The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-01-22 00:00:00

ELECTION OF SCOTS REPRESENTATIVE PEERS.

The Peers of Scotland have shown themselves worthy
of their name and station—they have given the best
answer to those who level sarcasms against the political
independence of that noble nation ; they have scorned
the threats, and baffled the intrigues of a mean and tyran-
nous Government, and have sent to the Imperial House
of Lords, as their Representatives, men whom that Gov-
ernment cannot command nor influence. But it is said
they have decided differently from the bulk of the people,
who have returned representatives to the Lower House
of Parliament friendly to the Government. Be it so—
they have thought differently from the mass of the people,
and who will deny that their opportunities of coming to a
right judgment upon political affairs have been better
than those of the mass of the people ? The mass of the
people of Scotland have come suddenly into the exercise
of a new power, which the people of greatest intelligence
and property in the country thought they would have
been better without. Whether they were right or no,
will appear some years hence, when the progress of the
kingdom can be compared with its mighty advancement
under the system now designated as the worst possible—
as a system for the gain of a few at the expense of the
many. But the populace having suddenly acquired this
power, it is no wonder that they should exercise it with
that passion which distinguishes the populace—they were
resolved to have their revenge against those who were
(for /their good) opposed to giving them the elective
power, and they voted against them.
The Peers of Scotland had no such motive for their
votes—they reviewed political affairs as able and experi-
enced men—they saw the danger of the policy of the
present administration, and they have returned represen-
tatives who will oppose it.
This plain following of their understanding in the ex-
ercise of their right, heedless alike of Government influ-
ence and popular clamour, has called forth the virulent
abuse of men whose nature is so constituted that they can
shift and turn always to the successful side, and who are
gifted with a wonderful facility of perceiving the wisdom
and excellence of the more powerful party. "The peo-
ple think so and so," say they—" the Government think
so and so—how iniquitous that the Scotch peers should
think differently, or, if they do think differently, how mad
are they to act as they think—why do they not bow down
and worship the powers that be, no matter how their sto-
machs revolt at it ? We would not hesitate to do as
much, nor ought they." '
The spirit and the honesty of the Peers of Scotland will
enable them rather to bear the abusive reproaches of those
who thus teach, than to follow such advice.—Albion.

The election of the whole sixteen peers of Scotland,
from the conservative body, notwithstanding the most ac-
tive and industrious exertions of the ministry, bas natu-
rally provoked considerable resentment from the govern-
ment writers.

The unprecedented exclusion of every ministerial can-
didate, without a single exception, were, by itself, a se-
vere practical censure upon the administration foiled;
but the result of this election becomes infinitely more im-
portant as the testimony of a class. The House of Lords
may be nothing, it is nothing We admit in its corporate
character, it is a far less important body sitting at West-
minster than the Conunou Council sitting at Guildhall.

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