The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-18 00:00:00

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1546.

Their Lordships met at Five o'clock.
The Earl of STRADUROKE presented petitions in favour of
protection to agriculture.
The Duke of RICHMOND presented petitions from Axminster,
and several other places in the county of Devon, against any
alteration in the corn-laws.

On the motion of Lord BEAumoriT, the Committee with
respect to the burdens on land was appointed.
Lord BROUGHAM and the LORD CHANCELLOR were afraid
the Committee would do no good.
The Duke of RICEMOND said the labours of the Committee
would set the question at rest whether the burdens on land
were greater than those on manufactures.
The Earl of REDESDALE presented a petition from Glou-
cestershire in favour of the continuance of the corn-laws.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY then put the question to the
Government, of which he had given notice, relative to the
non-appointment of Mr. Gunstone to the office of a Com-
missioner of the Poor-laws, in Dublin. He was astonished
at the course that had been pursued, believing that the
Government had not a more meritorious servant in Ireland
than Mr. Gunstone.

Earl ST. GERMAN said that Mr. TWISLETON was chosen to
be Commissioner because he was thought more fit to be so
than Mr. Gunstone. Mir. Gunstone; he was willing to ad-
mit, was a most valuable servant of the Government, and be
did not see what cause he had of complaint.
The Earl of ABERDEEN laid on the table of the House the
correspondence that had taken place between the English
and the Spanish Government relative to the sugars of Cuba.
Lord lizaumoicr gave notice of his intention, on Thursday
mxt, to movefor papers relative to the armed interference of
France and England on the River de la Plata.
The Earl of DALHOUSIE laid on the table the report of the
Commissioners on Railways.

A message from the Commons brought up several
The Piers and Fisheries (Ireland) Bill wasread a first time,
and ordered to be read a second time.
The House then adjourned till Thursday.

The House commenced business at Four o'clock.
Several Railway Bills were raada second time, and ordered
to be committed.
Petitions were presented for and against the enrolment of
the militia.
Petitions were also presented for and against the Minis •
terial measure with ropect to the importation duties.
Mr. Hurr postponed hisinction with respect to the Excise
lays fur a fortnight.
Mr. EwAItT podponed his motion with respect to Van
Dietuen's Land.
Various petitions having been presented, •
M. O'Corsti.i. rose to move the anointment 91 a Com-

mittee of the whole House to consider of the present die-
tressed state of Ireland. In proposing this motion he dis-
claimed every factious or party motive. The poor of Ireland
were on the verge of starvation, and it was the paramount
duty of Parliament to provide against the impending danger.
The lion. and Learned Gentleman then went into various
statistical details, proving the awful state of famine which
was impending over the Irish population, in consequence of
the failure of the potato crop—a failure not attributable to
any want of industry on the part of the population, to any
failure in the prodUctiveners of the soil—but solely to the vi-
sitation of Providence. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman
then went into details, showing the want of food and bread
stuffs imported from Ireland into England, for the purpoSe of
showing that Ireland produced abundance, but that country,
so blessed by Providence, was cursed by men ; and it was a
fit subject for inquiry how it happened that a country pro-
ducing such abundance should be in danger of famine. The
Hon. and Learned Gentleman then quoted from the returns of
the Government Commissioners, and from the correspondence
of various gentlemen resident in Ireland, voluminous pas-
sages for the purpose of showing the imminent and imme-
diate wasting distress under which the people of Ireland were
now suffering. These communications were from persons in
every part of the kingdom, and in even• station of life—ma-
gistrates, poor-law guardians, and ministers of religion Of all
denominations. Many of these communications had been
made to the Mansion-house Committee in Dublin, and from
those he would quote. [The returns of the Committee were
published a week since in Vie Sun.] Some of these com-
munications stated that the pay of agricultural labourers was
only 2%d. a day, and the fever was spreading fast. This was
in the district of Tralee. In Londonderry, Wexford, Cork,
Down, Armagh, Clare, and Galway, the distress was as great.
The cause was scarcity ; the effect of it was spreading, and in
the cure was the production of food. Wherever scarcity pre
vaned disease Preyailed,and wherever there was plenty there
was health. The seasons of abundant harvests were inva-
riably healthy seasons ; the seasons of scarcity were inva-
riably seasons of pestilence. With regard to the poor-law
union houses, they made very good hospitals for the sick,
but they were utterly insufficient to alleviate the Pre-
sent distress. Some measures must be taken to re-
medy it. Why should not strong measures be
taken for finding railway schemes?—why should not a
Government board be appointed, with power to regulate
between contending parties, so as to at once enable the rail-
way companies to commence operations, and then give em-
ployment to the poor? Let them make loans as security for
finishing these works, and others calculated to give employ-
Ment to the people. at 1 per cent. for three years, and 4 per
cent. afterwards. Great evils required great remedies, and
he called upon them to apply a great remedy for a great evil-
Let a Committee of the whole House be appointed to consider
the subject—let them show the people of Ireland that they
were desirous of relieving their distress. He found no fault
with the Government ; he had supported the measures which
they had proposed for the relief of the distress; but those
measures, excellent as they would have been in ordinary
times, were at present totally inadequate to meet the exi-
gencies of the case.

