Evening star., 1931-12-13
ORIGIN Of CONGRESS.
MESSAGE ANCIENT.
Custom Here Arose From
Tradition of British Speech
From Throne.
BY CRESTON b. MULLINS.

seventy y-SecOnQ congress OF Lne SCaGe
of the Union" by sending his annual
message he followed custom that has
history more brilliant and living than
many of the other features of state
practice, for into it have been infused
the personalities of British monarchs
who developed it.
From President Hoover in 1881 to
Henry III of England in 1912 is step
of nearly seven centuries, but 1t was
in Henry's urgent need for funds to
prosecute his war with France that the
precedent for direct communication be-
tween monarch and assembly was set
Earlier precedentS existed, however, IN
the relationships between the Saxon
kings and their councils. Henry's de-
mands were pressed before that first
Parliament by Earl Richard, Arch
bishop Walter Grey and the provost OF
Beverly. Two years later Henry him
self appeared in Parliament.
Model Parliament Called.
The thirteenth century changes IN
British constitutional development cul-
minated in the model Parliament Of
1926 called by Edward I. This was the
first Parliament to be composed OF the
Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the
Commons. Up to 1897 the address OF
the King was merely a royal speech,
but in that year Edward 1 delivered the
first speech from the throne FOR
his plea for new confidence OF the
people he ordered to be erected
wooden stage, from which was delivered
the most remarkable speech from the
throne" in history.
AS Parliament developed the speech
came to be delivered more and more
by the lord chancellor, but Henry V
departed from this practice by
declaring his own wishes in Parlia-
ment, utilizing his personal influence TO
obtain supplies. His death marked the
return to the former practice.
Queen Elizabeth infused new per-
sonal element into the ceremony by In
augurating the royal procession to the
House of Lords to open Parliament
The pageantry of the speech dates from
her reign.
Both she and James I loved to lee
ture Parliament in their speeches, and
did SO for hours His Majesty even de-
Scended to crack an occasional joke.
In the commonwealth the royal speech,
as such, disappeared, although Crom-
we'll followed the practice often. Charles
II submitted brief written communica-
tionS
Ministerial Declaration.
The Revolution Of 1888 changed
British practice in every feature, and
the effect of the revolution is exempli
fed in the change which the institu-
ton of the Speech underwent. From
a personal expression of royal wishes, it
became q ministerial declaration Of
policy and in the eighteenth century
arose the practice of cabinet conference
on the terms of the document.
George III, needing his mothers ad-
monition to BE King" removed the
preparation of the speech from the
hands OF his ministers and delegated
Ex-Chancellor Hardwicke to draw it up,
writing one paragraph himself. This
instrument was forced TO be accepted
by his ministers.
The reign of George III marked the
separation of the Thirteen Colonies
from British rule. 1t was at this point
that the tradition of the Kings speech
to Parliament at its opening was trans
planted TO the American continent and
found its first expression in the consti-
tuition of 1777 of the State of New
York. This provision distinguished
it from the constitutions of the
other II, for it accorded to the
executive powers which were every
where else denied in Legislature-con-
trolled States. This idea of strong
executive in New York was eXpounded
by Jay, Livingston and Gouverneur Nor
ris, Conservatives, who may have felt
the need of a strong executive, just as
the Tories, their British counterparts,
felt the need of a strong kingship.
Article XIX of this pre-Federal Con-
stitution reads as follows: 1T shall be
the duty of the governor to inform
the Legislature at every session Of the
condition of the State SO far as may
concern his department; to recommend
such matters to their consideration as
shall appear TO him to concern its good
government, welfare and prosperity
a." -" In this paragraph can be
discerned wording similar to the Fed
eral Constitution.
At the Federal Convention which was
called May l, 1887, various plans were
advanced for the draft of the Consti-
tuition. Randolpn's draft originally
contained nothing resembling this pro-
vision, but the annotations to this draft
by Edward Rutledge of South Caro-
lima included one providing that the
Executive shall propose to the Legisla-
ture from time to time by speech or
message such measures as concern the
Union"
The same provision appears in the
plan of Alexander Hamilton and he
treated it at greater length in the fol-
lowing words: THE President at the
beginning of each meeting of the Legis-
lature as soon as they shall be ready
to proceed to business shall convene
them together at the place where the
Senate shall sit and shall communicate
to them all such matters as may be
necessary for their information or as
may require their consideration. He
may by meassage, during the session,
communicate all other matters which
may appear to him proper"
Final Constitution Draft.
In the final draft of the Committee
on Ctula II nraranarad &c fnilnWg In