On this page
- Departments (1)
-
Text (3)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
street at tho Printed by DOU6AL M'GOWAN, of I S, Great Windmill*
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
in bribery to carry the Act of Union , butyonr National Debt from 1801 to 1810 increased more than in the sixteen preceding years , and more than in ihe thirty-three years preceding those sixteen years . It was because England looked with a n eye of apprehension on the part Ireland would take in the event of a war with ftance that this sum was sacrificed . What was the price offered to Irishmen for Jjetrayfog their country ? £ to , 000 « offered for a borough , if the owner was a peer ; and the peerage , with suitable pickings , if he was a commoner . All who had political influence were bribed . From that period to the present you have given every spurious upstart aristocrat—every man who had any sort of influence
—a bribe . If that man were a commoner , you made him a peer , and if a peer you enriched him with a -patronage and £ 15 , 000 . When the parliaments were united , Lord Castlereagh undertook to name what muld be the " standard of representation . He took . first the popu 1 ation , then the imports and exports , and lastly , the revenue of the conntry . Bat how did be keep faith with the people of Ireland even in reference to the standard which he had assumed ? Instead of giving Ireland 260 members to which she would hare been entitled , according to one calculation , 170 on another , and 165 on a third , ( and Mr Foster showed the errors of his tables ) , he gave us 100 members only , so that while England had fire hundred and thirteen
representatives for a population of 9 , 000 , 000 , or 11 . 000 . 000 . Ireland had onlv one hundred to represent a population of 5 , 000 . 000 .- ( Hear , hear . ) I a 3 k this honse if that can be be looked upoa as a fair representation ? Opuld the Irish people ba otherwise than dissatisfied with such an arrangement ? ( Hear , hear . ) Beside * that , the parties sent to the Honse of Commons were only those who would be sure to prove themselves toe minions and tools of the English government . The first act of these members was to pass a law in favour of absentee landlords and against the Catho lies , by which they were enabled to distrain the growing crops , and to evict it two shillings were due , and thus lay the foundation of that system which , after so many 3 ears had elapsed , yon new ask for coercion
bills to put down .. Ton now ask for coercion bills to protect the property of Irish peers from depredation The Irish peers were men who had not a single particle to recommend them , except their hostility to Ireland . In 1735 , the Irish Protestant parliament passed the Tithe Agistment Act . by which the Protestant owner of four thousand acres paid not a pennv in tithes , while the poor Catholic widow , who grabbed the manure from the roads , which manure the applied to the patato patch , that furnished her with food , was compelled to pay the impost dne by the Protestantlandlord . When the act was repealed in 1823 . the landlords immediately , waged a destructive war against tithes . Da . ' ing that piriod , the Protestant landlords were employed as grand juror . " ,
-magistrates , captains of yeomanry eorps , and spies . From 1793 to 1823 , their own grass lands were exempted from tithes , and daring that period , they waged a desolating war against all who resisted the payment of tithes , bat in 1823 , when the honourable member ? for the University of Cambridge brought those grasslands under the impost—from that hour , tiie Protestant landlords were the first to take the chair at anti-tithe meetings . Sir Edmund Nagle and the Hon . Fierce Butler earnestly resisted the payment of tithes to the Protestant clergy . So long as the impost was not payable by themselves , they * hot or transported every man who attempted to remove the burden from their Bhonlders to those of the landlords . ( Dear , hear . ) I was tried in Lehnd . in
1832 , for resisting the payment of tithes . ( Hear , tear , and laughter . ) Bnt I was not an artful or designing demagogue . I did not expert to gain anything by the course I had taken . I might go further , and say that , during the whole course of my existtence , I never travelled a mile , nor partook of a meal » fc the expense of any party . Aitnongh I conducted more contested elections than any other man in Ireland , I never took even my . travelling expenses , although , as a barrister , I was entitled to large fees ( Hear , hear . ) I was not one of those who went about the conntry attempting to create bitter feelings be--tween man aad man . I never lived nor attempted -to live opon discord . Neither have I ever made a single proposition out of doers that 1 have notadvo
cated to the best of my ability in this house . That is the qualification by which I seek to establish my tight to be heard here . ( Hear , hear . ) Now , sir , I come to a question which has . been made a great handle of in this house—I refer to the proposal of a more extensive system of emigration from' Ireland : "I contend for it that if ever anything was more disgraceful to a government than another , it is the -attempt to seduse men who ought to have profitable employment in their own country , to emigrate from the land of their birth to a foreign country . ( Hear , tear . ) Every young man who has left his home yeama for the time when he should return to his native soil , and it is the dariine object of every old emigrant to have his bones laid in the crave of his
fathtrs . ( Hear , hear . ) When I see my countrymen traversing the whole world in search of the fien ' s share of labour , and when I eee toiling Irishmen here , carrying their hods at your docks and pnbHe buildings ( roars of laughter ) while their own country is a harrea wilderness , to what can it be attributed but to the want of a proper government , and to the neglect of government in not developing the resources of the conntry ? I lay this down as an axiom , that so danger can result from social improvement for from Bocial improvement alone can spring up a proper system of government . If social improvement were , attained , improvement ia the representation would follow , and government then would find a difficulty in buying off men , as they now
bonghtoffpelitieal agitators , who merely agitated for their own sordid purposes . ( Hear , hear . ) It has been the curse of this country that in the exact proportion in which we seek to extend liberty—and here let me not be misunderstood , I do not mean that liberty which is likely to degenerate into licentiousnessr-I mean liberty tempered with reason and -discretion—in the exact proportion in which liberty increases does corruption increase also , for the government are aware that at all times it is in their pow § r to purchase up those demagogues who merely excite the country for their own private gl ory or -advantage . It seemed , however , to be the rule that those who took the lion ' s share of glory were also to have the lion ' s share , of punishment I have been
in prison oftener . than any hon . member in this housa , ( laughter)—and I attribute the respect for the ordinary law which the people show to that circumstanca . No poor man of my party has ever gene before a jury without being provided with ., the best counsel , paid for with money out ofay own pocket . Many hon . members in this house have been employed and paid by . me to defend poor men ; and I can call on them to confirm what I assert , that I ¦ have never shrunk from my share of responsibility . But I would now come to the Free Trade portion of this question . And here I would say . that I believe -there does not exist a more honourable , upright , and conscientious man than the leader of the Free Trade party—Mr Richard Cobden . ( Hear , hear . ) " I met
him bnt once , and I was opposed to him till I met him , and after that I saw beneficence in hu face . Yes , I have seen humanity and Jdndness in the man ' s face ; 1 have seen—and I think myself a bit of a physiognomist—kindness , humanity , ! aad generosity in that man ' s face . ( Hear , and laughter . ) There is one question connected with free trade which free traders seemed to blink . I allude to the necessity , owing to the union , which ' exists for Irish labourers to come over to this country and to compete with the English labourer for work . I contend for it , that the competition of Irish with English labourer ! has the effect of reducing wages in this country byJ 3 O , O 0 O , O 00 k a year . andincreasing the -expense of your poor laws . Itadds to your
