The Express.
London, England, 1851-10-15 00:00:00

SCOTLAND.

PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.
On Saturday, in expectation of hearing an address
from Mr. Joseph Hume, M.P., a meeting convened by cir-
calor albs dirsdora of the Chamber of Commerce, the
muter and assistants of the merchant company, and the
council of the amociation for the extension of forty shilling
freeholds to Scotland, was held in the Merchants' Hall,
Hunter-square, Edinburgh. It transpired, however,
shortly before tho hour of meeting, that the hon. gentle-
man had not arrived in town, and en intimation to this
effect was rustle by Mr. Wigham, who, at the same time,
suggested that as it appeared to be Mr. Ilume's principal
object to ascertain something of the opinions of the people
of Edinburgh on some questions of reform, an interchange
of their sentiments on these topics might not, since they
were already assembled, be, in the circumstances, unde-
sirable. _ . .

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Mr. Wlesow, the Muter of the Merchant Company,
was then voted to the chair, and Mr. J. F. MACFARIAN,
in explanation of the objects for which the meeting had
keen called, read a letter from Mr. Hume dated Olen-
'wick, 3rd October, in which he apprised him of his inteu-
don of shortly visiting Edinburgh, by way of Glavow,
referred to the appointment of the committee he had ob-
tained as to the working of the property and income tax,
and to the publication of the evidence taken before it in
the columns of the Daisy New, and expressed s desire to
know if the resolutions lately passed by the Chamber of
Commerce in Edinburgh against the continuance of the
impost were still adhered to, and to learn what the
opinions of the people of Edinburgh were on the question
of parliamentary reform.
Mr. WIOIIAM rose, and remarking on the income tax,
said, if he had a choice he would prefer to the abolition of
this impost, the abolition of the probate and legacy duty,
which, in its operation, was equally inquisitorial, unjust,
and oppressive. With regard to the subject of the franchise
he had never been able to go so far as some others. lie had
watched the course of affairs in the United States, and lat-
terly he had had an opportunity of seeing a little of uni-
versal suffrage in Franco. From what ho there witnessed his
conviction was that if ever they were to come to universal
in this country it must be attained by degrees, and
that slowly. Their first move ought to be to extend the fran-
chise only somewhat farther than it is now, and then see how
it would work, for it was quite clear that if they once went
too far it would be a difficult thing indeed ever to get back
again. Ho had, therefore, very great doubts of the ex-
pediency Of universal suffrage, and he for one would
unhesitatingly vote against it. As to the precise point to
which the franchise should be extended, it was satisfactory
to know the terms of commendation in which Lord John
Russell had on more than one occasion referred to the sys-
tem of ios. freeholds. Ile thought it likely that the noble
lord intended to give all the encouragement he could to
that scheme ; and certainly matters here ought to be put
en the same footing as in England, it that was so commend-
able. Here we have a 10/. franchise; in England it only
*mounted to '2l. He had a very high opinion of that sys-
tem; and he hoped soon to ice something akin introduced
bane ikoriand. (Hear, hear.) It was assuredly a most de-
sirable means not only of making people respectable merle
ben of society, but of enabling them to pain the possession
eg a little property. (Hear, hear.) This then was oac thing
they should certainly propose to Mr. Joseph home and the
emmery at large, that Ireland, England, and Scotland, ought
le la put on the same footing as England with regard to
these 405. freeholds. But if they were to be introduced,
the, mug be hedged about so as to prevent that trickery
In connexion with them which had been lately. going on
among the 101. freeholders. If the system going on in
noes counties of Scotland, of parties making fictitious pur-
shoes of land by means of bills, &c., was to be allowed to
continue he would rather not have them at all. With re-
ference to the question of the franchise generally, he
would be quite willing that persons paying 51. or trl. of
rent should have the privilege of a vote ; and be thought
mho that something ought to be done fur lodgers, among
whom were many men of good income and intelligence.
Beyond that, however, or something like it, he would not
be disposed to go, unless, perhaps, the payment of an an-
nual assessment to the poor might be made the test of qui.-
lideation, as this bespoke a man of some little standing sod
anteaume. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. M'LAREN believed that the object Mr. Hume had
