The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-11 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—FRIDAT, Jr,fl 10.
The Loan C KAN( tu.os took his seat at 5 o'clock.
THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.
The Marquis of BATH root pursuant to notice, to pre-
sent a petition from certain parishes in Wiltshire, praying
the house to grant so further powers to the Great Western
Itailosy Company, until they should have completed the
line between Warminster and Salishu-y, and to call the
attextion of the house, and of her Majesty's government, to
the conduct of the company with respect to that line. The
noble marquis went at some length into the subject, com-
plaining that the company had obtained the bill to make the
line in question without the intention of completing it ; but
simply to keep the South Western Company from coming
into what they considered their own territory. The non-
completion of the line between Warminster and Salisbury
was a great injury, not only to the agricultural, but to all
other interests in the district. The conduct of the corn-
pauy was iniquitous, and exhibited an entire want of faith.
It was said that the capital of one million
and a halt which they had raised under the
act had been used for meeting the opposition of the North
Western Railway Company, and for other purposes. It
was a subject well deserving the attention of the house and
the government; end he wished to know whether the go-
vernment intended to institute an inquiry into the matter,
and whether they would recommend parliament to refuse
to give any further powers to the company until the result
of such inquiry was made public. They were the most
proper per.ons to conduct such an inquiry, as there was no
doubt they would do it efficiently. If they did not think it
to be their duty to institute an inquiry, he hoped they
would not oppose the withholding all powers with reference
to any future bills which the Great Western Railway Com-
pany might seek to obtain until they had completed the
line in question. At any rate, he hoped they would not
oppose the insertion of a clause in any railway bill which
the company might seek to obtain, making it obligatory en
them to complete this line, to make which they had ob-
Stained en act in 1817.
Lord STANLEY of .ILDERLEY said this was one of
many cases in which great inconvenience had been cape-
'kneed by the public from the non-completion of a line of
railway. The law, however, had decided that there was no
power,to compel a railway company to perform such con-
tracts. An es post facto law would bear very hardly on
many parties; but the government had t iken care to pre-
vent such evils in future by the adoption of a sessional
order, ail consequence of which in every bill which came be-
fore the House of Commons this session it was required of,
any company asking powers to construct a new line to in-
sert a clause by which they should be liable to a penalty
if they foiled to make their line. (Hear, hear.) They
had,also to pay down a deposit, which would be forfeited
and paid into the Consolidated Fund if the railway was
not completed. The powers obtained by the Great Wes-
tern Company is 1847 to make the line in question would
lapse in 1854; and there would then be so difficulty in
the formation of a new company to make the line of rail-
way through the district referred to.
After some conversation, the petitions were then ordered
to lie nu the table.
CHARGE AGAINST THE IRISH GOVERNMENT.
The Marquis of WESTMEATH, in moving for a series
of returns of convictions for assaults in the county of West-
meath, made a long speech, and complained of the punish-
meats awarded by the law having been remitted by the
Lard Lieutenant. But what could they think of a govern-
ment that was playing into the hands of such persoes—and
what were t iey to think of the position of thing- which bad
placed the stfairs of the empire in the bands of a majority de-
pendent upon a party, who made the welfare of this mighty
empire secondary to other considerations which they had
is view and who used their position to obstruct rather than
to advance the public interests . The government seemed
to have proposed an alliance with the extreme Irish party.
They had thought fit to nominate to the important
office of Solicitor-General the hon. and learned member for
Athlone, who, however great his talents, was considered
beennot exactly the person who should have appointed to
that office. In reference to that hon. and learned gentle-
man, it became his ditty to bring under the notice of their
lordships a transaction which he trusted the noble earl at
the bead of the government would now hear of for the
first time. At the last contested election for Westmeath,
an hon. baronet, Sir R. Levinge, was a candidate; Mr.
Keogh, the Solicitor-General for Ireland (who, he believed,
had nut an atom of ground in the county) came to canvas.
for another gentleman, who was ultimately elected. At •
meeting in the town of Moat, held in the Of ell
street, Mr. Keogh addressed the electors. The speech
the hon. and learned member delivered on that occasion was
heard by three magistrates of the county, one of whom
thought it his duty to communicate the facts to me, and he
had since had communication with the other two magis-
trates, and the tact would be deposed to if necessary on
oath by the three. Toe speech of the hon. and learned
gentleman was as follows :—" Boys "—their lordships
should be aware that in Ireland all were boys between the
ages of 65 and 14, women as well as men--(a laugh)--all
who had brawny arms to wield a stick, or to hit a mark
wilt a stone—ee Boys," said the hon. and learned gentle-
man, " the days ars now long, and the nights are short—
in autumn the days will be shorter, and the nights longer
—but in winter the days will be very short, and
the nights will be very long, and then let any one
remember who voted for Sir R. Levinge." In the month
of January the government were enabled to obtain evi-
