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    Amid increasing excitement " the House resumed , the Speaker took the chair , and Mr . Bouverie formally reported the words to the House . The Speaker informed Mr . Duffy , in reply to a question asking for information , that he was expected either to retract or explain the words . After a pause , Mr . Duffy , said"It will be in the recollection " of the House that . the statement I made was this—that though I had been only a short time in this House I believed I had observed corruption practised to influence the votes of Irish members of a character practised by former Ministries which were

    familiar to hon . members . I am called upon for an explanation . If this House thinks proper to give me a committee I will lay before the committee the facts that influence my mind in coming to that conclusion . ( Hear , hear . ) I do not know whether it is quite reasonable to expect that in this hurried manner I should go into any statement of facts . But this I will certainly say , that the statement I made I have substantial grounds for believing- ; and that being the case , I can only offer such proof as influences my own mind . ( Hear , hear . ) But as I am about to withdraw , I do not think it is quite reasonable to expect me to proceed further without notice . "

    The honourable member then withdrew . After he had left the House , Lord Joira Russell having hinted that some person unconnected with the Government should suggest the proper course , Mr . Disraeli thought that Mr . Duffy should be formally asked to name the persons charged with corruption , and that then a committee should be appointed to inquire into tlie subject . Mr . Stuart Woetley advised that Mr . Duffy should not be called on hastily to make such grave charges . The House should require him , when in a fitting state of mind , either to retract the charges , or in a manly , bold , and constitutional manner , to move himself for a committee . Mr . Wortley then moved that Mr . Duffy ' s lanf uao-e " should be taken into c onsideration at four o ' clock on Friday . "

    Mr . Brigiit approved of the motion . He hoped that after Mr . Duffy had slept on the matter he wonld give a full and satisfactory explanation . Mr . V . Scully approved of Mr . Disraeli ' s suggestion . Mr . Duffy nhould be called upon at once to " name . " Lord John Russell supported Mr . Wortley's motion . To appoint a committee without gtfod grounds would be unjust . With earnestness and great tact Mr . Serjeant Shee explained Mr . Duffy ' s words . He said" Mr . Duffy has only been a short time a ¦ member of this House . He came into it a member of a party sixty or seventy strong , pledged , as he believed , by every assurance that could bind men together in political life , to

    oppose every Government —( great laughter and uproar . ) Do let me speak ( he proceeded with great vehemence and indignation )—do let mo submit to the justice and generosity of English gentlemen , whether it is right to interrupt a man in the middle of a sentence , and to put a meaning on his words which those who hear thorn know that they arc not intended to convey . ( Cheers . ) I repeat it—a party sixty or seventy strong—( fifty , fifty)—well , let it bo fifty—pledged to oppose every Government which did not support certain measures which the honourable member , and , lot me add , a great majority of his countrymen , deemed essential to the interests of their country . ( Loud cheers . ) Now , I ask the House to consider what I

    suggested , that corruption may bo by ofllce , us well as by niorioy . ( Partial but vehement cheering . ) Now , let us see , then , if we cannot find a meaning for these words , which impute no personal dishonour to my friends opposite , in any sense ! in which they would understand it as dishonour , ( great laughter ) but which may , in the sense in which the hon . member used them , imply a sort of corruption practised in the days of Walpolo and Pelham . During ( lie curly purl , of Huh session , when the right hon . member for Ducks was in ofliee , that party , fifty or sixty si rong , went as one man—we went together into the lobby and overthrew ( lie Government . ( Loud cheers . ) The next day the ( jlovornnient wan changed , and office given

    to soiiK ! of the members of that Irish parly . Now , I do not sliure miuiy ofllie opinions of the honourable member for New Ross , and 1 do not take , bo determined a view of Irish politics as ho rimy legitimately and naturally do . 1 inn 0110 of those who think that the two hon . gentlemen who wtiro promoted , being men of unexceptionable character in public , and private life , men of ( Ifcl . inguishod ability , and men who had opposed the noble lord ( Lord John Russell ) when be was in ollice it nniy at . least be a matter of doubt whel her the ( iovernmeiit in ollVring oflieo to ( Iicno gentlemen < li < l not mean ( o offer an cumest and token of conciliation to the Irish Catholic rcpresentativeH

    in this House . Hut , that wan not the view taken m Ireland , that h'iih not the view taken by ( lie honourable member for New Rons . I have not n doubt that when lie talked of corruption being practised under his own oy < in since he had a seat in Parliament , ho meant to say that , honourable gentlemen , members of this lloii . se , hail been induced to abandon the coiu'mo they had previously ( alien , and had pledged themselves most solemnly to pursue ; ( loud cheorfi ) and that the Government had broken up the party , and deprived it , of its . strength in ( hat House , by giving these gentlemen ollico by arts of influencing members that were used in the days of Walpole and 1 ' olhuin to influence inombein of the Ifoiiso .