Sir J. GRAHAM admitted the importance of the subject,
and having carefully investigated the case, it was his painful
duty to state that the representations of the Hon. and
Learned Gentleman were not greatly exaggerated. He be-
3ieved that one-half of the population of Ireland depended
for their daily food on the potato, and the crop of potatoes
had this year signally failed to the extent, according to the
most careful inquiry, of upwards of one-fourth. Under ordi-
nary circumstances the population for six weeks were
obliged to subsist on food of a higher quality, and now for
four months the population must be fed upon food of a
higher quality. Generally speaking, it was not the duty cf
the Government to provide food for the people, but in
:extraordinary cases the rule must give way, and the
Legistature' must take measures to stave off starvation.
But the extent of the evil was not yet ascertained—the dis-
ease in potatoes was progressing. He admitted that the con-
duct of the Irish peasantry-under these dreadful circumstances
had been excellent; there had been no outbreak, no expres-
sion of impatience. Many of them had assembled, not to
ask for relief, but for work which would yield them wages.
A more touching spectacle could not have been exhibited.
He believed that the Irish labourer was greatly bene-
fited by.. English manufacturing prosperity, inasmuch
•as many Irish found employment in Manchester .and
other places. In order to meet this threatened
.distress, the Govnrnment had appointed a Commission
.to investigate and to regulate the granting of relief by means
of public grants for public works. The House had already
consented to grants for this purpose to the amount of
120,000/. They had also consented to grants for advancing
a loan for drainage and other purposes, amounting altoge-
ther to 468,0001, to be laid out on public woks, in the
shape of grant or loan. With regard to railway specula-
tions in Ireland, in the last session Bills had been passed
authorising an outlayof 9,000,0001., which would prdably
ensure an outlay of 2,000,000/. in the course of .tbe
present year. Such was the nature of railroad
'work that it would not meet the particulars of
the case. Those employed on railroads must
leave their wives and families at home. In a former
case the failure of the potato crop had been confined to par-
ticular localities; now it was general, and he admitted that
the poor-law was insufficient to meet it. The Government
had taken every measure in their power to meet the cala-
mity; specific instructions had been givr n on all the
'leading points; and let the calamity be as extensive
as it may, the Government would not be taken by sur-
prise. In case of fever, the poor-law afforded most
extensive relief, as it afforded the power, if necessary, of con.
strutting temporary fever hospitals, and if these provisions
were insufficient, he should be prepared to introduce a Bill,
rounded on the precedent of 1832, for the erection of
additional fever hospitals. He should regret that this
discussion should be prolonged to the delaying of the
important adjourned debate, for he considered that
everything was subsidiary to the necessity of removing
all obstructions to the free importation of food, which was
the best permanent remedy for the distress of Ireland.

