The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-02-27 00:00:00

'bathing ao to Whig an additional opponent. if then tbore mete
so dimmer to the Minister, and that there could be no danger to tho
State he took to be understood—when, or in what quarter could
danger arise ? The citisens of Edinburgh had nominally a repre.
sentative, but they wished really to have one, who would represent
their interims, convey their wishes, and be the organ of their
sentiments—a representative who would be accountable to them
for his public conduct, and removable if that conduct did not
satisfy them. ((tries of 'limy, hear,' from the Opposition benches.)
Again he expressed a hope that the question would not be met by ,
saying that it formed a part of l'arluutientary Reform, and was, I
therefore to be resisted. The present was a case in which redress
could be safely granted ; it was a case, in which grievances were:
stated which could not lie denied ; and it was a eau in which the
remedy for those grievancea was easy. lie trusted, there-
fore, that all hope of obtaining that remedy would not be cut
off by the vote of this evening. In short, if this motion were
refused, be thought It would etlll/41(1, 11114 C strongly the peti-
tioner., and make them enure notions, to obtain their just, though
lung with-held rights. Ile thought its r inset would be attended
with some danger, while i:•1 being conceded would produce content I
and satisfaction in all. IV idiom further further treapimsitig on the at-
te ttt t of the Douse, he should move for leave to bring in a Bill
for the Illtkft: reprosieutation of the City of Edinburgh.
in l'urliament. (!fear, hear.)
r. S. ‘l.l 1' said, that he haul listened attentively to the
speech of the Hon. and I.earned fieutleman, but lie heard nothing
front him to justify tl:e house 111 seceding to the mortion with which
be (31r. Abercromby) hail concluded. No ease was made out
oluiring the proposed alteration ; comiption was charged against
the \l.tgistratea. nor were they evom charged with the usurpation of
those offices which gave them the right of retuniing the 31ember
for Edinburgh. (Bear, hear, from the Opposition benches.) Since
Edinburgh was Edinhorgh—since every borough in Scotland was
such borough, Sbe system !sox prevailing haul revaihd.
then, lie asked, stop at Edinburgh? What would the lion. Mew-
-1 ber say to Glasgow, which had only one-fourth of a :Member?
flow could the lion. Member defend th representation of the city
• of London, when it is vested solely in a bode called the Livery, to
i the exclusion of all the other intiatritanto ? Ilow defend the repre-
sentation of Liverpool, when, with a population of one hundred
thousand, there were not more than three thousand electors ? How
defend that of the city of thibliii, where, with a population of
2:a1,0110 persons, the power of sending Illembeis to Parliament
was principally in the bands of a small corporation ? lu all corpo-
rations, as well as that of Edinburgh, the right of voting was li-
mited. And, when speaking oh' Edinburgh, it was impoaaible for ,
biota not to feel some degree of *olfaction for it. Ills origin was I
Scotch. anecaturs were Scotch • and, though bred and horn in
England, he never visited Edinburgh without strong feelings of •
pleasure and satisfaction. Edinburgh was a sight to be looked at
in its nom improved condition—a condition to which it is pritici-
pally 100t...Mal to that corporation who were r.uw MO much abused.
Bete the lion. Nienitter referred to a written account of the Pat -
tern. cave in the reign of Deems I. whets Edinburgh was lined and
disfranchised; and from which, he comet/dal, that in all its
changes up to that period, upon every ?mesal of her charter, the,
same system of 3lagiatracy and of franchise had been continued as
they existed at this moment, when to lt complaint was heard
within and without the walla of this blouse
laird !SINN! Nt; could not agree with the principles which had
been advanced by the opposite side. If these motions were to be
entertained by the 'louse, which proposed the reformattun in the!