difficulties , by taking at least £ 30 , 000 , 000 per annum from , the labour market , which , money , might be employed 1 at home . Will ttafc ba , denied , or will any I one tell me that it is better to loss those £ 30 , 000 , 0001 and £ 7 . 000 , 000 more in poor-rates , than have the ] Irish labourenprofitably employed at home , and put I into a position of becoming your best customers ? 11 ask any gentleman , whether this question of labour I is not now the moat vital question . ( Hear , hear , ] . tear . ) Ton may talk as tog please abiut your . Exchequer iBQlaand your Bank Cbartera , bnt I tell you , that if labour is not protected all your other projects are mere moonshine . ( Hear . hear . ) Labour j ia the source of all wealth , and it is all folly and nonsense to be passing Coercion Bills or attempting I
to adopt any system that will make money either cheap or dear , until you devise some method by which yon can ensure to the labourer a participation in the fruits-of his industry . ( Cheers . ) That is the great . and important question , and the one into which the people of England are now looking minutely . We now see mills either stopping or working short time ; -and when ifc is considered that this is in a great measure owing to the influx of Irish labourers , kit to be wondered at that English operatives should look with disgust and dissatisfaction oa those competitive labourers ? ( Hear , hear . ) I draw no distinction 'between the two classes . I say all honour to the " Saxon , though after the manner in which my connfay hasbeenattacked by the pres here , I Brighter , tertainno friendly feeling towards England , yet I
gay honour to the Saxon . . Mind , ! never used the word Saxon as a term of reproach . While at the game time I can perfectly justify that man , now no more , for doingso ; considering the manner ia which bis country had been treated by England , by parties in and oat of tab honse . I can well allow for the irritated feelings of a man placed in his position . ' I have been placed in a diffeient position . I have lived with the Saxon a long time , and I must always bear testimony to his ability , manliness , and bold-Bess . But letos return to the question respecting the parliaments of the two countries . When fifty € athSics and fifty-five Protestant representatives « oms here from Ireland , what power have they ? None whatever . Whoever sits on the opposite ( the ministerial ) benches , will- make up in patronage what the y want in power . From 1793 down to the
Untitled Article
present time , all estates in Ireland had been cultivated according to the science of politics , and not according to the science of agriculture . If Ireland had been properly governed , we should not see , after nearly half a centnty , that one year she came to England for alms , and the next fora Coeroion Bill . I have shown , when Ireland was free , no country in the world had ever improved with such rapidity . I have already stated that there never has been a Catholic revolution . The oath of the Irish Confederates wa 3 to this effect , that all parties and all religions were to combine to effect parliamentary reform . In this Confederation there were only four Catholics implicated ; they were otherwise all Protestants . There was no such thing as a religious outbreak known in Irrehhistory . I shall now read the names oi those who led the rebellion of 1793 and my own father ' s name is at the head of the list , and my uncle ' s stands next .
Roger O'Connor 'William Sampson Arthur O'Connor Dr Reynolds Lord Edward Fitzgerald Cornelias Orogan Hambden Evans Rev . Dr Dlzon Archibold Hamilton Bo wan Sir Edward Crosbie Theobald Wolfe Tone Oliver Bond The Rev . Mr Jackson Hamilton Lori Gaitlereagh' Fonsonb y Beauchamp B . Hervey lumm Tboma * Addii Emmet Grattan William Dreuan Henry Jackson The Oorbetu Chambers Comjn Orr Dawdall Siletto Hudson Porter U'Clean The Steams Black Hunter M'Catra Tandy Colclough Wilson Neilson Turner Simms Russell and Tenant Robert Emmet Dowliag W . Jameg M'Hevin ~\ Jehn Cormac f _ JohnSwiney f Catholics . John Sweetman J Mr Grattan made some observation , which was inaudible in the reporter ' s gallery . Mr O'Connoe : If the hon . gentleman wiahesto see bis father ' s name , I will show it to'him in print ; Mr Henry Grattan and Lord Caatlereagh were United
Irishmen . The Ion . gentleman was not in bad com ; pany . Another circumstance which the house would see was an enormity , was that the whole of the staff in Ireland , not only up to the time of the passing'of the Act of Union , but up to the present time , were all Protestants—whether sheriffs , or lord-lieutenants —the magistracy were for the most part Protestant , In the barony of East Muskerry , in the county of Cork , there was not a single Roman Catholic magistrate . One of the circumstances which had tended to widen the breach between England and Ireland was the exchange of the militias . Tes . England had sent a licensed band of plunderers into Ireland , and Ireland had exchanged an Orange force for them , These were facts which irritated the pnblic mind in
Ireland , and in England too . I am now coming to the question , whetner or not you will grant this committee ; neither Irish nor English gentlemen considered that there was any statute of limitation against the recovery of property taken from them . Ton have denounced the Roman Catholic priesthood of Ireland , asthefomenters of the evils which distracted that eountry . It was mere folly to do go . These men were members of some ef the first families in the country , who kept ia their possession the title-deeds of estates which had been wrested from their ances * tors—these were the men who were called upon to visit their flocks , often on the properly which had belonged to their own family . There was not a mountain pass that did not bear the impress of his
honoured foot—there was not a hovel they did not visit And there were the men who- had their armorial bearings over the chimney-piece , and who had the title-deeds of their estates locked up . No statute of limitation could operate against the right of a man to regain that which had been taken from him . I would ask the noble lord if , at the battle of Waterloo , instead of Wellington conquering , Napoleon Buonaparte had conquered , and had partitioned out this land among his follower ? , and had brought with him Roman Catholic priests—to whom the Bedford ' s should pay tribute . —What would be the noble lord ' s dying bequest to those that succeeded him ? Would it not be to rid themselves of an alien priesthood and to recover their lands , to the possession of which
there was no statute of limitation ? And nnder such circumstances , would not the greatest honour be due to the greatest traitor ? . Would not the noble lord ba consoled in hia last momenta with the idea that » day night arrive when some of his descendants would regain that which had been wrested from him ? Would not the very idea of such a recovery console him in h « s last moments ? But the noble lord is not here ; and I almost rejoice that the honourable member for Dungarvan is not here , for it was my intention to aak him whether as one of an oppressed and persecuted faith , he derived more honour from Bitting on the Treasury bench , alongside the perpetrators of his disgrace and his country's dishonour , than could be obtained by
boldly joining that party who resisted the government ? If he were present —[ The appearance of Mr Shell at this moment peeping from behind the Speaker ' s chair , occasioned considerable merriment . ! I get a glimpse of the right honourable gentleman bow , and hope he \ rill take a course which will cause gladness throughout the land of his birth . 1 hope the right honourable gentleman will do that which would make every heart rejoice , every valley ring with the song of gladness , and every hill echo back the joyous note ; I hope the right hon . gentleman will abandon that position which he has so long held . ( Laughter . ) There was a time when an appeal to such a man , and on such a theme , would not be laughed at ; however , I still hope that the rieht hon . mntlnmxn nf
whom Ireland has a just right to ba proud , will abandon the errors of his ways . ( Laughter . ) The louse should bear in mind , that at the time Ireland became a party to the union , she was coerced by the presence of 151 , 000 military . Ireland had no voice in the compact which she was forced to enter into with England . Every man in Ireland was nnder the impression that resistance to the act of nnionwas certain death . This I have already told the hon . member for Meath , who baa either never read the history othis conntry , or if he has , is so deficient in it , that he does not know that his honoured ather was among the volunteers . I now ask the house , to decide at once , whether it would be beneficial to both countriei to repeal the act of union ?
