The Statesman. — London, England, 1821-01-16 00:00:00

; , - 40 MEETING OP THE COUNTY OF LAI.NARK. (FrPITHER PARTICULARS ?ROM TIM tDINBVILGH STAR►) General HAMILTON, of Dalziel. as convener of the county, constituted the meeting, and took the chair. As soon as the preliminary matters were finished, Lord Doconas came forward. and prop9bed that • Loyd Belbumm - derinitr thesis!*. - Thtirstetten IRV seconded by the Convener, and carried unanimously. Letters were produced from several individuals ap proving of the abject of the meeting, and apoligititig, for their absence. One from Mr. Hamilton, yonnger, of DaWel, excused his attendance on account of had health, and contained an address which he thought to. be suitable for the present occasion. Lord BeLHATEN stated, that nhless this address was* "tiered and seconded, it could not be brought nnder the •considetation of the meeting by A were let ter, sea that therefore no attemion could he paid to it at present. 'rite requisition having been read by the clerk, • Mr. flamts-ros, Sheriff-depute of the county, nice stated, that this meeting had been called, by the convener and himself, for the purposes mentioned in the requisition, and he hoped now that somebody would propteic the address. Sir CHARLI:S LOCKHART said, that lie was unse rostareed to address the public, and did wit therehee titini . ; that any thing lie could say (mild have the siert of furwardi4 the object of the meeting. Ile wonl4 therefore be leave to read the addre,s, st i.e proposed should he adopted by the meeting; and toe address was accordingly lead. Mr. Moe-merle of Carstair• .---It has fallen to my lot to second the address which has just been mowed ht thy. Honourable Baronet, and I trust that it will he so,auitilously adopted. I second this address the wore r:•;: , :ily, as it appear:, to me to embrace all t!o• sub j..t.ts mentioned in the requisition, while it keeps ‘..;:ir of those dubious points upon which their pre s . ' s a difference of opinion. Unanimity of opinion is 4.f iuspot'alico when we arc met to address, hi- M 4jesty; and if any cirrionstatires were to occur which %%mild prevetit address from going on uteinitnoo dy, I should tr.erve to myself the right of speaking again. • 'Mr. Hot% VI.RI; said, that after what bad fallen fr.eu the honurahle gentleman who hail preceded him, and the desire lie had expressed fur the perste ya:iati 01 unanimity, he regretted that any nereSsity for oppwing the address which had been behitaitted to their consideration. and he the more pe niiarly laineeted that the honorable member should be pot to the inconroliew e of redeeming his proffered pl.lge, and answerinz the arguments which he and others mieltt feel theiiisek es obli !zed to introduce upon the pi eo.nt orea..ion. 'f hat unanimity was mast desi►atilt io all, lie awl every gentleman around him vonld most willingly allow; wohing could prove si.ore grateftil to their feelings than to approach the Throne with profesidons of loyalty and attachment to the person of the Monarch, and of a firm Conviction of the necessity of the maintenance of those principl e s by which the stability of die constitution is guaran teed and secured. But, at the same time, without any disposition to disturb thaeharinony lie rushed to see prevail, he could not imagine that any insinus time; of disloyalty could he made towards those who felt themselves conscientiously obliged to oppose the pritiviplea on which the present address WWI founded, and to mingle with their effusions of loyalty that ex pression of meanly awl independent sentiment whit Is i: ought to be the duty, as he hoped it would he the of such au, assembly as the present to express. Loyal addresses had unquestionably been 4 atried to the Throne from almost every other sootily of Scotland, and it might thus he thought incumbent on them to adopt addresses of a similar character to those generally passed elsewhete ; bet if reasons should lie offered for some variation in the tour and sentiment of the address issuing from the county of Lanark, lie dial not think that the vintititenatire and the manly expression of these rea son.; would justify an impeachment of their loyalty, Lot would rather prove that they were guided by the mu:Trite; dictates of principle, and au honest anxiety ts convey to his Majesty the true expression of popu lar opinion, and the disinterested recommendation of that policy which the existing crisis imperiously re qnited. Ile had come there with an inclination to yin in the