The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-06 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, MAY 6, 1853.

Considerable excitement was occasioned in the
House of Commons last night by an imputation
cast upon the Government by the Hon. Gentle-
man the Member for New Ross, who (following
in the wake of the eccentric Member for West
Surrey) preferred a direct charge of corruption
against some one or more Members of the exist-
ing Administration. Mr. DUFFY was, however,
rather more pai titular in his accusations than
Mr. DRUMMOND. He did not content himself
with a mere statement of general corruption, sus-
spected or even asserted to be carried on at the
present time. His bill of indictment was far
more circumstantial. H© described it as being
"practised under his own eyes," and boldly
named " Irish Members" as the parties corrupted
It is almost unnecessary to add, that " a
scene" immediately followed which effectually
terminated the business of the evening. Deafen-
ing cries of " Name, name," were met by equally
loud vociferations on the other side, and
the House for some time was in a state of con-
fusion by no means fi ttering to the " collective
wisdom" of the nation. It is but justice to Minis-
ters to say aat they took the charge very coolly,
and were by no means so thin-skinned as.some of
their supporters of the Irish Brigade. Such
charges have indeed been so frequently put for-
ward at all times and seasons, that it would be
impossible for any person who had held office for
any length of time not to become accustomed to
such charges. In naming the " Irish Members,"
however, Mr. DUFFY brought a " nest of hornets"
about his ears. The gentlemen who considered them-
selves insulted would not ba appeased. There should
either be a withdrawal or a justification of the
offensive expressions, and as Mr. DUFFY steadily
refused the former, and boldly offered to state the
names of those of the Irish Brigade to whom he
had alluded, it appears to be, as Sir LUCIUS
CYTRIGGIR would express it, "a mighty pretty
quarrel" as it stands.
Further proceecl;ngs on the subject were ad-
journed until this evening, at four o'clock, when
the Hon. Gentleman is to attend in his place. So
much time has ing been afforded, in order that he
might at leisure reflect on the position in which
he has placed himself, and the probable conse-
quences of 'continued contumacy. Those who are
well acquainted with Mr. DUFFY, believe that
the Hon. Gentleman will retract nothing, but
*that, on the contrary, he will repeat the charge
.with even greater particularity. It is, therefore,
by no means improbable that an inquiry far more
interesting than any of those respecting bribery at
elections, or even than the Dockyard investiga-
tion, may be occasioned by the transaction. Con-
siderable curiosity is manifested to know the
phase it may ultimately assume, and how or when
it may terwinate.
The subject under discussion at the moment
was, of course, lost sight of. It was an amend-
ment moved by the Hon. Gentleman the Mem-
ber for Clonmel, for the purpose of exempt-
ing Ireland from the operation of the In-
come - Tax. Mr. LAWLESS had voted against
the amendment of the Hon. Baronet the Member
for Hertfordshire.
He thought there was no
hardship in continuing the impost for seven
years longer '
on the other parts of the
United Kingdom without change or modi-
fication. It was
quite good enough for
Great Britain as it stood
; but when its ap-
plication at the other side of St. George's Channel
c•oue into question, he clearly perceived the hard-
ship not merely of an equitably-apportioned tax
on property, but of any change whatsoever by
Which even. the Irish millionaire or the proprietor
of wide-spread domains should be called on to
contributeitheir fair proportion to the liquidation
of the national liabilities and the maintenance of
the national establishments. That would indeed
be a -grievance of no ordinary magnitude, which
should excite a new outcry, in which " Justice to
Ireland" should be boldly demanded.
Acknowledging with regret the severe trials
which Ireland has encountered, since the mys-
terious visitation of PROVIDENCE exposed that
unhappy land to the varied horrors of pes-
tilence and famine, we would venture to re-