various towns of the kingdom, piece by piece, then might they be
construed into a lIfte(11131L for acceding to the more general ques-
tion of Parliamentary itefonn. lie wua ready to agree to the cur-
rectum of any allow in the teprinentation of any town or city,
where malventation of the corporate rights, or where .earuption
was proved. It such spots and stains were ascertained, then het
them be removed; but let the ilouse not tamper with rights when
no such abuse was even alleged to exist. It mattered nut whether
the towns or cities referred to wire close boroughs, or whether they
were places enjoying popular representation; whatever were their
definite and established custom should he carefully preserved toll
them 'l B . The on. 31ember for Yorkshire quoted, with much pro-1
priety and relevancy, the opinion, of the Duke of Argyll and of,
laird ilardwicke. relative to the guarantee given to the corporate
towns of Scotland at the Union, fur time preservation of their privi.
lee,. The articles of I.7nion were not obscure or unintelligible on
this point ; they set forth in plain and distinct terms the assurance
then given to the towns of Scotland, that " the rights and privi-
leges they then enjoyed shoold be maintained inviolate." The
iiimion of the lion. (lent. if acceded to, would go to raze the
seal from the bond by which this guarantee was given to the towns 'I
and cities of Scotland. If the reformation now sought for was
made, it would be established into a precedent for a similar reform
iq other places, till the general principle moat length brought into
operation and effect--• principle which he believed to be subver-
sive of the constitution of that House, and which for that reason
he ever had opposed and ever would oppose. Indeed so far was he
impressed with a determinate opposition to this measure, that
although it were proved that the representation of Scotland was as
bad and defective as mine Honourable Members in that House re-
presented
it to be, yet if the correction of that bad system would
be attendant with a subversion of the principles on which the I
House was at present constituted, he owned he would DOt
consent to any change in it. (blear, hear, from the Opposition.)
If, indeed, by any strange concourse of events, the separation of
Scotland from this country, which was a moral impossibility, were
to take place, and Scotland were to have a separate and distinct
legislature, he would be ready to admit that great changes might
be introduced into the representation of that country: but united
as this country was, in interest and in feeling, as matter' now
stood, he saw no necessity fur such a change. At present the seuti-
ments and opinions of the people of Scotland were efficiently repre-
sented in chat !louse ; the doors of Parliament were open to their
representations, and every measure was readily enterta'ated here,
calculated to advance their prosperity, happiness, anal freedont.
Honourable Ilentlemen on the other side if the House anxiously
took care, in the consideration of the question, to separate Scotland
from England : this was not a fair view to take; for the represents-
tion of Scotland should be looked upon as a cuomonent part of the
general representative system of the country. (Hear, hear.) Ile
would ask why was Edinburgh selected, in preference to any
other town, to practise this new scheme of partial reform which It
Wall now sought to introduce ? The borough of firampound had
already been 'Thinned, but it was on the ground of corruption, and
the statement of abuses which were well knowu to exist, lie be-
lieved that sonic Honourable Illembers were glad to detect this ease
of corruption, in miler to transfer die representation to heeds.
11'hy was not tilitsgom selected? IVlty did not Honourable Gen-
tle:num take that town, in preference to Edinburgh, in order
to establish a precedent Mr that piecemeal reformation they were so
desirous to palmate ? In his opinion, the MSC Of GlallgOW was
much stronger ; it was far superior to Edinburgh in population
in manufactures, commerce, in everything that constituted
wealth. It might be regarded as the second city in the kingdom ;
yet it was only one of four boroughs which sent a Slenther to l'ar-
hantent. Why, he had asked, was Edinburgh selected for the pre-
sent experiment ? reason. tarsooth, assigned, was the great
virtue of its inhabitants, their learning and intelligence. If,
then, this argument were to be admitted in favour of quali-
fication foe representation, it would Ire the duty of the House
to turn their attention to some cleric bennigh or corporate town ;
and if the character of its inhabitants were found exceptionable,
surely they ouglit to disfranchised, if towns were to be enfranchised
lieraime the inhabitant% of them were men of learning Auld virtue.
