The Sun. — London, England, 1819-04-02 00:00:00

It of utn% WO. ICA yes fii tL Ire(' OEO 7cr- eciJ of de- es , illi for no ,eft or itljf ie• cs It c't be ill ur :.(;t3 j 0 )(IC. j; e f" ,t4d is' 110 iS' 3s ao de Of be e ce C' te be pre VII 0:" (Cm s -~ ltad b.y geneiality of the charge which he ' l ' 4o e against he witte e B oroitl O to • e°ll4 "d ; for if the - coustitution oe those HI, •0°11)9e w as alt ered, a new set of 'electors wo.,ii clibar a g p e p s o r i e n s t i e , t e l en . ti f g ie should not enter i nto f li t a een the financial operations of flit Nlagistrates. as do re tea. an ilottOuri ' tLie Gentleman behind b u nt tnere able to prove rhe o sho iee ' tio ns of the Noble Lo r d w ere sintounded. uld only say, tha h had never heel) met tl►e part of rltq,se sts- Serted that ther e had heen any pi-iv:Ate peculation eNxiileeinslthrtauctees 1"1"/' hit7Pini nneecv"t". Fowhich had led them to obtain many Acts of Parliament which the circumstances of the country bail afterwards toe -vented , heen from carrying i n t o execut i o n . %Yin ) te s 'ect to f orged minutes, that aregat!'" ' ba d 'never b e f ore h een broitt:,lll against the Magistraues. if if were case aoV tha ettectl , n who had been in lltiglit to lend ,his money tinder fake preten s ces , briug hit ac t i on aga i nst them for the re jNcovery ot his debt. He contended that the oble 1.4.wil h a d wrongfully applied the word shanchiseittetti, when he bail alluded to the late Occurre nces wlf at Aberdeen. on 'account of . 41)eicrili!tnbe neW warrant had been issued et new been disfranchised', anti the elec tion had been set 'aside by the Court of Session ° o il r i ) l'allV tlitferent ground. It was required tt forty meoit)er, o f t he Corporation should be 11 : 1 " e nt ate efectio n • ; 4 but hi ease Of the absence one, the COUncil had a HO to proceed " 1 1 the election, on r.eplaeing him by any oilier Individual wh o possessed t h e same quali fi cations tot ti. " e Person whose post he filled. In the elec -1,1-4'"if 1816, a man' of the ,name of Rae, who h a d It infl at i on of being a burgess, had been em lt"Yed as pro xy f or another, ' He could not, how tquduceltis burgess-ticket, or prove that he c d e 'er been one, rind on that gro u nd alone the t v -° „ tirt had set aside the ele c tion. Thi s " { fence on the p a rt of th e I‘lagistrates„but ; I‘ ' lL 'l akr; and therefore a warrant had heen 1 1 1.11 " ( ''t to flit in to proceed to another election.— the Boronvit of Montrose th ere was For all.t he Alagitsi rates of that n i il e r :!" . ;- : "II hat) united in . Coinnli:•ing au act of gross tts "l "y , ho.ll4qi,i g 'fo r t h e c h o i ce of t h e i r SlX its -4 ' l '3 a practice is high had been declared illegal t) t , e4l ‘s 7 as Charles 11. This was the ground Ccl l ieua different course h a d b een adopt tl t9 ` t ards that borough He diem enteTed into th ex4nkinutio u st duties, to prove 11, st ' l'Y the Act of 1469, the right of elee vfl " `'g vested in the Magistrates the:Tl- 4‘, l ';_ s, the Craft Hod Lieery Conipanies.That slu r „becti repreyiented a. ekaittk up t he Scotch whi'st, on the contiary, it had thrown 1 1 "Pen in a great riegree: :old provided that T 4 ( 1144. 1-a '4'ollll°h Council should he elected yearly. k e f.is arrivent clear, lie was ohhizerl to :"'P I .) sortt t,u c very dry details. for which"' be th 1 1 1 e( 1 the indulgence of the House, At._ the °t the Revolution it was •ta , ed It.at s t he I.:I-ley `'t the. But gl:s shottld be retire.sed, . -But nett Otle It) which• they were ice he rt (h . essed the S atnte tit 1469., but by Llf:;1f .n Act to.repeal aft Act pa•sed in the ' ,l"[Jai hes t i )e ttopte -ed the t i d B , t no geee , zll meas:.re was pass "Y(l);',el)ll...'Priscfl Cm•dcato the'sysfetu e•rablished t ! 