I would now beg to call the attention of the house to the presentEtate of Europe ! Look to Spain , ever upon the eve of arevotation , and to Portugal , where the pee . te are onlyjield in servile subjeotfon-look to the Italian States oi Austria , and of the papal domnion , while you are vainly hoping'to suppress Catholicism . Look to Fiance , whose present constitution rests upon the slender thread of one old man . Look to Prussia , whose constitution is engaged in a struggle against despotism , and to the convulsed state of Switzerland , which may be likened to a great boiler ready to explode in the centre of Europe ! Let the houssj reflect on the sympathy which was evinced by America for the wrongs of Ireland ! As soon as America should be free to act , if ever Ireland should
require support , America would come to the relief of fear flesh and blood , and seek Ireland ' s ; liberation . I believe that by something like reciprocity , with a parliament sitting in England , ' and a parliamen sitting in and for Ireland—if agriculture in the latter kingdom were successfully carried out—the Irish would be better customers " in the English markets for manufactures ; and that , instead of looking all over the world for food , we should have ! a colony at our own door . As many hon . gentlemen will take I a prominent part in this debate , I would merely observe that I have laid before the house , 'in' the . course of my address ; the history' of iny corintry / dmded Mo four periods . Ihaveihown that there never bad been a Roman Catholic reTolution in Ireland ; I have
Bhown that in the year 1780 , Ireland did " nbt iim a halfpenny , ' whereas in a comparatively short pemtl ¦ ubseqnentiy . shewas frightfully involved : But before I sit down , I must state Ireland ' s claim to a ' parliament , and shall show what the " probable effect of a domestic legislature would be : * Tiretly , then , I assert that Ireland never had a free parliament—its members being Protestants , and its clients being ! Catholics—while the question at issue was the right of the former , to hold the latter in vassalage , and continue in the possession of their estates . That the Union was carried by bloodshed , treacherv and bribery ; and that , if the parliament waa corrupt , it should have been reformed , and not destroyed . I haveshewn the Blender title of the Crown of England
to the dominion of Ireland , and I have proved , beyond controversy , that there never was a religious war fomented by the Irish Catholics , but that they were waged , either by the English by blood , against ths Irish people ; by the English by birth , ] against the English by blood ; by the Catholics of ] England against the Catholics of Ireland , up to 1512 , when both nations were Catholic ; by the Protestants of England , from that period to 1776 , and from 1 ? 76 to the present time , by the English settlers and boroughmongers in Ireland , against the Catholio people , who were true to their faith . And I have boldly laid down the principle , from which I shall never flinch fa this fcouse or elsewhere , that no statute of limitation can onerate aeainsfc thsneht
or the duty of a conquered people to regain their liberties . ( Hear , hear . ) I shall now show the advantages that a Repeal of the Union would confer UBonbftth countries . It would place the Irish landlords underthe vigilantpopular control of those upon whose labour they live—which would naturally in dace them to complete , in good works , for the good opinion , the gratitude , and confidence of their neighbours . It would throw them upon their own re sources , instead of making them beggars at Britain ' s door ; it would compel the landlords to cultivate their titatea , according to the gcienca of agriculture , and not according to the science of political patronage ; I we should then see agriculture improving , education progressing , and morality developed , When com-
Untitled Article
plaints would come , while fresh and feverish , to the ear of the legislature , instead of , as at present , through the anonymous channel of hired and subordinate policemen . We should then see absenteeism a crime , residence compelled by honourable competition , religious views banished from the land , and Ireland the best customer in the English market ; relieving her poor rates , and taking her manufactures in return for her substantial produce ; and then farewell to coeroion—because its causes would cease , when justice should be done . Labouring under severe indisposition , and only urged by imperative dnty to undertake so onerous a task , he begged to thank the house for its present hearing of Ireland ' s cause , and theirgreat courtesy to so humble an
individual ; and , in conclusion , would ask for the appointment of this committee of inquiry . I would remind the house of the statesmanlike speeoh of the right hon . baronet the member for Tamworth , the other night , against blaming the . Bense of a united house ! Beit remembered that it was not the minister who would be to blame if the house rejected this application ; I would remind those especially who had obtained access to this house on the ground of their promises to support the Repeal of the Union , of this fact . I think I am entitled to the gratitude of those hon . members in enabling them , through my instrumentality , to redeem their pledge thus early . For myself , I would not kold a seat in this house if I had broken a pledge which I had once rivennor
, would I give a pledge that was not in perfect consonance with my own feelings . I have been looked upon as a destructive and a revolutionist , but I am doing more than any other man in England , to create an improved social state , I am devoting every hour and every day to this object ; and although I have been called an infidel , and branded aa a destructive . I am for the altar , the throne , and the cottage . I wish to see the altar the footstool ' of God , and not the couch of Mammon ; I wish to see the throne based on the affections of the people , not on the lust of tbe aristocracy ; and the cottage made' the castle of the freeman , instead of the den of the slave . ( Hear , hear . ) The hon . member concluded by moving 5— ¦
Fer a select committee to inquire and report on the means by which tbe dissolution of tbe parliament of Ireland wag effected ; on the effects of that measure upon Ireland , and tipon the labourers In BuflMadry and operatives tn manufactures In England ; an « on ' the probable- constfjriences of continuing the legislative union between both countries . - •; - r Mr D . CiuuwiH seconded the motion . "' ] ,. ''' ' Sir G . Out wai Berry the hen . gentleman { Mr O'Connor ) felt any ground to eompiaia of his ( % fi ^ Grey ) baling put him in- an unfair position by , the request he bad made early Jn the day , thathe would postpone hio motion for the present , ani allow the ' public buBinesi which presaed to be proceeded with . But after the speecli of tbe hon . member , he ( Sfr O , Grey ) could > ot help
thinking that the hon , member would bava exercised a wlier di scretion if he had acceded to the ' proposltion for a postponement . The most dlicreet part of the hon . gentleman ' s speech wai Its eonclosiow , when he read tie terms of the notice of motion which he bud placed on the books on the first day of the msgIob . If he had not read the motion , few hon . members who bad heard the speech oonld have conjectured what the hon . gentleman was about to propose . ( Hear , and" a laugh . ) The honi gentleman had , by going through the history of Ireland , from the time of Edgar , shown that , since he > as last a member of that house , he had acquired much antiquarian lore , but he ( Sir G . Grey )> thought that many of bis historical facts had been combated on tt former occasion by the right hon . baronet near him ( Sir R , Peel . ) Certainty
the hen . gentleman had favoured the house to-night with an autobiography from an early date down to the period when , by the professional services of two hon , and learned friends , he had been acquitted of charges brought agalnet him . All this had nothing to do with the motion , which he ( Sir 6 . Grey ) could hardly suppose was seriously intended . The hon . member had detailed ! the evils of Ireland , but those evils had nH occurred anterior to the data of the Act of Union , and , therefore , coold not be attributed to that measure . ' If tire hon-. gentleman really thought the Repeal of the Union was desirable , why did he net , instead of movleg for a committee to inquire into facts which were already matter of historical record , take the opinion of the house openly and manfnlly by moving a committee of the whole honse on the act of rmion , with a view of moving a resolution that it was desirable that act should be repealed ! This w ould be a much fairer mode of dealing with the subject . Ths hon . member has utterly failed is laying down any ground even forthe ap .
