Star.
London, England, 1826-04-14 00:00:00

[PRICE S]

calumniated Magistracy. A Committee had formerly been. ap.
pointed to inquire into the conduct of that body, pnd although all
its Members except two were, taken from the HeNI. and Learned
Member's side of the House, the result of the investigation was
most triumphant to the Magistrates, for not a shadow of imputation
was cast upon their motives. If the present measure were_sanc.
tioned by the House it would be at the esp.** of a direct beach
of public faith, and a violation of the contract solemnly entered into
by the two countries in the Act of Union.

Mr. J. P. GRANT contended that the terms of the
Union admitted the interposition of the Legislature if,
as his Hon. and Learned Friend had proved, it would
be for the benefit of the people of Scotland. He denied
that this measure was necessarily connected with any
sweeping plan of reform ; and if he thought it so con-
nected, it would not have bad his support. When it
was recollected that in Scotland there did not exist sine
vestige of representation; that neither its population
nor its property was represented in that House, ought
not the occasion to be seized with avidity of placing
the representation" of one place in such a state that
the popular •oice might be heard. If in slay place
popular representation could be considered dangerous,
it would be so rather in England than in Scotland, the
population in England being more• dense and less in-
structed. The best thing which had ever been said in
justification of the system of Parliamentary represen-
tation which existed in England, was, that it compre-
hended every possible variety of modes of election, so
that in fact uo class of society was left unrepresented.
The argument would not, however, apply to Scotland.
I Not only was there no popular representation in Scot-
land, but there was no variety in the kinds of represen-
tation. That the people of Scotland Were remarkable for good
order was a fact so generally admitted, that no apprehension of dan-
ger tould be entertained from the proposed meamere. Till an im-
provement in the state of its representation had been effected, it was
impossible to consider Scotland otherwise than as a province' or
a colony. He would ash Hon. Members if they considered it more
desirable that the people of Scotland should feel themselves estranged
from the Legislature of the country, than that all the whole popu-
lation of the United Kingdom should be knit together in one com-
mon band of sympathy and obedience to a Legislature in which
they were fairly and impartially represented.
Sir G. CLERK said, that he could but observe the
great anxiety always manifested by Hon. Gentlemen
who introduced to that House schemes of innovation
with respect to the representation of particular places,
eithcr in Scotland or in Ireland, to persuade the House
that the measure they proposed wa. entirely unconnect-
ed with the great English question of Parliamentary
Reform. On this occasion such an attempt had been
made; but certainly, if he might judge of the impres-
sion made upon others by that made upon himself, the
attempt had in this instance been made without the least
portion of success. He objected to the principle alto-
gether ; for he was persuaded that no invasion could
take place upon corporate rights, either in Ireland
or Scotland, without introducing changes in the con-
stitution of this country. No instance had yet occurred
in which the elective franchise had been invaded,
unless upon proof of gross venality in its exercise.—
He called upon the House not to adopt the principle ;
for, if they did, they must in consistency extend it, not
only to all close Boroughs, but to open Boroughs also.
,Even the City of London could not hope to escape its
operation ; for there the elective franchise must be taken
from the Liverymen, and given to householders gene..
rally. There were many populous Cities and Boroughs
in England that had a much smaller number of electors
than I.dinburgh ; and if an experiment was to be made,
why not rather make it in England than in Scotland,
where the rights of the present voters were fort:fled by
the solemn compact of the Union ? The lion. and
Learned Gentleman had characterised his measure as
an experiment, and had said that if it led to disorders
the House might pause before it proceeded any further.
To pause after having once entered upon this career
might, however, be found impossible. The Honourable
Member had again asked if any danger could be appre-
hended to the Constitution from placing the elective
franchise in the hands of a body of men so well con-
ducted, and generally :dwell educated, as the house-
holders of Edinburgh? This was not his apprehension
—it was, that if the principle of change were adOpted,
he could not see where they were to stop till they gave
a vote, according to the wish of a great body of Re-
formers, to every man of 21 years of age. It had been
said that in Scotland there existed nothing bike popular
election—he admitted the fact, and if the whole empire
was in the same situation, no man, he thought, could
raise his voice against alteration. But as that was not
the case, he was bound to view the question with refer-
ence to the Empire at large, and to the Constitution of
that House. This, then, brought on the general question
of Reform, viz. whether the popular feelings were snit-
ficiently represented in Pailiament ? If the representa-
tion of Scotland was to be judged by its effects, no part
of the empire certainly had made greater progress in
prosperity and wealth. He was convinced that the
present state of things was not adverse to the feelings
of the people, because they had not expressed any strong
feelings upon the subject. The Petition the Noble Lord
had presented was precisely similar to one presented two
years age. At that time the Petition had been agreed
to by a meeting held in the Theatre, to which a great
multitude had been attracted in the expectation of hear-
ing speeches from several Gentlemen of great learning,
ability, and eloquence, for whom generally he bad the
highest respect ; those 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.
He was at Edinburgkat the time of getting up the-present Pei-
don, and he declared le never heard_ a word about it, and the best
I intimation be had ut lt 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, and complaining very
much of the lukewarmness of the people upon the subject. The
House need not therefore suppose that any anxiety was felt upon
the subject in Scotland, or that any great disappointment would be
'suffered Kit rejected this proposition. The Hon. Gentleman, after
a few other observations, in which be mentioned the dties of Bath
and Salisbury as in nearly a similar situation to Kalahneck, con.
eluded by calling upon the House to reject the proposition.
Sir R. FERGUSSON said the whole question re-
solved itself into this, was it the 'constitution of this
House that the Members ought to represent the people
or was it not? The voters in boroughs were in every
instance a small and self-elected body, whilst in cyan-
.ties the great nsajotity of electors consisted of perstais
who did not possess a single. acre of land. There was
no
seek thing as popular election is tisetissd, therefore thole who
thought every thing perfect in England must think evert thing iku-