4 'v of 1169, w . vas now complained t i 'd• 1 lt . titleecy of the i‘et.tben passed was a contratv l that-Hetet Up to the year ttu t , ll 'oat l ave I , .ad . ncl er heels the st-lbjeet of It'► 11 1 ftt • At that rerkd the question was taken a bo ut t h at mo d e ; o f e l ec . t ialh - , :ui ch titexisted for s o long H pet bid, That ( wed as t h e b as i s o f t h e deman d pre -1.,,,n the pi t,ent oci-a ;t'ott, But the . mtn oent Jet; . o ; 4lel itaty liZeform was introduced, as a sub' t l elLo into ttie Eloise, the case of the B "r4h s et as left t„ the winds, and, _its• 8(1 " bet,,6k tittinseives to the new , and tw)re oa vii • I • ( I I 0 11, Now,.Parliamentary Reform lir stiv q; had i ts th a „, th a t questiop, WiliCh so 11 '11 laPlicic,,,s lihtibeen presented two years ago, ; 4111 uf . ' 4. : t " : "P in its • loose who were " h ig t ) ,; "`' actise tri, htls were now bring „,v`alli the scat, of t-e Scold) Burghs. Of, kA i tl l case s o v t h e Nobl e Lord, in t i lle had tint 'named their sucees kr,s'es l''et e in which the Bur- IG bid new Nlauis cooslltrates. In the other chit,Lad ► • e by ' the Burgesses and 14 ' 11 44 Paying scot and lot ; that in -Edits %et% ',"'ere there were bur •1604 13 , ,rpsses, ti l tln ' l,l he at le as t 30,000 Electors acting tU t arn, v" I"teinl; , and not only did the War the-ra'",(l o n the occasions referred to extend to tiiiil,tabilatits o f the TOwn of EdinbEdin burgh, ;` l hkirb, i chants and other residents n the • In such cases he maintained that the 'tie iiiirge..s:es had been infringed as a ro c a l :hey, coo'd he in any instance. The .fet • 14() • I 1 1110 ••• t ori"a eeti ao It entered an "f the eitc•liiist ances under which Poll I+ shed ti ti n been resorted to in vari‘us instances V 4 tie.,, e ° lowed had onl y been customa r y w h ere •it ! „ 1 1 in reitellion bribery, and orrop -1'11.1;;rr (t i tl ' e; ll ,r '!islnallityi n; e acts, had beet, proved. ) re.l Which 1.0 wi s hed to lay down was t e tnert was n o ti v linqu e n c y or illega ti't PI fiv e ,' , • f „ d gathsl the old Council, it was the •ne Suv - • • tC, choose sur erelgt • to authorize t tilt) 441 " e ' s s°'s ; btu where delinquency and tile e(hhiltict . „,of , 'en,. )(It renueren went tinwodity con.. 0, 10 e, It Was for him the prece s to !rea c t on rh oriz e reference had been made, , and an kin t i e. burgesses and , inhabitants to proceed ‘,4 0 eeoi . „ w tt to exvre -.• tote, it was the duty of the I..tu.diog to t.se•this discretionary power ac tuisi on to (81.k3istIng e ircumstariTes. It w a s a de laVish e"lling ill the Burgesses to check "'ge ss e.xPeutes of the Magistrates, as the 'es, far frOnt being the respectable D t'e t ;"el)ll4l e e I ; rei forbi•ts: were eon l i n m a o st nly just the kti esen ted, lie _ the petitions which had been ,! Iv arr,,„ tabia. "sei led them to cotitain the most ,bvith'; averments. lie defended the course 44 1 b A etl herd cen, e 'Pect to . t he Boroughs of IVl•ontrose G ov dt s nted that any disgraCe at -1.1,1,(•r to le,lll"Uutetit for their couditct faith ye eUntet)lt'al h e s r, ( "ear, lied'. !)—ti'or Ilitiltelt he st ' io f his deserve the ridic u l e and the o ti ; views",". coiintry, it, because it did not heat 11) e Retro t oers of the nteseuf) • he bad been deserted from stamlinc',.n . p there to state Tow, k hid felt f, be e 1 4 . v o Th e whet telt 'o be s i l t l i. 4r}(l tynnt tilt now no per3on Bail 'v'eottired to ois- wife. Untie said , Ihe Learned Lord had not rot , - - travelled airy one Of those polies wio'cb had le. en so convincingly urgf d by the Noble Lord. le his opinion - ii e one or 'hem had beiel answered. I'he Megistrates of Aberdeen he described to have acted tor many years on a system of se resy. and co n cealment; in violation of the Bella !tog Act, ender which they were empowered to manage the fends appropriated to certain im roe, mews which had been projected. Till he bankruptcy of Aberdeen took place, their proceedings were a profound secret. It now tip. peared that they had borrowed money which they had not been authorised to borrow. lie had a etter front a Gentleman elm) had been for a-short rime a Member of the Council, which he was au thorised to use as he should think proper. nom ihe statement of this Gentleman it would.appear, that the business of Council was conducted in a very extraordinary way. He bad attended some of their meetings, at which not a word bad been ottere i d about horrowihg money, but on looking over tlieir book's he had after Wards. found that at one meeting, at which he was put 'down as pre sent, a resolution had been come to for borrowing the sum of 10,0001. The Members of the present Coulterl lie understood to be persons highly re specteble in . their private characters - 11 might he saillthe wherie of this money