The Sun.
London, England, 1826-04-14 00:00:00

ago, when the Sallie questioa wan swiftly and when
the House rejected it by it huge majority. It did not surise
him that the Hon. and Learned Gen denten appeared.the chorp ten
chi mpion of such a cause when lie considered that hettialself
was such a splendid example of the purity of eleetion, ecru
there, as he was, by the free and unbisseed voice of titaipcsvie.
Rut at what price were they to receive dais boon from the: Reie.
arid Learned Gentleman ? Why at the breaking down and
trampling upon legel rights, not, created ,yesterday, or in the
last year, or in the last century, but which had been stamped
with the seal of ages, and whose benelite -were written in the
general proeperity, and the individual happinees and comfort of
the citizens of Edinburgh. These things, he would boldly
assert, notwithstanding the statement of the Hun. and Learned
Alotaber, were due to the acts of the culumniateti Magisteacy.
A Committee had lermerly been appointed to inquire into the
conduct of that body, end although all its Members except 'two
were taken front the lion. anti Learned lilembeeet side of the
House, the result of the investigation was most triumphant to
the Alagistrates, for not a shadow of hope tatioe was cast upon
their motives. .If the present inensure were sanctioned by the
House, it would be at the expense of &direct breach of public
faith, and a violation of the tontreet solemnly entered into by
the two countries in the. ct of union.
Mr. J. P. GRANT contended diet the terms of the Union
admitted the interposition of the Legislature if, asids lion. _
and Learned Friend had proved, it would be for the benefit of
the people of Scotland. Ile denied that this metteure was neetw
xetrily connected with any sweeping plan tat' reform ; and if he
thought it so connected, it would nest here had his support.
When it was recollected that in Scotland there did not exist one
vestige ofrepreseniation, that neither its population nor its pro.
petty was represented in that Douse, might not the occasion to
be seized with avidity of piecing die representation of one
place in such a state that the popular voice might be heard. If
in anyplace popular representation could be considered dan-
gerous, It would be so rather in England than iii Scotland, the
population in England beiugenore dense amp has instructed:
'Pile best thing which had ever been said in juetiiication of the
system of Parlitunentary,Representation which existed in Eng-
land, was-that it comprehended every poesible variety of Modes
of election, so that in tact no chess of society wateleft unrepre-
sented. This argument would not, Rinse r, apply to Scot-
land. Not (oily was there no popttlar representetion in Scot-
land, but there was no variety in the kinds of representation.
That the people of Scotland were remarkable for good.order was
a fact so generally admitted, that no apprehension of danger
could be entertained front the proposed measure. Till an int.
ptvvement in the state of its reproentation had been effected,
It was impossible to consider Scotland otherwise than as a pro-
vince or a colony. He would ask lion. Mendiets if they con-
sideeed it more desirable that the people of tieteland %tmid feel
themselves estranged from the Legislature of the country, than
that all the whole popellition of the United Kingilon should be
knit together in one common hand of eyinpathy find obedience
to a Legislature in which they were fairly and impartially
represented.
Sir O. CLERK said, that he could not but observe the great
anxiety always manifested by Hon. Gentlemen who introduced
to that House schemes of innovation with respect to the Repre-
sentation of particular places, either in Scotland or itt Ireland,
to persuade the House that the measure they peoposed was en-
tirety unconnected with the great English question of Parlia-
mentary Reform. On this occasion such tin attempt lied been
made ; hut certainly, if he might judge of the,impression made
upon others by that matte upon himself, the attempt hail in this ,
instance been merle without the least portion of maccess. He
objected to the principle altogether; for he wieeperstetaleil that
nu invasion could take place upon corporate 'lglus, either in,
Ireland or Scotland, without introducing changes in the consti-
tution of this country. No instance hurl yet occurred in which
the elective franchise had been invaded, unless upon proof of
gross venality in its exercise. He 'called upon the House tot
to udoptehe principle; for, if they did, they must in consistency
extend it, not only tp all close boroughs, but to open boroughs
also. Even the City of London could not hope to escape its
operation; fur there the elective frainchtse must be taken from
the Liverymen, and given to householders generally. There
were many populous cities and boroughs in England, that
e-Edinbuy it • and.
in oig an an in, cot 11,
mere were fortitie& by "T otaile=?;;N . •
The Honourable and Learned Gentleman hail characterised his
measure as an experiment, and he staid that if it lea to dia-
-1
orders, the House might pause before it proeeeded further.