dence and to bring to convection a number of persons is
this country and in Ireland for being engaged in the ribbon
conspiracy. Now, their lordships would find that the sen-
timents here enunciated by Mr. Keogh were exactly in
accordance with some of those which had been expressed
and with the pass wards which were used by the parties
belonging to that bloody conspiracy, as they were brought
out in the course of the proceedings against them. The
noble lord might say that these words were all "gibberish,"
but they were well understood by the initiated. The words
used by the ribbon oggispirators were—
&unmet is a the Mort days are gone ;
friendship wW tlasdsy draft days will be kept long.
Let freedom relit Is hod end era,
Lad dash to MR wits amid betray.
Now, their lordships wesid ma there was a close resent-
blase* between these words and those used by the hon. and
learned gentleman, and no denbt those to whom they were
addressed knew well their meaning. What he wanted to
ask the noble earl opposite was, whether they were pre-
pared, in the event of a vacancy (scarring, to advance to
the beach • man who did not scruple to promote an election
by moonlike these ? That the words were understood in the
Knee he inferred there was proof, for a man standing by said
to the magistrate, his informant, " You hear those words,
sir ; what do you think would be done to me when the
winter nights come, if I were to vote for Bir R. Livings I "
It was not for the purpose of attacking the member for
Athlone that he brought this subject forward, but to show
the government the sort of system they were giving encou-
ragement to—a system which had shown itself at Six-mile
Bridge and at various other places during the elections. Mr.
Keogh was entertained at a dinner after his election, at
Athlone ; and what would the neble lord who introduced
the ecclesiastical bilk my when he heard that at that
dinner, in the el the Irish Solicitor-General, the
health of the ll was gienn with nine times nine, and
afterwards thee of the Qum, with only the usual honours /
He contended dist the gossernment had no right to select a
person holding esealsomdo soh as these to fulfil a respon-
sible position. (new, leer.) In the list of toasts the
name of the Pope deed clef, then followed the Queen.
The boa and lamed psalms (Mr. Keogh) was pre-
sent at the arrangement of thew Masts, and took part in
the dinner ; in feet, by his amilnet upon the occasion he
bad shown himself unfitted for the high office which her
Majesty's government had conferred upon him. The noble
marquis esseladed by saying that he had some from Ire-
land e considerable inconvenience to himself, bat he bad
felt it his duty to bring these matters before the house.
The Earl of ABERDEEN said that he had no know-
ledge whatever of the circumstances connected with the
election of Mr. Keogh, nor of the speech to which the
noble marquis referred. As it was, he weld only assure
the noble marquis that he had no knowledge upon
the subject to which so large a portion of his obeer.
vat,ons referred. In answering the motion of the noble
marquis he (the Earl of Aberdeen) wu happy to
inform the house that Ireland was never to proswous,
never so free from outrage as at the>ment moment, and
he could not help thinking that the noble marquis,
being desirous of finding fault, had been compelled by the
present state of Ireland to catch held of a matter
so trifling and unimportant as that before the house. The
noble marquis stated that certain persons, being condemned
by the proper tribunals, had been arbitrarily relieved by
the Lord Lieutenant. With regard to the remission of
sentences, there had been no departure from the usual
course, and he was prepared to produce a portion of the
papers referred to.
The Marquise( CLANRICARDE thought that the noble
lord opposite (the Marquis of Westmeath) had been greatly
misinformed upon this matter, for he had made several
mistakes in the statement which he had made to the house.
Thus he had stated that the assault was upon • magistrate,
but sects was not the fact.
The Earl of DERBY said that after the few words
of the noble earl opposite (the Earl of Aberdeen) he
was bound to say that, with regard to the two eases brought
forward by the noble marquis (the Marquis of Westmeath),
the statement of the noble earl was entirely conclusive. If
the facts were that in the first case the remission took place
in consequence of the representations of the magistrates
trying it; and, in the second ease, the sentence was re-
witted is of a reference to the learned judge
who set tutlied pleases+. and such remission was made
in acesedueme with the judge's recommendation ; then he
thought his aebie Mead (the Marquis of Weetmeath) had
no wit a ',cooed to oak for the production of pipets.
If, thee, he the Earl of Derby) understood the noble earl
at the of her ilkasty's government to state
that thus reshawne had taken place in the man-
ner le bed Jute meallenalls sad that they had not
been mode open the muse medal of the Lord-Lieutenant
himself, he—seeing the inconvenience which might arise
from the produtica of the judge's report—would advise
the noble marquis ass tepees his motion. But, although he
(the Eul of Derby) aid nee wish:to dwell upon the question,
he must .ay that It seemed to him that the noble earl and
the noble marquis opposite (the Marquis of Clanricardel
had dealt too lightly with the other part of the speech of
his noble friend (the Marquis of Westmeath) ; he meant
that portion with regard to the language imputed to the
boo. and learned gentleman who was now Solicitor General
for Ireland. It was true that there were properly consti-
tuted tribunals for the trial of contested elections, and that
it was not within the duty of this house to consider
such matters. But this question was not as to the political
and moral effect upon the election of language msde use of
by as boa. and talented gentleman ; hut, as to the effect of
his bolsi been selected to till the office of Solicitor-General

