The matters contained in it, and the observations upon them, are
submitted to the wisdom of the House, that you may act upon both in the
time and manner that to your judgment may seem most expedient,--or that
you may not act upon them at all, if you should think that most
expedient for the public good. Your Committee has obeyed your orders; it
has done its duty in making that Report.
I am of opinion, with the eminent person by whom that Report is
censured, that it is necessary at this time very particularly that the
authority of Judges should be preserved and supported. This, however,
does not depend so much upon us as upon themselves. It is necessary to
preserve the dignity and respect of all the constitutional authorities.
This, too, depends in part upon ourselves. It is necessary to preserve
the respect due to the House of Lords: it is full as necessary to
preserve the respect due to the House of Commons, upon which (whatever
may be thought of us by some persons) the weight and force of all other
authorities within this kingdom essentially depend. If the power of the
House of Commons be degraded or enervated, no other can stand. We must
be true to ourselves. We ought to animadvert upon any of our members who
abuse the trust we place in them; we must support those who, without
regard to consequences, perform their duty.
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