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Imperial parliament. ¥-ttkti£¥tal 3£afli atttrttt
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MONDAY , March -5 . HOUSE OF LORDS . —Scotch Makrugss asd Keoistbatiox Bills . —On the question of the third reading of these bills , ThelEari of Aberdeen repeated his objections to the Marriage Bill , at the same time admitting that while the Registration Bill on the one hand would remedy some existing defects , on the other it would entail great inconvenience . There was but one feeling in Scotland on the subject of these bills , ami that was a determined hostility to their becoming
law . Measures of this description deserved much more caution , and he never availed himself of the privilege of parliament with greater pleasure than in entering his protest against the Marriage Bill , ¦ w hich . Le considered both impolitic and uiyusi . Lord Campbell defended the measures , which had been under consideration in three session * , and contended that in no civilised country in the world could marriages be effected as in Scotland under the casting law . The bills were then read a third time and passed . _ __ , _„ IrelandBill
The Tice-Guardians of Unions ( ) , on the motion of the 3 fcirquis of Laxsdowne , was read a second time . After a few words from Lord Siaslet , the Eavl of TVicklov , the Bishop of Cashel , and the Earl of Xreis , the second reading of the Relief of Distress ( Ireland ) Bill having also been moved , Lord Bnour . nAM urged tint the grant of £ 50 , 000 was too little to he of permanent use , and too much , because it ought not to be given at all . A national polity must be in a most diseased state when other supplies were looked to than those which arose out of the industry of the people ; and this the people of Ireland ought to be made to understand . The bill was then read a second time , as also was the DucHingham Assizes Bill , aiid their lordships adjourned .
HOUSE OF COMMONS . —Among the questions put to ministers previous to the commencement of public business , was one relating to Tiie Wjib i . v the Pcxjack . —Mr . IIcme said : Seeing the noble lord at the head of the government in hlsplace , I wish to ask him a question , but I feel considerable difficulty in shaping it in such a tot as to obtain sufficient information . But , sir , after the statements which we have seen in the Gazette of Saturday last , and in the Gazette prior to that , relative to the affairs of India , the state of that country can no longer be a matter of indifference to every man who looks to the future . ( Hear , hear . ) I should * e sorry to prejudge any man , and particularly o ' ne
who U not present to answer any statements that might foe made , but certain facts -which are developed ill the despatches which were received three or four weeks aso , without any relation to the late melancholy transactions that " have taken place , authorise me in inquiring whether her Majesty ' s ministers have taken any measures to place the army in India under such command as shall obtain the confidence of the men , and secure all those advantages of art and science which we , as a civilised nation , possess for the purposes of warfare ? It appears from the despatches that in recent events those advantages were not used , and I do hope , therefore , that Her Majesty ' s government will state what measures they have taken to ensure better success for the future .
( Hear , hear . ) Lord J . RrssEU , ( whose statement was receivod with the most profound silence ) said : There can be no doubt that the state of our military operations in Lidbi must be a matter not certainly of indifference but of the deepest interest , to every member cf this House . ( Cheers . ) I can , however , only state at present , that her Majesty ' s government , after considering tlieintelliijeiice wliich has been received , have offered to her Majesty that advice which they think best calculated to meet the emergency which at present exists in that part of her domiuions . But I have not as yet received her Majesty ' s reply to the advice which 1 have humbly tendered to her Majesty ; but as soon as that answer is received , and can be with propriety communicated to this House , I will lose no time in layiiur it before it . The Irish Rate i . y ' Aid . —The House having again gone into committee on the rate in aid resolution of the committee on Irish Poor Law ,
Mr . OsiionXE opened the debate by stating that winterer differences might exist in that House as to the resolutions which had been brought forward by the noble lord , there could be no dispute that the case had beeu fairly put , which amounted to this , that the poor law had entirely broken down in the western districts of Ireland , and that the House was called upon to levy a contribution on the north and south of the country to support the poverty of the west . Af ter the reasons they had heard in favour of the proposition , that no one could resist the conclusion that her Majesty ' s ministers were not able to grapple with the tremendous difficulties by whiclithey were surrounded , for ther were now onlv administering a palliative ,
instead of attempting a cure , and it behoved the House to pause before it entered on a course of policy which would destrov the vitality of the eastern and northern unions without comniunicatiiisr any permanent benefit to the western . It was all very well to suppose that the Kite in aid would amount to £ 250 , UU « , and that it would all come out of Irish pockets ; but . what security was there that the money to be drawn from the consolidated fund would be hereafter paid from the rate in aid ? There was only one prccedeut for the course taken liy the noble lord , widcli would be found in " Bias . " It was the treatment of Sangrado , for here was Ireland complaining , and the political Sansrrado of the dav was susrsejting the necessity of a
Tittle more blood k'ttinar . He was prepared to vote for any motion wliich would make the rateable property of Ireland available for the sustenance of the poor , but the House ought to have some guarantee that the rate to be levied should not be spent in eleemosynary grants . It was the duty oi the government rather to assist in introducing ' some system of home colonisation and of emigration to oilier parts . Political economists imsht object to such measures ; but the rre . it master of that school , Mr . Mill , had expressed n contrary opinion , having pnt the case in which the western unions could only be relieved from the pressure to which they were subjected , " by emigration or starvation . " If the noble lord was worthv of his place at the head of the government ,
he was bound to _ come forward with a definite plan , which had not simply for its object the support of this population by eleemosynary relief . It seemed a fashionable doctrine that , because a poor law had been granted , jni'liament had done its duty to Ireland . A poor law did not add to the capital or revenue of rhc country , but rather diminished them . He had himself found it necessary , from the increase of rates , to discharge labourers . He had to tliauk the government for having made him last year pay £ 1 , 000 . But he had to discharge labourers in consequence . Yet it was said government had given a poor law io Ireland , and the property of Ireland should support its poverty . That * was a most dangerous doctrine . Thev mi <* ht speak of Louis
Blancism—and , in justice to Louis Blanc , it ought to be stated that he * had not set the atelier * : iatiimaux , on foot , as had been alleged ; they might speak of I ' ouleu-Seropeisin , bufthe system now proposed , if it were to be carried out , was nothing but a system of legalised Communism . Government went a bcssuisr " and asked every one " What do you proposed" * ( A Voice . — "What do you propose ? " ) He would volunteer his opinion to the noble lord , though the noble lord had not asked him to take a scat in the Cabinet , and before he sat down the noble lord would probably obtain a greater knowledge of Ireland than before . He would suggest lor
tla ~ noble lord ' s adoption three measures—nrst , a bill to enforce the sale of lands which had not contributed their share to the poor rates ; secondly , a bill to remodel the whole system of estates in the hands of receivers in Chancery ; and lastly , a measure which would free the land from all restrictions , and make it an article of easy sale by simplifying transfer and tithes . These measures might be too bold for the noble lord , who might rather be disposed to content himself with coming to Parliament for an occasional dole ; but it was for the House to adopt measures which would be adequate to meet the circumstances of the case . He knew not what effect the noble lord ' s dream of the future
