The Statesman. — London, England, 1821-01-06 00:00:00

7 - ---.- -.-- r • . . THE STATES • t rte#endant;he Wal wiiiin r, in the ease of Mr. iiecuss, to take bail for his appearance, at,d let the case •taud over till nest sessions. ' After a little consultation; this arrangement was 6- ' mall}• agreed to between the 11,EETING OF THE COUNTY OF AYR. Parattant to a requisition transmitted to Sir David Hunter Blair, 01 Brownhill, Hart. convener of the •tountv of Ayr, a meeting of the Freeholders, Jus tice:. if the Peace, and Commissioners of 'Supply, was convened in the Court House, at Ayr, on Saturday last, the 30th alt. • The interest which the contem plated proceedings excited in the public mind was of . such a description, that immediately on the doors being opened, every seat was occupied, and it was even with difficulty that standing room could he afforded • fo the tiliijority of the gentlemen who had attended • :in compliance with the application made to the con- • vener. • Mr. Boswrm,, of Attehinted:, li;Aring• moved, and •his. motion 'being seconded by 11r. Snodgrass. Bu a'rhattan, that Sir D. Hunter Blair take the Chair, that geot!emau, on assuMing it, returned thanks for • "the honour conferred, read the requisition, end atated s •that in-consequence of the reque3t it contained, , they were then assembled : and that before proceed niag to the consideration of the object of their meet log, he begged to intimate, that be had received an sopologytfroin Lord Glasgow; and which, on being • . read, oonimunicated his regret at not having it in ltii.postet to attend ; and fully concurring with the - flews the requisition contained. Similar letters of . .itiology were read from the Lord Justice Clerk, Mr. :81terilf•Bell, and other gentlemen. ...e• Sir James Fernt - soN, in moving the Address, ex- It-reseed hts conviction, that there never was a period ;ttlieti it was More necessary for good men of all ilegornitMtibas to declare their attachnsent to the principles of the British Constitution ; and in loyal :and becoming language to approach the throne of tltefr Sovereign, to record their gratitude for the blessings which the constitution has si,ss.e secured to. the humble and the great; to avow their un alterable 'attachment to his present. Majesty, their ileterusination to resist the inroads of daring men, . .• ants to secure to latest posterity, the unexampled • •• • • Aitleetings %faith the Government of the House of ,Brantswitit . had eonferred- Without adding one ';eord - store, hi brewed leave to read the Address (which he did : it embodied the teutiments just ut terett.). . -• Sir wm. CVNSINUIIAM, of Caprington, seconded Mie Address. . Me,..Oirtratn, of . Auchincruive, in offering himself to the attenthas of the meeting, Said that no man was more fully int; ceased than himself, with a sincere and grealttil convinction of the sights and privileges the soustitotinn coufeireiron'all his • Miljesty's subjects. Boi, libtiever reluctant, he must dissent from the psissitiem on which this meetimg had hel, con v ened. He must deprecate that exclusive attribute of loyalty ulti4s,"if not in langataTe, yet in tone and meaning th* . hs s ed thought it necessary to assume, because he c.assefebtionc . ly belieted that a great majority of the people .of this country were imitued with similar 10ya14.3 and that at least in Scoland, to which their vielff AreJnore especially confined, no such feelings or riiiilpies are manifested as those which the ad droa...asitronly • condemns: l'he ' address too, how ever caution ly expressed, was, in its spirit and canients, intended. to accomplish more .than. what its'fiiifeise'a aiSects contemplated. It WaS.net only nberat % to.. eymitathise with the Sovereign in the present condition of the empire ; it, was not only Turing ''to' pragi those around hies to - resist by 1 e /en .111. 4 1.0 the progress of discontent.-to stay . the hand of the unwary.