The Express.
London, England, 1862-02-25 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 25, 1862.

" the middle ages which it was sought to re. in **congenial amusement of baiting an Irish
" impose upon the nation." " independent member." It is for the interest of
These were bold words, whoever spoke them, the rest of the empire that Ireland, with its
and the l'aiNes deserves full credit for the warmth large population and great resources, should
and frankness with which they were uttered. He be drawn closer and closer to England. But this
went indeed still further at the Gloss of his speech, amalgamation is retarded, if not jeopardised, by
when Da hinted in the words of Tama, it appears language which makes the position of a liberal
to as, most idly and needlessly, "that if moderate Irish Catholic more difficult, and tends to reduce
"counsels should fail, and even immoderate prin- Irish parties to Ultramontanists and Orange Tories.
" ciples be acted upon, he should ever be found
"of the party of the Revolution."

Equally imprudent was his assertion in the
middle of his speech, that the first Emperor
had been welcomed back from Elba with the
cry of " Down with nobles, entigria, and
traitors." The greater part of the assembly thought
the last word wee pram, which made the chal-
lenge and the aasertion more outrageous. These
imprudences of speech are to be regretted, awaken-
'ng as they do old divisions, and exasperating
those passions which it was ono of the boasts
of Louis NAPOLLON to have silenced. This very
imprudence, however, may establish for the PRINCE
that popularity which, strange to say, he has not
yet attained, or at least must separate the dynasty
more and more from those reactionista who would
bind it to the retrograde spirit of the last century,
in order to renew the ambition and intolerance of
Long Qu Avonzr.
If it was the intention of the EMPEROR thus to
appeal, by one member of his family, to the
popular masses and the reminiscences of the revo-
lution, whilst the governing power itself seeks to
reassure the Church, and thus gain the acquiescence
of the conservative classes, it was not maladroitly
conceived. But if there be advantage, there is
also risk in the double game, the success of which
depends principally upon the skill with which it
is played.

THE House of Commons was compelled to
diverge from its appointed course last night to
take notice of a violation of its privileges. Of
those privileges, one of the most important—the
exemption of its Members from liability to be
called to acoountout of the House for words spoken
within its walls—had been violated by THE
O'Dowoonue, the Member for the county of Tip-
perary, in the person of Sir ROBERT Pm. The
matter was brought under the notice of the House
by Lord PaLusneros, to whose speech we refer
those who take pleasure in tracing the progress of a
personal dispute through its various stages, free
the first consultation of • friend tothe final refusal
of satisfaction. Tam O'Dowoortus, feeling aggrieved
by some re marks which Sir Roam Pill made in Par-
liament last Friday, remarks which he believed were
deliberately intended to have an offensive personal
application to himself, and which, at all events,
had the effect of drawing the eyes of the House
upon him, took the advice of a friend, Major
Germ, member for the city of Limerick. Th•
result was that the hon. and gallant member
waited upon Sir ROBERT PEEL on Saturday at
noon, convinced, as be informed the Rouse, that
if he could only talk over the subject with the
Right Hon. Baronet the result would be an
explanation satisfactory to his friend. Major
GAVIN took with him a copy of the words
complained of, discussed them with Sir Rouse
Pert, and told him that, in his opinion, they WWI
such as one gentleman could not bear from another.
To he in order we should here .tats that before
Major GAVIN arrived at the Irish office, Sir Roer.
Pau had received a note from Lord PALMERSTON
preparing him for a visit from some friend of
Taa O'Dosooses, and instructing the Right Hon.
Baronet to refer the applicant to him. Although
the prospect of taking the field with a backer dis-
tinguished by "pluck " even more than by position
might fire any man's ambition, we must refer Sir
Roeter's conduct to no other motive than • sense
of the necessity of maintaining his words for some
public end in all their offensiveness of meaning. The
consideration that the Palmas was about to inter.
pose the shield of privilege for his protec-
tion would hardly occur to • mind so simple and
impulsive. Sir ROBERT told Major Gavin
that he adhered to his words in their entirety, and
that gentleman then requested him to "name •
" friend." On Sunday the Major was informed
by the Right Hon. Baronet that in compliance
with the request he named Lord PALYzairrois.
To the PREMIER accordingly Major GAVIN went
the next morning, when he received from his
Lordship a full and satisfactory explanation, not of
Sir ROBERT PEEL'S words, but of the rules of
the House of Commons. The Major at once
observed to the noble Lord that if he took up
the subject officially there was no use proceed-
ing further, and there the matter remained until
Lord PALMERSTON brought it before Parliament
last evening. Once placed under the cognisance
of the SPEAKER, the subsequent form and course
of the business were clear. Au undoubted
breach of privilege had been committed, and it
is to the honour of Tug O'Dosounue that the
first words which fell from him, when called on
by the Spruces, were words of deep regret that be
had violated the privileges of the House. The
hon. Member explained the course he had fol-
lowed, maintained that he was bound to
seek some explanation at the hands of the right
hon. Baronet, and showed that ho had pursued his
object in an honourable manner. It is to be re-
greeted that ho did not confine himself to this brief
explanation and apology, but attempted to indulge
in criticism of the conduct of his antagonist, for
which theoccasion was inappropriate, and in which
he could not claim the protection of the rules of
the assembly. With the hon. Member's apology,
however, the matter properly ended.
This incident may remind us how possible it is
to be mistaken u to a character which we admire
and feel quite sure wo understand. From the day
when Sir ROBERT Peet took the Irish Secretary-
ship, wo had all been fascinated with the good-
natured gaiety of the man. He was rather bois-
terous, and • little thoughtless ; but ho meant
well. Even his faults became his office, for were
they not "so Irish" I The Hibernian' might now
see that England too could produce a real Tippe-
rary boy, and so for the last six months Sir
Roarer, with a shillelagh over his shoulder,
has been trailing his coat for some one
to tread on. It seemed on Saturday as if he
were at lad about to be gratified, when Lord PAL-
mintnox intervened and robbed him of his joy.
Although it is doubtful whether anybody will
derive much lustre from this affair, it will not
have happened in vain if it should lead the heads
of the Government to review their recent Irish ad-
ministration from a point of view higher than
that of persons and party. We invite
them to consider what is the natural effect
of habitual intemperance of language, and
the adoption of • partisan style of warfare by the
organ of the Irish Government in the House of
Cuiumons. That this or that member, hopelessly
impracticable, and it may be unpopular, feels him-
self insulted, is in itself, we allow, a matter too
small to engage their attention. Their flatterers may
even entertain them with accounts of the pleasure
which these attacks give to • powerful and selfish
faction in Ireland. But let them remember whose
work the Irish Secretary is doing when he indulges