SCOTLAND.
A meeting of the Glasgow Anti-Corn-law Association was held on Thursday week, for the purpose of giving expression to their sentiments in respect to the present condition of the country. The greatest alarm was felt at the probable operation of the new American tariff. Mr. Alexander Graham described the feeling, and made a practical suggestion— A feeling of dismay at the consummation of this measure was now very generally diffused through the manufacturing interests of the country ; and it only required that a fuller conception of the ruinous consequences likely to follow should be obtained, in order that this feeling should be still more widely extended. It had been stated by one gentleman intimately acquainted with the American trade, that our exports to that country would be reduced from eleven to two millions. Now, if they took nine millions out of our present exports, they might easily figure what would be the consequence ! Why, our produc- tion would rise upon us like an inundation, and drown us. Even the half of that amount taken from our exports would produce consequences which it was impossible to calculate. It appeared to him that the public feeling was so strong upon this subject that it ought to be taken advantage of—that a movement for a public meeting should instantly take place, specially calling the attention of the Legislature to the American tariff, and urging upon them to make an ap- proach to the American Government with an offer for the reception of their agricultural produce on such terms as it ought to be admitted into this coun- try; and he had no doubt that if such a proposal was made by our own Govern- ment, the new tariff would be repealed in America.
Mr. Graham condemned Mr. Pattison's proposal of a retaliatory im- port-tax on cotton—
He might here refer to a most absurd proposal which had appeared in the papers of that day, that, in retaliation, we should put 2d. a pound on the im- portation of American cottons. This impost was not even proposed to be re- lieved by a drawback : it would be an annihilation of the export-trade of this -country, and would enable every foreign country to compete with us in the market. Even the Portuguese and the Spaniards, if we give them a bonus of 2d. a pound on cotton, would beat us in all the markets of the world.
Councillor Anderson, as a manufacturer, bore testimony to the im- portance of the trade of the United States to Glasgow—
For several years past, but for the trade with the United States we would have had comparatively little to do in the winter-months. During last winter, we were accustomed to congratulate ourselves in Glasgow that we were not in so bad a position as Paisley : but he was satisfied that, had it not been for the trade with the United States market, Glasgow would have been in a condition worse than even that of Paisley ; and he looked forward with considerable alarm to the approaching winter, in consequence of the operation of the new American tariff.
Mr. Thomas Davidson proposed a series of resolutions, which ascribed -the present perilous condition of the country, and the late disturbances, to the continuance of the landlord's monopoly ; avowed that the new Corn-law and Tariff would not afford material relief; declared that the existence of the monopolies such as that in question had awakened the jealousy of foreign countries ; insisted that class-legislation should be abolished, by giving all classes and interests a fair share of influence in the representation ; and acknowledged the valuable services of the
• Manchester Anti-Corn-law League. The resolutions were carried unanimously.
The military stationed in Airdrie for some weeks past were removed -on the 22d. On that day several persons were apprehended on charges of breaking the contract with their employers or intimidating other -hands, and brought by some constables or sheriff-officers to Airdrie. Seeing that the military were now absent, the colliers turned out in great nnmbers, and determined to rescue them. The house in which the officers of the law took refuge was gutted. Several shots were fired on both sides, but happily no lives were lost. The Riot Act was read by the Magistrates, but they had no force to back them, and the pri- soners were rescued. The Sheriff and a troop of dragoons were sent for by express to Glasgow ; but by the time they arrived the rioters had dispersed, and the town was quiet. Five persons, however, were sub- sequently arrested.
A serious disturbance took place at Gowkshill, in the parish of New- battle, last week. Suspicion was first aroused by some men being seen at one o'clock on the morning of Saturday coming out of a potato-field. On attempting to seize two of the party, Falconer, a constable, was knocked down by the rest, who came to their rescue. He contrived, however, to retain his hold of his prisoner; and the man was secured in the house of a neighbouring farmer, while Macpherson, another Police- man, was set to guard him ; and Falconer went to obtain assistance, in order to secure the rest of the party. On his return to the cottage shortly after, he found two hundred colliers assembled ; who attacked him with bludgeons, and nearly knocked him down. He had scarcely recovered himself, when a woman struck him on the breast with a stone, and he fell among the crowd, by whom he was nearly trampled to death ; but he got free, and gained a neighbouring field, where he lay a long time senseless. While some of 'the mob attacked Falconer, the remainder broke open the house where their companion was con- fined; and Macpherson, in attempting to resist, was wounded on the head and knocked senseless to the ground. The prisoner escaped. The movement becoming formidable, the military were called out : the first detachment, consisting of twenty-five Enniskillen Dragoons, proved too weak to restore quiet ; one hundred men of the Fifty-third In- fantry came to their aid ; and some of the delegates of the more dis- tant collieries being taken, the tumult was quelled.
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