—.to expose the scheme 'of the elesigning,'and to visit, with merited punishment•tho s ',olatprs of the lew • hitt it was plainly nmaut to in pli appnhatiun of his Majesty's Ministers, and, b i t the ecloptitm" of the ettpedient to which gentlemen have now resorted, fer euirvinee The country that we do nut only venceate the throne, admire the constits ti.m, detest the schemes . of agitators, aid pity.tho tom:. ittsirrns orthrpeOple, but highly adutire tim• eoednct of the Ministers of 'the Crown, on which itman mill knewn s there mast exist . the widest difference 'elf opi- . ition, l A certain portion of the press *ill uudoistbfedry give 'this eonstrartion to the address moved by the hmottr.thle Bototst•t ; and this we know to he true, as similar aildiesaes • 47 . received, a like interpretetion, whlfls being wholly ykonsisient with the professed ob)rstof the address itself. On this ground, as well a, the sat hers,•it• intAt ex perieuce Isis opposition. ,Mr. et",t N IS awais, of Euterkine, *odd honestly de- ' elite: that be*lttended the meeting of this day : with nd I,sther object Haan time which the address by , .. . . , . . . the- Is i* liisorable Batbnet scimmuniciteda Nientlemen itatkstn, odtek iiew on . thefrieent , octothiost, than , to cagy to the fout'of the Throne their • sentiments' of ttandiniteinheAl attacbtailit.nrthoi: Houle of Brunswick. of !toilet s . in the reotir 1,100.61 . „laid, tlite., cons4inion glider. tha4 T+ll . ,C t eommunicatee. aid: d; mat •• with honastl4sgatito their disapproval of the iiiieseitting exertions-6f deipirate 'and imprinc tledoenesaverturn the:W.4s Which It . coefera, ithit the hentlitrh secaref ; fri: also": " ilitet i there Mil TO; wain; K 'lei podia 44iocitiy. 'ready to vindicate and ennuis' 'these insifitlfil:•riikfc. *lid J uvke4 .prise,, loges A: Att4 to convince- 114 delnded.,of tke, I strayed, genre . ..of their sOorizes l s• tiThesa,'',he said, "are the jiiiiities fur which weratelteoe;stisembled ;*. al* art .tbsrprinciples for whlifhl shalloter.. the Agrees my wappket ; lid by thenialatermitifie l of these. (101851- . pies; It it bli• firm co n vie; itig 5it11,4114 ;thy .klekalior , of eirintril society, /lila ..e . f 114041, liter,. be tranienield . to 0614:ti . ity, I comelier! whit ma isteatilie Anitip• port the Ministry of the day ; and to allay theAlatikir which my llonorahle Friend indnjges - , Maltlinittoint, - 1 will say, that had the addreisisebnli re':e 7,Pki1144941 • an iiiteriiretation,2 or hadjiteh ? ... 648 . t.„. rained in it, ! should liter # heA t.t piattp;il4l“l iiptes effereetit_,ety i4port, liail i ji nieta t iteml.paier sentiniethi. -either eprevieter eimmulitir.ll7 Of their oppotege n ts, it iboeM& ipues ei • ;•idit-vile - • thi soil* • i tioiWt ) lest *tem . *_ . - efrai.4o ..14:* vow ,' iroft Ail. 11.41.,iift. 16,40-, thinks .. r - atos___,. wit =gater,k si.,. .144 iQuill Ant this is the case, were I on the eraffold, or on my death-heil, i should with equal boldness ex press), it is time for all to rally found the stand-, aed of the laws, the depository of oar rights, and $ shelter it amid the ravages of that storm with thich it has to contend. We have no grievances . isompaveri to the individual tyranny to which the peo- Oe of a neighbouring country have been subjected.; 'No Wires de eaeltit (and here Mr. Canningliaine told in anecdote representing the hardship of their opera- , lion) tonseize the person of a British citizen, and im ' mitre him for years, or the period of his life, in the re mises of the dungeon. Here life and property are alike secured to all, the blessings of liberty alike com- • municated to all, the conduct of its guardians also subject to the observation i.f all." 'I he constitution of the latter hodv, to which lie then alluded, bad been the subject of much speculation. Reform had been desired by some, but its maintenance as it existed had been opposed by many. Mr. Pitt, at one period of his life, had been the advocate of reform, because the elements of the democratic part of the constitution ' required to be purified from Royal and aristocratic in fluenre ; but in his latter days, when lie perceived more danger to be apprehended from popular lemma tion, than from undue influence from other quartets, I the same reasons which made him the ads-nettle of fel form before, justified opposition then. He (3fr. Cita ninghaine) was a fiend to reform, but what would be the advantages which attended its success, compared to the great benefits which a successful resistance to contemplated revolution would confer on sou iety? A more popular law might pass; a tax or two might be taken off; hut the dangers they were called on to avert, and the extruragancies they were bound to frus trate; were of infiui:ely greater importance in the scale of national interest ; and that all should be united now for the honest purpose, however they might vary on minor points of political expedience, was what he ardently wished, auil hoped to see realised. Mr. CALCHArT. of Illairstone, said that be would not endeavour to follow the last Learned Speaker into ' the history of !ewes de cachet, the propriety of . re form, or general questions of politica; expediency, hut lie would take the liberty of stating tn.,: objectioes to 1 the present address, which he thought arose imme diately from a consideration of the address itself. He most cordially concurred in the expressions ofloyalty, 1 and In the determination avowed to defend our tonsil- 1 tution aguinat both forri"n and domestic enemies. But 1 it occurred to him that there was a passage in the std dress which stated that the press had now become! " the source of uropialified evil-"—(i'ries of "he, no," 1 from several gentlemen.)