compliment paid to other counties, and to bays c eicurred with them in the propriety of address the Crown; but he could not support the pried ides embodied in the address, or loth:Tribe to the ob servation of the honorable seconder, that these could nit be inspeachel or contradicted. To him the ad dress was of so vague and indefinite a description— so scrupulously evasive on those subjects on account of which it was alone proposed, that he felt himself ohliged to move an amendment : because in his mind the county of Lanark should send to the Throne opi nions not only of a more explicit character, but of a totally different description to that which the address contained.—(lrear, hear.)—To expressions of loyalty and attachment to the person of the Sing. and to the principle* of the constitution, he was tar from en tertaining objections, but this could prove no reason for asserting that discontent prevailed, or attempts to excite it, without specifying the cireninstances which produced it, or the peculiarities by which it was dis tinguished. Very different were the circumstances in which an address of a similar character originated last vear. Then lie had the misfortune in another county to differ fron many respected friends on the necessity of addressing and strengthening the Throue. But that eeriod of danger has now passed away; and the county, by the admission of the hon. seconder himself, enjoys the blessings of uninterrupted repose. Peace and contentment reign among the lower classes; and during a season of imexampled suffering and priva tior, they failed not to display the utmost fortitude and good conduct, which excited the praise not only of those who witnessed their distresses, but claimed the remoter admiration of the sister kingdom.—(Hear, bear.)-1n circumstances like this, an address of a very different character to that proposed should be adopted. He should like to see it breathe a spirit of inde pendent thought, as well as of loyal expression ; of attachment to the constitution of the country, as well as of a personal affection to the King ; and be did not think this was such au address as ought to go to thi Throne, or such a one as the independent county of Lanark would' wish to send tO*London.—(Hear, heat 4 .4L-...• ~..., gy Lanark wol THE STAT ~~ '. .r "i- ' -' ~ ^l _1 W~3 We sisontlin,„o,4 sot iMirtion liyai iffss n tzhibit ashility-ande en u-I tnsii ablb ipittastbfel--(4le And, therefore, he would wish some sentiments intro . . . neettegnaßtlraftfting to the feefiligs of the • Sove: reign to whom the% were offetedoind creifitableto the Principles of the people from whom they proceeded.i tiehtlemeti Must be aware that meetings are now as statblelkAtit witislhe sale porptiset a nifiring to the 1 Throbs Anon asetwancer of their loyalty : but dear! the object of the prt scut Addresses was more to up- bold the King's Ministers than to express attachment' ' and fidelity to himself; and the Sovereign, be was persuaded, must have seen that the Addresses that have gone , from Scotland, are more expressive of 1 loyalty to his Administration, than of loyalty towards himself.—(Neer, hear.)—in the amendment he was ' about to offer, there would be no reference to the pre sent Ministers of the Crowe; because be would own- sider such an allusion not only as a breach of good taste, but as inexpedient in itself, and highly disre spectful t 6 the Throne. But in au address coming i from a county unique in Scotland, iuseading a member 1 to Parliament who has de%erved so much from his : Coantryifrotu the independence of his conduct, and , who, in this and other respects, has doue more and deserved more than all the ether Members put toae ther.—(flear, hear.)—Some iefecenci 'should be ma de '. to the circumstances and condition of the people. i 1 2 ..-.. re exertion should he snide by the political pope- , Wiwi to exalt the political character, for it is most I lamentable to contemplate the present condition of; Scottish representation iu the House of Commons;' and equally deplorable to review the Representative Pecr.ige of Scotland, among whom, be was not eer- : tain, that there was one inure pre-einineut than the 1 Noble Lord, or one more deserving of the approbation , of his country.—(Applause and disapprobation.)