Politics & government > Speech of Lord Belhaven, in the Scotch parliament, at the making of the union

*6 Lord Belhaven's Speech,
h< re ; they kept themfelves quiet during our corr 1
plaints upon that head. In which time, our Sove
i gn, to fatisfy the nation, and allay their heat:
did condefcend to give us fome good laws, and {
mcr.gft others that of perfonal liberty, and that c ' '
peace and war ; but England having declared theip
fucceffion, and extended their entail, without eve f
taking notice of us, our gracious Sovereign Qoee: •“
Anne, was gracioufiy pleafed to give her royal al1
fe;:t to an Adtof Security, and to give us a iiedg r
to all our facred and civil interefls, by declaring i“;
high treafon to endeavour the alteration of them a '-
they were then eftablifhed. Thereupon did folio^ ^
the threatening and minatory laws agaiuft us by th I"
Parliament of England, and the unjuft ahd unequal
character of what her Majefty had io gracioufly cot.'i
defeended to in our favours. Now, my Lard, whe w
ther the deflre they had, to have us engaged in thi|\
fame fucceflion with them; or whether that theji
found us, like a free independent people^ breathing
after more liberty than what was forraeriy iookeci^
after; or whether they were afraid of our Adi on
Security, in cafe of her Majefty’s deceafe ; which
of all thefe motives has induced them to a treaty, i
leave it to themfclves : This I muft fay only, Theyr
have made a good bargain this time alfo.
For the particular motives that induced us, 1
think they are obvious to be known. We foundJ1
by fad experience, that every man hath advanced im
power and riches as they have done in trade : Andj"
at the fame time, that no where through che world*
fl ves are found to be rich, though they ihould bei“
adorned with chains of Gold ; we thereupon chan4''
ged our notion of an incorporating union to that of]
a cederal one ; and, being refolved to take this op4t
portunity to make demands upon them, before we|