The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-08-09

ALrrY.-While all England is engrossed
by the war with Russit, an agitation has
begun within her own borders, which.
though as yet almost ignored 10y the pub
lie press, is destined TO produce great and
per uancnt results. We allulc to the for
nation ola National Association in ELn-
burgh for the vindication of Scottish
rights.
The union Of Scotland with England,
consummated in 1907, though conterring
many benefits on The smaller Of the two
kingdoms, p!aced'it under some serious
Disadvantages. The sprincipaI Of these
was, that by transferring t meetings of
Parliament IL London, the government
came TO be administered too exclusively
with references to Eaglish interests. This
evil was furt er increased 10y the compar-
atively small proportion Which the Scot
tish members bore to the English ones, by
the pr,.judicesin England az ,inSt Scot
land, aud by the iu!eriority of the latter
in wealth, and consequent inaaence.
We select two extracts out Of many to
show the injustice under which Scotland
suffers. Scotland sends to the House OF
Commons 3 members, of whom 30 are
for the counties and 23 for the towns.
Now, ifScotland was represented accord
ing to her population, as fully as England,
she would have 63 members, or it taxa.
tion was made the basis of representation,
she ought 10 have 70. \ gain, the reven-
Tie Of Scotland for 1853 WAS about thirty
one million dollars, Of whic Ouly aboIt
two millions was expended in Scotland,
lea ing twenty-niue millions TRANSMITTED to
England, to he spentIon imperial purpos
es. The revenue Of Ireland, for the same
year, was tewniy millions, of which IN ,re
tnan nineteen millioDs WAS expended in
Ireland. These crying evils have at last
attracted the attention ofthe Scottish peo-
pie, who have begun. 10 consequence. with
out dis in .tion ofparty, toagitite for re-
form. A society hat been formed, an AL.
dress issued, and PREPARATIONS made for a
general league. Mpen we consiler that
Aiiison, the historian, Lord Esliesoaa
-aHcEottcr 4.ssdie-- aAssiSAkl with
the most influential Of the Scottish whigs
III inauyurati ~ t,is movement, we may
safely pronounce that the agitation will
neither be short-livcd nor Intellectual.
Some Of the more thorough Scotch pa
trio,s, according 10 the North British Re-
view will not he satisfied, however, mere
" with the reform in the evils we have
described. They consider thLt this wouli
only afford temporary relief. They wish
20 correct the cause os these disorders, and
for this purpose demand the creation Of
local legislatures, with an Imperial Par.
Iiament over all, on a plan similar to the
State Assemblies and Congress oi this re-
public. We have no doubt that such a
change would be best for all concerned.
Nor, improbable s it now seems, rs this
radical reform altogether viSio AIRY. Be
lieving, a. we do, that the fc,lerative sys-
TEN is the perfection OF existing political
science, we cannot but think that all gov
ernments, in proportion as they approach
to excellence, will eliminate towards it.
Meantime we shall keep an eye to this
Scottish move ent, which has in it, if we
do not err. the seeds Of mighty changes.
-PhiLI. Ledgcr.