would not be lost. .11ut it should be remembered the funds of the burgh were ,now itt the hands, of trustees, and through ibeir extremely good management there were hopes that after some yeats the debt would - be paid. This, however, but for the explosioo , which had taken place, would in all probability ne ver havebeen effected. The Learned Lord had said, when no delinquency or illegality had , been prov ed, the old Council ou gh t t o he allowed to elect , their successors. In other cases, where delin quency was proveo, he would not have them per mitted to do so. Now, he wished the House to look at the way in which this princiole had been applied. In ,Aberdeen, the Magistratee, j after a long course of concealment—after acting most itaprcperly, were allowed to appoint their suc cessors ; while at Mon,rose,.• where the conduct of the Magistrates hail been nothing like so bad, that right had been taken away front them, be tense, under peculiar circumstances, they pro ceeded to choose tie new Council by ballot. Yet, front rite language held On this Subject, it might have betel supposed tbat they 4tad done some• thing very horrible. He was surprised the Leant ed Lordlittel left oil' without telling the House of whet' they had been guilty that was so monstrous. Now lie,(l , lr. Hume). had made' it known. • He maintained that Ministers could show no reasons to justify their conduct towards the buiglis of Mootreee and Aberdeen. He consi4ered the rights Of the Burgesses to clooro,e the Members of the Cooedl to have been established previous to the passing of the Att of 146,9 —Recurring to the casts - of.Moetrose and Aloodeen., he contended, that it . ever there was an instrice of a discre tionary power being improperly used, it was to he oniid ie the course pursued vi t respect to those burghs. Ile cOtisidered the Lord Advocate of Scotland tit have failed most completely in all his awoe l os, Since th e Unto!) there had been al togeiber 31 warrants *ranted; of Which number 25 were for poll elections. • In short, the case of , jhe biogh of Aberdeen was the first in which an ;. application :or a poll election had been refused. The tendency of the Act now complained of was to perpetuate rite sesteet of selt•election. He was itifortned [lost the Learned Lord himself, who bad procured a poll election for Montrose, had. recom mended. to fife Corporation of Aberdeen to pro cure a Petition from the independent Burgesses for .the renewal of the old set. For this purpose s 'Petition had been drawn up, butt was only signed by 45 Burgesses—amoog whom there was n u t o ne independent mate He entreated the House to watch the proceedings of Government in this • matter. The Lotto At/vocal's explained e--Whoeiter stated to the Hon. Gentleman the circumstance which he , mentioned relative to his (the Lord Ad vocate) having recommended a petition from Aberdevn, bad stated that which was false and unfounded. Mr. Home explained. Mr. FRROUsioN said, he had all his life lived with the Magistrates of Aberdeen, mid believed there was- not a more honourable set of men in the kingdom. Mr. C. Forum said, he was authorized to state that the Corporation of Aberbeen had assets of a value more than sufficient to pay all their debts. confornation'of ibis statement, he read the Report of a Cottonittee which had been appointed by the Corporation to inquire and report on that subject. lie maintained that the statements of the Noble Lord on this head were wholly un founded. - The Noble Lord had also omitted to state many facts of which be could hardly be ig nor and which in 'candour he ought to have commonicated to the House. Not one of 'the Charities had suffered the loss of one sixpence through the r:tateut the finances of the Burgh.— He Wished that the Noble Lord, would at once move the appointment of a Special Committee to inquire into the condoct 14. the Magistrates of the Borough of Aberdeen. The more•Aheir conduct was inquired into the less them would be found • to blame in, it. Str .G. CLEM thought, that the statements of the two Hot ..Members who had spoken last would be sufficient • to rescue the characters of the Ma gistrates of Aberdeen from the imputations which had been Cast upon them. The whole course of the Noble Lords speech showed that what he wisi, e o for Was a lotd Find radical change of the burgh system in Scotland. He must decline fol.. 