might have ou the minds of hon . gentleman . The noble lord said ho had no doubt that Irelaud was in a state of transition ; and that at no distant period she would be prosperous . The noble lord told the House that , when the starving people should crawl like famished rats on the barren soil , new modes of cultivation would be introduced , and spontaneous harvests would follow . Lord J . llrssELL . —I said nothing like it . . Mr . Osuobse continued . —He had come to the cheerless conviction that , so long aa the destinies of tins empire were swayed by the present combination of parties , so long would Ireland have no hope but in looking to the root which had caused her pre-SB it destitution , and England would have no proteetion / rom the painful effects of that union which infused the infection of pauperism into her more healthv and l « t corrupted frame . He should vote
against the proposition on the present occasion , though , if the noble lord had come forward witli some plan suited to the urgency of the occasion , no man would have been more ready to give it his support . Sir R . Peel , without one word of preface , addressed himself to the consideration of the two questions before the House—first , whether , in the present state of Ireland , they should leave the people of certain districts to " be supported exclusively by the unions or electoral divisions in wliich they lived ; and secondly , if they were of opinion that extrinsic aid was necessary , from what source ¦* as that aid to be derived ? Ueeould not , in the present state of Ireland , consent to throw the sup-Port of the poor exclusively upon the individual unions . If they now refused extrinsic aid , the eon-^ uwnecs wo uld bo greatloss of life , first by famine , and then l > y disease , as ita consequence . He could
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not believe that the House would adopt so painful an alternative . The system of indiscriminate aid might have an injurious tendency , but what answer had they now to make to the individual sufferers themselves—those who had been taught by them to rely more upon charity than upon their own exertions ? Such a policymight be wrong , but it was not now upon its victims that its consequences were to be visited . In the late unparalleled state of Ireland courses might have been adopted which , had there been better opportunities for foresi ght , might hare been avoided . But there the people were menaced with starvation , and he could not now consent to lei tliem starve , no matter from what source the aid might be derived . He gave his support , therefore , under all the circumstances of the case not believe that the House would adopt so Dainful
, to the proposal now made to provide some extrinsic aid to the suffering unions . As to the source whence aid was to be provided them , he thought that the other parts of the empire hadevery right to demand irom Ireland a strenuous effort to " support her own poor . He did not rest his demand for such an effort on the ground that there was no equality of taxation between the two countries . Ireland should make the effort on different grounds . The vicinage in England supported the poor when the parish was unable to do so . But this principle would he defective in its application to Ireland , a consideration which led him to prefer a general rate to the plan of making a neighbouring union contribute to make up the deficiencv of a suffering one . There was
another ground on which they were entitled to call for such a rate in the present juncture . On what principle did Ireland refuse to repay the advances of £ 1 , 200 , 000 made for the erection of union workhouses ? The amount of this sum repaid did not exceed £ 50 , 000 . If Ireland would immediately repay it lie would relieve her from the proposed rate in aid . But finding more than a million sterling due on this account , not likely soon to be repaid , find that the principle of vicinage would be defective in Ireland , he had no alternative but to vote for the proposed rate , lie-would , therefore , vote for the rate , although he believed it to he an incomplete and ineffectual remedy for the real difficulties of the case . The right hon . gentleman then drew the
attention of the House to the most important question before them—that connected with the future prospects of Ireland . A mere temporary advance did not relieve them from the obligation of considering it . "What would be the condition of several of the Irish unions after this relief was exhausted ? It was now incumbent on them to do something in earnest for the purpose of laying the foundation of a better system for Ireland , it would be unwise any longer to rely upon the potato . Sot only was that root liable to disease , but its cultivation was being rapidly diminished . This was the case in the union of Bnllinn , which might be taken as a type of several of the Irish unions . That union was at one time well supplied with
fish ; but it appeared that this source of subsistence was nlso failing it . This being so , what were its prospects ? and , if it were to be taken as a specimen of other unions , what were the prospects of a large section of Ireland , unless something were immediately done for its rescue—something tending to the improvement of the physical and moral condition of the people . There was but one remedy which he thought could' be successfully applied . On that remedy they might , in his opinion , place reliance , although it might be somewhat slow in its operation . The remedy which ho proposed was the introduction of new proprietors , who would" enter with capital upon the cultivation of the land , with new feelings , and
inspiring new confidence into society in Ireland . He would not propose to gain such an advantage by any violation of the rights of property . But he thought that it would be possible for the government , with the sanction of the House , to devise the means whereby new capital might be introduced into Ireland for the cultivation of the land , which seemed to him to be the only feasible course which lay before them , if they would brighten the prospects of that country . They had precedent for what he now proposed . By the aid of the government , extensive settlements were made in Ulster in the time of James I . — settlements afterwards extended to Lcinster , and from which the happiest results followed . He trusted that , by the adoption
of some similar course , equally beneficial results might be now secured . But uuless they applied , to some degree , the principle of settlement then acted upon , he could anticipate no permanent improvement in the condition of Ireland . If the application of it were now to be attempted , he trusted that it would be done without doing that which was the chief blot in the scheme carried out in James the First's time—the establishing of distinctions on account of religious belief . Let them do something like this , with a careful regard to all the existing rights of property , and they might have some ground for hope that a better system would ere loug ' arise in Ireland . He was quite aware that an act had been passed , last session , to facilitate the
transfer of real property . But he feared , considering the provisions of that act , and the alterations which it underwent at a late period of the session , in its passage through the House of Lords , that it would not be found effectual for its purpose unless some additional aid and stimulus were given to the transfer of property . If they relied exclusively upon that act , they would not secure that infusion of new blood into the west of Ireland which was absolutely essential for its physical and moral regeneration " They would make but little progress towards their object if they relied simply upon individual purchases . It was with deferent that he made any suggestion on this matter , to the House and government , but he did think that it would be
prudent to apjmiiit some commission which would , after examination , pass its deliberate judgment upon the proposed scheme , and consider the possibility of effecting that change in the possession of property , without doin < r violence to existing rights , which ha regarded as indispensable to any permanent improvement in the condition of Ireland . To carry out this purpose it niiffht be necessary to have some intermediate agent by means of which they could get possession of the property on equitable terms , and afterwards arrange and manage its re-distribution . He would repeat , that in carrying" out this proposal for the introduction of new bloou and new capital into Ireland , by working a change in the nossession of property , no violence must be done to
the just rights of the present proprietors . He would purchase no advantage at such a price . But iftheytooka comprehensive' view of the present state of several of the unions in Ireland , the conviction would be forced upon them that such a change of possession was necessary . How to effect it was the difficulty . To do so not only was the intervention of the government necessary , in his opinion , or that of some commission or other authority , actine in concert with the government , but they must also extend to such parties as might be ready to invest their capital in Irish property a guarantee that they should not be overwhelmed by the poor-rates , and that tithes should be made secure . Thev should , for instance , he guaranteed