---Mr. C. continued, that he; had taken down the words, aged found them to be as he had spoken therm.—(Cries of" No, no.")---Mr. C. : then begged that that part of the address might be I read, which seas accordingly done, and is as follows : " The press, too, which in the hands of good men we had ever valued as the liberal channel of instruction and delight, has been covered by the rancorous ene mies of human happiness into en engine of liassaliffed Brit." Mr. C. still asserted that the meaning of that 1 clause, as worded, appeared to him to be an attack ! upon the press.-.4N0, nn,)--(Mr. C. then eat down for a moment, and the clause was lead again.}—Mr. C. continued, that he thought the clause leas still an! attack upou the press.—f Cries from the Chairman and others " Only against the worst part of It.") The 1 noise at this time was such that we could not complete- 1 - lv bear what the gentleman stated. We undrstood, flowerer, that he referred to the libel law, as capable of punishing slifficiently the excesses of the press, and that to check the abuses of which, the address com plained it would be necessary to make the laws appli cable to the whole press, and restrictive of the rights of publication.)—Mr. Cathcart stated, that those who were most aware of the benefits and blessings of the press would be most apt to forgive its vices, and pro ceeded in his argument against that part of the address which accused the people of disloyalty and irreligion, and contended that no accusation could he more groundless or unfounded. The Hon. Gentleman olio spoke last had described, in the must glswing and beautiful terms, the character of our constitati in. In every word of this description he, from the bottom of his heart, concurred. Were we then to suppose that our countrymen were insensible to the merits of that comtiktiion, or bad grown lukewarm in its support ? Were its blessings now so diminished that they could pot feel theist—and were our countrymen so dull that they could not discover them ? What were the people to gain by attacking the constitution of the country They were first to bring misery and ruin upon them selves; and the final object they were to obtain was left in an uncertainty and doubt. He did not believe that there were lOU men in Scotland who would sign an address, or itate as their opinions in an intelligible form, that they were dissatisfied with the constitution. I do not believe," said lie. " that lOU men are to be found in the empire who wish a King without a Lords or Cummins, as in .Old Spain ; or Lords without a King or Commons, &sin Old Venice; or Commons without either King or-Lords, as in America." There 'bed' been, it is ti ...- aiming a body of peopti, iertain opinions of reform, but the worst and only dasprotss part of these had alresdr vanished before *the united 'sense and reason, of those very people who had once been inclined to listen to them. Were there then any .grounds far accusing Ile people of disloyalty and dis affection ' On the contrary, supposing the existence of no evidence at aU, -either on one side or the ether, there were the strongest presumptions derived from the MAW religion, and moral excellency of our Mite trymen, and from that constitution which tiii last speaker had so well described—that to it all raiiiis'and orders were, sincerely and - powerfully attached. NOW, where was the evidence to coaattraet these ptinump lions.? - There was- attitridenee at all. And was this res feetehlonieeting required In lasinnato spinet the loyal ty of the poopio x ie as address to the father of hisieineetie, without Any evidence, and ageism* all the presiemptidsa to theyailtrasy ? He Wasted that if any gentleastit ow iessed evidence. either against the MOM, MOW, dtt loyal teasing,/ of.elsp people, it night be brinight Ihr award. is support of the statements and inaimeatiOni cootalatett so the Aeblesae.: and that - they trbilld poi*. wt t:p . theitepotiogaboott:mere.. the ainktip•ted row, rim, rota *Out* a , ahleaslos* dad 011,811160141 A r y illeyalmilietameir mediae she losretoodeelts