Politics & government > Speech of Lord Belhaven, in the Scotch parliament, at the making of the union

8 Lord Belhavm's Speech.
huzzas, there was a Monitor appointed to ftand
hind him, to warn him, “ Not to be high-minda
“ nor puffed up with overweening thoughts of him|r
“ felfand to his chariot were tied a whip and
bell, to remind him, “ That for all his glory au<
“ grandeur, he was accountable to the people foi
his adminiflration, and would be punished as o!
“ ther men, if found guihy.”
The greateft honour amongfl us. My Lori, is t<
reprefent the Sovereign’s facred perfon in parliament
and in one particular, it appears to be greater that
that of a triumph, becaufe the whole legiflativepow'
er feems to be wholly intrufted with him. Ifheli
gives the royal affent to an aft of the Eftates, hi
becomes a law obligatory upon the fubjeft, though :
contrary, or without any inllruftions from the S<
vereign : If he refufe the royal affent to a vote i
parliament, it cannot be a law, though he has thi
Sovereign’s particular and pofitive inflruftions fc
His Grace the duke of Qiieenfherry, who now re-i'
prefents her Majefty in this feffion of Parliament, r
bath had the honour of that great truft, as often.!
if not more, than any Scotfman ever had ; he hath r
been the favourite of two fucceffive Sovereigns; and
I cannot but commend his conftancy and perfeve-
ranee, that, notwithftanding his former difficulties,
and unfuccefsful attempts, and fome other fpecial-
ties not yet determined, that his Grace has yet had i
the refolution to undertake the moft unpopular mea-i
Cures laft. If his Grace fucceed' in this affair of am
Union, and that it prove for the happinefs and wel-l;
fare of the nation, then he juftly merits to have a1
ftatue of gold erefted for himfelf ; but, if it fhalllt
tend to the entire deftruftion and abolition of out:
nation, and that we the nation’s truftees ffiall go inn
to it, then I muft fay, That a whip and a bell, a