pointment of a committee , still less fer the larger queation . He complained that Irish labourers were interfering with the wages ef the labourers in this conntry , but did he mean by Repealing the Union to prohibit the emigration hereof Irish labourers ? Instead of making so complete a clearance , parliament ought to endeavour by wise legislations by kindness , generosity , and juitiee , to consolidate the union , and by extending the hand of brotherhood ta-mtke the two countries still raoreclosely united . lie regretted that the honourable gentleman Bhould have endeavoured to make thh question one bb between Protestants and Roman Catholics , when it had been the object of every successive government to get rid of that sectarian bigotry which had marked the leglsla . tion and the government of former times . ( Hear , hear . ) Thinking the- committee proposed would be a mere moekery and delusion , and end in no beneficial result , bnt , on the coBtrary , would lead to mischief , he hoped that instead of leading to a long debate themotion ) would be at once negatived . ( Hear , hear . V
Mr F . O'Conuox was ready to adopt the appeal of the right hon . baronet , and at once move the resolution pointed out by him in a committee of the whele hooee , if the right hon , baronet would undertake to second it . ( Laughter . ) Sir G . Gael said he had made ne- appeal—he had merely remarked that such would have been the fairest course to pursue . ( Hear . hear . ) MrGBATTAN said that as the hot * , member for Nottingham had scattered his shot on bis ( Mr Grattan'i ) side of the house , fie begged to offer a few words . He denied that his late father had ever been a rebel , and declared that such a statement wai false , ( Order , order ) . He did not apply that to the hon . member , but to the , paper he . had introduced , which contained a
falsehood .. The hon . member , had libelled both th&lale Mr Grattan , and Lord . Charleraont . The charges made against them were base and unfounded . Mr Piinsonbj and Mr Grattan were neverr ia the list of united Irithmen , and though Lord Oastlerengh had Joined that body in Belfast , in 1791 , he had nothing to do with them in 1796 . Such conduct was unbecoming ; he wished sot to quarrel with the hon . member , but he would fight him on that ground with the last drop of his bleod . ( Laugh , ter . ) He objected to this setting of party against party— this exciting of jealouaj—this wiving of things that were obsolete , and this constant reference ia the time of affliction and distress , when they ought to cooperate together , to old grievances . He appealed to the goon heart of the hon . gentleman , for although he wished that house to believe it was as black as itceuld be , it was not so black as he would make them believe
i t was . ( A laugh . ) The hon . gentleman on a memorable .. . occasion in the county of Meath steod by him like a man . of courage , when he . had a bavonet at his breast anda sabre over his head ; and he ( Mr ' ; 6 rattan ) would stand by the hon . geutieman when he acted rightly , as firmly as he would ! oppose him when he waB acting wrongly . He did not say that this was a clap , trap motion , but it might tend to frustrate the object the hon . gentleman had in ., view . If tho hon , gentleman proposed a motion for the . ' consideration of the Act of Union , he ( Mr Grattan ) would support him ; but not when he came under a iMBk , libelling Lord Charlemont , the volunteers , Mr . Grattan , and Mr Ponsonby , and then thought he could sit down there unanswered . He charged the hon . gentleman with four libels , and iu calling upon that house , as the jury , to conrict him , he pronounced the hon , gentleman ' gnilty , upon his ho . nour . ' ( Laughter , and cries of' Divide . ' )
Mr J . O'CoHireix said he preferred ! to see this ques . tion brought forward by the member for an English constituency . Though he did not think the motion most opportune lie could net refrain from expressing his sentimeats , At a moment when it was doubtful whether ' there would long bean Irish people to whom to grant a I pa ' rliameht ± -wheri coercive measures were preparing for lhatcountry—when the rancour of rellgioUs" aijuioslty was in full force—such a motion at this was certainly LiU-Umed .. At to the first part of the proposed inquiry—I the means by which the u&iori was effected—he did not I think it well that these misdeeds should be utterly burled I in oblivion ; to recal them might' serve as a warning to future statesmen , The means by which the union was
carried were the deliberate fomenting and fostering of a rebellion . At that time the English ministry had found that the old devices of misrule and injustice had become powerless : the feeling of nationality , fcoth in Protestants and Catholics , \ n& waxed , too strong for them , and the old trick of Bowing disaeneion and spreading division was no longer available . It became n « ces * ary , therefore , to foment bloodshed and rebellion , whereby the minister sought to effect his nefarious purpoie . Brl bery and corruption were also nnsparitigly resorted to . Lord Castlereagh nnblushingly deolared that half a millionh » d been expended in this way , and thatasmuoh [ more might be necessary . Notwlthsiinding the eloquent denunciations of Mr Grattan three millions were spent In this wholesale corruption , and three millloni more In putting down the insurrection which had been fomented for the purpose . Still the object wa » not attained . Bv
a still more uisparing use of corrupt Influence thirty Irish members were Induced to resi gn their seats , Into which were thrust English and Scatch omoers and placemen ; and thu * was the union effected . The secondpart 0 ? the proposed inquiry was directed to the consequences of the Union . Let any enewho wished to know those consequences look at the present state of Ireland , its starving peasantry , its ruined farmers , with famine and 1 fcrer stalking through the land . Could the condition of thecountry have been possibl y reduced lower under wy IrUh parliament whatsoever , than it was after forty seven years of Imperial misrule ? Before the Union the « t * teoftne country was most prosperous . The Earl hmelf ' 0116 , ^ , . "" " ^ the ™» . * hol < nt himself completely , to the ends of the British govern S ; * " edth V ° D 8 ti 0 n in the "OridlmdmaiU greitw B rogre 8 s h > commerce , arti , and manufac 5 ' *» Alr 6 l » nu had done during the eighteen years T , * . * o * l ° her lBd eP « n ° ent legislature . Lord CaBtlereagh himself , In 1893 . bad declared that
Untitled Article
Ireland , during the ten years from 1790 to 1800 , had made a progress which astonished tbe world . Tbe effect of tbe nni « n on England itself was another branch of the proposed inquiry . Though England might be happy , Ireland would ever ba a bitter drop in her cup , so long as she was neglected , as at present . When Irishmen asked for relief , tbey were told to rely on themselves , and their complaints were disregarded and laughed at . He contended that Ireland had aright to pecuniary relief , on account of having been deprived by this country of their local means of employing capital . From a statement of the outgoings of Ireland , he found that tbe absentee rents amounted to five millions ; interest on mortgages , three millions ; forjEnglish produce nnd manufactures , thirteen millions ; in all , twenty . one mil .