that for ten , twelve , or fourteen years , the poorrates should not exceed a certain maximum amount . But , whatever they might do in this respect , the main hope for Ireland was now in the transfer of property—a transfer to be effected with every attention to the rights of property , and to be effected through the intervention of the government , or of some commission acting in concert with it . Whatever means they resorted to for the permanent improvement of Ireland , they could be better applied after getting the proposed rate in aid , wherewith to meet the present emergency The risht hon . baronet thus concluded his speech , and was listened to throughout with the deepest attention : —I am most unwilling to assume the
functions of the government , to propose anything in lieu of the present plan—all I can say is , that if the representatives of Ireland should be favourable to an equitable commutation of a tax upon personal property as well as upon land , I shall be most willing , after having obtained the vote for a rate in aid , to listen to the proposal which was made by an hon . ffcntleinan , whose suggestions are entitled to the utmost respect from his personal character , his knowledire of Ireland , and his attachment to her best interests—I allude to the hon . gentleman the member for the county of Limerick ( Mr . Monsell . ) I shall then be most willing to listen to his proposal , and substitute a Property Tax payable upon personal property as well as upon land . I am not levied in Ireland
sure if I had a Property Tax so , that I would not consent to appropriate it 3 proceeds to relieve her from her most painful position . If I tad a Property Tax in Ireland , I hope it would he for a period sufficient to attbrd a prospect of extricatin g her from her difficulties . If it were levied on the principle of tiie English Property Tax , varyin" the details accordins to the circumstances of the country , I should not Object to apply the proceeds of it to that purpose . I think that that would be a most useful appropriation . I look to the west of Ireland with perfect despair , if the present state of things is to continue . ( Hear , hear . ) I ; care not whether you get £ 300 , 000 or £ 400 , 000 this year , and the same sum next year ; I am deeply convinced , that unless you make some more vigorous effort to rescue the country from the calamity under evils im
which she is now suffering , and the now - pending over it , her condition at the expiration ol the two years will be worse than it is now—her habits of ' self-dependence destroyed , her poople overwhelmed with hopelessness and despair , ana property will be more uncultivated and penectly unsaleable and valueless The west of Ireland attorus opportunities for improvement which , speaking comparatively , ho other part of the world appearsi to give . I see a great world grown up on the otner side of the Atlantic ; I see the facilities of communication by railways and by steam . . I see every reason why Ireland , if her position in respect to tenure could be improved , should be most prosperous . I recollect some lines inone of thc ballaas that were published at the time of the unfortunate rebellion in 1798-when men of taint were directing tkeir ability and efforts toprojagate treason ana
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disaffection—which appear to me to be most applicable to Ireland" When Erin first rose from the dark heaving flood > God blessed the green island , and saw it was good » In sun , and in soil , and in station twice blcss'd—Her back turn'd to Britain—her face to the west . " Her face will still continue to be turned to the west ' out I think , now , you have an opportunity of con " cilmting her affections and binding her to this country . If yOu leave her as she lies she is overwhelmed with' poverty and despair . Hut now , by a vigorous effort , in wliich every part of the empire shall join , it appears to me that there arc opportunities , by a new constitution of property , by'inviting with the aid of the government new capital to be invested in the cultivation of the soil—it appears to me that you have opportunities of materially improving her condition , and , if you succeed , of extracting from her present state of calamity and wretchedness the means of future prosperity and happiness for herself and of strength to this united empire . ( Cheers . ) HUn «• ., „* : „ ., _ . i .: _ i ~ ~ ... ' ,:
Major Blackall moved as an amendment , " That an auxiliary fund , for the relief ot the extraordinary 1 distress in Irelaud , be raised by a rate not exceeding Od . 'in tlic pound , to be levied on all property and incomes iu Ireland above the annual value ol £ 150 , " Mr . W . Bnowx considered that if Sir Robert Peel ' s plan was carried out , it would afford the best guarantee ' for . ' the future prosperity of Ireland . Having kept a debtor and creditor account against that country he was prepared to show that Ireland owed England . £ 300 , 000 , 000 ; and he thought it but just , therefore , that the Irish should put tlicir lmnds in their own pockets instead of applying to the industrious inhabitants of Yorkshire , Lancashire , and other English , counties for assistance . He should vote for jthc rate in aid . Sir E . Macxaoiitev , Mr-. Scully , Sii W . Terxeu , Mr . Bourke , and Sir A . Bnooiuj , addressed the House against the rate .
Mr . Clements urged the imposition of an incometax rather than a rate in aid . Mi . 1 ) . Roche supported the resolution because it proposed a temporary relief for a temporary want , ' because he thought it was due to the English people who had such sacrifices for the relief of Irish ilistress , but lie did hope the rate would not bo levied until after harvest . Referring to the speech of Sir R . Peel , the hon . member said nobody could say that it was not a most important speech ; but at the same time , lie must 8 iiy that there was u groat deal in that speech from which he dissented . In the first place , he was rather inclined to question his historical conclusions . He did not agree with him that the plantation of Ulster was a great boon conferred
by . England on Ireland . He thought , on the contrary , that it was a gre ; it blotand stain on the ' English character that that plantation had been effected in the way it had been . - ( Hear . ) The right , hon . gentleman had quoted an Irish ballad of 'OS . He ( Mi-Roehe ) , with reference to thi 3 poitft , would quote a stanza from an Irish ballad made by those who planted Ulster two centuries after the plantation . ( Shouts of . laughter . ) He found ho had made a slip of the tongue . It was a propensity of his countrymen to do so , and he would not deny his countrymen . ( Continued laughter . ) Well , ' here was a song . ( Renewed laughter , and loud erics of " Sing , sing . " ) He was afraid he could not sing amidst so many interruptions , but here were the words" The battle of the
Diamond" ( Far let the watchword fly)—" Where craven rapist rebels crouched " Upon the earth to die ; " Slain by devoted men and true , " Who fought with heart and blade , " And slaughtered in their ambush vile " By swords they had betrayed . " ( Laughter . ) He confessed that ho did not anticipate much benefit to Ireland from such plantations , but the right hon . gentleman also proposed that the government , by moans ot a commission should purchase some of the estates of Connaught , and sell them to new proprietors . If the object wero to create an independent yeomanry in Ireland he believed that some good would be done ; but if they merely bought the estates from the present proprietors , who had manifestly neglected their duty hitherto , and put in their place another set without
taking some security that they would not follow exactly the same course as their predecessors , he feared that evil would be done in place of good . The right hon . gentleman also said that he saw no reason why they should not purchase the Conneniarn property . ' He ( Mr . Roche ) had no particular objection to their doing so , but he feared they would noi find it a very profitable concern . He did not think that King Williamstown , in the county which ho represented , had turned out « very profitable speculation . { Hear , hear . ) But if the right hon . gentleman really wished to regenerate Ireland , let him face the question of tenure of land ; let him bring in a hold , practical measure to enable the money of the fanners and yeomen , which was at present lying idle in the savings-banks , to come into connexion with the land which was lying unfilled , and he would not only benefit the country at large , but do great credit and honour to himself .
