The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-03 00:00:00

TILE SUN,

SATURDAY EVENING-,

a policy, after being a most abject and consistent supporter
of the policy of the late Government, which had clones()
much mischief in Ireland.
Mr. ROCHE rose to explain. The Hon. Member had said
that he was an abject and consistent supporter of the late
Government. It was not fair that the Hon. Gentleman should
go on to argue on incorrect premises.—(Hear, hear.) He
begged to say that he never was an abject or a consistent
supporter of the late Government.—(Loud laughter.) The
Hon. Gentleman was going on to address the House, when
The SPEAKER said the Hon. Gentleman rose to explain,
but he was making a second speech.—( Hear.)
Sir H. W. BARRON said that the Hon. Gentleman was
at all events a steadfast supporter of the late Government in
all their measures in that House. He was sure the Hon.
Gentleman would not deny that. Now it was net in his
recollection, or the recollection of his reading—(Loud
laughter)—that any Government had so misgoverned, had
so ruined, every interest in Ireland, as the late. Government,
and that was the reason of his sitting on that (the
Ministerial) side of the House.--(lronical cheers.) The
people of Ireland would back him in that opinion—ninetY-
nine out of every hundred would back him in that opinion.
The only remedy of the late Government. was taxation,
taxation, • taxation —( Laughter.) In 1845 the poor-law
taxation was 316,0001.; under the late Government it rose
to 2,130,000/. At least 200,00') farmers had been swept
off the land, and 2,000.000 of the inhabitants had been
driven to emigration. Hon. Gentlemen opposite pressed,
forced, and irritated the Government to a dissolution, and
yet they wanted the Government to come forward at once
with a policy and remedial measures for Ireland. The
people of Ireland lost at least 30,000,000 by the failure
of the potato crop, and they lost 5,000,000/. annually in
other crops since the famine. Yet the Government only in-
creased the amount of taxation on the people. That was
their only remedy. At least one-fourth of the debt ought
to be reniitted. The local burdens of Ireland in many cases
amounted to not merely ss. or 65., but 20s. in the pound, as
was proved by indisputable evidence. Persons might cross
the Atlantic and get land in America for much less than the
taxation to which they were subjected in Ireland. He had
opposed the late Government. and he should oppose the pre-
sent one, if they pursued a similar course with regard to his
country.
Mr. V. SCULLY said the sole question for Ireland was,
whether she would accept a remission of only 75,000/,
which was a one hundredth part of the entire debt, or
about 21/2d. in the pound. His country was entitled to much
more. .

The O'GORMAN MAHON said, such speeches the
House had heard that night from some of his countrymen
as
subjected. Irishmen, in the eyes of honest Englishmen and
honest Scotchmen, to the imputation of being either fools or
rogues.—(Hear,,hear.) As an Irishman, he disdained any
identification with that class of persons. Those who said
that Ireland owed no gratitude to England were men with
whom he could never coincide. He thought his country was
greatly indebted to the members of the late Government for
offering the present boon.
Mr. F. SCULLY said that a vast number of the electoral
divisions in Ireland would receive no redress ender that
limn; and in many instances those divisions were reduced to
a state of great poverty and privation, and would have come
within the provisions of the present measure, had it not been
for the great care and- discretion with which their local affairs
had been administered. _

Lord J. RUSSELL said he did not wonder that the Right
Hon. Gentleman (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) should
have expressed'his surprise that a Bill which had so very
simple an object as that should have led to so much dis-
cussion. But he (Lord J. Russell) believed that that was
what generally happened in the case of Bills relating to
Ireland—(Hear, hear, and laughter)—and more especially
Bills relating to the taxation of that country.— (Hear,
hear.) The object of the present measure was to remit
the payment of a sum of 75,000/. to certain districts in
Ireland, which' ad suffered peculiar distress, and he honed
the House would not refuse its assent to that arrangement.
