The Sun.
London, England, 1837-03-23 00:00:00

IRELAND.

Pooa LAws. Mr. O'Connell has addressed a not
unimportant letter to the Southern Reporter, on the sub-
ject of his (Mr. O'Connell's) proposed amendment to the
Irish Poor-law Bill. The Learned Gentleman says, " I
deem his amendment" (which is calculated to exempt the
occupiers of all land, except grazing land, from payment of
poor-rate) " of the utmost importance, and to be founded on
a principle of obvious utility. The occupier of tillage, or
ornrnnental land, employs labourers, gives wages, and sup-
ports some of the poor in the best way, by stimulating and
rewarding their industry. I would leave him all the money
he has at present, to be employed in that way—of course,
whatever was taken from him in the way of rate, there would
he less in his bands to pay wages." After combating two
ohjections made by the Reporter, and acquitting the ob-
jector of blame for not distinctly nowing the intricate
and obscure machinery of the Bill, Mr. O'Connell
gives an Abstract of it ; and then proceeds, in con-
clusion, to make the following remarks :—" It is pro-
posed to give relief to a number not exceeding 80,000,
in 100 workhouses, 800 to each workhouse. When
one looks at Dublin, and sees how little is done to dimi-
nish pauperism there, although I can show that at least
108,0001. arc annually expended for that purpose, will it
be doubtful whether much can be done for all Ireland, in-
cluding Dublin, out of a rate which will amount to about
400,000/. a year ? I confess I shudder at laying on a taxa-
tion of 400,0001. per annum on so impoverished a country
as Ireland I do not think that those whose humanity
prompts them to call out for Poor-laws, sufficiently reflect
on the hardship which will be inflicted on those who will
have to pay the rate. A Poor-law will not give us addi-
tional property ; a Poor-law is not a fund to be furnished
us by England, or by any other country. It creates a
taxation of ourselves—for beneficent purposes to be sure,
at least in intention and design—but still a taxation.
The sum Ireland pays to the general revenue is about
four millions. The Poor-law will add four hundred
thousand pounds ; that is exactly another tithe. I claim
some pity for all the poorer classes of rate-payers, and
I think it is a fallacious benevolence which overlooks the
rate-payers, especially the poorer classes. The experiment
of Poor-laws, however, must be made in Ireland ; I have
been deserted upon this sublject by many whose support
enabled me to overcome other difficulties. I, therefore,
give my support to the Government plan, endeavouring to
improve it as much as possible. I support it, but do not
approve of it. I submit to it as a necessity—an inevitable
necessity. I have considered the subject in all its bear-
ings—I trust I have honestly and conscientiously considered
it. Ireland wants to be relieved from poverty, by taking
away the causes which have inflicted that poverty on a fer-
tile and most productive country. A Poor-law does not
even purport to destroy or affect " the causes" of poverty.
It merely asserts that it gives sustenance to the destitute,
who at present arc sustained in another, it is said in a worse,
shape—but if the cheerless improvement of a workhouse be
not as bad as the present system, it is hard to find a rival
for our present misery. I repeat, however, my determina-
tion to support the present Bill—to improve it if I can—
but at all events to support it. But I do not foresee any
good it will do, commensurate with the evil it will neces-
sarily produce. It is, however, an untried experiment, and
it must be made before we can go farther."
The Corporation of this city have granted the use of the
Town Hall and Assembly Rooms to the citizens who intend
to entertain Mr. O'Connell to a Public Dinner during the
recess. We understand that considerable sums of money
changed owners during the deliberation of the Town Council
on the subject. Certain of the Ultras bet heavily that the
loyal and ancient Corporation would not in any thing iden-
tify itself with "the Arch Agitator and enemy of our muni-
cipal institutions." The Council have also, we learn, signi-
fied that they will grant any other necessary accommodation
in their power to give—and will place at the disposal of the
Dinner Committee their constables during the occasion.
Who will not say that " a change has come o'er the spirit
of the times ?"--Tfratettord Chronicle.