by bet Mejesty's government shortly after the delivery of
that language, and while it was yet n matter of notoriety.
The sable earl had said, and he (Lord Derby) was bound
to believe him, that be knew nothiag of this speech. Yet
the speech was a matter of geneval publicity ; in fact he
believed affidavits had been mode as to the particular words
uttered by the hon. and keened member. fle (the Earl of,
Derby) therefore could not help wondering that the sub-
ject should not have been brought under the notice of the
noble earl at the head of the government at the tune when
t►e hon. and learned gentleman who made it was
about to be appointed to the post which he then filled.
lie (the Eatl of Derby) was bound to give implicit
credit to the noble earl opposite when he said he knew no-
thing of the speech ; but ►e could not refrain from again
expre,sing his surprise at—he did not ray it offensively—
the ignorance, the non-knowledge of the noble earl upon
this subject. Mr. Keogh, when the election for the county
of Westmeath was about to take place, acting on the part
of the liberals, and being himself a candidate for a seat, was
reported to have said in public, "That the nights were
then getting short, and the days were long ; the time was
coming when the nights would be long and the days short,
and then they would know how to act with those who
might venture to vote for Sir R. Livings for the county
of 'Westmeath." If he (the Earl of Derby) were not mile
taken, Mr. Keogh hail recommended persons to go
into the town of Athlone armed with shillelaghs, and
to use them, if need be. This might, per►aps, be an
incorrect representation, but that some such speeches were
uttered there was no doubt. It was a most unfortunate