lions , tbe exports only amounting to fifteen millions , leaving a drain of six millions . Such a country could not be In a prosperous state . The honourable member proceeded to contend that by the consolidation of the es . chequers , tbe act of union had been violated , and the imperial parliament itself had sanctioned this unconstitutional and illegal measure . Baring the first seventeen years of consolidation , Ireland paid £ 13 , 000 , 000 of taxa . atlan more than ehe was entitled to . The honourable member then read a great number ef documents with the view of proving that Ireland had paid a much greater share of taxation than she ought to have dene , insisting that up to 1816 , she bad thug unfairly contributed £ 60 , 000 , 000 more than her share , aud had a claim upon this country for that amount . The amount of taxation
imposed upon Ireland had been double the amount of that of which she had beeti relieved . English gentlemen were in the habit of taunting tbe people of Ireland with tbe large sums which had been remitted to her from this country . The remittances from tbe British exchequer to Ireland since the union amounted to £ 7 500 , 000 , whereas the money sent from Ireland to England amouatod to £ 26 , 700 , 000 . Tbe honourable member for Nottingham had referred to the bad effects of the onion on the poorer classes in England , That was apart of the subject which deserved serious attention , Oneef the evils which that measure undoubtedly produced , was to cana- ; a panper emigration from Ireland to England . Tbe people of this country were impoTerlsbed . by the number of peer Irish ' who came over here to seek employment
and be contended that the effect of the Irish poor-law would fee to stimulate that emigration still farther . The right honourable baronet alluded rathe repeal debate of 1831 . Ths motion on the subjeet of repeal , which had been ihacfe at that time , was rejected by an overwhelming majority , it was true ; but , at tnviame time , a io lemn pledge , to which the king , lord . , and commons of England assented , was made in the'address to the crown , that both houses would apply ? hem ' selves toremote all just causes of complaint , anff to remedy the grievances of Srolond . There they were now In the thirteenth year after that pledge had been made—and had it been fulfilled 7 Had it not rather been vMated ? The landlord and tewrat question was yet snsettled and there ; waa no attempt to remedy tbe grievances of ' a de :
fective municipal reform act , and a dimlnisfied elective franchisee JA thousand other grievances remained unredressed . > , He believed that a repeal of the union would utone offer the proper remedy . It would pot a- stop to thatgreat-ionrce of-evilln Ireland—the absentee drain . It wouldafford an fcducement to the gentry of Ireland to remain at home . It wouM keep the poor ef Ireland nfrhome . Itwauldincreaje- theprosperity andweaWi ' of the eountryj and , therefore , wonld offer a better market for the manufactures- of England . Thus , both csuntrfo * bad un interest in the question . He believed that it would be a means of mutual support—of mutual enrich ' ment ; that it would confer order and prosperity at home , and give irresistible strength and power abroad ' ( Hear . ) ¦ % -
Mr TBBiiWM was stlll ' of oplntew , notwithstanding all that bad fallen from the hon . member who had lust sat down , that Ireland was * far too lightly taxed . He ww no reason why the Income lax gftould not be e * . tended to-Ireland , or why assessed taxes should not be increased * He was sure be » poke the sense of the country when he declared that the burdens of Ireland ' instead of being , as the hon . member hod alleged too heavy , wererfar too light . ( Eka * . hear . )) He , therefore hoped ihat the-government wouldnet be induced by the conettnt howl of the Irish members—by their continual dunning- aad boring for money—to-yield to their unreasonable demands . ( Loud cries of' HTear , hear' ) With respeotto- the Repeal of the ffnion . he believed that if agreed'to , the result would be that the people of the north
of Ireland would not tolerate being domineered over by the people of the South ; that a > civil war would consequently ensue ; and that after « time a military despotism would be established , and we should' then be in a greater peril than ever from suoh dangerous- neighbours . ( Hear hear . ) He had thought that th& ChartiBts of England and the Itepeaibra- ef Ireland were at variance- with each other ; , he knew they used to be ; hut it wvutd appear that their feuds-were at length healed upland that tbey were now sverbidaing each other for popularity in the same cause . ( Hear , hear . ) With- reepsct tottie- Irish Ian Jlora > , he thought their case exceedingly hard—seeing that if they remained on their estates they were liable to be shot ,, and that if they were absent it was
proposed to make them . H * blo to additional taxation ; They were tho » plaoed between two fires . The hon-. member ( Mr O'ConnellJihad appealed to the Ihgllsh people to do more for the Irhh and had endeavoured ^ toshow that , as regarded the past , Ireland owed nothing tb'Ehgland . That was treason why John-Bull should not give any more ; foriMf eland disallowed the debt which wa » already owing , what cbanc « was there of getting bactethat whiebnasnow ashed I ( Hear . } After leoturing tbe Irish members for preTentlng .. the progress-of public bust , ness , the hon . member proceeded to deliver-a speech which had evidently been prepared forthe debate on the Coercion Bill , but which , having missed a chance of speaking before , he now togged head and ears into the midst of a debate on the legislative Union
Major OffciftEBM said he should oppose the Coercion Bill in all its stages . ,,. < ,. . . , : Mr Retoolm saia ,, a 9 a . cordial friend of Repeal , whloh he thought would be for the loetal and moral advantage of Ireland , he could not but express bis regret at the introduction of this question at thi » particular time , and he bad exerted hit influence with the hon . member for Nottingham with the view of inducing- him to post , pone it for at least one month . His motive for offering this « d « lee was to afford aa opportunity to- all member * of the house- who . were frkndly to a Repnal of the Union t > attend during the discussion of this great national q-iestlon ; and he might say this Imperial question , for it affected not only the interests of Ireland , but those of everj part oS the united empire . He regretted that he
could not prevail upon the hea . momber to poBtpsne his motion , let him not be understood as regretting the Introduction of this question or any other grounds ; and he hoped ho should not be charged by the hon . gentleman with any feeling of jealousy towards him ; but as the question had been introduced / he felt that he should shrink from his duty if he did notvote for the committee . He believed this , was a . reasonaWe sroption , for a committee wa » appointed in ord « to iBauire . Before going . Into the questloH before the house , he administered a sharp reproof to Sir Trelawny , ! and exposed tbe fallacy of his assertion , that Ireland . was not , sufficientl y taxed . The whole landed property . of that country ,, did not exceed £ 13 , 250 , 001 a . year ; and the enormous mass of taxhtlon levied upon Ireland , inoreared as , it had recently bee the
n by Imposition of the poor law , was levied on that . landed property . It would , therefore , be unjust to subject It te new taxation in the shape of a \ property tax . On the 4 th of July last the number of paupers in Ireland receiving rations was 2 C 06 . 000 . [ f Howmueh in the pound was the poor rate J' asked an hon . membtr . ] He was asked howmuoh tbe poor rate was in the pound a very proper question , and one which he was totally unable to answer , —( laughter ) --and he would tell tbe house why . The poor rate varied in Us proportions in different districts . ' , In his own neighbourhood , there was one rate on one . bank ; of-the Liffey ; and another on the other ; in one place it was 8 » . in the . pound , - In another three tlmeB that amount : so thatbewaB unable t » onswe * the gentleman's , question . > Jn - tbe . tcounty , of Mayo the population in round numbers was 400 , 000 . ' -In the month of March the numberef able-bbdled ^ poor employed in that county upon the publio roads-exceeded
130 , 000 ; and when they ceased to be employed , and the Ration Act came into operation , the ( number of the population receiving rations in that ceuuty . was 300 , 000 , being' 75 per ceni . of the entire population , ; He should be glad to know how the poor law was to work : therethe entire rental of the county , pf Mayo . . ; being-only £ 318 . 008—whloh wonld . he . bBrely ; eupugh . to ^ npply onepound a h ead per annum for the pauperism of the county . ( Hear , hea » . ) . Hec alle ^ the . attf . ntion of Upborne to other extracts from the ,. work ho had , referred to . -Thepoor law which the hon , member ( Mr Trelawny ) enlo . glsed , and wWch he ( Mr Reynolds ) approved of pro . vlded that ne man in Ireland should be entitled to outdoor relief who had more than a quarter of an , acre of land . He hod an account of the number of men in the four provinces who held more than a quarter , of- an aore ° " ; o " ° 4 wll 0 r ewi' « a pauper relief . In Lelnster , men 26 , 208 , women , 15 , 605 , number of families , 87 , 334 total n Le nster , 129 , 197 . . In Monster , men . 88 204 wo
men , oi 878 , families , 152 , 414 ; totalin Mun . ter S 84496 . SiXTft meB ' M 97 ,, women , 42213 , families , 268 , 192 ; total in Oennaught , 896 , 902 . In Ulster , prospe ! rous Ulster men , 20 , 584 , women , 14 , 404 , families , 67 , 055 j Mci ^ Vf' , o ° - The reg « te number are J Sftf ?«» T . " ' ^ ' Women ' » M «» . and families , 574 , 983 ; total ia the . four provides , 802 , 806 . This was the amount of the population oooupylng upwards of a quarter of an acre of land , and receiving pauper relief and were they to be told that landlords could carry out ideas of improvements , in patki and landscapes , in euoh circumstances ! Property had it . duties and landlord , had thrir rights , legitimate rights and Illegitimate rights aud if they were to ba invaded he feared-not feared he rejoiced—that the converts to repeal would become ex . l
