The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-09
AB. r. BIZ. lSB. PC.
AN AMERICAN, YET A PEER.
Unique Position of Fairfax-Has 4
Seat In House of Lords.

At the Emmet-Chanler wedding on
Tuesday, one of the guests was a
gentleman who occupies a unique posi-
tion in this country. Lord Fairfax is
an American citizen, and yet he pos
SeSSeS a seat in the English house of
lords; is regularly summoned to the
opening Of parliament, and receives
notices of important debates just like
any other peer. 1t is the only case in
eXistance of a citizen of one country
possessing a right to help make the
laws for another nation.
This state Of things was brought
about in a curious way. Lord Fairfax,
who receives the name from his friends
by courtesy, although as an American
citizen he has no right to hold a title
from another nation, is descended from
the original settlers Of the Fairfax
estate in Virginia, the third Baron
Fairfax, who emigrated to this country
early in the seventeenth century.
When the American Revolution broke
out, the then Lord Fairfax, the grand
father of the present peer, lived some
times in England and sometimes in
America, often using his right to sit
in the house of lords. Throughout
the struggle for independence he SYM
pathized with the revolutionists, but
forebore any active part in the re-
bellion, becoming, however, when the
United States obtained its enfranchise-
ment, an American citizen.
But an English peer can lose his
title only for an act Of treason. Lord
Fairfax had not committed any such
act, and consequently could not be de-
prived of his right to the barony
Once a peer, always peer. An
English commoner forswearing all
legiance to the Crown cannot vote or
legiSlate in Great Britain until he has
become re-naturaliZed; but it is one Of
the ancient privileges Of the peers.
dating from the time of Magma Charta
that they and their male heirs must
retain their titles and rights in per-
petuity except in the case of treason
able conspiracy or active war against
the crown.
Some centuries later this law was
modified in the case Of peers becoming
Roman Catholics, conversions to Rome,
as in the case of the Earl of Leicester
about eighty years ago, lost them their
titles. But even this law was repealed
on the passing of the Catholic enamel
patton act and at present only treason
can deprive a peer of his title. This
is how it happens that an American
citizen holds a British peerage.
The Chanler wedding was one Of the
most remarkable society events of re-
cent years. Only the oldest families
Of New York were invited. Even the
wealthiest members of the society of
today were denied invitations. The
old Aston manor house at BarrytoWn-
on-the-Hudson was the scene Of a re-
union Of the best society Of forty years
ago, such as has not been known for
many years. Only one guest of all the
two hundred invited was not descended
from the earliest and most distinguish
ed settlers Of America. This one ex-
ception was Mr.. st. Gaudens, the sculp-
tor, whose father was a Fourth avenue
tradesman. He was the only one there
to represent the aristocracy of talent.
All the rest of the guests comprised the
Stuyvesants, the Van Rensselaers and
other old families, whose claims to lead
society have been overlooked in re-
cent years in favor Of the Vanderbilts
and other members Of the aristocracy
of wealth