The principle, he thought, could be extended beyond the
present ease. Government would do well to exercise their
own judgment in deciding how far they would adopt the
kind of relief hereafter, and how far they would adopt a
species of relief which would be injurious to the adminis-
tration of the poor-law in Ireland. He would not enter upon
the question of the state of Ireland, but he would just ob-
serve, that out of' the sums voted to meet the distresses of
Ireland, and charged on the consolidated fund, 3,500,0001.
had been borne by the people of the United Kingdom. The
great difficulty had been created by the food of Ireland
having been taken from the people suddenly, and that the
debt had arisen in consequence. With regard to the future,
he hoped' Government would apply such remedies to the
wants of Ireland as circumstances called for and would
justify. He regretted to hear the statement of the Attorney-
General for Ireland in reference to the sending threatening
letters, and he trusted the subject would receive the atten-
tion of Government. In meeting the difficulties of Ireland,
he felt that if they exempted the landlords of Ireland from
their fair share of liability they would add to, instead of
lessen, the evils.. He was happy to hear the statement of
improvement in the west of Ireland, which he trusted would
prove a foretaste of what was in store for Ireland.
Mr. H. HERBERT said a great deal of the existing dif-
ficulty arose from the conduct of the late • Government.—
(Hear.) He was the last person to support those who were
anxious to break the law with reference to the repayment of
the poor-law advances. He would only, however, consent
to carry out the same eprinciple as regarded Ireland which
was held to be good in England.
Mr. WAKLEY said, that the Member for WaterfOrd had
attached himself,to one set of doctors, who would only adopt
a particular system towards Ireland, but let them look at the
result. The Irish Members complained of bad measures for
Ireland ; why did they not . try their hand and
bring in good measures? He was sure they would be sup-
ported by English Members, who desired nothing better than
to see Ireland in the same condition as England; when the
landlords of Ireland had protection, what good did it do for
the people of the country?
Mr. WHITESIDE did not intend to trespass on the time
of the House. When the Hon. Gentleman opposite spoke
with reference to the condition of Ireland, and laid on the
Irish gentry the blame of that condition, he begged to pro-
test against his conclusions. If it were necessary to have
a poor-law in Ireland half a century ago, who had the
power to enact that law for Ireland? who but the Parlia-
of England?—(Hear, hear.) As to why Irish Members
did not bring in measures for Ireland, he would not step
to explain; but when the Hon. Gentleman referred to his
Right Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer he
should have recollected that, on one side, her Majesty's
present Gavernment was taunted with not dissolving Par-
liament immediately, whilst, on the other, they were at-
tacked for not introducing measures.—(Hear, hear.) He ex-
pected more justice than that for a Ministry only a few
weeks in power; and who had not yet been given an op-
portunity of bringing forward.measures which might be
found to be acceptable and satisfactory.—(Hear.)
Mr. O'FLAHERTY deprecetad the taunts of the Noble
Lord (Lord J. Russell) against Irish Members for speaking
on general questions. He begged to say that, as an Irish
Member, he should always exercise his right to speak on
any subject he pleased. He should also call on the lion.
and Learned Attorney-General for Ireland to explain what
he Ribbon system iu Connaught.
explained,e and declared he did not in-
tend a to inon. Member for speaking on whatever
J:ußnut referencess
anyELatLo th
subject he pleased----( Hear, hear.)
Mr. NAPIER was not aware he had said anything in re-
ference to the spread of the Ribbon system in Connaught. He
s Lordid
alluded to threatening notices being served in several parts of
Ireland, but did not allude to Connaught —(Hear, hear.)
The Bill was then read a second time.
PROTECTION OF INVENTIONS ACT.
Mr. HENLEY moved that this .Bill be read a second time.
Mr. LABOUCH.ERE hoped the Bill would be passed
through the House with all Possible dispatch. If not passed
this session many meritorious persons would be injured, • in-
asmuch as inventions exhibited by them at the Great Expo-
sition of last year, if not protected, would be certain to be
" pirated." (Hear, hear.)
The Bill was then read a second time, as also committed,
and ordered to be read a third time on Monday next.
CORRUPT PRACTICES AT ELECTIONS BILL.
The House having gone into Committee on this Bill,
Mr. BELL took exception to the first clause, and wished
to know if it was intended that a commission should issue on
the report of a Committee of that House, or on the motion
of an Hon. Member? He wished to have the matter ex-
plained, :is it might be availed of detrimentally for party
purposes.—( Beat
Mr. WALPOLE said he intended to move, by way of
amendment, that the first five lines of the first clause should
be emitted, in order that there might be substituted words
to this effect:—" That after the report of a Committee ap-
pointed to inquire into an election of any particular borough
or county, or of a Committee generally, appointed by the
House to inquire into the corrupt practices of any borough
or county in which these practices were alleged to have been
committed, in such case an address should be sent to the
Crown with the view that a commission should issue."
