The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-05 00:00:00

EDINBURGH.

A brief address has been issued by the present
members, the Lord-Advocate and Mr. Black, offer-
ing themselves for re-election—" a large portion of
the constituency having expressed a desire that they
should continue their services." They promise to
" continue to give their support to that course of
policy which during the last six years has secured
to this country the blessings of peace with foreign
Powers, and unexampled prosperity, repose, and
content among all classes of the people."
On Friday night a meeting was held in the Royal
Hotel to present a numerously-signed requisition to
Mr. Duncan M'Laren, and Mr. John Miller, civil
engineer, and both candidates made a preliminary
statement of their opinions.
Mr. M'LAREN expressed his resolution not to
stand without a colleague, as on the last occasion
of his standing for Edinburgh (1852) he was de-
feated very much by his own friends distributing
their second votes among the other candidates. He
was pleased, therefore, to think that he had been
called upon to stand along with a colleague of so
unexceptionable a character as Mr. Miller. He hoped
that, standing together, they would be returned to-
gether. (Applause.) Since 1833, when he was elected
to the Town Council, he had been connected with
all the Liberal and civic movements that had taken
place. He held then the opinions held by the Greys,
Moncreiffs, and all the leading men of the day; but
while many of these men, or rather their successors,
had changed their opinions, he held the same opinions
still. He had always been one of those who were I
willing to take a bit of reform when they could get
it. He had supported the Government Reform Bills
of Lord Aberdeen and Lord Russell, and carried
petitions for them in the Town Council, although
the bill of Lord Russell was a very poor thing, re-
commending only an £8 franchise. If returned to
Parliament he would act in the same way. When
any measure professing to do good came forward it
seemed to be the best policy to get some good from
it. If not a very good measure, it might be made
better in its passage ; if an extreme measure, it I
would get its wings clipped in the Lords. (Laughter
and applause.) He did not now come forward, as
had been said, to oppose Mr. Black or the Lord-
Advocate, or anybody. The seats were vacant.
(Applause.) Mr. Black had no life-rent in the re-
presentation. Mr. Black now came forward for the
third time, though when first elected he had said he
would only sit for one 'Parliament. It would be
more correct, therefore, to say that Mr. Black came
forward to oppose him. (Applause.) Mr. Black had
come forward rather unwillingly, strengthening the
idea that his supporters brought him forward to op-
pose him. He desired, however, to bo considered
not as holding any particular view about the fran-
chise, but as holding Liberal opinions, and as one
who desired to do all in his power for the interests
of the Liberal party and for the interests of Edin-
burgh and of Scotland generally.
Mr. MILLER then addressed the meeting, and
stated that he held Liberal, or, as some people might
think, advanced Liberal opinions on the franchise,
Church matters, and education, as well as matters
connected with country life. He thought Scotch
members should stick better together, and take a
leaf out of the Irish members' book in this respect.
If returned he would do all in his power to promote
measures of local interest ; and he thought they
would find him quite as liberal as they could wish.

Mr. FULLARTON moved that Mr. M'Laren and
Mr. Miller were fit and proper persons to represent
the city, and that the meeting pledged itself to use
every means in its power to promote their rebuilt.
Mr. J. GREY, jun., seconded the motion, hoping
the electors would let the Lord-Advocate and the
nation know that they must have a change in the
clerico-police tax, and that the Free Churchmen and
Voluntaries would stand together at this crisis.