in view was more to pick up information than to enlighten
them himself. Such, at least, was the inference he drew
beat the mete received by Mr. Macfarlan. Ile, moreover,
lately had ~lon, when from home, to see parties know-
ing pretty wall what is going on in the political would, and
be believed that Mr. Hutne's mission was just one of
any at present in progress. (Hear, hear.) The liberal
halspendent members were seeking to enlighten the ge-
verameat as to what kind of reform bill the government
should bring in, and they could only do that by ascertain-
's, what the liberal electors thought would be, a sufficient
.severe. He apprehended that Mr. Hume had been look-
log to Edinburgh as a place having taken great interest
in the last reform movement, as many of them would
emember, and it would naturally occur to him to know
whst views they held as to what should be done at the
=time. If Mr. Hume in the course of his journey
that public opinion set in strongly in particular
digestions, he would naturally impress these views on the
l= nt, mid satisfy the members privately of the evi-
bag, that such opinions actually prevailed.
Thus wait a lug gesseei feeling that the government were
err a flak and honest measure of reform, and
If sa to
wthat the community did want a large and
liberal measure they would be quite disposed to bring it
ferward. He knew a great deal depended on what kind of
bill wee brought forward, for if ministers put it too
low the people would grumble, and the chances were,
there would not be a strong feeling in its favour,
end it might miscarry. (Hear, hear.) It was there-
Jere of great consequence to assist Mr. Hume, and
anybody else who took the trouble to inquire what the
public opinion wits. There were various other points for
essuideration besides those indicated by Mr. Wigham; for
immiple, the question what should the county constituency
racist of. Last session a vote was carried by a majority of
lbe House of Commons, substituting a 10/. household sa-
bots, in place of the present 501. rate, which admitted te-
IMMUot-will. Now the man who pays 501. for a small
ams, was not in the same independent position as a trader
=Ol. fora house; a farmer paying 501. a year did a
not exceeding three or four times his
}emsMiltere many men living in houses at 101.,
amiML, and 401., far more independent, wealthy, and
saisaed, and these were those who were deprived of the
baulaise biuthe present arrangement. Any reform bill,
Minetbre,w 'eh was brought in must deal with that question,
and Mr. Hume naturally desired to know what the reform
Tarty inEdinburgh thought would be a right count) franchise.
Then there was the ballot, which had already been carried
twice by a majority in the House of Commons, for the pro-
tection of voters ' • many of them, perhaps, would not avail
themselves of it, but, unfortunately, there were very many
who were not so situated, and could be coerced in the exer-
cise of the legislative privilege. Then, these faggot voters
Mr. Wigham had referred to, those having a mere nominal
qualification, who did not pay anything for the property,
but gave bills—all that intricate system should be abo-
lished, and every one should be forced to have an iefellnient
on their properties, which would make people very slow in
manufacturmg.these kinds of fictitious votes. He thought
that on all these general questions their opinions should
be brought to bear on Mr. Hume, is expectation of a large
and liberal measure of reform being shortly introduced by
the government. (Cheers.)
Mr. RUSSELL said that it the opinions expressed by
Mx. Wigham wen to go forth as the opinions of this meet-
ing. they would go a great way to prevent them from get-
, that any reform at all. Mr. Wigham was content with a
amell goodie= of reform, but he (Mr. Russell) thought the
way la get a liberal measure was to ark a large one. They
nigh, foe example, express an opinion in favour of the
measure Mr. Hume had more than once introduced into
the House of Commons, comprehending household suffrage,
ballot, and the other things Mr. M'Larcu had referred to.
flees who did not go that length should, in his opinion,
dos take that course as the most expedient one, because
tin Mee they would ask the more they would get.
PM bear.)
M. WEIR did not consider this meeting an expression
ors ewttiments of the inhabitants of Edinburgh, or even
the amanntile portion of it. He understood the meeting
air himonmil for the purpose of hearing an adder from '
the ham. Miler, and he thought Mr. Macfarlan should be
Weesamunicate with Mr. Hume, that they would
be la suet with him on Monday or any other day
that wit his convenience.
Mr. STOTT said that to regard the sentiments of this
meeting as the expression of the opinion of Edinburgh,
would certainly be equivalent to a fraud or something use

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