Lord J. RUSSELL would object to the limitation of the
amendment, if it had, been applied to the election commit-
tees; but, under the circumstances, he should not oppose it.
He suggested the adoption of the word " extreme' . instead
of the word " general," in the amendment '
Mr. WALPOLE assented to the suggestion.
Mr. WAKLEY said, no , notice had been given of the
amendment, and he wished, therefore, it should be post-
poned. The amendment changed the character of the clause.
Mr. WALPOLE said the amendment was a necessary pro-
tection to the minority, in case the majority saw fit to take
an unconstitutional course.
Mr. HEADLAM asked, would there be a public prosecutor,
in case the commission reported? If not, the amendment
would be of little or no valne.
Mr. ANSTEY said if the amendment was adopted the Bill
would not meet such a case as that of St. Alban's. He
thought this proved the danger of narrowing the clause by
any special language. The majority of the House was the
House itself; the minority was unknown to the:Constitution.
He therefore moved that the further consideration of the
clause should be postponed, as he did not wish to obstruct
the course of the Bill.
Mr. W. MILES supperted the amendment. The clause as
it stood would place the question in exactly the same position
as it stood before. He therefore thought his Right Hon.
Friend's amendment was absolutely necessary. -
Mr. V. SMI ra thought it would
he
difficult for a Select
Committee to arrive at sufficient information on the subject
of alleged corrupt practices.
Mr. WALPOLE said it was far from his intention to
take the House by surpriseeas he had given the Noble Lord
an intimation that he would introduce an,
amendment to
that effect in Committee.
Mr. T. BARING feared that a Select Committee might be
influenced by party considerations t;? institute a vexatious
proceeding against any borough•, I they once left in the
bands of the Hoase the power to decide
_ the tenure of' the
seat of any Hon. Member, it would bei_a serious interference
with the rights of constituents. The House would be hold-
ing out a premium to constituencies to return Members
favourable to the majority of that H
e'enae, otherwise there
II was the threat of a Committee of inquiry being issued.
These were not his opinions alone—they
were the opinions
of one of the ablest statesmen of that House—who had
stated that the Grenville Act was
_Paseed because they be-
lieved that that House was not a fit tribunal for the trial' of
such questions. That was the opinion of Mr. Fox, and he
hoped they would take warning by the opinion pronounced
by so high an authority.
would n •
Lord J. RUSSELL said there. nee e, in most case&
in obtaining evidence h regard to corrup-
great difficulties
h If, however, '
ton existing in these boroug s. some evidence
of the fact was obtained, the House would then be asked to
assent to an address to the Crown, to appoint seCommittee of
Inquiry. If that was agreed to, then there would be a Com-
f barristers of experience,
they mittee appointed, consisting o
would go down to take •
the borough, and evidence on oath.
by legal evidence, If the bribery could not be proved . the
that in the event of the
House case fell to the ground. So
' hout sufficient
House acting incorrectly, and wit inquiry, the
and no
proceedings would be
borough would escape harmless,
being prove, taken. In the event of the bribery Pt.
pet then there
would be a report laid before both Houses
after of
through
A
Bill could then be introduced,
and,
the assent of the other
its stages, could be sent up to receive
done before the
borough
was
House, and all that must be
1
disfranchised. He thought, under those circumstances, that
the interests of the borough were sufficiently protected. The
object of the Bill was not to extend the
_powers of the House,
but to provide a better 104115 a inquiry' Who lion, Gentle-

Miles
opened, NAME OF RAILWAY. Receipts.
1852.