    A Her si few words from Sir ( liumau GitKV , Mr , Stuart Wortley'k motion was then agreed to . The proceedings on Mr . Dully ' h ease were continued lunt night . luj Ki'ka . kkk inquired if tlio honourable member i © r JNow llo » sWtt « in hia place , nnd miggeatod thut

    this was the proper time for explanation or retractation . Mr . Duffy begged to remind the House that on his speaking the words called in question , he had not been merely called to order , as was the usual course , but challenged at once to prove his statement . On the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means pronouncing his language disorderly , he had been onthe point of apologising , when the right honourable member for Bucks ( Mr . Disraeli ) interposed , and declared his statement to have been perfectly in order . The course afterwards taken by the noble lord the

    member for London , who positively asserted that he had no means of proving what he said , rendered it impossible for him t o withdraw his word ? with honour . As he had been supposed to mean that money was given for the vofces of Irish members , he wished to say that that was not his meaning . He meant that the political profligacy which prevailed during the time of Walpole and the Pelhams , when me n were induced to abandon the most solemn and circumstantial pledges , and leave behind them their political character and reputation for the sake of place , seemed to him to have

    been exceeded by circumstances which had fallen under his own notice since he became a membe 1 * of the House—that certain Irish members had in point of fact outrun whatever he had heard or read of , in notorious abandonment of their own rooted principles , for the purpose of procuring political advancement . He repeated that , if it were the wish of the House , he was ready to specify the individuals he meant , and to state what appeared to him most cogent facts in support of the allegation . If , in stating his conviction , he had violated any rule of the House , it was perfectly outside of his intention , and he was extremely sorry for

    having done so . Lord John Russell had only to say that on the previous evening he had given a general denial to a general statement , and thoug ht he could hardly have done otherwise , without admitting that there was some foundation for the charge . The accusation , as now stated by the honourable member , confined itself to one against certain Irish members of having

    injudiciously or indiscreetly accepted office . There was nothing that could be called disorderly in this . His own belief was , that in doing so those members had acted in a way that was highly honourable to them , though this was matter of opinion and discussion . It was always better not to carry these proceedings further than was necessary ; and he saw nothing in the present statement which should induce the House to carry the matter any further .

    Mr . John Ball said , it being distinctly understood that the honourable member ' s charge referred to transactions which occurred four months ago , and not to the division of Monday night , he did not feel at all called upon , on behalf of his honourable friends behind him , to carry the matter any further . The House thereupon passed to the other orders of the day , greatly to the disappointment of a crowd of members , who had come down in the expectation of hearing something of great interest .

    The Committee of Ways and Means having boon resumed , with Mr . JJouverio in the chair , the Chairman put the question , nnd , as no honourable member rose to address the committee , the gallery was cleared , and a division took place , the ; amendment of Mr . Lawless , for the exemption of Ireland from the Incometax , being rejected by 28 ( 5 to 01 . This was considered a " surprise ; " and another row began . So the Committee w ; rs converted into the House , us rapidly as possible , and the point of order whether the Chairman of the , Committee was bound

    to call upon Mr . Dully , who had the ear oi the Committee when th

    <; i' / r . t " Quest ions" on this matter have again occupied the House . There are J . wo informations : under one ( that regarding the " gunpowder" ) , Mr . Halo has been adjudged to pay penaltieH . Mr . Duncomhis asked , would the second information , regarding , rockets and fireworks , be proceeded with , lie recounted , with sonu ! lively interpolations , the incidents of the case , showing the absurdity of a prosecution on political grounds . Tlio second prosecution would hold as good against a maker of Vuuxhiill rockets as against , Mr . Halo : who , if guilty of conspiracy , ohould . bo openly

    indicted ; hut "do not rake up an old Act of Parliament that has slept for the last 120 years , even witli regard to the making of fireworks . " The great body of the people look upon the whole transaction with unmitigated disgust . Austrian journals had lauded the action against the refugees of the Home Secretary and the London police ; but interference with refugees m this country will never be allowed by the people . Lord Pai , mbrston thought "if there was an old Act of Parliament against moral squibs and crackers , Mr . Duncombe would come under its provisions . in we first , he disclaimed all responsibility for what was said in foreign newspapers ; their statements regarding him were not always in praise : —