'l-witig the Noble Lord into statements relative to Parli, , Me,tary Reform. The Hon. Baronet the followed the atguments of the Lot d Advoc,,te, con tending that they proved the motion to be unite cestiry and iniroper. Sir JOHN M sx w ELL said, that the Reform sought for, by the Sewell Burghs was not a 112.!b reform, but one which should relieve them from 'the op pressions of the present system. • Mr. WILBERFoRCE thoUghl that those who h a d attended to this debate, must see that it fts their duty that the matter shollh! not rest here, btit be inquired farther into. It appeAred that the obi •vstem ter! to the greatest abuses. It was evident lie piesent mode ot electing the Council was one . vhich should not be allowed to contione. Allegations as to the .evils produced by that, sys rem temained uncontradicted. It bad not been contradic , ed that the Corporation ot this Burgh was the guardian M. the funds of nearly fifty cha ritable corporations. This was a Most important consideration. . Mr. K. FINLAY said, that the Learned Lord had, 'on a former .occasion, Said that there could hr no other ninde of e ff eCting a p roper reform in the present Se'otelt Burgh system, but by esta blishing a contrOni over their funds. The Learn ed Lord had talked in very disrespectful terms of the Scotch Burgesses-- . -nothing but total igno rance on the subject could justify the language used towards the Burgesses by the Learned Lord. He should vote for the !notion: Lord CASTLEREAGH said,. the kit() Hon. Mem bers who spoke last assumed an eit3blislied cri nfinality against the Corporation of the Burgh of Aberdeen aethe basis of their support of tills mo tion. The House had heard that two Hon. Mem bers (nr.Fergusson and Mr. C. Forbes), who were the highest authority on this subjt et, had ex pressly proved that there was no such Unless the statements made by those two Hon. Members 'were disbelieved, it was impossible to admit the truth of those statements which im puted criminality to the Corporation. It uuld re quire more than a common stock of credulity for the: House to believe that.this motion was any thing else than one for Parliamentary Reform, under the disguise of reforming a Scots burgh. - any one could doubt that this was the real object of the ;notion, it must have been evident from the cheer ing which took place on the other side-of the House when the Learned Lord mentioned the case in which the right of voting had been given to all those who paid scot and lot. The only question was, whether this was a legal exercise of the prerogative of the Crown.' . His Learned Friend had cleatly proved its legality. Ant if this was a case in which the exercise of the power of the Crown was illegal, no future case could arise in which it would not he necessary to go to the whole body of the Burgesses to make the Elec tions, which would be in direct contravention of . the precedents-on this subject. The Noble Lord 'no doubt wanted to see Whigs where he had found Tories. That was v , ry natural for the Noble Lord, but it would not justify the House in agreeing to this mullion. There w,s no objection to the mere production of the Papers, but the House ought not to call for the papers, unless th_ y were determined to proceed further. All that . had been said proved.that no further inquiry was necessary. . Mr. WILBERFORCE explained. Lind A. HAMILTON then rrplied.—He COM &mined that the Noble Lord who spoke last had used him manii ly in saving that he brought for ward this motion merely for the purpose ot Par liain Reform. Th e House then divided— For the Motion Against it The- - side w„, • r,' - Illajority ' 5 .0 much cheering nn the Opposition : , f h e onmhers were ani.lollnced. . Leif! A. HAMILTON said, as the numbers on this division, were so close, he thought -.it his duty to Live notice, that soon atter flit h dulays he thould move, that there be laid betae the House a copy of the Report of the Law Officers of the Crown on the subject of the Burgh of Aberdeen. Dr : PHILLIMaRR postponed till to-morrow his inotion for a itttnrn of Ship restored after ebn dernmql;---1-iOr offences against the Excise and Cuy oms' '+s. The Alk . ali Duty Bill was read a third time and passed... The ftonse resolved itself into a Committee on the Sinking Fund Annuities Act. • The CHANegt.Lott of the EXCHP.faVER moved a Resolution, anthoriZing the Trustees of the %Va. redo° Fnnd to transfer Stock in the Lund An nuities into the Consolidated Fund Annuities.