-- He by no means, however, wished to extend to the ' others any accusation, as there were many among that bode well entitled to the respect and esteem of their! cour.trymen. Nor did he wish to extend his obser- ' vation to the Noble Lord to whom he bail alhitled,! because delicacy in his presence would prevent him :sibling more than his hope, that the Lord Belhaven ' of the present times would prove as gi‘-it an ornament to his conntry as the Lord Belhaven of the l'nion.— ' ((:heers•)—As be wished to lie brief, he would pro.' teed to read the amendment; and he hoped if it mini nut meet with the unanimous approbation of the Meeting, it would yet experience the support and approbation of some 'kentlemen around him. Mr. Frye then moved the amendment stated in our paper of yesterday. After reading the amendment, the Finn. ticittlenian s:,itell that it hail suggested many topics' to his mind which he would not enter upon at present, but leave to the consideration of others. Mr. MtiSSMAN, of Aucistrrfordle, mended the amendment. Mr. low K IIAPT, of l'aushirmethan, hez7ed have to a-k, whether all the rest of the osigioal address after the first clause was to be emitted, and whether the amendment nas to be inserted after the lirst clause, nithout preses %log any other part of the original ad ds...—! Lord Brom Ar e N informed the Honourable Centle man, °sat the aneenoltneot moved by Al r. {for Vert esclooled every other part of the tori 2 in.ol address. ex cepting. only the first paragraph ; Ihat it followed the first paragraph, and along with it made the amended address. Mr. Ctaatts.r.s STanust;:of Kenuauir, thought that Mr. Hope Pere hail totally misunderstood the oriiiinal address. lie hail assumed that the original address alleged the Country to be in a discoutet.tell state when no such assertion WAS to be found in it. Ihe amend ment proceeded upon that assumption, but the address itself was totally free from it. It merely inentioued attempts to mislead and attempts of the Press to ..s-mor.lise, but did met accuse the Country of 'icing disaffected. The ameniment goes. notch farther than the address, and asserts that these attempts leave infused into the mind:: of the people a spirit of dis content.—(llear, bear, and noise.) Mr. IV. Itismas stated, that if any thing had been wanting to provi- that the address contained what his honourable friend hail imputed to it, the last speech had settled that point, awl hal made it perfectly plain that the address impeached the loyalty of the people and the utility of the press. Ile Was sere that they all felt loyalty and attachment to the King and Constitution es.rry rut of their lives, and he hail no objection tie express that loyalty and attaelonsent every day. But in a free country, suds as this, we ought to do something wore than merely to express loyalty and attailimetat : mod when mention is made I of the spirit of discontent and attempts to alai:lead, we ought to examine ital.., the nature of that spirit and of the measures which have produced it. As this was not done in the address, be was sure that there had been 4' a blast front ti Treasury."—(Confusion and cheers.)—lt was prepared merely to meet a certain purpose. No person can deny (of all the honourable men to whom he was opposed) that it has been gut up merely to support " a tottering Administration." ---(Hear, hear, and much clamour.) --11 this be not the case, the present meeting ha.s no weaning at all, and is unnecessary altogether, as no person will feel inclined to believe that the constitution is in such imminent danger from mere " attempts," as to render it necessary to address the Sovereign so repeatedly and so urgently. The supporters of the address must show that there is some special rearin at pre sent for expressing our attachment. This reason was said to be et:..ospes to Wise into the minds of the people sedition, disloyalty, and immorality. How are we to address his Majesty for mere snooty/ / If Ibis be a good reason, there never can be either end of or interruption to addressing. But it is plain, that these attempts are presumed to have been sue cessful, and that they have been listened to at this time by the people. This is the basis upon which the address is founded, if it be founded on say thing. And what is this bat :wising the people in an ambiguous, round about, and timid manner, of disloyalty, and of being disaffected. This is exactly the statement-of his honorable friend, and he must agree with him in Meiling that this mesa, is entree. The Provost of Ulasgow knows that IM large town and the country avowed 11141 at .presellt quiet, although some thee ago Oman was 'fiat -in it.