The leading Liberals of Edinburgh propose that the approaching vacancy
in the representation of that city shall be filled up by the return of Mr. Macaulay. In the peculiar relation established between Mr. Macaulay and the Edinburgh constituency by his re- jection at last election, they do not expect him to solicit their suf- frages : they propose to nominate, canvass for, and obtain his re- turn, upon the simple assurance of one of his friends that if elected he will accept the seat so offered to him. This movement, if suc- cessful, will be a gratifying illustration of the growth, or rather the revival, of a sense of the true duties and privileges of electors among the Edinburgh Liberals. There can be no doubt that the political opinions and sentiments of Mr. Macaulay accord with their own. It is admitted on all hands that the talents and ac- complishments of Mr. Macaulay render him a most efficient advo- cate of his and their common views. He was rejected at last election by a constituency which approved of the general course he had pursued, partly because some were discontented with his vote on one purely local qutstion, partly because some thought his tone had not been sufficiently deferential and submissive in his intercourse with them ; and his exclusion divas effected by a combination of men of the most opposite principles, and os- tensibly on the ground of Mr. Macaulay's support of the grant to Maynooth,—a miserable objection in any circumstances, and a false pretext in his ease, since many who voted against him voted for Sir William Gibson Craig, who equally supported the Maynooth grant. By such conduct the electors of Edinburgh violated their duties as electors, inasmuch as, to gratify narrow sectarian spleen or private pique, they substituted an inferior for a more eligible member of the Legislature. On public) grounds, therefore, as a testimony to the true principles of representation, irrespective of Mr. Macaulay's personal claims and,feelings, it is to be hoped that the movement of his Edinburgh admirers• may succeed. It is honourable to a constituency to offer their suffrages to the best man, instead of waiting to be solicited by him ; and there is true magnanimity in confessing an error or fault by re- pairing it.
