Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-11-11


ses, and their barbarous privileges. Both
countries are unwillingto trespass in any de-
gree beyond this act OF settlement. The En-
glish under the apprehension of exciting jea-
lousies. and the Scotch under the fear that
one act, made for the purpose of improve
ment, might become the precedent tor dis
pensing at pleasure with their ancient sys-
TEN, and for regulating them into strict con-
formity with the notions Of British admins
.ration.
1t is under this feeling that the Scottish ad.
ministration, at the present day, exhibits all
the abuses of the reign of James the Fist
The representation is completely in the hands
of the crown. The counties are little better
than close botoughs The corporations and
town officers are all nominees by the crown
and magistracy. public meeting called by
authority, against the pleasure of the lord
provost or president, is impossible. 10
word, Scotland, and every county and town
in Scotland, is as much and as despotlcal'y
under The crown and the ministry of the day,
as Hanover is under the regent and count
Munster and public meeting in Scotland
is as ominous 10 the state and government, as
would be public meeting in Hanover it.
self
Such, therefore, is the real character OF the
public meetings actually called AMI about to
be called in Scotland; and so different is
their character from things of the same kind
in England. This observation necessarily
leads TO two differences In the first place,
that il must be very general, and most in
tense kind of distress, which can provoke
meetings against such restraints, and in des-
pte of the long habits of the country; and,
secondly, that such meetings have more
than ordinary danger. In the one case, the
Scotch have burst forth into the expression OF
their disContents, in despite Of their hablual
respect, and, what is more, of the strong
present power OF their governors and magls- |
tracy. Under the second points Of view,
their very act of meeting-their bringing
themselves to meet, has character which |
does not belong 10 the same act amongst |
their southern neighbors. 1t is more like the
meeting of q disciplined body than The angry |
and loquacious assemblies of those accustom-
ed to political passions. 1t is like a meeting
of the servants of governmental council OF
soldiers and sailors, always accustomed to be |
passive and obey, but at length agreeing TO
meet and discuss their grievances.
We have never, we trust, been amongst |
those persons who, either wantonly, or Tor
the purpose of exciting the drowsy feelings
of others, by creating circumstances OF alarm,
have endeayored to give things an exagge-
rated magnitude not belonging to them but
we certainly do think, that more is to be ap.
pretended from the present state OF the po-
pular mind in Scotland than in Eng land
We will cerlaainly not allow our northern
brethren to have stouter hearts, nor more
powerful hands. than our own peasantry-
but they have certain habits of body & mind,
of acting and suffering, which would, UNI
questionably render them more troublesome |
to government. They are in the neighbor-
hood of a population as discontinued as them |
selves. Generally speaking, they are har-
der set of men and when they are brought
to associate, and to act together, they cehere
more firmly and intimately than such assem-
biies among Ourselves They have naturally |
a propensity to clan and swarm, and covey |
together, which (in any cause that should
generally excite their PASSIONS would render
them very formidable.
As to the cause of this i'll spirit in Scotland,
il proceeds from the same state OF circum-
stances as amongst ourselves. Paisley, GIas
gov, and all the commercial towns, neCes-
sarily shared in the commercial prosperity
induced by the late war For the first fifteen
years, they supplied America, who furnished
the whole world. In the concluding tour OF
FIVE years, they Immediately supplied all Eu-
rope, too much engaged in war to work for
herself, and, therefore. seeking all she want
ed from that ally who could supply her. The
resumption of their own manufacturing estab-
lishmcHtS, by all the continental nations, has |
cut off proportionate demand from the ma
nufacturers of Glasgow and Paisley. During
the war, by the natural effect OF abundance
upon population, the inhabitants of Paisley,