The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-05-15 00:00:00

THE MAYOR OF CORK.

In obedience to the Speaker's summons, twesty-four wit-
nesses to be examined at the bar of the House of Commons
in support of the preamble of the O'Sullivan Disability Bill
arrived in London from Cork, and were present in the If 0150
on Tuesday. The witnesses were :-IV. K )barkie, resident
magistrate (Cork city) ; James Sheridan M•Leod, resident
magistrate (Cork city ; V, 1111 am Johnson, deputy-lieutenant
of the county of Cork ; Nicholas Dunscombe, deputy-
lieutenant of the county of Cork; John o'Sulli van,
J.P., Philip Sarslield, J.P., Henry L. Young. J P.,
W. 11. Lyons, J.P., lienry Unities, J.P., Edward
Casey, J.P., James S. Baker, J.P., Cant. Richard B.
Tooker, J.P., and James Wheeler Pollock J.P., all justices
for the county of the city of Cork, and sitting by rotation in
the Cork Police-court. at which the Mayor, as ex officio
justice, presided); Henry Humphreys, clerk to the Col k
city magistrates; Michael Egan and William Gunn,
sub-inspectors of the Royal Irish Constabulary; Pat-
rick Staunton and Patrick Cantillon, constables (ser-
geants according to rank) of the Royal Irish Con-
stabulary David Augustine Nagle, one of the proprietors of
the Cork Herald and a member of the Cork Town Council :
Michael Dalton, reporter to the Cork Herald; Thomas
Crosble, editor of the Cork Examiner ; George Lawrence,
subeditor Id the Cork Examiner ; William Guinea, reporter
to the Cork Examiner, The Speaker'3 order served on Mr.
Nagle, of the Herald, is as follows
"House of Commons, May 7th, 1969 —Ordered that DAVid
Augustine Nagle, Cork, do attend this House on Tuesday,
the 11th day of this instant May. at two o'clock, and
give evidence on the bill to disable Daniel O'Sullivan,
Esquire, from holding, enjoying, or taking the office
if mayor or justice of the peace, or any office or
place of magistracy in the city of • Cork, or else-
where in Ireland; and also that lie do hung with hiss
the shorthnnd notes taken by the reporter of the
Cork Herald newspaper, of the speeches (particuttrly those
of the Mayor of Cork delivered at a banquet or supper given
to the released convicts Warren and Costello, in the city of
Cork, on the night of the 27th of April last, and the full
report of the said speeches, written out from said notes,
anti a printed copy of the Herald newspaper containing
such speeches.—D. Le Manhunt, Clerk, House of com-
mons."

Early on Tuesday, people collected inWestminster Hall, and
in the neighteanhood of Palace-yard the excitement was con-
siderable. All eyes were straining for the Mayor of Cork.
As is always the case when any thing unusual is expected, the
orders to the gallery were greatly in excess of the number
which could be accommodated; and, in consequence, lag
rows of sitters waited in the Hall for the result at the ballot,
those who were successful rejoicing over their less fortunate
brethren. A tolerably deep line of spectators formed up to
gain a glimpse of the Mayor, but there was no small doubt
felt as to his coming. It was poqtively stated that he would
not be present, and this rumour, doubtless had son e effect
In thinning the crowd of gasers, who by half-past one.
stretched five or six deep from the entrance of Westminster
Hall to the steps.

For fully an hour prior to the sitting of the Commons, the
interior of the House presented a busy and excited appear-
ance. Members were rushing into the chamber, and having
deposited their hats upon certain seats, rushed out again
hatless to the lobby, to join in the hum of conver-
sation anent the coming proceedings at the Bar of the
House. At hall-past one o'clock the rows of benches on
either side of the House were suggestive of some large
show-room in which a hat manufacturer had developed
a new plan for facilitating the choice of • hat.
From end to end the seats were covered with unbroken lines
of hats. Meanwhile the doors of the Ladies' and Strangers'
Galleries were blocked up by candidates for places; and al-
most as soon as the rules of the House allowed of the doors
being opened every seat in those galleries became occupied.
At a qmater to two there was a considerable attendance of
members in the House, and when the Speaker entered at ten
minutes before the hour there was a tremendous rush of hon.
members alter the right hon. gentleman. After prayers, the
private business and notices of motion were disposed of, and at
half-past two all was expectation as to how soon the solemn
proceedings would commence. The front Ministerial and
Opposition benches were filled by the leading lights of the
two parties—Mr. Gladstone sitting significantly between the
Attorney-General tor England and the Attorney-General for
Ireland, being early in his place, as was also Mr. D.sraell.
On the order for the second reading of 0 Sullivan's Disa-
bility Bill, the Attorney-General for Ireland begged to inform
the House that he hail taken care to have evidence forth-
coming In support of the preamble of the bill, and had ap-
pointed as counsel to examine the witnesses the Solicitor.
General for Ireland, Serjeant Ballantine, and Mr. Barry.

Mr Maguire, who had given notice of his intention to
move that the order for second reading be discharged, begeed
to real the following letter from the Mayor of Cork. It Wag
dated this day, and commenced " My dear Mr. Maguire," an
affectionate form of address that excited some laughter. The
writer made the following statement
"On consideration of the peculiar circumstances of the
moment, and the great interes's involved in the measures
now before Parliament, I have resolved to place my resigna-
tion as mayor of the city of Cork unreservedly in poor hands
and the hands of The O'Doriiighue, and do so by this letter.
In accepting that office my desire was to act for the public
good, and protect to the utmost of my power the humbler
classes of the community from what I conceived to be
an arbitrary administration and violation of the law but
having regard to my personal honour and consistency, I
cannot &VOW declaring in the most solemn and emphatic
manner that the language attributed to me did not In any
way express my real sentiments or meaning. Laughter.
have further solemnly to declare I would myself be the first
person to rush to the protection of human life if I knew it to
be in danger. I may also state that t look to the regenera-
tion of my country through constitutional and remedial mea-
sures such as are now passing through the House of Corn-
moss, and I believe that the battle of my country is to be
fought on the floor of that House. My only object in
retiring is to put an end to a serious difficulty that no way
affects myself, for even If the Bill of Pains and Penalties
passes into law it can be no injury to me in the estimation of
those I regard.—" Daniel O'Sullivan."
Mr Maguire hoped, after the hearing of that letter he
would be allowed by the House to carry out the intention of
which he had given notice.

The O'Donoghue added that it was the Intention of Mr.
O'sullivan to send his resignation to the Town Clerk of Cork
this Tuesday) evening, and front his knowledge of Mr.
c haracter he was sure he would doss he promised.
Mr. Gladstone then rose, and said that having listened to
the terms of the letter which his two hon. ft lends had read,
the House must come to the conclusion that Mr. O'Sullivan
had absolutely resigned the office of Mayor of Cork, though
without any clear guarantee for the future. But still
they had the guarantee of his two hon. friends as to the
unconditional resignation of the Mayor of Cork. In the
view of tole, her Majesty's Goverument did not think
It would be desirable to proceed with the meivure they had
Introduced into the House, as the gentleman against whom
It was directed had voluntarily deprived himself of the
mayoralty. There having been a vindication of law and
order without the punishment of the individual, the Govern-
ment would, keep the power in their hands of using their