oeedingy numerous , He thought he had satisfied the house that the advice of the hon . member was impracticable , and , if impracticable , it was cruel to uwe it The poor rate would amount to ten shillings Jn the Donnfl nf the entire rental of the Island . He didnot eH , ct to thi . if ifwere required ; he thought the propertv of acountv should support the poor of that country- hear S ' ' andherejoiceathat a . WUter wa put upon the backsTf the landlords . The poor law wai n ™ t ! v I the British lcglslatur . \ S W ^ ftgJ £ Principle and so long a . he had a voice toraise he wou u With respect to . Repeal , nB b . Hevedthat England del ? 2 if ^^ "enefitfrem the union , and tnaJthe hitereets of both countries were Involvcd ' ln , and would be promoted by . thls eountr , ' , lmn , uate concession oi A
Untitled Article
Repeal of the Unien . Formerly those who talked in favour of Repeal were charged . fflth sedition and high treason ; but now a man might be considered strlstly loyal , and y « t be a Repealer . Formerly , if they ridiculed the colour ef a bishop ' s wig , they were considered guilty of impiety ; but matters were altered now , and , instead of merely discussing the colonr of a bishop ' s wig that house had suspended ten of the bishops themselves . ( A laugh . ) He believed that he possessed a very extensive knowledge of his country . He bad travelled it from end to « nd by day and by night , and be eould safely assure the house tbatbe bad discovered that every class of society in Ireland , from the peer to the peasant , felt that tbey wanted something—( laughter )—some improve , ment . ( laughter . ) He understood the meaning of that
laugh , especially when he considered . the debate in which they bad so lately been engaged , but be rejoiced at it . He liked a laugh ; there was something refresh , log in it . ( Laughter . ) And after it people were more capable of discussing a question . In Dublin tbe general opinion was that there was no chance fer that city ex . cept by the restoration of their parliament . The people there were almost to a man favourable to Repeal , and his ( llr Reynolds' ) presence In that bouac was a significant evidence of that fact . ( Hear . ) They felt that in that house the question had never received fair consideration ( hear , bear ); but they believed thatit was likely to receive favourable . consideration now , for though he had beard , before ho entered that bouse , that there was strong party feeling there , he had found none , diesr , hear . ) He understood there were two aides to
thnt house bofore he entered it , but he found there was only one now , ( Laughter . ) There appeared to be a tbtol absence of party feeling and he could see evidence in tbe house that gentlemen were : beginning to think very seriously that thisquestion ought , at all events , tc be well considered ; ' ( Hear , ) He believed , in bis conscience , tbat the strength and stability of this empire were involved in tbe Repeal of the Union . ( Hear . ) He trusted that'the reasonable course prOpoird by the con . member ( Mr O'Connor ) would be agreed to by the bouse , and that a committte weuld be appointed . He had wished , certainly , that tha question should havo been introduced ia a different shape ; and , whatever mlgbt be the fate of tbe motion before tbe bouse , he hoped that some hon , member would test the opinion of tBe house by the introduction of a bill on the subject . I Hear , hear . )
B ' . BowHiHO had intended to- address the house on tWs- subject , not oecause ae ' thonght it a very pressing orhajwrtaDt question , but because it was libely to fcecom erso fromthe ' stite of reeling prevalent , in the countr / . " He eonld ' gather , however , from various indicationi on the park of the house-, that they were anxieu to proceed to more practical nteasuree ; and he Would therefore not trespass . further upon tbeir attention . ( Cheers , andcrie » of Divide . ' ) ' " - ' MrE . &jKomaiaid that , nprwentlag : ' so large a constituency , he ¦ could not give- a silent vote . The grounds aponi which he advocate * Kepeal were two in number . The-first was ^ " historical fact . It was a historical fact that ti t imperial lcgMature bad always mlsgoverues'Ireland , even when the attempt bad been made to govern , the conntry . properly , practically it bad
failed for want ef acquaintance with the people . For forty-sevea ycarsparliaratnt had had unchecked eoatrol over the destinies of Ireland , and the results were poverty and dlseontent ia every shape . Whose- English members who assumed to- govera Ireland , and would not ] permit them to debate hergrievanoes . mighf depend upte tt tbattneywald not carry things their own way . Two parties could play at the game of obstruction . They were now in a time of peace and a time ef prosperity , ) but the time migkt come , when > the services of tbepeople j of Ireland would be want » d a « d then it would be their jttow to turn round ' and say , » fight your own' hattlts-, | He ( Mr Roche ) ihoull be sorry if that state of thing | should occur , but a * anhoneut roan he was bound to-say-Ithatifthey refused to-redbess Inland ' s grievances , tbe iday might come when ; instead off finding her a < friend , they mSght find her amopen and . declared enemy ,
; H aJDr Blackail said if thir motion had been brought forward ! under other eiroumstanceft he might have be « n > jdlipowd-tovote forlt .- But he , wa » bound to consider ; tbe circumstances under which- it . was brought forward . He had no faith in the patriotism of the hon . member for Nottingham , and he did ' notthlntehis conduct in that houBfrhad been calculated very greatly to add lustre to the Irish name . . But ' , indeed , ; if " there , were no other Iconslderations , the course pursued by-, the hon , member jin KBiBttag the very moderate request of the Home Secretary to postpone his motion would 1 Bave alone indared-Ihlm (• MSajprBlackalQ . to- opposei it . The government -might fairly take his own . and otheir members'votes-, tbat night as-indications of \ whether , or not they were . prepared'toglve the governments factious-opposition . ( Hear , hear . ) i Bor his own . part , he nrast candidly say that he thought some measure of ceerown necessary at tbe present time in Ireland ,
Mr M .. O'CbtWBLL thought tbe arguments of the hoav member ought to be conclusive in favour of the present ; motion . They were to judge men by their actions , and what they ' did-on the floor of that house—( ironical ; enters )*—and when they found anadtooste in the hon . member for Nottingham , he Hit bound to accept his mea < ¦ suros in preference to those of a government who offered them a ooerciftn bill instead of repeal . The hoa . memw berflir Tovlstoefr , who bad spoken that night ,, knew evfc . dently infinitely more about < J \ ieen Pbmare and her wrongs than about Iceland and the sores that were rank-¦ li ng in the heart of the people of that country . Was Ireland to submit to a courie of lesclalatten from- persons so-: ignorant as the hon * member S There was the bon . mem . berfor Bblton ( Dr Bowring ) . He , knew something —» t
least ho thought he did—of every country in-the worl *; but of Ireland he- knew so little that he , eould ' not sum . moit up courage enough to- descant upon her grievances . He ( Mr G'Cbnnell ) i remembered when tiie . first coercion bill vu passed . It was- thofira&Meh measure after th « Reform Act . The same party , wa * in power again ; bat they had commenced' their cweer With a bad omen } they began the first session of tbu , new . parliament with anaet of coercion for Bieland ; jet . the Irish members were met by an almost univewat request to postpone the consideration of th « present motion in . © rder to allow the government to follow up its ' former , bad . precedent . He coold not consent to- that course ; ke hoped the horn member for Nottingham would be supported by a censii derable uumber of Irish menjbera , He warned the government against pergis ' tihg in the gourse they were
pursuing ; tt would hurl them from- power as it had done their predecessors . The Irton Members were changed with quarrelling amoog theoaselyc *; but assooaas they forgot all private dkaenslons , to > protect Ireland from oppression , they were turned on and taunted by the hon member for Tavistock for uniting and forgetting former differences . But , if they coald '» et get ' justice , they would prevent oppression ; at all events , it should not be thair fault if justice was not obtained . They had of tea boen told that the house was sick of bearing the ' Irish howl , 'let them beware how they changed it into , a ' war cry / ( ' Oh I ob 1 ) Let them consider in what a position the country gtoofl with regard to its internal defences ; they knew on what a slight thread hung the peace of the ooatlnent ; and if they wished to be strong , let them lay aside coercion bills and conciliate Ireland . {
'Dividedivide ! ' ) Mr Fi « AN denied that any measure for coercion , was necessary . As to the question of Repeal , he contended that it ought to be fairly and fully discussed , since telly seven out of the nine millions of the Irish population were deeply interested in the subject . For himself while he wholly depreciated a national severance of Ire ' - land from England , he considered " that a Repeal of the Act of Union would be beneficial to both countries for the lnteresti of England were intimatel y connected With the prosperity of Ireland . As fo » the connexion between the countries being affected by the Repeal of the Union ; he though that that was merely a bugbear raised !^ ' ! : ' ^ . ^ . f ° ! ical . te « i « Parity of both . (¦ Question Divid
, , ' ' e . ' , He complained of the way hi which the affairs of Irelaud were oonduoted in the Bri tish Homo of Commons , many important bills beta * paiwd at the close bf the session-after th e great majority of Irish members had left town . PortKU . theonlvre . medy w » a domeitio parliament , and he trusted that in time that proposition would receive "the attentLn of the She hS in hU rfnff ^ ' ^ i to Lm noteshe heW in his hand , and was' aa conjtantl y int . r m 'tyffi of ' . » a . "aa . ^ nd loud laughter . ) He wouldjnot be put down by olamonVbut if . IJain intfr . . rupted would move an adjournmant « f » i v ( Crie | of ' OV ; Bar , ba V af 333 . iati 6 n ? K . beoameaofrequentaMo mder the hon . meSrVfur ! . therremarks wholly inaudible . ) - . : ' u " ™ " ™ »> ur .