To Innis* after having once entered upon this career might,
however, be found impossible. The lienotarable Member had
again asked it' any danger could be apprehended to the consts-
claim' from piecing the elective franchise in the bends of ti
body of men so well conducted, and generally so well educated,
us the householders of Edinburgh ? This was not his appre-
lienaion—it was, that if the principle of change were adopted,
he could not see' where they were to stop till they game u vote,
according to the wish of it great body of Reformers, to every
man of 31 years ()lege. It had been said that in Scotland there
existed nothing like popular election—he admitted the tact, and
if the whole empire was in the sante situation, no man, he
thought, could raise his voice against alteration. But as that
was not the case, he was bound to view the gitention with refe-
rence to the empire at large and to the Constitution of thet
House. This then brought on the general ettmation of reform.
viz. whether the popular feelings were sitiiietetitly represented
in Parliament. If the representatioa of Scotland was to be
judged by its effects, no part of the empire certainly. hail made
greater progress in prosperity and wealth. Ile was convinced
that the present state of things was itoeladverse to the feelings
of the people, because they had not expressed any strung fide
ing upon the subject. The petition the Noble bord had pre-
sented was precisely similar to one presented two years/woe-,
At that time the petition had been agreed to hy a meeting held
tinhetleixeptelicetaattrieo,ntootw.
iliteicalriinaggrseptietiontulelstifrtuodatit
shea‘d,erlen iii
nielgtsntitricerneteetill
of
great learning, ability and eloquence, for whom generally he
had the highest respect, these gentlemen the supporters of the
petition, thinking probably that a second meeting might not
prove equally attractive had not thought it prudent to submit
this petition, to a public meeting at all. Ile wait at I.;clinburgh
at the time of getting up the present petition, and he declared
lie never heard a word about it, and the first intimation 'be had
of it was from an advertisement imploring the inhabitants to
sign their names, as it was desirable that this petition should
have as many signatures as the last, mad complaining very much
of the lukewarmness of the people upon the, a 'abject. The
House need not therefore suppose that any anxiety was felt
upon the subject in Scotland, or that any great tlibappointmeat
would be suffered if it rejected this proposition. The Hon.
Gentleman, after at few other observations, iii which he men-
tioned the cities of Bath and Salisbury as inetearly teatmilar
situation to Edinburgh, concluded by calling tipon the Howie
to reject the proposition.
Sir R. VEROUSSON` said that the whole question resolved
itself into this, was it the constitution 'of the. House that the
Members ought to represent the people or was it nut? The
voters in boroughs were in every instance a !email anti self-
elected body, whilst in counties the great majority of elector*
consisted of persons who did not possess a sine le acre of land.
There was no such thing es popular election in Scotland, there-
tore those who thought every thing perfect in England must
think every thing imperfect in Scotland. With respect to the
feeling of the people in Scotland, he should only say, that peti.
dons, complaining Of the present mode of election, had been
presented from every place in Scotland excepting a few close
boroughe.

Sir P. Uu It DET'r confessed that he had hesitated whether
he should address the House-upon this question or nut, but his
hesitation had not certainly arisen from any indift'erenee to thy
question, still less had it arisen from any want of sympathy
with or respect for those gentlemen of great learning and talent
who had distiliguished themselves in edinburgit by their able
support of this chose ; his hesitation had rather beep produced
by an apprehention that his feeble aid might, bo thought by
than gentlemen nrnre likely to be injurious titan hens:hog to
their cause, that they might upon the principle anon tuff
a uxilio, be iather disposed to renounce his assistance. The Hon
tient. had fortilsin-u the people of Scotland with the must
cogent re.otoit and motive why they should be anxious fr.r the
success of the part nt motien, by the zeal with which he had
defended the intetixtii of the 33 Corpn.liturs of Edinburgh,
wtiont he represent •t. II is firsn and Uallant Friend Loa Ilia
that every, thing w“s iniiirrfect in Scotland,
course perfectly itintet..t.w(l 11111 Illealling, he woickt rttistit*ennii
that as a syshut nothing t ould be mote yerken !'•
of emnblitiliing exclubion i.fem the rojoynuni t of pai.l4-1,i*:‘`,141ir.4..t!2,
as a SVattill of niiiiiitnining the inonopoiy of pow_k 4_"_7l
of ahieldiug every I,tossible Abase, a more
was, the less
nut be devised by the ingenuity of Int__
zealous' in his hostility to that systet%
intrt7r7mw"' ""
the great
brought before the 14"`"' t‘tet, was nothing be
measure of l'aitattientary lit A system co