matter, that after such speeches as these Mr. Keogh should
be appointed to a high post connected with the administra-
tion of justice. It had the effect of making people doubt
the sincerity of government, and had led to the belief that
• system of partiality existed, and that these appointments
were made without a due regard to public tranquillity.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE complained of the maimr
in which tic noble marquis (the bla•quis of Westmeath)
had brought forward an accusation, without notice, against
an hon. member of the other house of parliament. He
recollected when he was a member of that house
it was the custom to talk of statements which
were more than doubtful as " Irish facts," and
the facts of the noble marquis fell within that category.
The manner in which this accusation was brought forward
certainly undo it appear as though the noble marquis had
brought forward his motion solely with the view of throw-
ing dirt upon the hon. and learned Solicitor-General, end
he must bear witness to the admirable manner in which the
noble earl (the Earl of Derby) had improved the occasion.
The noble earl had etpressed surprise that the noble lord
at the bead of the government was not aware of the
• speeches delivered by Mr. Keogh. He (the Duke of New-
castle) recollected not very long since, when the election
speeches made by Sir F. Kelly were referred to in that
house, the noble earl opposite (the Earl of Derby) had
stated that be was quits unacquainted with what his own
Solicitor-General hal said, and that he had no time to read
the newspapers. (Hear.) Bat he (the Duke of Newcastle)
was in a position to inform the house that these speeches
were really never uttered by Mr. Keogh. Hs had the autho-
rity of Mr. Keogh's word for it, who stated that he had
ado use of any such language, and that what he
did say had been grossly perverted. (Cheers.) He (the
Duke of Newcastle) had next to charge the noble marquis
opposite with having made his accusation in a very unfair
for he (the Duke of Newcastle) had been informed
that Mr. Keogh had, through a private friend, denied the
truth of the language i mputed to him. Nevertheless the
noble marquis had not hesitated to come down to the house
and make the accusation, without having the candour to
say one word as to the denial of the bon. and learned
gentleman.
The Earl of EGLINTON was quits at a loss to see the
parallel between thetas' of Sir F. Kelly and that of Mr.
Keogh. Sir F. Kelly was the actual Solicitor-General of
the then government, and addressed the constituency of the
place for which he sought to be returned upon a ques-
tion then in abeyance, which was to be settled by the de-
cision of the country at that very election. Mr. Keogh, on
the contrary, was a private individual at the time he made
the speech imputed to him, and although that speech, whe-
ther delivered or not, was • matter of notoriety, it appeared
that he was appointed to a high and responsible situation
without the noble earl opposite (the Earl of Aberdeen) having
the slightest idea that any such sentiments had ever been at-
tared. Of course he was bound to believe the noble duke with
regard to what the Solicitor-General for Ireland had stated,
and also that Mr. Keogh meant what he had said. But
what did the denial amount to ? The noble duke said that
Mr. Keogh contradicted what had been stated by the noble
marquis. He (the Earl of Eglinton) would not say
that he believed the exact words as put by the noble mar-
quis, because he might have transposed the words and thus
changed their meaning ; but he must attach lime credit to
what three magistrates of the town heard and were pre-
pared to swear to. (Hear, hear.) Its had an additional
reason for that belief in the fact that he had in his own
possession an affidavit sworn before a magistrate by a person
whom he believed to be a respectable man, and who was
present on this occasion, ascribing to Mr. Keogh words
almost identical with those attributed to him by the noble
marquis. He was bound to believe that noble lords opposite
had no knowledge of the words; he was also bound to be-
lieve Mr. Keogh's assertion until it was disproved ; but he
thought the subject was one which, under the circumstances,
ought not to be lightly disposed of,but to be made matter of
inquiry either by their lordships, or before a select com-
mittee. He had always considered the appointment of Mr.
Keogh to the office of Solicitor-General one of the least re-
putable acts of the present government.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE said he was very unwilling
to trespass on their lordships attention by making • second
speech ; but he must say teat If be was willing to carry
political animosity to its utmost extent, he might commit
the noble earl (Eglinton) by a very pointed reference to the
last sentence in his speech.