' { nSSSi ? ^ ' ° f tliluin » . **^ bon . member con . I . a ? ** ZT . S ? , 3 ° urnment of the debate . ( Cries of ' Oh . ' eh I'"Hear , ' and'Adjourn ') l MrJ . WALTM-The apecch of the hon . member for Cork ; and that of the hon . member for Tralee ( Crie . of Order !' andr Adjourn . ' ) , ^ Mr Paoah appealed to the S peaker to put the question of adjournment . The motion having been made it was not competent , he apprehended , untilit was decided to continue the debate . ( Hear , hear . ) TheSPEAKK understood that the hoa . gentieman / tbe member for Cork , having moved that the debate bead journed , the hon . member for Nottingham rose to J ^ the motion . ( Cheers and laughter . ) C °° Mr WALK * again rose , bnt it appearing that his ruptedT . t 0 Se 00 ' ft 6 m n he *» «*« - Mr E . B . Roohb , who lecouded the motion that the debate be no . w adjourned . wattae
Mr w ! f « r then . PUtth <> qUeatlOn . * iwtl ^ lln ™ . ™^* ^ '™ ^ tnltbcrle , of mstks Mr Wamm said the hon . member for Cork and other hon . gentlemen on the same tide had gratified Z ?*„ Wl » h their opinion a . to the wuJZn J ^ Z people for self-governmsnt , He had alwav * nnj ... a thatonegreatand necessary qiSon ' fo tfg ° o vernment was buslaes * habits ; but , judging from , 1 , speclmenB of business habit , exhibiiea b , ! Z ° * lZ membcMdurlng the present debate , be should eaVthev were as fit for self . legl . ktion as the blacks ( "K Oh , eh . ' ) Iu fact , the black , had a proverb thS . m j nigger were n « t . nigger , Iri . hmeR would benigW ' ( Cheere , laughter , and criei of Oh , oh . ' ) Mr J . O'Oomneia rose to order . He appealed to thn chair whether It was consistent with order that this buf foonery Bhould go ou ! " \ The . Smsw-The bon , member for KUkenw bout
Untitled Article
^— - ^^ S ^^» of order in applying the word buffoonery to thB nk tion of any bon . member . ( Hear , hear ) ' «' Mr J . O'ConitEtL-1 bow , sir , to aimbinr . ( . u fall from yon-I therefore beg to retract the worf ? ay you have decided was not in order , and which i * uttered under the influenct of the strong feeliJ ? ! nl ) r io my mind at hearing Irishmen and Irish m v spoken of as they have been by the hon . m , mber « * » ite . ( Hear , hear . ) 'mller oppo . Mr Wakb » resumed—The provwb he had < m was from an eminent autherlty—that authwitr h !! Bishop Barclay , and a distinguished iri , n bishop m g hear . ) To judge by the speeches they had heard dnr ?' ' that debate , one would imagine that the subject of if " ? grievances and Irish distress were quite new to , k house , and that hon . members could never have he 4 of tbe exactions of con-acre or of the system of meats tefore—whereas the fact was that there wa ^
Ann niMu . l _ . ! . _ l . a . 1 -l ^ k 1 J ii . . . "OH nft one present who had tot heard those questions di cussed hundreds of times . But whatever mi ght be a wsight and importance of those subjects—and that th were important he did dot deny—this was not the tim to bring them under dlseussion . The houjir had T ! for a different purpose , viz ,, to protect tbo lltet Ofth people of Ireland from systematic assassination anfl were tbey to be told that tbey were not to tafea ' mea sures for preventing murder until they should hive in q-iired into all tha grievances tt Ireland ! ( Chen , j What wonld have been laid if , when it pleased Proti denceto visit tbat country with famine , and aisUtanee " called for to
was keep the people from starving if English member * had replied— We will not give » for * thing until we have examined into the cause of the po * tato r » t ! ' ( Hear , hear . ) Let these who , when monty was the question , would admit of no delay , but whose cry was continually uivel give ! be cocsisteut now , and allow parliament to afford protection to Hfe before enter . ing into matters which were of a less argent nature * ( Cheers . ) He concurred with his bon . colleague , thai for ordinary crimes , ordinary laws were eofficient ' , but an organised system of assassination was no ordinary crime . ( Heir , hear . ) TTa must ( said the & < m . mem . ber ) deal with tbe murderer and the assaftsin as Dr
Johnson said madmen should be dealt wfta—knock them down first and reason with them afterwards . ( Hear , hear . ) . ' We must supplant those-rough rug-headed ke » s ; Whiab lire like venom , wfrere no venom else , But only they , hath privilege to live . ' ( Chesra . ) Hr E . B . Roche observed that ihe hon . gentleman ' * spwch partook very much of the spirit of those en . venomed articles against Ireland which appeared from time-to time in a certain daily newspaper , and which cast vrtrfoi rather than oil upon the troubled waters of Irish grievances . ( Hear , hear . ) But the hon . memw ber ' a speseb , tbongh remarkable ftr its smartness , wasnot to- tire point , which was ; whether or not tbe debater should Be adjourned . ( Ghters . ) His hon . friend , thamemberrbr Cork , who waa welt Bcqnainted with In- * land , bad been most ungenerously and improperly inter * - ruptedin'his address , and unless he was allowed to proceed he hoped he would press bis motion-for the adjourn , ment . ( ffear , hear , and cries of' Oo-oa /)
JfrO'GeBWi » Itsvos should in tbatrcase move as an amendment that tbe hon ' , member for Cork be called upon to continue his address . ( Loud" laughter . ) He felt it due a » an Irish member to acknowledge the ad . mlrable attention which , up to the present evening , had been shown to Iiish members generally , aince the meet . Ing of parliaixent . ( H ^ ar , hear . ) It was dae to English members to acknowledge- with gratitude- the spirit of fair play they Mad hitherto-shown to Irish 060 * 0673 , and he hoped they would- continue their generosity to the hon . member for Cbrfcfora few moments . They should remember too that interruptions often renewed those energies which , if left to tliemselves , soon exhausted tbems-lven . ( A laugh : ) i
Sir 6 . Gbet said the hon . member who lasftpo&e had denebut justice tO'tbe-desire of the house generally , to f ? toe a fair and psttenthearing : to every hon , member so lbag as he confined himself within the subject ef-dsbate . And until the hon . mejnbeF for Cork had occupied the hettsefor a very long time in atr addreBS which was in . ; terrapted by many very long pauses , owing , be supposed , 'to-tttebon . member * want of Knowledge ef tbe usages ; efthe house , every attention wae paid to him . He had no'douht , also , that if the hen-, member would resume hlsaddress and confine himself within moderate limits , the house would continue to give him Us attention , (( Hbair , hear . )