big. to airs_ . .11l al - - ast it 'sr basis Able this 00 18 0111•11 1 MK set losilled ,gaunt • she ID _ .. . Every Adlititistration In this asigkrise assured that some of their measures I meet ith Apposition. Some than found oppo to particular insulated acts, while others had met ition to their whole system and gesteral policy. He was not now to call in question the vigour, the wisdom, or the trust-worthiness of the present Administration ; but he contended, that neither they nor any other Ad ministration had a right to accuse the opponentsof their measures as enemies to the constitution of the country. Any measure, however conscientiously proposed by an Administration, and however much intended to be nefit the country might be equally conscientiously or. posed. He knew that he was to differ on the istbjeeto of the address from gentlemen for whom he had the highest respect. But he had endeavoured to give hie reasons for dissenting, as he never could support a statement which*appearrd to him to call for more restric tions on the 'Mole press of the country, or which con tained even an insinuation against the morality' or loyalty "of the most virtuous, most religious, or most industrious people upon earth; more particu larly when these insinuations were contained in an address to the monarch of the country and the father of his people." Dr. LAWRIE, of a'Neveraills,- emelt •Isiat hit 'consider the opposition made by the Hoedomoble Gentleman will had preceded him as quite unnecessary; because that opposition originated in a misrepresentation of an important passage in the address, and of that gen tleman's giving it a construction which it could not reasonably hear. Ile could not have anticipated any opposition to the address, because he seldom had seen one so cautiously expressed or so well calculated to reconcile the varied political opinions which must ne cessarily prevail in all mixed assemblies. Therefore, he could not but feel disappointment at the opposition the address had experienced. Not one syllable of ap probation of the conduct pursued by Administration had been introduced, and yet llon.turable Gentlemen, by a most illogical inference, concluered, that this address bad been suggested with the view of supporting, and of sanctioning the measures pursued by administration. But recalling the attention of the meeting to the point from which the Honourable Uentleinan had wandered, he begged leave to ask hint, whether irreligion bad not pervaded the laud ? Whether a earlile had not blasphemed ? Whether or not the dwelling of the artisan, or the hamlet of the peasant, had not been de luded by the infamous d .ctrinas which the sources of infidelity had opened up ? Whether or not the Bible. the poor man's friend, as it is the rich man's stay. had not been exposed by the taunts of the scoffer, and the ridicule of the unbeliever ? And whether or not these attempts to rob the poor man of his best friend, to undermine the peace of the cottage, and the virtue of society, should not experience their marked repro- bation, and their most determined opposition ? It was for them in these circumstances to approach the throne, expressing their attachment to the consti tution, and their resolution to check the designs of the unprincipled. and the mar hinations of the infidels. It was his lot to live in one of the most disturbed of these distries, where lately principles of disaffection had but too generally prevailed ; but although the corrupt messengers of infidelity had done all in their power to pollute the faith, and pervert the principles of his parishioners, he did not believe that out of a 'sti pulation of 4,000 souls, fifty had been tainted with these pernicious doctrines. The Reverend tirade men sat down, giving his cordial approbation to the address, Mr. KINNEDV, of Dunttre, M.P. said, that he would have no satisfaction in prolonging the discussion, no wish to agitate causes of difference, and with these feelings he hail much satisfaction in listening to tie testimony which the reverend genticiritin had just given, to the general loyalty and attachment to the principles of religion, of those with whom he was more immedistely connected ; and this afforded him the more peculiar pleasure, as that portion of the country from which the reverend gentleman came was one of those few districts in the empire where disaf fection had principally reigned, or where infidelity had made its mischievous encroachments. Since these had been nearly extinguished even there, of I what avail was their present address to the Throne, when thns, by