Sir A . Brooke opposed the rate as impolitic and unjust . . ; Sir G . Gncv , after adverting to the inability of the distressed unions , if left to their own resources , to support their poor , observed that he saw no alternative but to procure , from some source or other , extraneous aid by which to supply for the time being the deficiency of means in these unions . This seemed , indeed , to have been admitted on all hands . It had also been admitted , but by no means so generally , that the time had at length come when a stop must he put to the system of repeated applications to parliament for grants for the support of the ¦
Irish poor . If the Imperial Exchequer was no longer to be called upon for such grants , and tlio aid now required was to come from some resource in Ireland itself , the question was , whether the proposal made by government for a general rate in aid , was not the least objectionable mode in which that aid could bo secured . Ho then proceeded to consider and refute the objections urged against the proposal by Mr . Osborne , Mr . Stafford , Mi-. Monsell , and others . The government was charged with introduciug a new principle , but that which it introduced in connexion with this proposal was not so novel as would bo that of extendin g the income-tax
to Ireland and applying its proceeds to local purposes . Yet this was the substitute which was proposed by those who accused the . government of abandoning beaten tracks and introducing new principles , lie then met the objections to the rate which those who spoke on behalf of Ulster ui g ; od a » uinst it . Objection had beeii taken to the proposed rate , because the valuations were different in the different unions and electoral divisions in Ireland . It might be possible partially to correct the inequality of valuation , if not entirely to remove it , but its correction or removal would be a comparatively slow process ; and was there a single member of the House who would take upon himself the responsibility , in the present state of Ireland , to postpone the
imposition of the vato until valuation was equalised ? The government proposed the rate simply as ; i temporary measure , and in proposing it as such it would but ill acquit itself of its responsibility if it did not contemplate some other measures designed for the permanent improvement of Ireland . The right hon . baronet the member for Tamworth had expressed an opinion that the government was bound not only to provide the means of relieving the destitution at present existing in the west of Ireland , but to look forward and adopt measures by which that part of the country might bo placed in a condition of Independence , so as to render unnecessary those continual calls for extraneous assistance . He entirely concurred in the opinion expressed by the right hon .
baronet , that the remedy for the disastrous state of things existing in the unions of the west of Ireland wasIhe transfer of the great bulk of the property from the hands of those who had inherited it overwhelmed with burdens , with incomes insufficient to enable them to discharge the duties of proprietors , to others possesssd of capital sufficient to furnish employment to people on their estates and to insure the proper cultivation of the soil . The right hon . baronet said that he would do nothing which was inconsistent with the rights of property ; hut experience showed how strongly the influence of education and of long cherished habits inclined common law and Chancery lawyers to consider all the forms employed in their profession essential to the maintenance of the rights of property . Much beneht would be experienced if purchasers were relieved from the dread of competing for the purchase of c * - fcltes encumbered with an accumulation oi > r 0 W 3 ai of the which his
ofp or ^ d one propositions noble " friend intended to submit to the committee un st-iirs would be directed to that object . If , > n SsaiSSssftS ^ aSS ttlttX ^ &Jft * mms and was entitled to tnc iu lies h , , mr . Lord CasilM haugioKd tl » ^ man report fS ' f divided upon that motion , jected , the Commrttee g I The tj which ™\ € f *;^ LBieinJ ; however , renewed , K > &S £ offined hW to sit again on ^
took P b « TOgS ? S ElcctionacB . , when there I !" ^ flS rSrtJS ? members prelont , the House Surtf at'Uo ' clock . TUESDAY , March C . HOttB OF LORDS . - Arona or Bw ** -
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i ! , n ,, n Petlticns aS ™^ » rate in aid for Ire-I oiSi " I ) resented \ various Irish Pew * , JSt £ Y f- / >' ' vrhcthei ' a eontmrtoi- who ^ en n o i' ^^ M SUPIll ^ S' f m t 0 the JJritish ™ . s i , k ' cn illl 0 WC ( 1 t 0 withdraw such su > lvin t , ' S ^ P ^ ent stores for the purposo . of The att ? T """ Wts in Sicily , hnfitv 5 IS - ° - ^ SMWSK "as ghd of an opportunity ol explaining the real state of the cn < e \ fhe ^ S ^ IUl 5 bCCU , ^ ^ t ^ tor for ™ . to u tuini hM ' '' ! Ille " ! > iu t [ » c course . of last ! / ' betore the armwtico iu sioilv was cono 3 r ^ rate Iwforc [ t w ; ls known to be UwKin'i 0011 ""?' ' makcan "Pl'lfcition to frmiT ^ ? Ordnance . tor permission to take back t m 11 i 01 M ° . " - Vhicil Jle lmd 'nanutatt uta tor Iwr Majesty a service , and . that , too for rf . o avorrcJ purpose of fulfilling another contract innde with the . Sicilian government at that : time tor whose use those guns were wanted . Tho ] S oi rotused ~ .
uruuaneo their assent to that application ¦ until an application was made in ai . otherquilre , namely , to the Secretary of State foi-Foreisni Aflaira ' Sn-fr lCatl ? 7 Minaile ' thcn the Board of t m , nmr " eCLn ? - , 1 ) ermissi 0 lJ t 0 S ire til 0 contractor oumtK , f ^ " ^ I'O dcsiml , and thev consequent ^ all ? " > ''l "" a to take the arms out of store , mis . permission was afterwards restretted , and our Si " U T fn » . v authorised , £ called ' upon to thrm . " h ?» " i f ' aml t 0 st : ite tlmt ! t l ! ild ° ™ ^ Kft U '" l aml that meilsures wmiIu be Tn , tOl'revcut "s recurrence in future , ' mini-in J i , L'o"AM said the noble marquis had spoiven of the insurgents as the Sicilian srovernmenfc W > K * to meant the insurgent govw-n-The Marrjuis of Laxsdotv . vh replied he meant the government d ? facto , the insurgent srovermhent .