    « I was told the other day that in the searches recently made in Ital y there was a set of daggers found of English manufacture , and that the authorities were indignant and incensed at the detestable and diabolical conduct ot tlie man who had been Minister for Foreign Affairs in lingland , for on these very daggers his name was inscribed . ( A laugh . ) They said , " There it is plain enough—Palmer and Son . Oh , the execrable revolutionist ! to send destructive weapons incribed with his own name into Italy . ( Great laughter . ) Touching this rocket case , he had heard of warlike stores collected in an out of the way place . Coupling that with " other circumstances showing some purpose beyond legitimate commerce , it was his duty to act as he ' had done . But the Government did not wish to

    press hardly on Mr . Hale ; but as the case had been , commenced , it would he a bad precedent not to let it be fairly tried out . " In answer to the last question of Mr . Duncombe , " I have no hesitation in saying that there is no evidence to justify proceedings against any other person , British or foreign . " Lord Dudley Stuaet thanked the Home Secretary for his declaration , and admitted with pleasure that Kossuth was indebted to Lord Palmerston for his

    release from Kutayah . Mr . Bright took a severer view : the proceedings against Hale were " paltry and shabby ; " and as to Kossuth , Lord Palmerston had not directly accused him , but he had studiously avoided clearing his character from the imputations of the Times * That journal was " a great power in a mask ; " but " no man in London calling himself a gentleman would have put his name to the article relating to Kossuth . " I tell the Times , that it was by such scandalous and

    lying charges tlie press of France lost all character , so that the people looked on with disregard and almost pleasure when three-fourths of the papers were suppressed . Kossuth was in adversity , in exile ; he is trusted by millions of his countrymen , and he lives in hopes of doing his country good : it is " doubly infamous" to assail with falsehoods such a man . Lord Palmerston had once said that surveillance had no corresponding English term . Now , ho would ask , were the police commissioned to watch Kossuth ' s house ?

    Lord Palaiekston answered , that it was the general duty of the police to see that the laws were not infringed : if they had reason to suspect Kossuth of illegal proceedings , they were bound to ascertain , whether there were any grounds for their suspicion . Mr . Jhaawr : " Everybody knows thut ; but have special directions been given regarding Kossuth ? " Lord I ' al-MKRSTON : No . Mr . Coiti > KN wished to ask Lord Pahnorston another question ; but as the Home Secretary had already spoken , he was , as a , matter of form , obliged to ask

    Lord John Russell . With his usual clearness Mr , Cohdcn put the case . Kossuth was simply a Ilampderi of Hungary : he had filled a high post of honour in that country : therefore , this was no ordinary case . Seeing tlie reports in the Times ; Mr . Cobdcn ( railed on Kossuth , and had his word that there was no foundation for the reports , and his assurance that he would scrupulously respect the laws of England . "It would not be below the dignity of the Home Secretary were ho to ^ ive Kossuth an opportunity of explaining 1 himself : " the ex-Governor of Hungary was not beneath the notice of the Home Secretary .

    " lid , ivoHsuth explain , mid if he gives his word of honour , I say that he is- as much entitled to credence an any member of the Orleans family who are habitually visiting ut our Court . I make no distinction , sir ; and I repent that Kossuth is just as much entitled to the honour and respect of this country mh any member of the Orleans family who i . s habitually visiting at Windsor . " Lord John Rijkhkm ,, in reply , explained the policy of this country regarding j-efugecH . Whether they were princus holding the doctrines of absolute

    government , or extreme republicans , the law of England allowed them to live here undisturbed ; but they must not abuse thai , hospitality for the purpose of levying war against any states at , ponce and in alliance with tlio Queen . Respecting Kossuth , there were two opinions : one , that he fought ( in- the liberties of Hungary , and as a patriot , defended the ancient , constitution ; tlio other , that through imprudence and indiscretion ho caused the Austrian monarchy and tho Hungarian con-Htitulion to eomu in collision , and bo wan the author and

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    4 THE UADEl ^ . [ Satpbday ^ i ¦ * ' r ' " '" "" '' - '"" " ' ' L —_^—^—^— ^ m ^ i^^^*^^——^^^^^^ «*• m

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), May 7, 1853, page 436, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1985/page/4/