood up and persisted in nominating
Sir Thomas Littieton; but his nominee
was rejected on division in favor of
Mr.. Paul Foley.
Although, however, the House of
Commons has been always jealous of
any interference with its right of cleo
ton, it uas entertained a strong sense
of.le necessity of receiving the royal
permission to elect Speaker and of
having the choice confirmed 10y the
Crown. This ceremony, indeed, has
been constantly observed, except dur
ing the civil war and the Common
wealth; and also on three occasions
when it was impossible from the pecu-
liar circumstances of the case to do SO.
In 1860 Sir HarbOtfle Grimston .GS
elected Speaker without any authority
from Charles II, whose restoration had
not been then formally recognized. In
January, 16SS, Mr.. Henry Powle was
chosen Speaker by the Convention
Parliament after the flight Of James
II, and before the Prince of Orange
had been declared King. The third
instance occurred on the election of a
Speaker in the place of Mr.. Cornwall,
who died in January, 1889, when
George III was mentally incapable of
attending TO any public duties.
Tie customary claim made by the
Speaker after his election has received
the royal appreciation, on behalf of the
Commons, for all their rights and
privileges, including freedom of speech,
has not always met with ready ac-
quiescence. When Sir Edward Coke
made this claim, Sir John Puckering,
Lord Keeper TO Queen Elizabeth, by
the instruction Of his royal mistress,
replied:-"Priyilege Of speech is gran
ted; but you must know what privilege
you haye-not to speak every one
what he listethor what comes into his
brain 10 utter, but your privilege is
for such speech as shall be used with
judgment and sObriety.'' Hatsell, in
his PrecCdcntS, referring to this Gus
tom, states mot that the Commons by
this ceremony ever acknowledged what
James J., III his answer to the petition
of the House of Commons, In 1921,
says he could have wished that they
had said, That their privileges were
derived from the grace and permission
Of Oar ancestors and Us, and not have
used the stile of your antient and un-
doubted right of Inheritance But they
considered it as a public claim and
notification to the King and to the
people of the privileges of the House of
Commons, in order that no man could |
plead ignorance.
GOLFERS sign in a Ieighborine |
town bOle tie announcements: .sShoes |
halt so d seventy five cents" 4 passing |