The Express.
London, England, 1853-05-07 00:00:00

THE IRISH REVENUE POLICE.

Th. Earl of said it was stated by a
member of the government in the House of Commons that
it was the intention of government to make some alteration
in this force. This force was armed sad drilled, and kept
up without authority of parliament, which was illegal. The
neat objection to the force was, that it was inefficient to
keep down illicit distillation. For them reasons he thought
it highly desirable that the form should be abolished, and
its daties transferred to the constabulary, which was the
more neemeary if the duty on spirits were increased. Hs
asked what were the intentions of government with regard
to this force.

The Earl of ABERDEEN maid the noble lard wu under
Bosse misapprehension with regard to the declaration made
decision '

by Ma hos:atollescree. No 1., had been taken on the
subject by her Majesty's government, but it was under con-
sideration. At present the eonstabulary enjoyed the respect
and the good-will of the country, and if they were engaged
it the duty the revenue police now performed, it might
materiallyinterfere with their present position. However,
the subject was under consideration, and ultimately mea-
sures might be adopted which would render the revenue
force more efficient.

------
Lord MONTBAOLE said their lordship. would have
heard with tome surprise that en armed force had been
kept togethet for 20 years without parliamentary authority.
The fact was the existence of as armed excise police was
much older than any of their lordships, and was wall known
and recognised. Something short, however, of 20 years
ego, it was discovered that this force was entirely without
organisation, and that there was no discipline in it. There
was • report to that effect in the Treasury, and he hoped
his noble friend would have no objection to laying that
report and the other documents on the table of the house,
in order to show what the condition of the force was and
what it is now. The force was then placed under the eon-
, mend of Colonel Bunton, who brought it into a State of
I order and discipline. He was glad to hear from the noble
earl that government had not disposed of this question. It
was • question that involved considerations of the
highest importance. When, the constabulary force
was appointed it was very unpopular with many
of the landlords of Ireland. because they could
not use It for their private purposes, the force being for-
bidden to assist in preserving game, in ooUeetiag rents or
tithes. Nor were they employed to collect the revenue.
He warned the government that the purpose of collecting
the revenue was the very worst purpose they could apply
this force to. If they had the constabulary, now obeying
the excise officer, and now obeying the magistrate, they
would find that the force would be effectual for neither the
one pupae nor the other. Beyond that the means of cot-
were so immediate when they brought the consta-
bularyinto immediate contact with the distiller. Money
corruption and spirit corruption would inevitably be the re.
milt The noble earl would remember the disorganisation
introduced into the regular army when it was employed
1" still boating." If it were necesasry, let them add to the
revenue police, but let them not disorganise their civil
service for the purpose of collecting revenue.
CLITHEROB ELECTION.
- -

Lord BEAT:3IONT gave notice that oa Monday he
would call the attention of the house to the position they
were in with regard to this Clitheroe election, no answer
haying bee, returned to the communication from the lions*
of Commons on the subject.
Their lordships then adjourned at five minutes put
sena o'clock.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.—FiLIDAY MAT 6.

