The Sun.
London, England, 1837-02-09 00:00:00

crime.

Lord MORPETII then addressed the House to the follow-
ing effect :—Sir, I have been twitted by the Hon and Learned
Member for Dublin with having taken time since the opening
of the debate to prosecute my researches into the materials
which I might consider it necessary to use in the course of it.
It is surely no very great novelty that a person whose conduct,
and the conduct of the department of Government with which
he is immediately connected, are arraigned, should suspend
his observations on the subject until he ascertained the bulk of
the accusations which it was intended to prefer. Indeed, if I
had spoken last night, I should have missed the opportunity of
adverting to the lucubrations of the lion. and Learned Mem-
ber himself. At all events it cannot be alleged that I have
taken much time to prepare my reply to the charges which have
immediately
followed brought against me. My Noble Friend was
followed by the Hon. and Learned Sergeant, the Member for
Bandon, in a speech undoubtedly distinguished by great
ability, coupled, [however, with an acerbity which is but too
common in the Hon. and Learned Sergeant's effusions, and
which prompts him to attack the character, the honour, and
even the religion of those who are opposed to him.—( Loud
cries of " Hear, hear," and " No, no.") The Hon. and
Learned Member for Dublin, who has also made a speech of
great talert, charges this side of the House with attempting to
fasten odium upon individuals, and with indulging in personal
imputations. But does not the declaration of the Hon. and
Learned Sergeant, the Member for Bandon, that no Member
of the same profession as himself could hold office under his
Majesty's present Government without degradation and dis-
grace, savour somewhat of personal imputation ?—( Hear, hear,
hear.) Did not the Hon. and Learned Sergeant's expression,
when he spoke of the Protestant members of the National
Association, that they were persons "calling themselves Pro-
testants," seem like a personal imputation ?--(Hear, hear,
hear.) The first point of the attack of the Hon. and Learned
Sergeant was directed against the rule established by the
present Master of the Rolls in Ireland when he was Attorney-
General, respecting the setting aside of jurors on criminal
trials. The Hon. and Learned Sergeant admitted that this
circumstance involved no imputation on the character of the
Master of the Rolls, but maintained that it greatly impugned
his discretion.—( Hear.) In answer to this charge I will
read an extract of a letter from Mr. O'Loghlen, writ-
ten soon after the establishment of the rule, and
giving an account of its operation :—" I observe that
they allude in the address to the system of not setting aside
jurors in criminal cases. If the subject shall be mentioned in
Parliament, official returns (some of which were sent to the
Home-office after the last circuit) will prove that the course
pursued has worked well. There were more convictions under
tile new system, in proportion to the number of cases tried,
than under the old. It has given to the people a confidence
in the administration of justice which they had not when jurors
were selected by the Crown, and juries in effect packed. The
rule made by him did not prevent the setting aside of any juror
to whom any reasonable or fair objection could be matte, but

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