(Deur.) lie did not thi ik such were the sound principles which
Agave security to our constitution. Ain-other argument that induced
him nut to accede to the motion was, that the too* of Scotland
had a confidence in the present Parliament which teal nut he in-
creased, and which ought not to lee shaken—that l'arlianient which
his Iloam. Friend the Member for Yorkshire had Mt justly eulogised,
which carried the einintry through " good and through evil days,"
which having triumphantly conducted through a protracted war,
saw the country daily increasing in prosperity and wealth beyond
any hummer period. 'the Learniol I ientleman, on laying the peti-
tion on the _able of the theist, stated that the names 'it those were
excluded t'.ont it who were not 1/111tWONIXI of Moises rated at Si.
rent a d upwards. This woe, indeed, a strange proceeding on the
part of the Ilonoturahle lientleman who had got up this petition—a
wonderful inatatice of the conduct and consistency of the Il'hijno of
Ireland. It was a speeinximil what the French culled" U 1414110.
envie pupa/dire." blow could this qualification to refer the peti-
tion detest d?C.UNit to be ascertained from a person staod-
ing at each dom nod inatimting iiiimiries as to the amount of rent
the resident paid, or wait this mode of sscertaiiiing the qualification
becoming? Afire great e!:ertions mule in getting up this petition,
and the miblication of a paroplikt, from which it was principally
taken. la the House Colllliitti the number of signature'.: the
number who, it was alleged, were nth:v.'s! by the grievance
amounted to gl,Ontl, yet there were to be limed only six or seven
ehoeaml aignatures sober:ideal to it. If a deduction of a bee
sear 11.111 t, Of those who signed twice, and of those who were not
'foil:llea to sign, it would appear that even not one-third of the
aggrieved persons haul signed. But let the House consider in
comparison with the present number of signatures, the petition' for
Tenons that poured in upon Parliament with Mouser& of sig-
natures, far eoeceding the present tatniber, from the serious towns
and cities of the kingdom, comintainieg of the state of representa-
tion. 'flione petition's were not tatendool to by the House (cheer,
from the I ipposit inn.) and he thottglit it pridaeworthy in Parliament
to nay tl a' they wire not ; for he never would countenance any
change in the cons;ituti tttt of this branch of the legislature, and ttl
,iirstitute lior it a eons:Milton by which everything sl Id he re-
ferred raindo iV el ro.. ' Ile would refer to the flourishing
aid medicinal city of Bath, which consisted of a population far
evee.liing that of Edinburgh, where the repreaentation was in
t:::1(1s of nineteen or twenty persons, mod all of them, he be-
th•veit, professors or nitilicine. Ile had no objection to these me-
Meal gentleinea, who, lie believed. renamed both members for the
eats of Itch, and he aould preserve to them their rights on the
I same principle of justice that he wool., allow to other towns the
I mogiolar rcmosentatoona they enjoyed. ‘Vhere was the member
tHr stietliclol—where the member fur Birmingham er '- anchex
ter? (therts from the I Ippomtion.) But if the example be now
set by the llouse--if a precedent be now established for retorou
without proof of abuse in uric city, let tray other city be •ppre-
. liensire for th. seeority of its rights. If Etoinburgh, tolls let Bath
treoible. The nom tient. who brought forward this question
,retiovil to thituL that it might be acceded to by those who generally
pie:thiiiientary return ; they separated from that questioni.
Si c .% III:111'111 )31 BI" (across the table)--" Not a word about it,
certai.ly."

loony ItISNINIi resumed—lle certainly understood the lion.
Gentleman to say, that the motion he intended to
.propose was
consistent with the principles of a milted popular constitution, and
Ocrefore he saw on reason why Gentlemen opposite should not go
slog with him in voting for it.
Mr. A GEM • Itt /Milli intimated assent to the latter abode in
which the Noble Lord stated his position:
Lord BINNING was of opinion, as he had already stated, that
the present mown, and the objects he had iusiew, was only " •
)4art and parcel of the general reform which had been so often ry-
',toed by that I louse. The Town Council of FAir.burgh had been
spoken harthly of in this debate. They had been contrarcil to the