- The events of Uonnyntair, however, had al• .Y INNIMIIIMM• an him to he is an ! Neon. And r to not bare acted and modeLation, if be .imml.noLkaowa 4hat the gnat gay of the people were sound. The disaffection of dub prisebtftinse was •oed Milferent kind, and arose userelr• irons Abe ate- of -the peens* adniftuls• tration—(bear, beer)—and thtt disaffection ropy be easily 'misfired by a change of measures or of men. --(Meat noise and complete uproar.) Lord Bet t usvax begged that the meeting wet m e listen to the Madman whom they themselves chosen, and that if thet did not, nothing would in duce hiss an keep bit present situation. He begged therefore, that the nseeting would be islet, in order that all might beer what that gentleman was saying. Mr. INGLIS proceeded to observe, that the original address held out that the people were well pleased with the resent Administration, which he did not see how any person could niaintain for a moment. He gave th• Ministry full credit for restoring peace to Europe, but could not say that the Ministry fought the battle of Waterloo in Downing-street. He would rather Nay, that it was won by the extraordinary and unexampled bravery of our troops. When, how- Over, he considered • the acts of the Administration since that time. he could do nothing but heap 'Hog coals of fire upon their heads. How did they behave when employed in framing the treaties of peace? After ...mom interruption Mr. INGLIS resumed, and stated that he must abstain from saying more, and leave unfinished what lie intended to state. He ap prove,' of the amendment, and would support it. e thought that it would be indecent and indecorous to send up an address to the Father of his people, without something like the information of the real wants of the country, as contained in the amendment. Otherwise the address would not contain the truth ; and he was sure that leis Majesty would dislike any address which contained ass inaccurate or deficient account of the country, or which was intended merely to flatter his ministers. Ile hail snore than the mere common reverence of a subject for his Ma jesty. He believed him to he a most patriotic King, and that he would take delight in having the true state of the country presented to him. Mr. Iltrasov, sets. Advocate, of Killittelo, said, that toitnober of observations had been made upon the war, but he mast recall to gentlemen's recollection, that too expression or allusion to subjects of this de scription is contained either in tl.e requisition or ad dress. The amendment embraces subjects with which this meeting had nothing to do. County meetings are not called to talk of economy, or to restrain the Minister ice the exprinliture of the pulolic money.— That is the duty of Pa: liament. Ile could not o:.sit that opportunity of expressing his astmoishtuent at the insinuations, and, he might add, the most sedi tious language, that load beets applied to the repres sentation of this country in Parliament. Are they to he told that Scotland only sends one independent Meadser to Parliament, when every gentleman must be awaie of the impropriety of such a charge ?—He highly respected the character and public spirit of their excellent representative, but there were some parts of his political conduct he felt himself obliged to disapprove. Hut in adding his regard for the cha racter of that Noble Lord, be never would allow the il S set cation of the M IL Gentleman, that Scotland only sent one independent Member to Parliament, to pass without immelli.bie contradiction. He could not btu Maine also the terms in which he load spoken of the HIIIISI! of Lords, in language calculated to excite a eneral discontent. All must know that many Noble Lord. from Scotland flu must faithfully aul conscien tiously discharge their public duties. Ile begged Geo denten to remember the object of their meeting, to ad here to the reason fur whirls an address was proposed, and runelnoled by repeating, and shortly co aaaaaa tenting on, some pas-agr% of the address, u hick Mr. 