J-. 0 M Jjkougiiam retorted that lie should as soon call bmith O'Brien ' s committee " Hie English comm , ' . "s C ! l 11 the insurgent government in Scilv "the Sicilian government . " The Earl of Eu . EN'BOJtorcir , in rei > lv to Lord Brougham , said it was true the people of Sicilv had risen against the government of their King , but they had previously to that a constitution de jure , if not de facto , and stood pretty much-in the' same position as the people of England did before Kin " William tho Third ascended the throne . They desired the Ye-establishment of a constitution ! to
which they wore as much entitled as tho people of England wore to have their rights secured to them by Magna- Ch . utn and by the lJcvolutioii . The Earl of Adkhukkx thought , if this country had given to Sicily a guarantee to maintain Wr rights , it was their duty to assist lfcr , but if no such guarantee had been given , it was mos't dishonest nllil dis »; i l : ieeful to nfi ' oet a neiih-nlHv wliich w ; is not honestly observed . As the noble marquis , however , had stated that tho government was fully aware of every step that had been taken , he lvoiil ' d make no further observation on tho subject .
The Duke ot -Weuixotox said : the King of the Two Sicilies , commonly called the Kiii £ of Naples , assumed tho former title when he signed the act of accession to the treaty of Vienna , ami he inserted in that act a certain condition , on which he accepted the sovereignty , and specified the manner in which the government of the island of Sicily should be carried ' on . It was true that the English government were not bound to enforce the execution of that article of the treaty , or of any other , on other powers ; but England was bound not to commit a breach of that article , which unquestionably would be done by supplying arms to' the present insurgents in Sicily , England being bound to remain neutral . Ife hoped it would be found , when tho general question was discussed , that no step had been taken which would bo construed into a broach of any part of the treaty .
i'he Earl of Mixto had been most anxious in executing his mission to maintain the union of the two crowns ; but he could never consent to treat the people as being in unL-uvful rebellion against their sovereign . Ou the contrary , they wove asserting ; v right which they had a reasonable prospect of obtaining . He had been most desirous in his interference to induce them to accept the conditions which were offered to them by the King of the Two Sicilies in 1812 . Lord Bnorr . iuSr suggested to his noble friend that he should read tho treaty of Vienna at least throe times , and then state whether the King of the Two Sicilies , was the King of only one or both . The Earl of Mixto said the treaty of Vienna only provided fov the restoration of the * king to his Neapolitan dominions , but recognised him as King of the Two Sicilies , in addition to which he was King of Jerusalem .
Lord DnoL'cii . ur . —But you did not go to Jerusalem . TJie Earl of Mixto already Knew the treaty of Vienna pretty well by heart , but he thought there were circumstances connected with the history of the period which wero unknown even to the noble and learned lord . Ohimixai , li :: Ti ; n . \" . s ( Ikelaxd ) . —Lord Moxtearlk in an explanatory spcecli moved for returns showing the amount of crime in Ireland and the amount of mortality in the prisons of Ireland for the last five years . Eavl Guky had no objection to the motion , but denied that the mortality or overcrowding iu the Irish prisons had arisen from any alteration in Hie law of transportation , but in consequence of the greatly increased number of persons who had been sentenced to that juinishmcnt during tho last two years ,
The Duke of Richmond complained of the difficulty there was in obtaining accurate returns from Ireland , and was loth to take for granted any statement that came from thence , lie also complained that the number of Irish labourers wandering ; il ; out the country was a great source of alarm , siud trusted some means would ho taken to put an end to such a deplorable state of tilings . The motion was then agreed to . The Uoliof of Distress ( Ireland ) Bill ; the Vice-Guardians of Unions ( Ireland ) J 5 i ! l ; and the Buckinghamshire Summer Assizes Bill , were respectively read a third time and passed . Tlicir lordships then adjourned . .
HOUSE OP COMMONS . —Mit . Jon . v Mitchei-. —Mr . ' Komxsos said , that seeing the First Lord of the Admiralty in liis place , he begged to put a question to him ' of wliich he had given notice . The right lion , gentleman not having held any official situation last year , he begged to inform him that he inquired last year whether there was any foundation for the rumour which was then circulated , that ^ litehel , the convict , on his way to Bermuda in the ship . Scourge , had messed with the officers , and had 1 ) 0011 treated in a manner by Commander IVmnrove , which , if true , was greatly derogatory to him . lie now begged to ask whether the Admiralty , having , as he presumed they had , made inquiry into the subject , had received any report from the commander on the Xorth American station on the subject , or whether Commander Wingrove had made any . ittempt to vindicate Ills character from the aspersion which had been cast upon it by the rumour in question .
Sir F . Baring said that the rumour referred to was quite correct in so far as that Mitchel did dine at the captain's table on board the Scourge ; but it was not true that he messed with the officers in any shape . He dined at tho captain ' s table that ho might be separated from the other officers , who the captain considered ou . ffht not to be brought into contact with him . The captain ' s sole object in so doing was to keep the prisoner in safe custody in a manner consistent with humanity and the stale of tho prisoner ' s health . ( Hoar , hear . ) The Admiralty had made full inquirv into the subject , and tliev wure quite satisfied that the captain had not beeu actuated by tho motives which had been imputed to him , but that lie had been merely anxious ibr the prisoner ' s safe custody and his separation from the officers and crew . ( Hear , hear . )
Mr . ltoiHNsox begged to remind the right lion , gentleman that the Secretary of the Admiralty had stated that orders had been given to Commander Wingrove that Jlitehel should be confined in a separate cabin , with a sentry over it , and that he should take his meals in a separate cabin . I ' rom the explanations now given , however , it appeared that these orders had been deviated from . He wished to ask whether the Admiralty proposed to take any notice of Commander Wngrove ' s disobedience of the Admiraltv orders ?