— Agreed to.—Report to-morrow. Tlie East India Goods Bill was read a second time. Mr. C. POll BES called the attention of the Chan cellor of the Excheywr to the ,most unequal and oppressive ditty charged on East 104ia Cotton. The Bill was then ordered to be committed to morrow.—Adjourned at One o'Clock. AGRICULTURE, &c. MONTHLY REPORT FOR APRIL. The abundance of foreign grain of most kinds continues to depress the spirit of the British gto w et. The heavy unexpected fall in .Barleyi at a season when the demand for seed usually-contributed to its rise, roust, when the last slight•crop is considered, dentotts - trate the undue advantage given to the import market. The Wheats continue generally to hold their plant ; but on sonic heavy soils, where they have had heavy showers, they have lost co- lour. Barley sowing is very forward and neatlyl' closed in Hertfoldshire, and most of the eastern counties, where Oats are getting in rapidly from the kindly working of the lands. The forward sown Beans and Pease have benefited much by the late rains. The Clovers and Winters Tares pro mise well ; and the Grass fends already throw out feed enough to keep the Hay-markets down at moderate inlets. The Potat oe Planters, sin the vicinity of London, have got in a considerable breath!) for their early crop. The Hop plantations dress kitaily, and are foil of hine. Clover Seed and Rape are on the decline The Wool market has also experienced a severe Fall of nearly 10s. a rod on long fleeces ; the clothing wools hold rather a better price. The Meat markers have been well supplied with prime articles, at . last month's prices, except -.Mutton, which, a new days past, has had a considerable start.— Lean Stock in Beasts is somewhat lower ; the last droves of Scots on Epping Forest being sold for less money than the drovers looked for. Cost kite nt prime quality are in demand, and dearer, The Lambing sea.ion is nearly over on the Downs and of her Floek Dist ricts, and has proved a veryfavouN able one in general. AMERICAN CONGRESS. IN LIE SENATE, FEB 24. THE CONDUCT OF GEN, RA[. JACKSON. Mr. LACOCK, 40E11 t he C sumi I ce ap,) , ,jaited in imrstiance of' the liesplonop to the `entire of the 18th Dec. iast, moved , " That the Messag e of the President, and Documents rvla ive the Svaii• tto!e War, be irefe . ried n Sdeet Gitiimittee, who shall have stithwhy, if necessary, to send tor per- sons and pApers that ;I i! _,..t otntn.ttee enquire re lative to the advance of the United Sintes' Troops into West Florida ; whether the Officers in com. tnand at Pensacola and St. Mn k's were.inen to t atid tinder the confrtini of,' Spain; and parti cularly what circumstances existed, to ; , utilorize or justify the Commandin , .! General in taking Eros'. Session of those posrtS."---=lteportedat very consi• deratile length: , . The Report takes a detailed view of the Ai4ifire of the- military proceedingi of Gen..ral JACit'ON, in the Origin, • progress, and conduct of the war against the Seminole Indians, and his subs quest incursion into the Spanisn territory, and while it does justice to his vigour, condemns the means resorted to in raising volunteOrs, &c. contrary td the orders of -the Secretary at War, and in violaz tion of theprinein:es of the Constitution, and the tendency of which was " to involve the nation in a war without her consent,- ant) -for reasons of his own, mfconnected with-his military functions." • Speakine particularly of the..invasion of the Spa.. nish territory.,.the Iteport thus proceeds : " The, Tr.elity with-Spain still existed ; it was made by .the Co4lSlllljOri,, -1 he . supreme Law of the Land,. And had-Spain vinlated,• on her part, every article of tit t Treaty, still the executive of the United States, who is boanniro see the laws faithfullyexecutec,' must., in good faith towards Spain, have observed on o start thatqreaty and the obligai ion of preserving •ha peac'e of the natiorkwoold have remained until 'he Irtaty.shonlit have been revoked or annulled by Conere;s. • Fur nishing the Indian; with