.---• BRITISH. ---
72 Aberdeen .................... ..... $1,221 £1,542
37% Belfast and Ballymena ••••••• • • • • • •• 698 593
17 Belfast axed County Down.• •••••• • • .. 187 191
33 Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire 1,430 1,360
2631 Bolton, Blackburn, and West York .• . • 641 807
85 4 Bristol and Exeter ••.•• • • • .......... 3,621 3,907
189MCa1ed0nian.......... •• • •........... 7,974 8,142
91% Chester and liolyhead. ••..• • • • .... - 2,144 2,342
631 Cork, Blackroc k, and Passage ••• • • • - 131
65 Dublin and Belfast Junction •• ...... 560 706
53 Dublin and Drogheda. •.. .. ... ••.. .. 811 910
6 Dublin and Kingstown ••••••• • •• - • • 923 644
16% Dundee and Arbroath ••--••-..•• • • . • • • • • • • 328 328 460
31 Dundee, Perth, and Aberdcenlunction 605 608
19 Dundalk and Enniskillen. •..••• • • • • • 147 148
594 585
68 East Anglian.... • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
79 East Lancashire ••••.•••••• • • • • • • • • • 3,720 4,896
322 Eastern Counties and Norfolk ..... ... 12,397 13,420
95 EasternlJnion" - .............• •• 1,911 1,988
8914 Edinburgh and Glasgow .••••• • • .. .. 3,303 3,278
78 Edinburgh, Perth, and Dundee.• •• • • 1,185 2,292
6 Exeter and Crediton.. •.. ..... ••• • • • - 102
19 Furness Railway ••••••••• • • • • • • •• 312 487
171% Glasgow, and South-Western. • ...... 3,508 3,769
241 M Great Northern and E. L ..... ••• • • • 7,248 10,867
188 Great Southern and Western (Ireland) 4,347 4,617
277 Great Western •• • • ................ 14,381 15,266
25 Irish South Eastern ••..••••• • • • • • • • 211 127
50 Lancaster and Carlisle...". . ... 3,663 4,056
260 Lancashire and Yorkshire..• ••••• • • • • 14,770 15,89:
39 Leeds and Thirsk .... •• •• ••
12% Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport.... 195
41
539% London and North Western, •• •• ,846186 42,3896:
534 London and Blackwell •••• • • • • •• •.
173 M London, Brighton, ,and South _Coast..
244 k London and South Western. •••••••• 78:95.735347 89:202564145
24% Londonderry and Enniskillen •••• • • •• jos 116
11% Manchester, Buxton, and Matlock, &c.
167% Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire 8,309024 6'6572
11
9% Manchester and South Junction...." 580 564
28 Maryport and Carlisle ••••••• • • • • * ** 20,309 21,758
496% Midland -••••• • • • • • •••" • "*" 1,027 2,735
126 Midland Great Western (Irish) •• " - 788 975
37 Monk-lands •••••••••••• •• • • •• • • " 2,133 1,959
60 Newcastle and Carlisle.. •• •• •• "" '• 3,038 3,258
149 North British •••••••••• • • •• '' : . ;;;; 4,766 4,780
222 North Staffordshire • • ...... '' :
... 500 607
47 North-Western ••• • • •
.... ~ 1,588 1,742
45 Scottish Central •• •• •"• •• ".."
...... 507 656
32 Scottish Midland ••
• ••. ••;•_•___
...• •• 604 677
29% Shrewsbury and Birmingn a...
..
.... ~__
1,5,3
47 Shrewsbury and Chester . •..... I (2507,
009
29 Shropshire Union . .....
........... ~5,,
1,70
58 South Devon •• • ..... •" • . 8%893)9,, 0 4
•• •• • .......... •• •• -A
I ,441
228% Sent r Eastern"
................ 921 1.267
93% South Wales ••
77 south York., Don.cas.• ter, and Goole .. 1,147 •
1,348
40 Taff Vale ••••"••'••• • • - •• - - • • •• 1'957 2,527
. •••• •••• .. s9O Ho
36 Ulster. '' "..••• - •• •*g
25 Watertbrd and L.im..e.r.i.c
..•.• 7.7.7.7.7. 221
421
6
163:271861995 , 173.,123880
16h West Cornwall
12 Whitehaven Junction
304% York and Newcastle, Berwick.'.a..n.d....-
279 York and North Midland....
fOREION.
1 152 Central of France •••• .................... ::
:::. 2,670
4,060
5714 Dutch Rhea's .
814 891
1 21% 1 aria Anton _
_ro . 91 156
63 Montereau and u: Yea ••••• • ..
•...
974 941
442% Northern of Fran ee .. ..
.. .
•
• •
134% Orleans and Bordeaux.::. .... ....: :: 17.035 I 20,092
2.926: 4,,i35
240 Paris and 1.,) ons •• • • ........ 5,2411 11,745
82 Paris and Orleans ......... ••• • • 7,312 ;3,090
84 Paris and Ronen• ••11.• •9•••• •• •••• •• 5,561 8,405
i 194 Faris and StrasbUrg ..
••"..• • •. •• 8,011 8,618
59 Rouen and sane . . •
•• ••••• e •• •• 2,317 2,766
121
Tour_
.1 #rati!„„_„„„ •• ...„ ...• • .. 1087 9,436
'a __.