Tin : Aumy is India . —Lord J . Russell then voso and said : The hon . member for Moutrose having asked me a question yesterday with respect to India , I stated that her Majesty's ministers had given advice to her Majesty on the subject , but that until I l'oeoivcd a . vej >\ v from her Majesty I could not answer tho question of the right hon . gentleman . I havo now to state that the advice which I humbly tendered to her Majesty was that Sir Charles Kapier should bo appointed Conimaridoi ' -in-Cliief of tlw army in India . ( Loud cheers . ) Her Majesty has been pleased most graciously and fully to approve of that appointment . ( Continued cheers . ) Both the Duko of Wellington , the Commander-in-Chief , and I have seen Sir Charlos Napier to-day , and I have the satisfaction to state that he is ready to obey her 'Majesty ' s wish that he should proceed
^ to India in the capacity in which her Majesty has appointed him . ( Renewed cheers . ) The Court of Directors have not yet met—I believe they will meet to-morrow ; but from what I know of their patriotism , I fully expect that they will receive with joy mid satisfaction the appointment which her Majesty has been pleased to make . ( Prolonged' applause . ) * Photox-ai , Explanation . —{ Sir II . W . BAnnos ' made my attempt to explain tiie circumstances under \ rhichhig unfortunate Trial of Offences ( Ireland ) Bill , rejected last week ; . was . drawn up , bui only niado tho iga&or worse . lie attributed it in ifee first in 9 ian _^ tp ' ? ilr . Beswick , the assistant "Varj-istor , - who repudi ^ d ' ita authorship inTalotter ' sSMressed te thepnperS ; -un ^ also to th ( V House , : Safc ! ho ; allowed that iSx \ ISpJsjfek' was by ' ftd- ^ fiMS c ^ mplir mentary to hisiv "'"• '¦¦ "'" ' ' '' ¦ ' '' - "' , -.. '"' . ' '' '" . Tub Ra . t 3 . b * : Aro >^ Th «? 'Hoii » 'ijjg ! Ji 4 j » Jweiib into coromitiw- ^ tila - Mjrfiwfo ;« & < & » £% ' the fatato
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being resumed by Mr . Guooan , who opposed the rate in aid and was followed by a number of Irish members who all took the same view of the subject . Mr . D . Callaoiias , Mr . M . J . O'Conxkll , Captain Jo . \ E 8 , 31 r . F . FiiEXcn , Mr . Coxou . y ( a new member ) Lovil Castlehkaoh , Colonel-Dusse , and-Mr . St . GkorgjJ , all opposed ' the ' government proposition on various grounds and in lengthened -speeches . v Lord Lixcolx also threw his weight against the goveVnmciit by expressing his determination to support the amendment , because he considered-it , although defective , to be a step in f ) ie direction of the only sound principle , the principle of equal taxation , and if that amendment should be carried he should then bo prepared to vote for assimilating the Income Tax In'tween the two countries , nwkiug Ireland fay ? 2 < l . and not Od . in the pound .
Mr . Mu . vtz wanted to know what was the reason why countless loads of produce came from other eoniitries and not from Ireland . It was not bad land that was out of cultivation , but good land . Capital , it was said , was wanted ; hut capital would not go there without remuneration . With respect to the proposition of the government , he thought it was a had one ; but as lie considered that all poor rates should be national rates , he should vote for the amendment , as he thought it more just . Lord Joiix- ltfusKM . th » ii rose to reply to what had fallen from Lord Lincoln . The House generally seemed agreed upon the two propositions , that assistance was necessary for some of the western unions , and that that assistance should be received irom Ireland herself . The question , then , which
remained was , in which of two ways was the required aid to be drawn from Ireland—whether by IVlisillf the taxation of Ireland towards an equality with that . of this country , or by having l-econrse to a special rate or tax for the purpose . He did not propose this i ; nte as an equivalent for tllC IHlCOJtal taxation between the two countries . Ife then m'OCCCilud to consider Lord Lincoln ' s objection to the rate founded upon the defective valuation which prevailed in Ireland . As to the proposal to substitute an income-tax for tins rate , lie reminded the noblelord that to collect that tax a new machinery must be instituted , wliich would not bo necessary to collect the rate . But if tho House , at the suggestion of an Irish member , preferred an income-tax , he
would bow to its decision , although he warned the Irish members ihat , whilst some of them objected to the rate because it might extend beyond the two years , the income-tux would certainl y " do so . It was 1 ' l'OlU 110 w : \ l \ t of consideration that he then omitted particular allusion to Sir 11 . Peel ' s suggestion . He would say , _ however , that in his opinion it would bo difficult now to pursue : i similar policy to that pursued in James the First ' s time , with a hopo of attaining the same results , lie then left the question in the hands of the committee . If it granted the v : \ tc in aid the destitution of the western unions would be relieved , but if it preferred ; the amiMiumojit , those Irish members who were clamorous for an income-tax would succeed in their object .
The committee then divided , and the numbers were—For the amendment ... ... 1 G-1 Against it ... ... ... 2 <'> 7 Majority against ... .... —73 Mr . It . Krxor . ns proposed that the rate in aid of sixpence in the- pound should be charged on all salaries of government officers of not less than . £ 150 . a year , ami of all incomes derived from the public funds , on mortgages , and on all incomes derived from property iu Ireland . After a short discussion , the committee divided , when the proposition was negatived by a majority ot Hil , the numbers 51 to 212 . A division then took place on the main question , when the rate in aid was curried by a majority of 172 , the numbers 200 to Tlie House then resumed , leave was given to bring in the bill , and tho adjournment followed at a miai'toi to two o'clock .
WEDNESDAY , March 7 . HOUSE Ol- COMMONS . — Real rnoPKitTV Tuassfeu Bill . — Mr . Dhummoxb , in moving the second reading of this bill , said , . that he ° had better state at tho outset what ho was not going to say . lie was not now going to allude in anyway to the lawyers in this matter , lie did not think that in the present state of the question it was a matter wliich concerned tho lawyers at all . He should endeavour to show that it was tho landholders alone who were interested in it . If the lawyers should come forward and help them out oi their troubles they would of course be much obliged to them , but tho lawyers as a body had no reason to be dissatisfied vrith things us they were ; whereas with the landowners it was quite the rcvurse .
