The Sun.
London, England, 1839-02-15 00:00:00

REPEAL OF THE UNION.

Mr. O'CONNELL presented a petition, signed by up-
wards of 10,000 of the inhabitants of the city which be had
the honour to represent, stating that they had determined
that there should either be a real union, or none at all.__.
(Laughter from the Tories.) He was glad to see Hon.
Gentlemen laugh, for it really was ludicrous that the
people of Ireland should have occasion to say so. The
petitioners said, that to make the union real, there should
be an equalization of the political franchise, equal corporate
reform, and equal religious liberty, in not compelling the
majority of the people to pay for the Church of the mi-
nority. The Hon. Member moved that the petition be
taken into consideration on the 28th instant, on which day
he meant to bring in a Bill on the subject.
THE WATCHMEN OF DUBLIN.

Mr. O'CONNELL presented a petition from the dis-
missed watchmen of the city of Dublin, complaining of
the hard treatment to which they were subjected in their
old age, and praying the House to take their ease into
consideration.

The SPEAKER inquired who was to pay the money?
Mr. O'CONNELL supposed the public at large.
The prayer of the petition was then read. It prayed.
the House to ameliorate their condition, by appointing a
Committee to investigate their claims to compensation, or
give such relief as might seem meet.
The SPEA KER said, if the House appointed a Com-
mittee to investigate their claims, it would be an admission
that the claims, if made out, ought to be paid by the public.
Mr. O'CONNELL withdrew the petition,
CANADA.
_ _ _

Mr. LEADER presented a petition from two Advocates
practising at the bar in Montreal. They stated that they
derived their...eoleflubsistence from the exercise of thtirlirti-
fession—tbat amongst the sacred rights granted them by
this couutry.: perrnal liberty was the one which they
most valued that in consequence Of Sdliri6 late
acts they were afraid that right Was to be altogether
taken from them, iii COnSequence of the flagrant abuse
of power. to which they have been subjected—that
they, with several other persons, were forcibly tout
from their families on the 4th of Novoilhci Ike; by
persons calling themselves thii ng• ehts of Government,
' with
and dragged prianit by her Majesty's troops, with-
aobud, t aans
ate th anythe
knowledge
accusation against
thethem,
or-
ders of Sir John"- Coltorne ; they stated further,
that it was publicly believed that a Carte blanche
had been given to .many persons, tb denounce as traitors
any of her Majesty3s subjects In the colony, thus furnishing
to enmity an opportunity of wreaking its revengeful feelings
on the liberty of the subject—that having been thus ar-
rested they were detained in prison till the 13th De..
cember, when the gaoler ordered them to go out—that
they had written a letter to Sir John Colborne,
demanding what was the accusation against them,
and demanding to be brought to trial, but that
to that letter no answer was returned. They
stated, further, that Commissioners had been ap.
pointed to examine into this cause ; that with their
knowledge these two gentlemen had been detained in
prison, without rny occasion, and this with the know-
ledge of the Executive. They stated they had no legal
resource against this course, as since the execution of the
order for their arrest, they found an Act of Indemnity
had been passed, which deprived them of the
power of bringing the offenders to trial before the
ordinary tribunals. They asked for that justice from the
Imperial Parliament which they were unable to obtain in
their own country. They stated further that, being
sincerely attached to the happiness of their country,
they have another duty to fulfil, which was to
denounce to this House the devastation of their
country by the troops of her Majesty and by the vo-
lunteers. They further denounced, besides, the plun
dering and devastation which had taken place, outrages
still more revolting, committed by the soldiers and volun-
teers, on the unoffeuding females of the country.
(The Honourable Gentleman was here interrupted by
an Honourable Member from the opposite benches, who
thoughi. was going beyond the line agreed on in making
so long a statement. Mr. Leader said he was merely
reading the prayer of the petition, which he had a right to
do. The Speaker thought Mr. Leader perfectly in order.
That Gentleman proceeded.) The Hon. Gentlemen on
the other side seemed inclined to gag them, but he should
proceed with the petition, which further stated that
the petitioners complained of the suspension of the
laws before the Proclamation of Martial Law, and also
of the Suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act ; and
that the country was under military and despotic rule,
of a nature to drive the population of these provinces .to
despair, and of which the object appeared to be to destroy
their institutions and their language, and drive them from
their country. They prayed the House to take the, peti-
tion into their serious consideration, and grant them that
redress which was so much needed. He should move that

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the petit be printed, end gave notice that be should calf
the attention of the House to the subject on the 28th o
the present month.
Sir G. STAUNTON presented a petition from Ports-
mouth, signed by between 6,000 and 7,000 persons, pray-
ing for an unconditional repeal of the Corn-laws. ,
IRISH EDUCATION.
Mr. JAMES GRATTAN postponed till the 26th
the motion which be bad given notice of for to•,day
relative to the appropriation of the 50,0001. annually voted.
for the purposes of Education in Ireland. •

•EVENING EDITION,-'7EBRUARY 15, 1839