The hoses was at this time densely crowded on both
The question having been put and agreed to, " That the
clerk do proceed to call over the orders of the_ day," the
first order was read as follows :—" Mr. Duffy—Con-
sideration of exeeption to words."—" Mr. Duffy—To attend
in his place."
The SPEAKER—As the hon. member for New Rosa is
in his plan, I have to remind the hon. member of the de-
titian of the house last night. The house was informed, by
the report of the committee of ways and means, that certain
words had been spoken by the hon. member in committee,
which words were as follows:—" The grossest corruption
ever practised in the days of Walpole and the Pelhams has
been practised under my own eyes on Irish members in
this house." I have now to tell the hon. member that if
he has any explanation to make, this is the time to offer it.
I think it is hardly necessary for me to ware the hon.
member that the house is always willing to extend a large
share of indulgence to any hon. member who, in the heat of
debate, has allowed to escape him expressions which are
calculated to offead other hon. members or the house ; and
I hope that the hon. member will be prepared with such an
explanation or apology as will be satisfactory to the hoar,.
(Cheers.)
Mr. DUFFY then nee amidst profound silence. He
spoke as follows :—I wish int to set myself right with the
house and then to proceed to such explanation as lam
prepared to offer. In the first instance I desire to fecal to
the house exactly what happened. When I was inter-
rupted last night it was not by a tall to order, but by a
challenge to prove the statement I had made. If I had
been called to order, and the chairman had pronounced me
out of order, I should have felt myself bound to set myself
right with the committee, in whatever manner might have
boa sallcient for the . Bat in answer to a chal-
lenge to prove my weeds, I felt then, and I feel now,
that it would net he a course at all reconcilable
to my cooselene• or my sense of honour, simply to with-
draw the winds the truth of which was questionable—was
questioned. After some debate, members on both sides
having spoken, Mr. Bouverie at length declared that I was
out of order. I was then about to rise immediately, to take
the course that seemed to me necessary under such circum-
stances, namely, to say, in point of fact, that I was quite
aware that the rules of debate in this or in any other u-
seably, must set be violated and that if I had in any
manse violated that, I was extremely sorry for having us-
risswee. I was about to take that course when
the debt lies, peedenum the aterabor for Buokingbarnahire
leterpreed, and *MA that to charge upon a ministry or a
peeneement ipiewpt pueedoes wee not a breach of order, but
woo ea tie 1111111101 y, a privilege, and even a duty, of the
MEM= sf alb bob. Under these circumstances I did
eel aid that I wee Weal et saes, without waiting for some
hither debate, in eider te eieertain the opinion of the
Imes, to take the ammo which I had intended to take be-
/me. After that, the peesibility of withdrawing the words
was taken away from me completely, as it seemed tome, by
the conduct which the noble lord the member for the City
of London thought peeper * panne. That noble lord
stated that, after I had mile dr awes, I endeavoured to
ay away from the subjeet, mai te maid nazis, the parties.
Now, the my reverse was the het. (Hear, hear.) I ap-
peal to beth Ades of the has. ea this point. I waited
several minutes—a very keg lime under such cireum-
stancee—to ascertain what the pleasure of the house was.
I eat down twice, get up again, and over and over again
said that I would do what the hoses wished ; that if the
chairman, spealdetthe lima of the horse. wished me *
name the Partiee,l Mold time Mem i end I neither at
that time, nor sines, avoided the reeposeltillity of naming
the parties, nor do Ido it now. (Hear, hear.) The noble
lord went on to say that I could not prove a syllable of
what I had uttered. Now I appeal to honourable au-
demon on both sides of the house whether, after emit
a statement as that, I oould withdraw the weeds,
and end the matter in dispute in that fashions.
Would any hon. member, after it had been stated by a
ulster of the crown that he had made allegation. which he
could not prove, consent to put an end to the diepwlel
withdrawing the words which it was said he es
prove ? (Cheers.) It did not seem to me pomade* Wm
that course. (Hear. hear.) After I withdrew, by enter et
the chair, I was informed b some of my hon.friende here
that a circumstance occurred on which I should also wish to
offer some explanation. I have been told that it was im-
puted to me, in *hit debate that ensued, that I bad con-
veyed, and intended to convey, the charge that money was
given to secure the votes of certain of the Irish members.
Now I wish to state that I did not mean my charge to
convey that. (Hear, hear.) What I did mean to convey
I shall state briefly if you will permit me, becausel wish
' the house thoroughly to understand that that was not the
allegation. (Hear, hear.) What I did mean to amen was
this. I meant that the political profligacy which prevailed
at the time of Bir Reben Walpole and In the administration
of the Duke of Neweiutle' when men were induced to
abandon the most solemn and circumstantial pledges, and
to leave behind them reputation and political character for
the purpose of accepting place—that that conduct seemed
BERWICK ELECTION. to me to be exceeded by circumstances that had fallen
Mr. T. MITCHELL presented a petition from Mr. M. under my own elisereation since I had been a member of
Forster late member for Berwick, complaining that he had this house. (Loud cheers from the opposition.) I meant
been unjustly charged with striving to procure the with- to charge that certain Irish members had, in point of
drawal of the petition, and preying for inquiry, and moved fan, outrun anything I had ever heard or read of in dim-
that it should be read by the clerk at the table. creditable abandonment of their reputed principles, for pur-
This havin4 been done, poses which I could only interpret, and which it items to
Mr. MITCHELL begged to ask the Speaker, whether, me are only capable of interpretation, as being to their own
supposing the statements of the petitioner to he correct, he personal advantage. (Hear, hear.) If I know what poll,
did not consider that a breach of the privileges of the house deal corruption means, that is political corruption. (Cheers.)
had been committed. And, air, I repeat now, what I have said over and over
The SPEAKER said he must know something more of again in this debate, that if it be the wish of this house, I
the circumstances of the case before be could answer that am ready to specify the individuals I mean, and to state
question. The matter had been a subject of inquiry before what appeared to me most urgent facts in sustainment of
an election committee; and it would entirely depend on the these allegations. These being my opinions, of court* it is
whole of the evidence adduced as to what had been done quite impossible that I can retreat from them. But I wish
with reference to the withdrawal of the petition, whether the house to understand fully this—that if,; in stating this
the persons had been induced to withdraw it by here (and I have often stated it elsewhere), I have violated

The Stitaam. Web tb• shalt fin minutes beiore 4 o'clock.
TM few was at that time anumally fall, members having
hessaeteaated to ham the further proatedings in:Mr lDuffy's
era, waist stood as the ant order of the day. Mr. Duffy
was amass, the earliest m the bquse, and took his meas.
lama plass on the opposition side of the bout*, on the w•
end bane below the gangway.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
___ CRYSTAL PALACE COMPANY BILL.

fonie;ameOds eats toth4t;iil were eoniiidered and
weed to; as were those to the Great Yarmouth Water-
weeks Bill. _ _

following bills were severally read a third time and
CV:-13elfast and Ballymena Railway Bill ; 3lanchester,
eld, sod Lincolnshire Railway Bill.
The Severn Navigation Bill wea considered, and agreed
to.