HelOl'O he attempted to show how the landi .-d proprietors must get out of their difficulties , it would be necessary to call the attention of the House to the manner iu wliich they <; ot into them . The difficulties in which tho lauded property of the kingdom was involved wevu as old as any ' institution of the country whatever . Their origin * was simply thisthe king took possession of the land of the country , and divided it into about 720 parts , under the name of baronies , Oce . Tlveso lands were givei \ to cevtivm persons upon condition that they should furnish a certain number of men when required for the defence of the country . In other words , tho landlords defrayed the whole expense of a standing army . They subdivided the lands anioiii-- other-., persons , who held them bv a
similar tenure to that by which they themselves held them of the Kill ' " ' . Cut the landlords oi' tlioso days ran into debt vtfi-y much as landlords did now . ( * A laugh . ) Their creditors wanted to seize tho land , hut the King said , " Vo-. i shall not seize it , because I want military service , and unlesa you are a fit person fvvthnt purpose you shall not have the laud . " Besides , he might mention the King derived a great revenue from " lincs of inheritance , marriage of wards , and the like . Well , the creditors went to the judges , and asked what they were to do in these circumstances . The judges said , "It is true you can ' t touch the land , but you can prevent the owners from having a bit of anything that grows upon it . " And so it came to pass , that there were persons then , as there were now , who were content
to be called the nominal owners of land over which they liud no control . Uut then they wanted to pvovidu for various persons , and , being unable to part with . the land , individuals were appointed into whose possession the land was nominally placed , with full power to receive the profits arising from it , and to apply them to the required purposes , they paying over whatever remained to the real owners . Hence came tho system of trusteeships . This tenure of land began to die away under tho Tudoi' 3 , mid ltvis finally ptit an eml to under tlie Stuarts . Then came the system of complicated settlements , under which , with a view of indulging the vanity of founding families and perpetuating their names , parties
made provision for every possible contingency that might happen to every child they had , or should , or might have , and their descendants after thorn . ' The consequence was the establishment of the power now exercised by the Court of Chancery , by which that court had first of all to guess when and how certain contingencies had arisen , then what the devisor intended by his diitbrcnt devises , and next what were the means for carrying it into elfcct . So that really and truly all that the . people complained of with regard to tlie lawyers , under tho present system , e : imo out of thoir own follies . ( Hear , hear . ) f ho expense of sales was immense , owing to these causes . Before makin < v a sale it was necessary
to prove that with respect to your father , youi grandfather , your groat-n-raiidfather—ami lio did not know how much farther back—all the settlements thnt had'been made were exhausted , mid that every single person who could by possibility become entitled to the property was either dead ov disposed of somehow . ( A laugh . ) Jle held in his hand a list showing the heavy costs which had arisen in nine eases of sale of small property , but would trouble the House with reading only one or two of them . Thevc was , first , the case of a property which sold for £ 12 , 000 , on which the costs of sale amounted to . £ 20 !) , or about seventeen per cent . ; another , which sold for £ 500 , on which the costs amounted to £ 124 , ov twenty-five percent . ; a third , in which the property solil for £ 150 , and the costs
wore £ - > 0 , or thirty-three per ccni . ; and a fourth , in which the property sold tor £ 020 , and the costs of sale amounted to £ 200 , being about thirty-three per cent . also . ( Hoar , hear . ) Every a ' ttempt whic ' . i had boon made to diminish tho " expense oi sales under the present system had been futile . People talked of long recitals being the cause of the expense of preparing deeds ; but lie would be glad to know how they were to predetermine the length of a recital without knowing tho nature of the deed . The length of the recital must depend upon the matter to bo recited . ( Hear , hear . ) They could not expect a boy to recite the whole of Homer ' s Mud iu twenty minutes . ( Laughter . ) Under the present system , therefore , it was hopeless to expect to derive any benefit from shortening recitals . JJut that was not tho worst of it . The owners of property were completely in the hands of solicitors . They knew no more about their lands than they did about what was going on in China . They knew
that there was - a box of parchments belonging to them , and that some of thoso parchments had a bit of red wax tied to thorn ; but that was all they knew . Their solicitor brought them ,. paper to sWn , and they signed it ; and after putting a seal upon it they delivered it as their act and deed ; but wnat it contained they knew no more than a blushs ing bride of the marriage 1 sottlemont to . which she wa 8 led forward , covered with a , veil , to put her name . ( Laughter . } Sot , he contended that unless they cut up the whole system by the roots thev would do nothing . What ho wanted -to mako tho country gentlemen understand was this , — that itwas tteh-busiaess to- deliver themselves out of tho hands of the soifcttoss . They wero a solicitor-ridden peopK . ( Hear . ) ft was possible to . havetfcbexpeaseaofa court of law taxed ; but how on earth ¦ ^ m ^^ t ^ imflt imbaw ^ ( Hear , hear . ) JEte , only means , in his opinion bv
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in the present system was by having a register in thu first place , and ' by nwlsnv tho transfer of property by a regfster in that book , just as at present thev made sales of stock . Iu framing this bill he had to consider , first of all . liat House , and , second , his own position ill it . lit } had to hud out to what extent tho House was , > repi-edtogoaloiigwitlihimiu this object , because it was impossible to bore a Uolc nvuV a saw or to divide a tivo with a gimlet ( T whter ) If ho had known how far hon . members wuiv mvjwred [ to go along with him he would have . framed his bill to that
exactly point , and would have expanded or contracted it according us he found them inclined to go further than his propos'il or to . sti > p short of it . In short , he would Uavo made his bill lifeo a pair of lazy tongs , by which persons wore able to catch small objects a long way off . ( Laughter . ) Uut lie had found considerable difficulty in tiiis pui-t of his task . With reference to a system of cuiiipulsory r&ffiatration , the objection was ; that if it was adopted , there must be machinery l-eady prepared to receive upon the same day every single title-deed in the kingdom . Xow , he had heard the number of aiulowncrs in the countrv variously stated . Ho had
heard it stated as low as M ( , IKH » , and as high as 280 , 000 ; but ho could not find out whether that included copyholds of inheritance or not . If the ' compulsory system were adopted , therefore , they would require to have a machinery ready prepared . In the liegister-ofliee at J- 'dinbiirgh he found that there was business enough to fill 400 folio volumes annually . The registration should be voluntary—for , in the first place , compulsory enactments with respect to property were always dangerous ; and , iu the second , the more cautiously they proceeded the better in a measure such as this , which would have the effect of altering the whole body of the law . He had a very groat eOlltUMllt foi' what were called extensive p lans of legislation—they were generally tho more creatures of e-mptv bends , unable toperceivo the
difficulties in the way of their p lans . Taking it for granted . then , that the registration would not be conipnlsory , it remained for the Legislature to determine how far the principle of registration should go . Uut when the House thus had given : i parliamentary title to property , and refused any fuvthev search ov question of It , it was but fail tlmt they should impose aiiy conditions they pleased , and limit still further the p-ower of entail . ( Hear , hear . ) There weiv always plenty of people wise enough to find fault , who , though they could not see any harm in a thing itself , could look a great deal further- into a millstone tlum other persons , and were able to perceive a bad motive for it . ( A lauah . ) To obviate this
chance of ; inj- one saving he \ Mr . Drummoild ) had ! l piM'SOIl . il illtcl-ost in this question , liy would fltimt . C state , that every morsel of Jjis private pro pert v iras settled in trust forever . ( Hear , hear . ) Why / then , ditl he meddle in tlie matter ' . lieeause for years back \ k had been convinced that if thev would ' save the landed proprietors of this country they must adopt some measure to save the value of land ! Tlu > measures they had lately passed would soon realise the anticipations of the lion , member fur Birmingham with respect to the landed interest , and , if they wished the land to be cultivated any longer , it would be absolutely necessary to bring increased capital into the pockets of tho landlords ami formers ( Hear , hear . )
The Somcitor-Gk . vbkal assured the hon . gentleman that amongst the legal-profession . 'there existed a very general knowledge of the great evils resulting from the complication of titii-s , the necessity which existed for sinipVitying them , and of making land as easy of transfer , and of raising money upon it , as there was in disposing of funded stock , the only difference of opinion beinsr in whiuh way that object could be best effected . Having given the hon . gentleman ' : ) bill the best consideration , he felt bound to state that if it were passed in its present shape , tho only persons who would derive benutit from it would be the lawyers , for it would give rise to more lawsuits and contests in courts of justice than any measure ever adopted by Parliament . One of the groit defects of the bill was that it did not
detail what was intended to be registered , and took no notice whatever of interests in remainder and interests in reversion . Again , some of tin ; clauses were stiH more singular , for they contained nothing to prevent any man from registering a title to hU neighbour ' s estate , and "retting absolute possession ofit after a period of thirty year ' s , and the eil ' ect would be to throw the whole country into a state of litigation . Tho whole subject was under tlio consideration of the registration commission , composed of eminent barrister . * , who were about to make a report ; and ho therefore suggested to tlio hon . gentleman the propriety of wfthuV . -iwinij- the bill , and of introducing some other measure hereafter more calculnteil th . vi tho present to cany M . s very laudable views into effnet .
