REFORM versus RIOT.
TO TEE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.
Glasgow, 24th September 1831.
Sta—In reference to the letter in your last week's paper as to the Scotch Election Riots, I feel impelled to make a few observations. Your correspon- dent represents himself as, and he no doubt is, a friend to the great mea- sure at present before the Legislature ; but, like many of its imprudent friends, he is taking the sure mode of doing it more injury than its real op- ponents. Reform and Riot are very far from'being convertible terms ; and it would be well were the friends of the former ever found ranking as the warmest supporters of peace and good order, and not, like your corre- spondent, extenuating and justifying gross violations of the public peace and of personal freedom. A Reformer myself, I have no right to force my opinions on others; and, however much I may regret that I differ from my friends, I hold them just as much entitled to assume and defend opi- nions as I myself am entitled. The cause will gain nothing by threats and intimidation, but only, like all good causes, by the steady advancement of truth and sober reason. Let us address the reason and good sense of the public, and not speak to their passions. It is true that at Dumbarton a retired, and at Ayr a present Judge of the Court of Session, used their undoubted privilege of voting; but I am quite at a loss to understand how either event could cause or justify the riots ; and unfortunately for your correspondent's arguments, the attacks were not directed chiefly against either of these individuals, but against others—and at Ayr against the constituted authorities, who had no con- cern with the election.
Your correspondent much understates the riots in every place. I can speak more precisely to Dumbarton ; and there I know it to he the gene- ral opinion, that had it not been for the timely interference of a party of shipwrights, the young nobleman who was the successful candidate would have had his life sacrificed to his success.
I am quite disposed to allow much for the high excitement of the pub- lic feeling at the time, but I deprecate the idea of any justification of riot. We must not do evil that good may come. The rule is long ex- ploded, that in any case can the lawful ends justify the criminal means.
I am sure your love of impartiality will afford space in your columns for these remarks from
A LOVER OF REFORM, BUT MORE A LOVER OF GOOD ORDER.
[We willingly give place to the above, although we are not aware that our correspondent's remarks are affected by it. The important facts communicated by him remain uncontradicted. He did not assert that the excitement of the people was directed against the Judges, who so im- properly interfered in the elections. The candidates and their friends are uniformly, and naturally, on such occasions, the parties who suffer the most.
Neither we nor "Fiat Justitia" defended riotous proceedings; but we believe our correspondent to be in the right when he states, that the riots in Scotland were far more trifling than was represented, and that some great soul-stirring cause existed at every place where strong symp- toms of dissatisfaction on the part of the people were manifested.—ED.1
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