their own admission, sedition and fidelity were so insignificant iu their Went. that no danger conld he apprehended, and in . consquence tie loyal declarations required. The terms of the requi sition itself excited his disapprobation. because it assumed an exclu-ive character of loyalty to those who attended meetings of the description now assem bled, and implied, that those who absented themselves from similxr meetings were undeserving of that appel lation. Many reasons might prevent gentlemen from attending these meetings. He himself would have preferred devoting any leisure he at present command', , ed to his private pursuits, as, of course, other.engage meats would speedily demand his presence elsewhere.. and he should have thorlght it hard that the gratik cation of these wishes should have borne the character of disloyalty, which the terms of the fp:Waiting...ft. .indfscriciiiitately levellea at all such absentees. • Thu address no doubt was framed with considerable, caution; but this caution was quite inconsistent with the tone and spirit of the requisition. Ho basics( had no opportunity of knowing the contents of the address moved by the Hon. Baronet, and called there, 'partly by the extraordinary sentiments contained in the requisition, could not in any observations that might fall from him exclude that requisition from his mind, and indeed, he was bound to think,that the spirit which originated the requisition, equally pive• existence to the address now proposed. He l nstist ims• lisle wish hie Hem Friend (Mr. Oswald) that since mei disapprobation it - introduced condemning the conduct% of AdminiOtration, addressee of ibis • tbareetet are evidoktly meant to support the systioson : whiekMine. eters act, and to obtain the approbation ssf•the metissi to thine measures ou which the. Ministry have Oink regently balled. The language of the adds'ss retsibe to the press be must think with -his -Hon, I,:atcheart), was an ordinary gramonatiesA lateral. dot. of that sweeping character (describing is no disr fogies of tat WOW evil.) whisk hp could not con wiellger&ST ftftttr. • rime wist r s t p Ulryions distinction. -betwookrbipposilta ,govitnesapit ancl adminisrasinis a. the ism vie er ha .usepssk ion! nos the ktiort sod: wises calhid on ti ,tompliert. dor easstitiol t os.of ltis cowry, As begged te, 14 be eillsesteell es suppers. \. ~ ~: ! ing the constitution at, it existed in September, t a 1!l, and not with the intervening iniemations made upo n it, as established by the Ministers of the Crown, in 1820.—(Applause.)—Mr. K. further said he b e li eve d that whatever diseontents and sufferings might exist in the country; "these never could be allayed by pro ceedinp,.,s tending to create and perpetuate distinctions among the different ranks of soriety ; and that instead of assembling meetings of the character now before bin:, it werea better mode of securing the tranquillity an d comfort of all classes of the community, and of gi v i ea strength to the happy constitution under which we live, to recommend conciliation and correction, by which the thonghtless and misguided might be re claimed, and the wicked satisfied tint they were feir in number. He thought that the person of his Ma jesty was greatly too sacred, and their loyalty to) un questioned to render .a declaration of attachment now necessary,. and by mach more uufit to vote an address of approbation of the measures of the existing Minis ters of the Crown, under the form of in address of loyalty and-attachment to the sacred person of the Sovereign. He could by no means join in each as Address, because, every man in Geo country knee that nearly the whole of last year had been sacrificed by the Ministers of the Grown, in as inquiry into the cunduct of she 4401111, 'bleb 4m.its origin was untie ceasary, in its progress injurionkto the morals-of the country, awl in its cuoclusion disgraceful .to i ts authors. This measure, in all its tendency, tram lessen the constitutional veneration of the people fur the monarchy. lie declared that a whole session of Parliament had been occupied in this measure.; that to it all other interests were sacrificed ; that the great. est talents were engaged in opposing it ; and that it was ungenerous in its nature, and unconstitutionai in its object. The Hon. Gentleman concluded pressing his belief, that a complete change Must lace place in the spirit of the Councils of his Majesty, fore the happiness and prosperity of the countryconid be restored ; that by this means the evil disposed might be checked, abuses corrected, disinterested