The Press.
London, England, 1853-05-14 00:00:00

MAY 14, 1833.

Scullys, the Keoghs. and the O'Flahertys.t.have
laughed at the poor simple Britons who, iu the
Parliamentary Chamber, were wasting their
breath upon the dismission in which. good
souls, they imagined, in the innocence of their
hearts, the question of Mr. Disraeli's budget
was to be decided.
Far better knew their masters in their secret
chamber, thus more potent than either Cabi-
nets or Senates. The mere question is. upon
which side will vote the Irish Brigade? This.
too, knew Mr. Huyter. He had friends within
the camp. The meeting adjourned without.
deciding the momentous question upon a
doubted expression as to Whig intentions relit
tive to the income tax. Upon another day the
final resolution was to be taken. The sequel
of the narrative we give from the statements of
Mr. Maurice O'Connell, made in the presence
of Mr. Hayter, and admitted by Mr. Hayter to

be tine.
Mr. Hayter approached Mr. O'Connell and I
inquired from him how his party were likely 1
to vote upon the budget? Mr. O'Connell
replied, that their feelings would be greatly
influenced by an assurance that the Whigs
•
would not impose the income tax upon Irebull
Mr. Hayter replied that they would not : he
referred his questioner to a former speech of
Sir Charles Wood, and stated that Sir Charles
Wood was still of the same opinion. Mr.
O'Connell asked, might he (Mr. O'Connell) so
state to a meeting of the Irish members? Mr.
Hayter gave him permission. Mr. O'Connell
then asked that Sir Charles Wood should re
peat the same expression of opinion in the
house. Mr. Hayter promised that he should
do so ; and aceordingly Sir Charles Wood did,
that very evening, strongly. and energetically
protest against the extension of the income
tax to Ireland. Mr. O'Connell stated to the
adjourned meeting of the Irish members the
result of his communication with
,aft distin-
the
guished member of the Whig paty d
votes of the Irish Brigade, so purchased, or
so entrapped, overthrew the Government of
Lord Derby.
Apart from quibbling, is there It doubt that
all this amounted to an authorised and a very
special negotiation? Mr. Hayter is told that
the votes of the Irish Brigade would be in
fluenced by an assurance that the Whigs, on
their accession to power, would not impose
an income tax on Ireland. HE GAVE THAT
AMR:RANCE. From this daunting fact there is
no escape. He did not, indeed, say I am
authorised by Sir Charles Wood to give it, ut
he gave it ; he authorised the man to whom he
spoke to repeat it to the Irish members; and he
promised that Sir Charles Wood should pledge
himself to these opinions by openly declaring
them in the house.
And yet there was no bargain. we are gravely
told—nothing but " loose conversations" iu
the lobby. The assurance is given by Mr.
Hayter for the express purpose of influencing
votes ;—l'or that express purpose he authorises
Mr. O'Connell to convey it to a meeting of
Irish members ;—he professed to tell the sen-
timents of Sir Charles Wood, not as a matter
of casual conversation, but as a matter to in-
thieure the votes of members upon a solemn
occasion. As a pledge of his sincerity he pmo-
inises for Sir Charles Wood that he (Sir Charles
Wood) should make a certain speech in the
House of Commons ; and yet. because
O'Connell did not ask him for his credentials
to speak for Sir Charles Wood, and because
Mr. Hayter did not volunteer to produce them.
the whole transaction has been gravely and
cirenmstantiallv denied.
Et cry man who rends this knows that the
speech of Sir Charles Wood was made to verify
the promise of Mr. Hayter. It was made to
catch the votes of all the Irish members, by in-
ducing them to credit the assurance conveyed
to them by Mr. O'Connell. It was not the
vulgar bargain of lawyers, in which powers of.
attorney are demanded and prodneed at every
step ;it was the understanding—we can hardly
say the creditable understanding—of gentle-
men, in which, for every purpose of truth and
fair dealing, Mr. Havter was the accredited
agent of Sir Charles Wood, and Mr. O'Connell
the accredited agent of Mr. Hayter. Sir
Charles Wood has not, indeed, attempted to
deny his responsibility, but he attempts to
wriggle out of it by saying that his pledge was