BLOCKING BILLS.
go THE EDITOR or THE "SPECTATOR.] the remarks of the Spectator . to-day on "Blocking Bills in Parliament," the following statement is made:—" proposal that a Legislature must, like a jury, give an unanim- ous verdict, has never, we believe, been formulated in any con- stitution However desirable it may be that minorities should make their voices beard, it has never yet been suggested that they should have a veto on legislation, still less that a minority of one should enjoy this exceptional privilege." Historically, this statement is not correct, but the chief instance which his- tory supplies of such a veto 113 you describe will serve rather to strengthen your general argument. The constitution of Poland formulated precisely this principle, that the opposition of a single member of the Legislature should bar the enactment of any law ; and more than this, that the veto of any single member upon the proceedings should be sufficient to dissolve the Diet on all occasions, except when it had been summoned for the elec- tion of a King. Moreover, this liberum veto was regarded as the keystone of the Polish Constitution, and the supreme guarantee of the freedom and independence of the nobility. Readers of Carlyle's "History of Frederick the Great" will remember the grimly humorous manner in which he deals with these free and independent legislators and their vs:nett/am. The result of this surrender of all pow -sr of united action is not unknown.—I am, Sir, d:c.,
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