The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-18 00:00:00

the benefit of Ireland, had done his best to inflict on the
house an Irish row. He (Mr. Fitigerald) knew, however,
that if any asperity was imported into the debate, the col-
league of the right hon,-gentleman, the hon. and learned
member for Enniskillen, wouldur the oil of his kindli-
ness on the waters of discord. ( pour the oil of his kindli-
ness on the waters of discord. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. CAIRNS warmly defended the conduct of the sol-
diery, and contended, on the authority of the Duke of
Wellington, and in opposition to Judge Perrin, that a sol-
dier was bound to use his weapons when in danger of being
disabled from the execution of his trust. He denounced
the course of the present Irish Attorney-General, especially
in regard to his abstaining from putting the priests into
the felon's dock. Every peasant in the county of Clare be-
lieved that such a course had been dictated by fear.
Sir JOHN YOUNG contended that the law had been
fairly, honestly, and impartially administered. It was a
matter of regret, first, that so few soldiers should have
been called in, for when the military were summoned, it
should be in numbers to render, resistance hopeless ; and
secondly, that they should have been posted in an unfor-
tunate position. He vindicated the course of the Irish
Attorney-General, who, he said, had shown no enmity
against the soldiery, but had pursued a wiser and higher
course than that of Mr. Napier. As regarded the priest
Bourke, he asserted the absolute necessity for calling him
as a witness, and the impropriety of subsequently placing
him on his trial at the same assizes, and before the jury
who had heard his evidence. And as regarded future pro-
ceedings, their success would be very doubtful, while there
would be the certain mischief of keeping alive ill blood.
He indignantly scouted the idea thlt any member of the
Government could have sought for popular support or
favour in taking the course which had been adopted in this
case, and expressed his belief that the best manner of ob-
taining the confidence of the Irish people was by the strict-
est and justest administration of the law. But if Mr.
Napier thought he had any case, Government was ready
to meet him on a definite issue. The present moment was
one which, if made at all, should have been made in
silence.

Mr. WHITESIDE argued, from the ferocity which had
been displayed by the peasantry in another case which he
cited, and from his personal knowledge of the scene of the
affray in question, that if the military had not been
prompt, their lives would have been sacrificed. He went
into evidence to show the rioting, and the complicity of
the priests, energetically defended the magistrates and the
soldiery, and animadverted severely upon the conduct of
the Irish Attorney-General, whom he accused of falsifying
the promise of. Lord Aberdeen. He denied that this motion
had any factious origin.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL. remarked upon the in-
tense bitterness with which Mr. Whiteside had sought to
blacken the character of a professional brother, and ob-
served that the House of Commons ought not to be made
a court of appeal in such cases. In reference to the case of
the soldiers, he vindicated Mr. Brewster from the charge
of not assisting them, by stating that the Secretary-at-War
himself had given express orders that they should be de-
fended. He reiterated the previous arguments which had
been urged in favour of the non-prosecution of the priests,
and demanded of Messrs. Napier and Whiteside whether,
if they themselves should return to office to-morrow, they
would revive the memory of the melancholy affair by send-
ing Bourke for trial. Energetically condemning the tone
in which the absent Attorney-General for Ireland had been
assailed, he repudiated the charges against him with the
disgust they deserved.
Lord ADOLPHUS VANE gave notice that on the next
occasion of going into Supply, he would bring on a motion
upon this subject.
The motion was then agreed to, the debate having occu-
pied seven hours and a half.
The house then adjourned.