The Sun.
London, England, 1847-07-12 00:00:00

conduct of committees or of individuals in carrying

out the provisions of the Act," should be produced
We have already expressed our desire that those who
have been guilty of the foul conduct imputed by that
report should be held up to public odium and well
merited disgrace. The parties who could wilfully
sanction or participate in a wholesale fraud upon
the country, by procuring, or "endeavouring to
procure rations for a greater number of desti-
tute persons than there are individuals in the
entire population of the district," which it is positively
asserted by the Commissioners " has been attempted
in several cases, and for several thousands in excess,"
are deserving neither of mercy nor exemption from
every punishment recognised by the law for their
almost unparalleled peculation. If they do not come
within the operations of the law, if an adequate
punishment cannot be pronounced on the offenders,
the criminal code must be wholly defective, and in-
sufficient to meet the wants of the country. Under
any circumstances they should no longer be permitted
to retain any power of again interfering in the ma-
nagement of the public money, of again perpetrating
similar iniquities. It is due to the British people to
preserve the funds for which they had toiled and la-
boured with such indefatigable industry, and which
they readily tendered for the relief of their
suffering brethren in Ireland, and not to
place them at the disposal of those who have
deservedly forfeited their characters for uprightness
and integrity. For these reasons we should gladly
have seen the guilty parties exposed and punished.
We do not, however, think it by any means neces-
sary for the vindication of the high-minded men who
have acted, and are acting, with credit to themselves
and benefit to the country, on the several relief
committees. The inculpated parties are the excep-
tion and not the rule. Many districts were freed
from every imputation, and it would be, indeed, a vile
prejudice—a most unjustifiable calumny—on the part
of any person who should dare to charge an Irish
gentleman with a participation in the sordid crimes
of the offenders, on no better foundation or stronger
evidence than that some of his countryman had disgraced
themselves by their infamous conduct. An honourable
man will not deign to notice general charges. He
will not suppose that they can be levelled against
himself, and he will disregard them in the
pride of conscious innocence. We do not mean to
insinuate that the Noble and Honourable Members of
either House who have called for, or supported, the
inquiry were in any manner included in the charge,
but we think that they have manifested, perhaps, too
acute a sensibility with reference thereto, and have
mistaken the true ground on which they should have
insisted upon the investigation.
Although we desire the publication of the names
of the guilty parties, the Government have, perhaps,
for the present (although we trust the time may
arrive when concealment will no longer be expedient)
anicatetidojnu.diclitouissly in withholding the required infor-
whose name was published, manifest
right
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ion
i everydpelmi
cimplicated
demand
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ne
fullest investigation into every part of his conduct.
It would be the grossest injustice to refuse such an
inquiry, which, at this period of the session, it would
be wholly impossible to bring to a conclusion before
the dissolution. The publication also might, in
some respects, act oppressively, if made before an
opportunity of explanation was afforded. The course
decided on by the Government with respect to the
accused magistrates appears deserving of approba-
tion. They have forwarded to all these magistrates
copies of the allegations, and demanded their answer
thereto, on receipt of which the Executive will be pre-
pared to take such steps as circumstances may render
desirable or necessary. If this course should be far-
ther extended to all against whom charges of direct
guilt had been preferred—if these persons also, what-
ever might be their rank or position in society, were
called upon to furnish similar explanations, every-
thing that could be desired would be attained, The