arms, ammunition, and supplies, were so many violations ef treaty stipu. lations, and might have been considered good cause of war by Congress ; •hot of this- Genet al Jackson was not the judge. His duty was painted out.; it was to subdue and punish the ,`"eptintrie Indians, with whom we were at was ; for i his purpose he was ordered to pursue them to the territorial limits of Spain, and ()tor a part of which territory those Indians had, at least, a gee. lifted right of possession aid propel ty. Under these orders, no ect of aggression on the Spanish • authorities could have b.een designed, nor call any such acts he justified. Spain, before she could become or be made a party to this w•ir, must ,have merged. her neutral cheraeter. i t that- ot, the enemy, and clearly identified herself wi.h the Se. mitiole.lndians, and by•acts' of op n and midis• guised hostility to General Jirkson, have opposed him by physical, not moral terce'." Adverting to the plea of weakness on the part of the Spanish Audio; ities, the Report says : " The time was, when the United Sales were also weak ; she had no Navy, she had no Army. In those days she was a strung advocate for lieu.. tral rights,. anxious that free ships should make tree goods—that the ventral flag of the Republic should protect, all sailing; under it, ever protest., ing against and complaining of tile violation of her-neutral rights by the liclligereats of Europe. But these times have 'lewd away ; the na;ion . has tried her strengili in battle, and-found herself quite equal to the struggle; she has had time to strengthen her Army and increase. het Navy ; her former weakness forgot ten, her former precept S abandoned, and feeling potver, and, forgetting right, she walks over e prostrate Constitution, to conquer and subdue a miserable- and fertile, through neutral Colony, whose vet y weakness (pleaded in excuse for the aggression) should haste. rather constituted an appeal to a generous people • for protection." In this unfavourable light, the Committee.have' 'too much reason to fear, wll,l the civilized world view this transaction, and if sanctioned by the ita., Lion, they regret to say, •theue will be too much reason given thus to consider it. Bet there are still other reasons disclosed and facts developed, that discover the mei ives of the Commanding Officer, more fully than those abase stated. More than two months atter this cam paign had ended, and the Seminole war was terse minated, another expedition is planned, and the laud and naval forces of the United Statesnrdered to execute it, which is to retinue rho tortress of St. Augustine,, the capital of East Flotida..• ,The reasons oilseed for this measure are stated in his orders to Genrrai.Gaines, dated Nashville; Aug„ 7,181 S, and are as follows : • " I hove noted with attention Major Twigg's letter, merked No. 5. I contemplated that the agents of Spain, or the Officers at Fort St. Ad.. patine, would excite the Indtans to ha.tili t y, ari d furnish them with the means of war. It ft ill be necessary to obtain evidence substantiating this fact, and that the hostile loth its have been led ;tied furnished from the garrison of St. Augustine. • This being obtained, Should you deem your torte , sufficient, y. u will proceed to t.ke and garrison Fort St. Augustine with Atnericeo troops, :a nd hold the garrison prisoners until you beat front the President of the United States ; or tratisport them to Cuba, es in your kip:tilt, under exist. ing circumstances, you may think best. I" Let it be remembered, that the• proceedings carried on by me, or this order, is not on the ground that we are at war with Spain, it is oft the groned of self preservation, bottomed on the broad basis attic law of nature and of nations, end justified by giving peace and security to our ; hence the necessity of procuring evideece of the fact of the agents or officers of Spain : ). ay. ing excited the Indians to continue the war against -us, and that they have furnished them midi the means of carrying on the war; this evidence being obtained, yon will (if your force is stifficient) permit nothing Co pr event you front rrdnuing F Augustine, except a positive order ,worn the Dvp,rtbiebt of War • Orders some time since have been given to the Officer of the Ordnance, commanding at