'ere wished totally to mimic,. Air. IL V EKE %polye atfain in explanation. Mr. Alilmsvan, of Staffa, said, that he hail not in tended to speak, hot that he felt it imposssible to al low some übservati which fowl fallen Prow a Learned Gentleman 'won the battle of lionnyuluir, to pass nu motive& That Learned Gentle:nail hail considered the designs of those days as the result of delu , ion or !weary, hut he well knew from his own particular observati , that they were the coweiplences of a deep laid a• tful plot, -a overturn the constitution. A faction had been formed t r separate the two controlling patties of Whig and Tory, and to ruin ever►• thing ; to eatiuguish the confidence of the people in the higher classes—to rouse them to resistance, and to involve the country in the horrors and devastation of civil hostility. It was only, however, to the leaders of this couspiracy, and to those infatuated men who yielded to these infamous proposi tions, and not to the general It oly of the community, to whom he applied the previous remarks. The ex emplary forbearance they had displayed in the season of suffering, well entitled them to the approbation of all classes. To them he could apply nothing but ex pressions of well merited praise. No man, however, hail a better opportunity than himself of knowing and of estimating the extent of danger to have been appre hended from the retell attempts to overthrow the.con stitntion ; and being so eircumstanced, lie felt himself constraiued to deny the accuracy of the character the Learned Gentleman had given to theta. Should the Constitution be again assailed, he was well aware that only one feeling would pervade all present.— " And." said the Learned Gentleman, " the Aristo cracy would be the first to storm the breach in defence of that constitution, and to avert the storms with which it ever may be threatened."—(lmmense hp planse.)_ _ _ _ Mr. IxeLts, in explanation, amid loud cries of " Spoke," "Question," " Chair, chair!" admitted treason existed, but that from the moderation and hu manity of the Crown prosecutors,. he could nut but think those efforts the remit of delusion or binary. KlaltMAN Fon tv, Esq. said, that it was quite con trary to his wish to have spoken at the present meet ing, but the extraordinary observations made by the Hon. Mover of the amendment could not be listened to by him without feeling indignant. It was well known that the Scotch Members of both nooses were remarkable for their intelligence, public epirit, and disisterassed patriotism, The amendment reeotauiend mitlawar♦y, hat he did not think that the conduct of the remit atimiaistration warranted any waat of co . Ara... " 1 ! 0 ”'!" on this subject. He conteeded that they were economical Administration, and bad always the greatest desire to retrench, and for dim& aim l es s expenditure. He coacluded by stating Lisa?. probation of the address. Mr. IitAXSTOVN ruse, and in a speech, of which we einneetprENlMlllrtellfernelre that - a - I*y lhirema and imperfect idea, said, that he wpa Oretesifrosa conlimmlorward ea tlaie occasion, as Liu. vary_ogiat connexion With the county had not yet, .all•gred him to become acqtsainted with the kind of discussion, or with the business of sash .meetinge. After hearing, however, the statements which bad to* lees mage, be could not run the risk of having his Aimee ads. conatreed, or his opinions misunderstood. It was set with the 'address, considered in itself, that he din. agreed. There was no expression from the blianiag to the end of it, to which he objected when separat e ], viewed, or with which he could not declare that be aereed from the bottom of his heart. It was not with what was expressed in that address that he was died . tisfted, but with what was implied, not with what was said, but with what was signified.- There was smog in that address than met the ear.• In the sentiments of loyalty to the person of his Majesty, and of attach. meat to his government, he and all who heard him, he trusted, were tumultuous. It was the wish widths duty of every good subject to strengthen the bases of his Majesty in the exercise of his just and legal p re . togatives. Every good subject west regard dose ie a vital part of the constitution, as the surest defil e s of our rights, ant the safeguard of our liberties. Bat in spite of all this, it was impossible fur him tomcat in the address which had been proposed. Fur though unexceptionable in regard ti the sentiments which it contains, its tendency is liable to he mistaken on ac count of what it wants. He would refer it to any pee son who now heard him ; and he was sure that there • was no geutkman in the room who would disallow that there was implied an intention beyond what the terms of the address, taken by themselves, expremed. He would say more. It was well known that there were thsesands of persons--persons upright, honor able, and independent, who placed the newt implicit confidence in the present Administration, who believed that the measures of Mr. Pitt and his disciples were dictated by the most consummate wisdom, and Ida thought that because the government was still pre served, that this was alone effected by the prudence and good management of Ministers.