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Kay's Originals Vol. 2

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372 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Council agreeing to pay eleven hundred pounds of law expenses, all further proceedings terminated. Having obtained some reputation as a zealous friend to popular measures, the Deacon of the Tailors was chosen one of the Committee for managing the contest with the city; and, at next election (5th October ISIS), was triumphantly returned a member of the Council. The Scotsman, then a young journal, delighted with the spirit displayed by the trades, gave vent to its joy in the following strain .- “ We confess we have done wrong in omitting to express our approbation of the spirited and prudent conduct of the Incorporation of Tailors, during the late struggle for the independence of the trades. The members of this Incorporation were resolved not to be foiled by the minions of the Council ; they calmly formed their plan, and resolutely carried it into execution, by sending to the c,ouncil a list of six staunch friends to a moderate and practical reform. Our wise councillors and liberal magistrates, as usual, struck off the names of those most hostile to self-election ; but in this case they could not succeed, for all the six were right truly and well-beloved by the Corporation, and they could not prevent the return of an independent Tepresentative in the person of DEACONR oss.” The popularity of the Deacon was short-lived At the first meeting of Council following the election, Deacon Paterson:-a zealous practical reformerbrought forward a motion, the nature of which he fully explained in his remarks: -(‘ It appeared to him that the leading duty of the Council, either as individuals or as a body, was to manage well the city funds ; bnt he was, at the same time, at a loss to understand how any man, or set of men, could manage properly a fund of which they were ignorant-ignorant of its nature-ignorant of its extent-and ignorant of a thousand circumstances with which it might be connected or involved. He therefore begged leave to move-that the proper person or persons be directed to lay before the Council a state of the debt due by the city, stating to whom such debts are due ; the periods at which they were contracted, and whether they are for moneys lent, or for services done to the city.” This motion, seconded by Deacon Gillespie,’ was opposed by the Lord Provost (Kincaid Mackenzie, Esq.), who asserted that the funds of the city were in a flourishing condition ; and that there was no necessity for the state demanded, as the books were daily open for inspection in the Chamberlain’s Office.4 On this understanding Deacon Paterson consented for the time to withdraw his motion. On Wednesday the 4th of Xovember, however, he again pressed the subject on the attention of the Council. He said that, in going to the Chamberlain’s office, he well knew he had been sent a “wild goose chase,” the voluminous According to the old system of electing trades’ councillops, each Incorporation sent a list containing the names of six individuals. The Magistrates and Councillon had the privilege of what waa called “ shortening the leet,” by cutting off three of the most objectionable candidatea ; and from the remainder the Corporation chose their representative. Mr. Jams Paterson, katahmaker, High Street. Mr. Alexander Gillespie, Deacon of the Incorporation of Surgeons. It is due to Provost Mackenzie to state, that he waa the h t who proposed to publish, for the He waa then Deacon of the Hammermen. use of the public in general, a full statement of the city’s affairs.
Volume 9 Page 496
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