Mt J » . O'Connxll . — I > do -think the right hon . bsronet hat not treated my hom friend quite fairly—( Hear , hear , and cries- of' Oh ! ' )—con » idering . that he is a new mem . ber ; ( JSfear , hear . ) A * -to-what has fallen from-the hon , member for Ennm I can only suppose that to has | been > eo- absent from the house aa- to have forgotten ' what hat been the courtesy usually observed towards Irish members ; but I have myself been siiteen years ¦ ft member of this bouse , and I-am bound to sajtbetia jno prevkua parliament have ! witnessed such an incH . | nation to . prevent and to- crush Irish discussion as has Jbeenexhibited this night . (' Oh , oh ! ' )) Themo » t indejcent interruptions have bten offered by a number-of
members-collected on eaoh side of the- bar to thoBe who ihave comet here to discharge their duly to their country under the-most painful circumstances * ( Hear , bear : )' , Are we to be hunted do < rn < b ' ecauie wa * do not choose to | lay our country at your feet , to be trambled on at your : will ' ( 'Hear . hear , andtoriesef'Oh !*)• Ton think Ire-; land will be submissive ; , ( t Oh , oh I ' , } My decided con-; viction is \ that-1 have not yet witnessed * , any parliament lln which there has been such intoVeranca exhibited ; , (< - * Oh , oh l' . ) i And I hope my hon . friend will persist ia'his motion , toadjourn thedebate , if it ie-only to mark-1 our indignant sense ofthe treatment he has experienced ! : ( 'Hear , hear , and ories fop Mr Fagan . V
Mr Fa 8 * k said , that if he thought-he had used a single expression that could have justly called forth thainterruption he had experienced he would instantly haveapologised to the house ; : but he was net > aware tbat he had dona a * . ( Hear , hear . } If he hadnot been . inter . raptedUs speech would'long since have been concluded . It was- sot , however , his- intention ts < intrude himselfany further upon the house . The feelings of the people f Ireland were excited : upon the subieot of repeal , and they were determined to have a domestio Legislature ; . but he was a . peaceful man , and hii priaoiples werethosa of morall force alone- * : and , therefore , he always advocated that the battle of repeal should be fought withhv the walls- of Parliament . ( Hear , hear ^) . He had no wish toshow any angry feeling on this occasion , and , with theleave of the house ,, he was quite willing , to withdraw his metiMi fir adjourning the debate . Ihe motion for adjourning the debate having beet * withdrawn .
Mi ? O'porao&POBC to reply . He said , the admirable tactics of b 9 r-Majesty ' 8 government in confining that debateto one side , had left him little to reply to . Tke right hoe * Home Secretary ,, appeared to misunderstand his ( iMt 0 > C ' s ) motive m < alluding to tho number of Irish labourers , who ,, for-want of work at bome , flockedltothe English labour , market , and by their compulsory competition , caused a diminution of wageB here : He ( Mr O'Connor * did not reason so j he did not deny the right of hia countrymen bcoma here in search .- of labour ; but what he said was , induce them to remain at home at remunerating wages , applied to the cultivation of their own-soil , thereby enabling thorn to produce food to exchange with you for your manufactures— ( hear , hear , )—insieau oi continuin
g as competitors against their Eng . hsh brethren , and a tax upon , the poor rates imposed upoa English landlords * ( Hear , hear . ) i The observation of the hon . member for Tavistook had been saffioiently replied to by hia honourable friend , with one single exception , and that waa his denial of wisn ^ axa tien being commensurate with English taxation , while the fact was , that to Irish poverty , and net to ministerial cleaency , they owed this exeuaptionjit being a feet , that in a poor country , the slightest tax would amount to a prohibition of the taxed artiiles . ( Hear , hear . ) With respect to the hon ; and Rallant member for Longford , who undertook to deliver a stricture on his ( Mr O'Connor ' s ) policy and
patriotism , he had only to say that his censure passed by him as the idle wind , while he was at a loss to disoover any valid grpunds ^ for his opposition to the motion , he had submitted to the bouse . What difference was ^ there between an Irishman representing an £ < neliBh borough , and an Englishmanrepresentingan Irish county . ( Hear , Jiear . ) But he was not surprised at the anger ofthe hoa . gentleman , and it wag a full confarmation of tho propriety of his motion , as in the outset , he announced to the house , that one of his principle objects m taking an early discussion upon the question was to test the newly pledged repeal members ; and if he ( Mr O'Connor ) was rightly lntermed , the hon . gentleman was one those . ( Hear , hear ) And he now begged to inform the hon . gentleman , that while he allowed the most perfect license to all to criticise his ( Mr O'Connor ' s ) conduct and action , _ that , at the same time , he would not bedriven
trom his course . ( Hear . hear . ) He ( Mr O'Connor ) nad sat in tnat house in more irritating and ten pestuous times , and it was his pride to say that neve * nad he offered the slightest interruption to any hon . member , nor had one word ever escaped him tooffend , insult , or wound , the feelings of any man . ( Hear , hear . ) And he begged to assure the hon . and gallant gentleman that he should , in future , insist upon the Bamerule being observed towards him ( Mr O'Connor . ) ( Hear , hoar . ) His hon . friend , the member for Bolton , who , " upon rising , appeared to have been mesmerised —( cheers and laughter)—he certainly Bhould not attempt to follow that hon . gentleman through hia long , able , eloquent , and elaborate argu « ment . ( Cheers and laughter . ) And new for a word of observation upon what fell from his honour * able colleague . That honourable gentleman had amuBed the house with a nigger story , an » Mr O'Connor would tell him one in return . Tha
question of flogging the Irish was uppermost in tna honourable gentleman ' s mind , and he indulged us with an exhortation . A nigger on board sbip , v& about to be flogged , when the humane captain waa ( Completed in the Fifth Pag 4 . )
Untitled Article
, Haymarket , in the City of Westminster , FEARGU S O'CONNOR , Esq ., M . P ,, and publish by Wiiuam Hewitt , of No . 18 , Charlewtreet , Braudon-street , Walworth , in the parish of St . Mary , }< eW " ngton , inth . e County of Surrey , at the Office , No . « i 6 roat WindmUl-atreet . Hajmarkpt , in the Cif / oftf » H Briuato . ~ 8 ttt \ tfdaj , BeQ « aher 11 th , 18 * 7 ,
Untitled Article
$ ¦ - ¦¦ ¦ " TUT ? iff h E TU IP . B "M STAB ""' " "Dw ^ wimtjo li u ^^
Street At Tho Printed By Dou6al M'Gowan, Of I S, Great Windmill*
street at tho Printed by DOU 6 AL M'GOWAN , of I S , Great Windmill *
-
-
Citation
-
Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 11, 1847, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1448/page/8/
-