—(llear, hear.) — It was likewise well known that there were other per suns equally loyal, equally upright, and equally he tunable, who held opinions diametrically opposite; who, though they saw the King still upon the throne, and the country saved from all the perils of a long war, yet think that those advantages might have been attained by other measures—measures which would nut have impoverished the agriculturist, raised the trader, and brought the country to the very verge of bankruptcy—(Hear, hear !)---.llis friend, Mr. Malay, thought, that economy tvas a distinguishing virtue , of Ministers. On this point there was certainly great diversity of opinion, and many even thought that they were remarkable for a very opposite propensity. All were aware, that at the present jancture there were thousands and tens of thousands—that there were myriads and tens of myriads of their fellow-constry men, who, in all quarters of the kingdom, were Ise4 in their expressions of a very opposite conviction; addressing themselves to the Throne in a legal sad constitutional manner, were praying fur a change of measures, and in many cases fur a change of men. Ile wished to avoid political discussion ; he woald not interpose Isis judgment in regard to these two opposite amid contending opinions. The truth on this subject was not the point which he would now bring to issue. It was sufficient that the fart of this opposition of par ties was notorious. In these eircinnstances, and at stole a juncture, they were called on to vote a loyal address. In such a crisis, it was impossible not to see that the object intended was, by implication, to throw discredit on these who thought .tiff-rently in politics from the ers of the address, and to use it as a counter-weight in favour of Ministers against the over powering dee laratillilb of public *pi ninn.2-(llear, bear!) No one, indeed, could look abroad at what was doing it; other meetings of this nature, and not be aware of the scope and intent . sof mooch an address as the pre sent. Looking at what was done in other counties of Seetland, he certainly monist regard time present ad dress with disfavour. He put it to gentlemen, whether the purposes to which he had alluded aas nut that for which this address was intended ? Whether it meld not be so eonstrited by all persons out of doors; whe ther this intention would not be openly professed by the supporters of the address themselves *oate, as the meeting was at a close. If, then, it he not proper that so many of our fellow-subjects slmouhl be calumniated. and if an address like the present (vague and indis tinct although it be, yet on that very account the bet ter qualified to accomplish its true, but acknowledged ends) becomes the instrument by which this &am, is to be proclaimed, it was impossible fur him to give it his support. On the other hand, no similar obje• • thins could in his opinion be laid agahrn the astemme meat, and, if adopted, it would obviate all danger t ,f such inferences being deduced. Equally with the an dress, it expressed loyalty to the King, and attachment t.m the constitution ; and it recommended measures cf economy and conciliation ; measures which, if adopter',there was no one, he conceived, het would wham ledge then. to be for the advantage and security of tl.e country. Before concluding, the learned gentleman made some pointed remarks on the inveterate in of that party spirit which . would arrogate to i - self exclusive, or at least pre-emiteit loyalty, aid would brand their antagonists with the opposite viols A firm and independent opp. :Mien to the Ministeiss he they who they might, he considered as the very life-spring of the constitution; and he deprecated ths present measures of adusioistration and their adheres* as tending to create a statrast in the legitimate or position, and to villify and degrade them in the ebi tendon of the people. Mr. Locanaur, of Causbnenothgva.metid, that he was most desiruns for unanimity; aid objected to tio amendment, because it attacked tiovernment by ind nestle*, and If *dopiest would entirely fritter away the address. Mr. Memoir addressed the meeting in so low a :one, that he was quite inaudible where trio sat: in oily understood that be supported the address. ~w R .., • • .• v • .I~ I a • \!: . _ ~-.. atilt ae :of DOI the -moat we lo te . -owe ~:;: