SCOTLAND.
Mr, Oswald's reply to the requisition inviting him to come forward is a candidate for Glasgow was published on 20th instant, in the form of an address to the electors. Mr. Oswald put forth the following ex- position of his political creed— "1 'night refer to my votes, when I bad the honour to be in Parliament, as proofs of my political principles ; but mach has lately occurred to dissatisfy Ilefineners with the present situation of public affairs ; and it may be neces- fur me to state, that I am opposed to the doctrine of Finality, and dissa- tisfied with the present Ministers of the Crown, and that I would not support them in their halting policy—on the contrary, would oppose them in every instance of their resisting the progress of Reform. " The ingenuity practised upon the Reform Act, and the unthir and expen- sive manner in which it is worked, have destroyed its usefulness, and made its Registratiou Courts a nuisance thronghont the country. Not only are the dependents of particular persons admitted to the roll upon fictitious qualifica- tions, to a greater extent than under the old corrupt system, but ninny persons fiirly entitled to enrolment are excluded by tricks and quibbling objections, which have received too much countenance, while rapidly increasing classes of the community are altogether excluded, whose intelligence and cautious moderation fully qualify them for the franchise. These are evils which de- mand immediate attention, and require a thorough remedy. Reformers, how- ever, are not agreed upon the details of that remedy, and it would be pre- sumptuous in me to suggest one ; but I would support and promote every measure which might tend- to correct Rime alarming evils, and make the House of Commons what it should he, a full amid fhir representation of the People— not of castes or parties—under the conviction that the more the Government rests upon and trusts the People, the safer and more secure would be all our institutions. inn in favour of the Ballot, of Triennial Parliaments, and of a total abolition of the Corn-laws, and all other restrictions on trade.
" My opinions against granting further endowments to the Church, and against all measures injurious to Dissenters from the Establishment, have been eVatirmed and strengthened by recent events.
" And, in general, 1 would promote the cause of the People, and would aid every measure which might protect them from aristocratical dmnination, afford them the means of religious and moral instruction, increase their comforte, and raise them higher in the scale of society."
Oa Friday the 21st, Mr. Oswald attended a meeting* of elec- tors in the 'Trades huh. Mr. Alexander Johnston, the Chairman, .announced that Mr. Oswald was ready to answer any question that might be put to him. After a pause, Mr. MaLellan asked Mr.
Os.. didto explain his views on the extension of the suffrage, a little further than he had done in his address. Mr. Oswald said he was glad of " an opportunity of elplaining distinctly his opinions on that sui.j set"— '1 will begin by stating, that I am favourable to the principle of extension of the suffrage—that I believe there will he an extension, and a very large extension of the suffrage ; but if the gentleman who put this question wishes to know from me what is my 011111h/11 as to any proposition that may now lie mink rela- tive to an extension of the suffrage, I will frankly state, that do not think this a good time to push the question—that it will be playing the game of the Tories ti do so, frighten the timid, and will impede instead of thrwarding the cause of Reform. s( Cheers and disapprnhatinn.) T _ want to be explleit on the sulject. With regard to what my opinion inay be at a future time, I think, gentlemen, you would not wish tue to come forward and pledge myself to any distinct and explicit line of conduct, as circumstances may tend materially to alter a man's opmion. But that there may be no doubt on your minds, I state again that 1 am quite in favour on principle of an extension of the suffrage ; I do not think, however, this is a good time to push the question." (('heers, -and some disiffrobation.)
Mr. 3I•Lellan asked whether Mr. Oswald would have supported Sir Hedieth Fleetwood's motion ?
Mr. Oswald replied— Alter what I have stated, it would be improper in me not to express dis- tinctly my sentiments on this subject. I think this is not the time to push that question. If J had been in the House of Conimons 1 should have felt it my duty to oppose the motion." (('heers and disailvabation.)
A committee was appointed to manage Mr. Oswald's election. Mr. Oswald returned thanks for the honour ; and then
Mr. A. Bannatsme said, it occurred to hint that there was some mis- understandino• ot Mr. Oswald's views respecting the extension of the suffrage ; and to bring these out, he would put another question to Mr. Oswaid, no that the meeting might have Mr. Oswald's reasons for his disapproval of Sir Hesketh Fleetwood's motion- " In stating that, had he been in Parliament, he wonld have found it neces- sary to vote ngainst that metion, does Mr. Oswald menu that he has any dis- trust of the classes to whom it was then proposed to extend the franchise ; or does his disinclination to vote for that extension arise from a fear that he might thereby injure ileum ? Mr. Oswald has already expressed his desire to ex- tend the lianchise on principle, hut states his flair that this, in the mean time, umild act unfavourably on the cause of Reform : now, I wish to know, if his answer arises from any di;inclinatinn to give the franeldse to that class, or limn a fear that such a proposal would be unfavourable to the Reform cause:" Mr. Oswald said— /shall answer the question explicitly. My objertinn to that motion is, -that I consider, under the present circumstances of the country, it would damoye the cause of liesprm. It dues not arise from any desire not to trust that class with the franchise, bemuse 1 would trust inuel larger classes with the franchise." ((,'reat cheering.)
Thanks were voted to the Chairman, and the meeting separated. On Monday the election took place. No Tory candidate offered himself; but Mr. Feargus O'Connor appeared on the hustings. Mr. Oswald was proposed by Mr. Fleming, and seconded by Mr. A. John- ston. Mr. O'Connor was proposed and seconded by two of his friends ; and then Mr. Oswald addressed the electors. Ain he attempted to explain his opinion on the extension of suffrage-
- wagons point particularly on which, it appeared, the language he -had employed in his printed address had not been clearly understood. He • Alluded -to the suffrage. Ile was convinced that large bodies of the people snow excluded from the elective franchise were entitled to obtain it, and more- over, that through the exercise of good sense, moderation, and intelligence, they would obtain it. So far from being opposed to an extension of the suffrage, he would support it; but he was satisfied that this was not the time for agitating the question. There were two extreme parties in the country at the present time—those who were called Tories on the one hand, those who • called for Universal Suffrage on the other. He would adopt a middle course. He would not attempt impossibilities ; he would not strive after what was im- practicable. He considered the Ballot the first point to be pushed, as there was a nearer and a better prospect of carrying that point than any more extensive reform, and because, the Ballot obtained, a way would be opened for every other improvement. He would counsel the friends of an extended suffrage to mode- ration, as that which would enable them to enlighten their opponents, while the adoption of a violent course would only rivet the hostile feeling now existing."
The show of hands was in Mr. O'Connor's favour ; but on a poll being demanded for Mr. Oswald, O'Connor retired, and Oswald was declared duly elected.
[At length, in the passages marked in Italics in Mr. Oswald's hust- ings speech, there is a dim glimmering of a reason for the refitsal to extend the elective franchise. But still there is a medal deficiency of clear explanation. We are bound to believe that Mr. Oswald has a cogent and clear reason for stopping short in a movement in which even old Whigs, like Mr. Denison, are ready to join, and which, it was gene- rally believed, Ministers themselves were at one tune prepared to lead. But, though he declares, with almost ludicrous iteration, that he will be explicit in his reasons, his explanation amounts to nothing more than that it is not, in his opinion, the time for agitating the question—as if he had said, "I think so because it is my opinion." Why is it not the time? A reply to that question is still wanting. "There were two extreme parties in the country at the present time." At what time will there not be extreme parties? Mr. Oswald- "would not strive after what is impracticable," and therefore supports the Ballot and opposes Suffrage-extension. Is the one more attainable than the other ? Are not both at the present time impracticable—that is to say unattainable, and one quite as much so as the other? Look at the last Ballot-division, and the no prospect of materially increasing it. On Mr. Oswald's principle the utmost liberality of opinion is compatible with pethet slavishness in action. It is only necessary to profess Re- form opinions, with the reservation that they are to be opposed by votes, until some future and unmentionable time shall arrive for maintaining them in deed as well as word. No wonder that dissatisfaction and dis- trust with the representatives of the enfranchised classes pervade the masses, when they find it impossible to obtain an intelligible exposition of opinion on a leading question in politics, even from a man so indivi- dually honest as Mr.- Oswald.]
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