DEFEAT OF THE LIBERALS IN PERTHSHIRE. TO TIIE EDITOR OF
THE SPECTATOR.
Stnohmore. 8th August 1837.
Stmt—As a good deal of misapprehension exists as to the causes of Mr. Mar 1.E's defeat in the county of Perth, I beg leave to explain very shortly, what appears to me to have brought about that event. The causes may he all referred to three heads,—first, the corrupt practices of the Tories; secmul. the cry that the Church is in danger ; arid thirdly, dissatis• tion at the conduct of the Ministry. As to the first of these head i
s, t is well known to every one in the county, that money, promises, threats, and intimidation, were an resat ted to, with no sparing hand, and in too many cases with success. In a constituency coin- posed as that of Perthshire is, this need not excite surprise ; and until the Ballot be obtaimsl, it will always prove detrimental to the popular candidate. The second cause—the cry of the Church in danger—did much damage: and so long as the great mass of the people are so ill. informed as not to be able to dis- cern the difference betwixt the Church in danger, and danger to the abuses of the Church, it will always prove a powerful engine in the bandsof unscrupulous mem to bear upon the narrow-minded, ignorant, and bigoted, however well-meaning
And I may here observe, that the clergy of the Established Church,
almost to a man, are inlisted in the cause of Toryism; and most industriously did they fan the flame. In the district in which I reside, one of these reverend gentlemen openly declared on various occasions, that whoever voted for Mr. MA VLF: was " an enemy to the Church of Christ :" and another. who for months past has from sickness been unable to perform the duties of his sacred office, yet found strength upon the second day of the polling to travel several miles to Blairgowrie, there to record his vote in favour of Srortnostz and Toryism.
The third, and I believe not the least important cause, is the conduct of the
MELnoultNE Administration. Every man niust remember, that during the last session of Parliament, upon many occasions the steadiest and most consistent of the People's friends were treated with coolness and indifference, almost amount- ing to contempt, by that Guverntnent which could not Laity a single measure without their support; and which, on these occasions at least, was sure of the cheers and applause of every Tory present. We all know the manner in which the question of the Ballot was treated; a measure on which any set of men less shortsighted than Whip must have seen that the people had set their hearts. I need not remind you that the shortening of Parliaments, and many other questions of vital importance, met with no better fate. At the same time that this course was pursued to their friends, every motion and sug- gestion loon the Tory camp was heated with the utmost attention and respects Thus were their friends disgusted, and their enemies not conciliated.
The present is no time for concealing the truth, that many an honest Re-
Ihrnier and zealous friend, when they saw the 'fury Lord Hits and the more Tory Lord Ferz 'toy SOMERSET, to the disgrace of the Ministry, continued in the command and management of the Army, and patronage and situations of every Lint' bestowed upon enemies rather than friends, d'oubted of their sin- cerity, and began to suspect that it was merely the love of place for themselvor, and not is sin sere wish to forward the cause of the People, by which the Mini-try was actuated.
Such are the combined causes of our disattrous defeat. I would go on to suggest warnings arid remedies for the future; but I am afraid they would hardly be regarded at present. An opportunity has been lost which may never be regained : at the beginning of a young reign, we are entering upon a Sep- tennial Parliament, with an almost Tory House of Commons; and, unless from external accidents, there will be no impulse to the progress of Representa- tive Reform for a long time to come.
A FILEP.UOLDER OF PERTHSHIRE.
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