The Press.
London, England, 1858-03-27 00:00:00

THE VICEROYALTY OF IRELAND.

Mr. ROEBUCK moved a resolution setting forth that
"in the opinion of this house the office of Lord
Lieutenant of Ireland ought to be abolished, and
the office of Secretary of State for Ireland be at once
created." The hon. and learned member supported
the motion by commenting upon the exorbitant cost
an.l practical inutility of the Irish Viceroyalty.
Mr. C. GILPIN seconded the motion.

Lord NAAS, in opposition to the motion, explained
the uses, political, executive, and economical, which
were fulfilled by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.
The abolition of that office was, he apprehended, in-
expedient, and he was sure that it would be prema-
ture. The saving of expense would not be large, and
it must be purchased at the cost of considerable in-
conto niew.e. In the last resort he thought that the
question should be left entirely to be decided by public
opinion in Ireland.

-Sir G. C. LEWIS could not altogether accept the
motion proposed by Mr. Roebuck, neither did he
altogether dissent from it. The house must, he be-
lieved, be prepared before long to abolish the Lard
Lieutenancy, but when matters were ripe fur that
consummation there would, he believed, remain no
necessity for the maintenance of any special depart-
ment for the administration of Irish affairs. By
that time Ireland would be tit to be governed on
the same principles as Scotland. Meanwhile he
thought that the present organisation ought to be
preserved.

Mr. ESMOND and Mr. CoxoLLy opposed the
motion.

Mr. DODSON supported the resolution, which was
opposed by Mr. GROGAN.
The abolition of the Irish Viceroyalty was ap•
proved by Mr. BAXTER and Mr. Donna, who never.
theless objected to the creation of a new Secretary of
State.

Lord J. RUSSELL thought it better to leave the
matter in the hands of the Government. He should
therefore support the previous question.
Mr. WAIPOLE said the Government had thought,
considering this not to be the fit time for entertain-
ing this question, and the difficulties which sur-

rounded it, that their proper course was to vote for
the previous question. He speed that this was a
proper subject for the consideration of the Execu-
tive Government. In his opinion, the office of the
Lord Lieutenant was infinitely better than the
specific substitute proposed by Mr. Roebuck. He
stated reasons which led him to this conclusion,
among which was the fact that no Secretary of State
could supply that local authority which was so much
needed at Dublin. The question depended, he said,
in the first instance, upon the opinion of the people
of Ireland, and next upon the fitness of the substi-
tute; but it would be better not to part with the
advantages of the existing inst•tution till there were
at least probable grounds for believing that a lit
substitute could be provided. Until the difficulties
of the question could be maturely weighed by the
Government, and surmounted, they could not pro-
pose the abolition of this office.

Lord PALMERSTON said after all the decision ought
t) be governed by the feeling of the people of Ire-
land. If they thought the office ought not to be
abolished, no consideration of the advantages obtain.
able from unity of administration should tempt Par-
liament to put any compulsion upon the national
feeling.
Mr. ROEBUCK replied in a sarcastic and critical
vein.

The house divided upon the previous question,
" that this question be now put," which was deter.
mined in the negative by 243 to 116.

Mr. BLACK moved for a return of the cost of
printing and distributing the report of the evidence
on the endowed schools of Ireland, in four folio
volumes, ccmprising 2,680 pages, and by whose
authority the same was printed.
Mr. WALPULE supported the motion, which was
agreed to.
Mr. CAIRD called atttention to the subject of agri-
cultural statistics in Scotland, with a view to their
future collection, and moved for further papers rela-
tive thereto.

After a discussion, in which Mr. Black, Mr. Black.
burn, Sir J. Ogilvy, and Mr. Henley participated, the
motion was withdrawn.

On the order for the second reading of the Galway
Freemen Dish anchisement Bill,
Mr. ROEBUCK moved that the seccnd reading be
deferred for six mouths. The bill, he said, punished
only one class of offenders, the least guilty,—
namely, the parties bribed, and, being an unjust
bill, he opposed it altogether ; and gave notice that
if it passed the second reading he should move the
expulsion of Sir T. Burke.

Mr. IVALroLE supported the bill and opposed the
amendment.

A discussion ensued upon the point whether or
no, by agreeing to the second reading of the bill,
the real offtinders would escape, which was put an
end to by the CHSNCELLOR, of the EXCHEQUER, who
said :

It appears to me that our course is very clear, and I
think the majority of the house will be of the same opinion.
A lengthened discussion at this late hour is not very
desirable ; but it seems to me that if we do not assent
to the second reading of the bill all parties will
escape. ( Hear, hear.) lam therefore prepared to follow
the advice of my right hon. friend and vote the second
reading. But in doing so I intend when the measure is in
committee to propose that those who are not guilty should
not be subject to its penalties—( Hear, hear)—and I will
also support a motion to the effect that on going into
committee it be an instruction that the bribers be included
within its provisions. (Cheers.) That is the course
which we are prepared to take, and which I shall advocate
with my utmost energy ; and f hope it will be satisfactory
to the house. (Renewed cheers.) 1 trust, therefore, that
the bill will be allowed to receive a second reading.

Mr. ROEBUCK then withdrew his motion, and the
second reading was agreed to.

The house adjourned at half•pastjtwelve o'clock.

NOTICES OF MOTION.

TUESDAY.
Mr. Count:TT—that, after Eaater, he would move for a select
committee to consider the state of the law and practice with
regard to the taking of inquisitions after death, and the fees
paid to coroners; and the,. such committee be requested to
report and state what alterations they considered to be desirable.
Mr. lixowELL—that lie would move, on an early da, for a
select committee to inquire into the alleged state of distress in
the county of Douegel.
Mr. lioesuct —that he should move in committee on the bill
for the disfranchisement of the freemen of the city of Gallf4y,
a clause to punish the bribers ss well as the bribed that, the
seat of Lord Dulikellin be declared vacan•, and that Sir UM/111AS
Billie be expelled the house. (Laughter.)

THURSDAY.
Mr. H. BERRELEY—thateh irtly alter F.aster he should again
toting before the house the question of the ballot-
Mr. BRADY—of the following question:—whether it is the
intention of the Government to I.IIKO any proceedings against
the directors of the Western Bank of Scotland.
Mr. Wm—after Easter the following resolution :—that it is
the opinion of this house that the diplonletie salaries and pen-
pions now charged upon the Con-oldate I Fund should be
brought under the more immediate view and coutiol of Parlia-
ment, and be paid out of a vote annually provided and appro-
priated by Parliament for the put pose.
Lard CAMPBELL-10 ask the Government, ou an early day
after the recess, whether they Lati any intention to introduoe a
bill for the improvement, of Scotch universities.