ad• ministration restored in all departments of the.govern ment, the guilty punished, and the misguided, re• claimed. Mr. KeNeenv then read some reasons of dissent, which he moved should be engrossed with the address in the minutes. Mr. Bosweet, of Auchinleck, M. P. would avoid the example of some. of those gentlemen who , had preceded him, and confine himself in the observa tions he should shortly submit to the meeting, to the subjects which the address embraced. He cosh sot at all subscribe to the opinion of the honourable gentleman who had just spoke, that because no ex press disapprobation of the conduct of the ministers Was contained iu the address, therefore, it Inuit be presumed to be the intention of the meeting, to ap prove of their conduct. Approbation of the address could bear no such interprteat . . It only expressed approbation of the principles of the constitution, ve• neration to the laws, and attachment to his Majesty. Ile could not agree in some opinions that had bes:n stated to the meeting. "li e are not," said the honourable gentleman, . " here assembled to attack• the press of this country, as stated by my worthy friend ; we came only to deprecate and deplore the errors"and excesses of the press. No man, I believe, has a higher opiuion of the liberty of the press, or would feel more unwilling to injure its interests the* myself. I admit, that it has brought the world from darkness to light, that it has rendered know ledge and tenth more rapidly and easi:y accessible, and that there is no Glenin g which it has not con tributed to extend. God forbid that I should ever say any thin; against the liberty of the press. If, by any unfortunate infatuation, I should ever dare to speak against that liberty, 1 trust that I should not have an audience to listeu to me."--(Applause.)-- He perfectly agreed that the great body of the people were sound, and that they were sincerely at tached to the King and constitution. ,But he could not shut his eyes to the fact, that there were desperate and designing men, who exerted themselves upon every occasion to withdraw the loyal from their duty, and mislead the ignorant and unwary. On the other band, the address hail been criticised fur what it did not contain, as well as for what it did. It had been dissented front, ou accused of its omis sions, as well as on account of its expressions. He really thought, however, that from the careful aseener in which it had been worded, there was no ground fur the objections avhich his honourable friend sear him had brought against it. As to the imagined support which the address offered to his Majesty's -ministers, not only hod no such opinion been ex pressed in the address, bet partici** care .bed been taken to prevent even inferences being drawn 4n the subject. He knew that a great differencenf "isles ',prevailed in the country on their. conduct,. eod , he was fierfectly assured, that no address containing such an approbation would be acceptable. lie' nee well aware, that the great body of the-peeple- teem obnikeati eaamoditri, praiseworthy, and ririnotts. t am. this be likewise knew, that the seeds of disaffectiott had been widely strewn, that their vigorous bet.4lo - shooks had poisoned .the sources of consli tational loyalty ; and that 4 bold and open devisees lion of their atsachtnent to.its principles, eves the most efficacious means of neutralising the efforts of the designing, and rendering• the ?Nimble fabric which has lasted through so many ages, and beet .. sheltered from so many storms, as imperishable as thie ' rocks which surround our shores. Mr. Born of Sheewiten spoke in farourof thew& dress, as did Mr. Taylor against it. • For the Address 66, Against it IC...Majority 5 1 - UST or Toe bletroartr..Mr. Kennedy, of U. *ere, M. P.; Mr. Oswald, of Auchincruire ; Mr. Can ainghsele, of Clonesird ; Mr. Fullerton, of Sheldon ; Mr, Thompson, ef Daljarreeh ; Mr. Taylor, of Meek ,- house t Mr. Cathcart, of Blairstone; Mr. David HAW' .say ; Mr. J111111011161afti• i Mr. Johnstone, of Trslot I Mc Gemmell, of Lowlands t Mr. Almaden' It. Oselsbeet, and two_ether geetleses3 whore Dames we . • told net; heart ' • .. . ' • lresteeday aleoset•if Dinetin win held at the BO %His House, when the isliewleg ships sere taken 4.• `sad. then stationafa:—Seselety, Tie. 14111/iiieelt, espekA:i. liosibsei 1 Herefordshire; 1,190 MK Cep" ifi r • Ilif ler Mos &sect - • - video ; . aid that Masai a &anew fataWaida I Almbelowirtiear. isakeite4. wins the ego selhel/%46 fadifit - - - ---. • ,I -- -,- - v--- -•-•....M1.M..",,•^•,... - _ MIMI,