The National Register.
London, England, 1822-07-15 00:00:00

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details in support of the bill. He said that lie felt persuaded
the Lord Lieutenant dirt nut desire such power, except it was
called for by the peculiarity of the circumstances; and he
thought the bill would nut be resisted if it could he shown that
the existing lamb were.nuameditaieitee to meet the difficulties of
the case. It was known that a must &terming system of insith-
ordination had grown up ; that it was sustained by associations,
nightly meetings, &c. and that the object of it was to resist
the laws and the payment of ty dies, end to collect arms. He
would forbear to go into details of the atrocities that had been
committed ; tbay r•i re unnecessary en.w, and the details would
be peculiarly painful. But some statement might be useful.--
Under the system, and where the panties were humid by oaths,
and promoted by nightly meetings, the severest atioeities were
committed. The existing laws were enforced to the utmost;
indeed he did not think the goverument would have been jus-
t tilted in applying to that llonse, excepting the existing laws
had been tried am: found to fell. The laws had been enfereed,
WO they were found wanting. It was important to have addi-
tional powers; it was most necessary to teach the people of
Ireland to respect and to know tine force of the laws. The
government exerted the extraordinary powers in a manner as
merciful as possible: indeed no government ever took more
pains to lied out objects of mercy ; but lie was sorry to eey
that such merciful attentions had been productive of no goed
results. Though lie said thus much as applied to the offending
parties, be was hound its duty to add, that in many parts of
Ireland there was an increased respect towards this country.—
There was a growing respect for the laws. With such il.d.
tering prospects, however, it became hie duty to apply to Par-
liament for a renewal of the insurrection act. The executive
of Ireland could not ailmiuister the government without a con-
tinuation of this extraordinary power ; and in support of this
opinion, lie could only refer to the outrages mentioned in Lord
Wellesley's despatches. The outrages were unhappily not
diminished. Particular districts C4,ntiotted equally disturbed.
He did not mean the continuation of the act on account of the
number of outrages ; but on account of their destructive char-
acter. They were of settled principle; they pursued definite
objects. To prevent the letting of lands; to intercept arid to
terrify witnesses ; and in all 'possible ways to prevent the ope-
rationw s
nutof line e
muchlaw e
and
utoireidnju: otnheaci°croantnatuotf"thietiier3deslt.riulectbivilel
• character: they were not what the existing laws could reach.
1 Ile then submitted that it would not be prudent to withdraw
from the Irish government the powers now posseseed. lie
concluded with moving that the House go into a committee on
the bill.
Sir It. WILSON opposed the principle of the bill. Its prin-
ciple was what the government were constantly bringing 1..L0
action, but the constant action of which was what the House
ought to resist. He concluded by moving, that it be an in-
struction to the committee to consider of and adopt some niee-
sure calculated to suiperseede the necessity orthe Insurrection
Act.
Colonel DAVIS seconded the amendment.
Mr. S. RICE considered some measure of coercion neces-
sary to the present state of Ireland, at the same time be was
inclined to support the amendment.
Mr. Secretary PEEL was an ~ins to the insurrection act,
considering it in a constitutional point of view; but the present
state of Ireland, it was acknowledged, required the adoption
of some strong measure, and, if they were to adopt
tutio nal measures, lie was io favour of adopting one strong
etiote4ll to answer its purpose, and such a one as would only he
resorted to cases of strong necessity. If a modified measure
was adopted, he feared it might be had reeourse to on lighter
and less important ground than this would ever be acted upon,
anti therefore he opposed the amendment.
Mr. J. SMITH condemned the principle of the bill altoge-
ther as to its enactments ; they were monstrous—a man being
out of his home between sun-set and sun-rise was declared a
vagrant, and liable to be transported ; but what was worse, if
his father or brother knew him to have been out, and did nut
inform, lie became liable to the penalties of the act bitnse:f.
Sir J• NEWPORT, in cousequenee of the present state of
Ireland, was obliged to give a reluctant assent to the renewal
of the bill. Ile thought, however, the renewal should be limited
to the Ist of May next ; that if it should then be consaittered
; necessary to propose its enactment, it might ne discussed in a
• full house.
Mr. Gil aTTAN supported the motion, bat trusted that tlia
duration of the act would he limited to the Ist of May.
The house then divided, when there appeared—For the
amendment, 17—Agninst it, 135-11ajority, 118.
When we re-entered the gallery we found the house in a
committee, and Mr. Gonlburn pledging himself to give hon.
gentlemen sufficient previous notice of the tact, if lie should
I be under the melancholy necessity of renewing this measure
i after the Ist of August, 1823. He then moved. that the blank
left in the bill, fur the insertion of the duration of this act, *Wahl
: be filled up with the words—" the tat of August. 1823::
Sir J. NEW PORT suggested that the Ist of May should be
1 inserted in the blank as a security for the early ooneideratiou
of this question in the ensuing session.
Mr. GOULBURN stated, that his wish to have the lenge r
period inserted in the blank arose from a deeire to stuldyan t
he
convenience of the Irish members, who did not in generae
till alter Easter.
Sir J. NEWPORT scouted the idea, of considering the con-
venience of Irish members. To attend their places iu Perin.-
went was a paramount duty which they owed to the country
that had elected them fur its representatives. (Hear.)
Mr. J. P. GRANT recommended his lion. friend, the member
for Waterford, to take the sense of the committee upon the
necessity of limiting the duration of this act to the Ist of May
next.
Mr. BROUGHAM concurred in the recommendation of hie
learned friend. The Irish members were hound to attend early•
Ile therefore trusted that the limitations of this bill wound be
referred to the sense of the committee.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY thought that the pledge
given by his lion. friend, the secretary for Ireland,
togetlitr
with time knowledge that the hill must expire on the Ist August,
1823, were quite sufficient, in case it should be necessary to
renew it, to ensure its introduction immediately after Disler.
The committee then divided, when there appeared—For the
original clause, 94—Against it, 37—Majority, 57.
The House then resumed, and the report was ordered to he
received to-morrow.
The Irish Constables' bill passed through a committee. The
House then adjourned.
ThrsosV, .11'1.Y 9.
The Gas Washings Bill was read a second time, and ordered
to he committed to-morrow.
Mr. 1). GILBERT presented a petition from 111 r. Tringliouse.
praying that the merits of his invention far saving the lives of
shipwrecked seamen, might be referred to a committee.
_..
Mr, etKoKhat said, as this bill did
anteay for any pola,iii,
grant, lie should not oppose it ;at the time, he wit. , t
to be understood that he could not support any he, bt a; t