Air . AV . I \ AVood considered that all that w .-is required upon tlio present . occasion was that the House should assent tO the principle that a bill i ' or » eneral registration was imperatively demanded , England in point of- fact being the only civilised country in the world where such a system did not exist , the result-being that in France , lfcl gium , Holland , and , America , estates sold lov thirty-five years' purchase , while they rarely exceeded thirty-one in this country . JIi-thought it behoved the country gentlemen , therefore , who desired to sec the burdens of land diminished to bestir themselves , and endeavour by tho adoption of a general registry , to cheek the evils of the present system of transfer ,, which often impled an expense amounting , upon the value of till )
property , to five or six per cent . The discussion was continued by other member * . Sir O . 6 p . kv , recommended tho withdrawal ' of the bill , seeing that no hostility to its principle had been shown , and that ousrht to satisfy tho mover , when talceu iu coimoxioifwitli si promise that the government would on receiving the report of the commission take the- matter i : p . This , however , did not satisfy Mr . Duoimosi ) , who insisted on dividing the House . The galleries wore- cleared but re-opened again after a short interval , when the Attok . vev Gi ; xKi :. u / was found on his legs protesting agaiust tho bill , ! Uid moving tlmt it l > e i-oail : \ second time that day six months . The House divided on this motion , and the numbers
werelor the amendment -io Against it / ir . Majority —10 Tho announcement of the numbers was received with cheering . The bill was then read a second time . Whon tho reporters were readmitted , . Sir G . Gni : v was expressing a hope that the result of referring the bill to a select committee would he to free it from those objections which were felt by J ; on . members who advocated an open system ot registration . Mr . P . O'Cox . von recommended that not a single lawyer should bo appointed upon the committee . ( A laugh . ) Tlio bill was then ordered to be referred to a select committee .
FoiiHip ArFAins . —Mr . Uaxkes moved for an account of all ordnance stores returned from that department to any contractor in the year iS-lS-forthe purpose of being sent to the . Sicilian insurgents in arms against her Majesty ' s ally the King of the Two Sicilies , with the consent of her Majesty ' s frovernment . The lion , and learned gentleman then proceeded to diverge from his motion into a variety of circumstances " connected with the atfair . s of the Two Sicilies , subsequently returning to tho subject of thu arms supplied underthe eiroiunstaneos recently referred to in the House of Commons , and ii . the House of Lords , on Tuesday night , stating that he couhl not conceive any stale of ' circumstances under which itirouhl he right to iUsjiO'ic of arms tn insurgents to attack their lawful sovereign , until there had been a recognition of their independence , and yet this had been done under tho authority of the Foreign Secretary , tho responsibility thus incurred not being denied . '
Lord Palmkiistox had no objection to the first part of the motion , but should oppose thu concluding words , dividing tho house if necessary , viz . -. " sent to the Sicilian insurgents in arms against her Majesty's ally the King of the Two Sicilies , With ' the consent of her Majesty ' s government . " The noblo lord , after some ' general observations as to tlio course pursued by Mr . liankes in anticipating the debate which would take place when the papers relative to Sicily were presented , said : —The hon . and learned member seemed to consider that all persons who took up arms in vindication of their rights were
insurgents and rebellious subjects , that nations were made for sovereigns and governments , instead of sovereigns and governments having been oppmntcd for tho tmnont and advantage of nations . He would not follow the hon . and learned gentleman' into a discussion of the affairs of Sicily , but this he would say , that tho Sicilians had had a constitution for centuries , that thoir rights were ancient and indisputable , and that those rights wore confirmed by the direct and passive sanction ' of their sovereign in 1812 , when their ancient constitution was remodelled and reformed . At that time their constitution
was sanctioned articlo by article ^ and therefore it tho Sicilians had , in recent times , risen in arms to assert their ancient rights , and to regain a constitution which had novel' been abrogated , which had or . ly by ah abuse of authority been suspended , he could not Concur in stigmatising the Sicilians in the manner that the resolution did . The noble lord then proceeded to defend the general foreign policy of the government , stating in conclusion that throiMun t the bicihan aftair it had been their earnest desire and endeavour to continuo tho connexion between
Mpsand Sicily j and to retain tho two crowns on tho same head . With ragard to the return as to the arms , he ropeated ho had no objection to its product ' - The ., tn » nsacti 0 n was' simply what ho described on a former evening , namely , that a contraoto ?! laying applied to thj ii ordnance , stating that ho had an order from tho Sicilian govornment , and that , to effect ; tho more . speedy completion of the contracirho . de-sired the return of a few iron guns from the . Ordnance which he had supplied some time before , and ¦ wWoh ho 'would replace at the earliest moment , tho Ordnance « -and hot the contractor , as
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March 10 , 1849 . THE N q : rthE , RN- 3 TAR ... , — . ~ ' ~ — —• . ¦¦ ^ ^ ——i——1 ^—mm ^»^ ¦ * ' . *¦ . ¦ ¦ . * f ^ Tz ~~^ ^ ¦ ' ' — « .. i . — .- »~~«
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Northern Star (1837-1852), March 10, 1849, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1513/page/7/
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