The Sun.
London, England, 1836-02-02 00:00:00

MR. WALLACE OF KELLY, M.P.

PUFJLIC MEETING AT KILMARNOCK.
Mr. I;i7allace of Kelly visited Kilmarnock on Monday last,
and P.adressed a Public Meeting in the Cameronian Church
there, which contained an audience of from 1,000 to 1,500
persons. On the doors being thrown open, it was soon
crowded in every corner.
The Chair was taken by Bailie Craig.
Bailie CRAIG congratulated the meeting on the opportunity
presented to them of doing honour to one of Scotland's glo-
rious patriots, worthy of an ancestor so illustrious as the re-
nowned Sir William Wallace, who fought for the rights, the
liberties and the independence of the people of his day, and
who died in the cause. He was satisfied that all eulogium was
unnecessary in introducing to the intelligent Reformers of
Kilmarnock, the celebrated—the renowned—the patriotic and
the independent representative of Greenock generally—but
particularly the friend and representative of the working classes.
Two petitions were then read—tile first praying for the ap-
pointment of Commissioners to investigate the laws of Scot-
land generally, with the view of securing to the lieges speedy,
cheap, and equal justice ; the second praying that the laws re-
lating to the holding and transference of property in Scotland
may be purged of many abuses they at present exhibit.
Mr. WALLACE then came forward, and was received with
rapturous applause. The chief aims he had in view were, to
render property secure by cheap and simple laws ; and to
make labour as productive to the industrious as they had a
right to expect it to be. The Hon. Member then referred to
the reform demanded in the laws of Scotland, and described in
detail the various courts of judicature, commenting upon each
as he reviewed its constitution, pointing out defects, and indi-
cating the remedy, in an address of which we arc unable,
owing to the length to which it necessarily extended, to furnish
more than the briefest outline. Mr. Wallace afterwards re-
marked with much force on the injustice of not trying civil as
well as criminal cases by jury in Scotland, and thus placing
the safety of property, and that of life, limbs, and liberty, on
the same footing.
At the conclusion of an address, Mr. Brown read a petition
to Parliament for the total abolition of all taxes on knowledge,
of which he moved the adoption by the meeting.
Mr. WALLACE again addressed the meeting in support of the
petition. He expressed himself in favour of the total and un-
conditional repeal of the taxes on knowledge, particularly of
tho Stamp tax on newspapers, and against the substitution of
any postage rate. The Hon. Gentleman, after a masterly re-
capitulation of those arguments in favour of a repeal of the
duty on newspapers, which we have so frequently urged on our
readers' attention, addressed the meeting on the subject of
Post-office Reform. He then delivered his sentiments on al-
most every question of political importance.
Three petitions were afterwards carried unanimously, and,
on the motion of Mr. Brown, ordered to be transmitted to Dr.
Bowring for presentation to Parliament. Written addresses,
adopted at public meetings, well conceived, and highly lauda-
tory of Mr. Wallace's conduct, were then read.
Mr. 'WALLACE acknowledged the honour done him ; shortly
after which the meeting separated.