The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-07 00:00:00

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Mr. HUME wished to ask of one of the members of
the Government the question of which he had given
notice, namely, whether the Government had any inten-
tion of extending to the Cape of Good Hope and Van
Diemen's Land a representative and responsible Govern-
ment, to enable them to manage the affairs of the colony
without expense to the mother country?
Mr. LABOUCHERE was not aware until the present
moment that the question of the Hon. Member for
Montrose extended to the Cape of Good Hope ; he
could, however, assure his Hon. Friend, with regard
to Van Diemen's Land, and the other Australian colonies,
that the subject was under the consideration of the
Secretary of State for the Colonies, and he was in hopes
of being able during the present session to propose a
measure to the House, the object of which would be
to give free institutions to Van Diemen's Land and
the other Australian colonies.
Mr. HUME, considering the answer most unsatisfac-
tory, gave notice of his intention to bring in a Bill on
the subject. It was idle to wait as long as the Govern-
ment chose to be considering the subject.
TENANT- RIGHT.

Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD then rose to intro-
duce the Bill of which he had given notice, for the
purpose of securing the right of outgoing tenants in
Ireland. Ile was prepared, if it was the pleasure
of the House, to go at length into the case,
but if no opposition was intended to be made
against the Bill, he would merely move for leave to bring
it in.

Sir GEGRGE GREY said it was not his intention,
on behalf of the Government, to offer any opposition
to the introduction of the Bill.

Mr. POULETT SCROPE thought if there was
any subject more important for the consideration
of Parliament than another, it was that intro-
duced by the Honourable Member for Rochdale. He
thought it was necessary to come to a settlement without
delay. If something was not done soon, parties
would take the land of their own of which they were
now only tenants. He could see:plainly that the repeal
agitation would soon become a tenant right agitation.
Colonel CONOLLY deprecated the system of agita-
tion which was constantly kept up by the Hon. Members
for Stroud and Rochdale, on the subject of this tenant
right, leading the people of Ireland to betieve that they
were able to hold their lands in spite of, and in opposition
to the landlordc. Tht gave them credit for the best inten-
tions, but a more dangerous and a more turbulent order
of things never was promoted than had been fermented
and excited by the countenance of those two Honourable
Members .—(Laughter .)
Mr. BRIGHT said that he felt persuaded that if there
was one thing more than another in which the House
had failed in its duty was that this question of Ireland
was not discussed properly in that House. Ile
believed that the Hon. Member referred to
had done great good for Ireland, by the pertinacity with
which they had brought the subject of Irish grievances
before the House. If something was not done the land-
lords of Ireland would soon lose their rights altogether,
and their property would be transferred to other owners.
There had been a larger number of persons starved to
death in Ireland than had ever been killed in any Ns ar,
however long or sanguinary, in which the Government
had been engaged. It was most disreputable to the
Government and to the House, when it was acknowledged
that the principal part of this evil arose from the system
of tenure of land in Ireland, that the subject should not
receive proper attention.
Mr. TRELAWNY was understood to say that he
should oppose the principle of this Bill.
Mr. HUME deprecated any attempt at interference
between the relations of master and man; such inter-
ference had been always productive of greater evil to
the men than to the masters ; it only raised expec-
tations which after experience failed to justify.
No man could manage his affairs better than himself,
and any interference cn the part of other individuals
was against sound principles, and ought not to be coun-
tenanced by the House.—(Hear, hear.)
Sir W. SOMERVILLE agreed with his Honourable
Friend the Member for Manchester that Ireland was in
an exceedingly bad state, but still he was not prepared
to resist the introduction of the Bill.

Atter a few words from Mr. M. J. O'CoNNELL and
Dr. BowaING, the amendment was withdrawn, and
leave given to bring in the Bill.
INCENDARIES IN DEMERARA. _

Lord GEORGE BENTICK seeing the right Hon.
the President of the Board of Trade in his place, he
Wished to ask him whether Government had received
any information from Demerara on the subject of incen-
diary fires in that colony?
Mr. LABOUCIIERE said information had been re-
ceived from the Governor up to the 31st January, and
it appeared that the employers of Demerara had thought