Tha Earl of EGLINTON was andentood to say that ha
could cot be commit•ed.

The Duke of NEWCASTLE said he would tell the noble
earl what he referred to privatel.
The Earl of EOLINTON—I rise to order. I will not
be committed before your lordships by any hint or inuendo.
(Cheers.)
The Duke of NEWCASTLE said, as noble lords oppo-
site cheered, he would state whet he referred to. The
noble earl having declared that the appointment of Mr.
Keogh was "one If the least reputable acts of the
present government," he begged to state that he had
learnt, on the best passible authority, that a com-
munication was made by a noble lord who held
office seder the noble earl opposite (the Earl
of Derby) before the completion of the arrangements of his
government, purporting to come from the noble earl him-
eel', to inquire whether Mr. Keogh would take office un-
der him. (Hear, hear.) That was his answer to the noble
earl (Eglinton). The noble earl had made two opposite
declarations on this subject. He said he should believe that
the statement made against Mr. Keogh was true until it
was disproved ; and subsequently he said he should believe
Mr. Keogh until hie denial was disproved. How could the
noble earl reconcile those declarations? The hon. and
learned gentleman (Mr. Keogh) had not merely authorised
him to contradict the statement of the noble marquis, but
to deny that ea the occasion in question he uttered words
which bore the signification of those attributed to him. He
distinctly and positively denied that there was a shadow
of truth in the allegation made against him.
The Earl of DERBY—My lords I feel it to be my
duty, after what has fallen from the noble duke, to my
that I have heard the rumour te which the noble duke
'Boded. I heard it for the Bret time after the appoint-
ment of Kr. Keogh had called forth a great deal of obser-
vation in Ireland, and had been loudly condemned. I
heard then that it was put about by friends of Mr. Keogh,
that such an offer wee made ; and I lost no time in autho-
rising every person who might hear it to state, on my au-
thority, that I did not know, nor bad I ever authorised,
wir did I believe then—l do not believe now—that any
such offer, propnaition, suggestion, or hint was at any time
made to Mr. Keogh. (Opposition cheers.)
The Earl of BGLINTON—For my own part I distinctly
deny having ever been a party to sash a thing; and I did
not know that anything of the kind bad ever been asserted.
(Hear, hear.)
The Duke of NEWCASTLE said he would tell the noble
earl wh • it was that had made the statement.

- -----..
The Marquis of WESTMEATH replied. With regard
to the objection that he should ham brought the subject
forward earlier, he wished to Awry, that he had been on
the continent. It was undoubtedly true that Mr. Keogh
had sent to him a denial ; but, as respectable parties were
ready te attest the accuracy of the words on oath, a mere
denial was not tracient.

itfer.:(Wl;;rds from the Earl of CIANCARTT and the
Earl of &MINTON,
The motion wee withdrawn.
THE TURKISH QUESTION.

The Marquis of CLANRICARDS said he had reason to
believe that the discussion which would probably have
arisen if he had persisted in the motion of which ha had
given notice for that evening, would at that moment be in-
convenient, if not daagerous, to public interests. He
wished, therefore, with the leave of their lord-
ships, to withdrew it. He had another reason
for taking that course, namely, that the information on that
grave end important subject was not in such an advanced
state as he bad reason to believe it would be when he gave
his notice. Although he thought some discussion must
take place in that house within a few days, he could not
leave his notice on the paper, because it was impossible for
him to tin upon a day on which it would be advisable to
bring forward the subject. At the same time he must say,
that the withdrawal of the motion for the present, probably
only for a few days, would not lead any parties to consider
that parliament or the country was in the least degree
indifferent or lukewarm with regard to this great subject.
The honour and the interest of this country were involved
in the maintaining inviolate existing treaties ; and he well
knew that their lordships, aad the people of this country
too, were prepared at all risks and all hazards to maintain
be iatnests, end, above all, the honour of this country,
which was involved in maintaining the good faith of treaties
and the proper balance of political power, if unfortunately
the necessity for incurring risks sad hazards by the greatest
of calamities should arise.

The notice was then withdrawn.
BURIAL GROUNDS BILL.
This bill was read a third tune.
HACKNEY CARRIAGES BILL.

-
to passing through committee, this bill received two
amendment& ; one providing that omnibuses should be pro-
vide with lamps after suttee, and another designed to
abolish advertising vans.