He
then established the privileges and immunities granted to the
Tunkawns,--that is, to the nobility and gentry of the country,--and
afterwards published most severe ordinances against governors who failed
in doing their duty, but principally against those who commanded in far
distant provinces. This prince was in this case, what I hope your
Lordships will be, a very severe judge of the governors of countries
remote from the seat of the government.
My Lords, we have in this book sufficient proof that a Tartarian
sovereign could not obtain the recognition of ancient laws, or establish
new ones, without the consent of his parliament; that he could not
ascend the throne without being duly elected; and that, when so elected,
he was bound to preserve the great in all their immunities, and the
people in all their rights, liberties, privileges, and properties. We
find these great princes restrained by laws, and even making wise and
salutary regulations for the countries which they conquered. We find
Genghis Khan establishing one of his sons in a particular
office,--namely, conservator of those laws; and he has ordered that they
should not only be observed in his time, but by all posterity; and
accordingly they are venerated at this time in Asia.
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