Mr. F. SHAW admitted the general state of destitution Of
the Irish population, but he thought. the statements which
had been put forth on the subject had been exaggerated.
:Ile admitted that every county in Ireland was more or less
suffering from the disease, but he thought that in most parts
of Ireland there was an average crop. For six weeks in every
year the poor in Ireland always suffered from scarcity, but at
present there was a more than usual quantity of grain in
Ireland, and a more than usual quantity of employment. lie
would, however, support any measure for alleviating the
sufferings of the people of Ireland, but, he must deprecate
exaggerated statements on the subject.
' Sir JAMES GRAHAM suggested to the lion. Member for
Cork, under the circumstances of the case, not to press his
motion.

Mr. J. O'Coxixner, did not doubt but that the measure pro-
posed by the Government for the repeal of the corn-laws
would be ultimately beneficial to the people of Ireland, but
he pressed upon the house the necessity of doing something
immediately for the relief of the present distress. He be-
sought the House not to consider that anything they had
done as yet could meet the distress in Ireland. They ac-
knowledged the kindness of intention exhibited towards
Ireland; but it should be remembered, that whatever they
might do was only a small payment towards the debt
which they owed to Ireland. There must be some-
thing bad in the administration of affairs in Ire-
land to produce and keep up this perennial distress,
and it behoved the House and the Government to reconsider
the course of social and commercial policy which England
had pursued towards Ireland. Until within the last thirty
years, England had systematically endeavoured to' destroy
the commercial prosperity of Ireland. Let them consider
whether there were not still some vestiges of that policy re-
maining; and if there were, let t'-.em change it altogether.
The Right Hon. Gentleman, having gone into long statis-
tical details fur the purpose of showing the policy which had
been pursued towards Ireland up to the present time,
denounced the Union as having greatly contributed to the
increase of the distress of Ireland. They must endeavour
to put a stop to the absentee system, which drained Ireland
annually. of 4,500,0001., an amount equal to the whole reve-
nue which-Ireland paid to the State; and when they 'talked
of the grants they made to Ireland, they should remember
the course which they had pursued towards Ireland for cen-
turies ; and should reverse that course, and not drain
Ireland of her capital, as they had done. As to the
advances, those they would have to relay; and as to the
grants, they did not amount to one year's revenue of Ireland.
They had a remedy in the restoration of their own Parlia-
ment, but if they refused that, would they provide a remedy ?
Would they tax the absentees? That would afford them a
large revenue. Would they allow the surplus of Irish reve-
nue to be expended in Ireland,? Would they give them a
share of public expenditure by establishing royal dockyards
in some of the harbours of Ireland? Before they asked for
a boon of money, they asked the Government to give Ireland
the benefit of the expenditure of her own revenue, Ireland
had suffered much from the diminution of public expenditure
in that country. These were matters it was right the House
should understand, if they wished to understand the real
cause of the evils of Ireland. They bad never asked for
charity, but they had demanded, and would continue to de-
mand, their rights.

Lord JOHN llus.sELL was far from complaining of the!'
Hon. Member for Cork taking the present opportunity o
bringing before the House the distresses of Ireland. He
trusted that he would take every opportunity of doing so.
He would join with the lion. and Learned Member in his
motion, if it could be shown to hint that it would remedy
the grievance complained of. He trusted that the Hon. and
Learned Member for Cork, after hearing what had been
stated by the Right Hon. Baronet, would not persevere in
his motion, as it would be always in his power to renew his
motion, if he did mot find the course adopted answered the
oltieet lie had in view. Ile considered that the Government
and the people of Ireland were much indebted to the Hon.
and Learned Member for Cork for the statements he bad
made. He trusted the motion would be withdrawn.
Mr. A. LAwsox offered his sincere sympathy for the dis-
tressa n andem temper iistet rwy hoifchl rtletleand.
He
Memberawas
gfolardCotrdk hadt
broughttone
the subject forward. He hoped that Ireland would long re-
main the Sicily of England.
Mr. O'CONNELL then withdrew the motion, observing that
it was his intention at a future opportunity to exereisa the
ht that he possessed of renewing this motion, he if
rigfound
it necessary.

Loo J. .:1-4)l;gEs then resumed the adibtantd torn•lvf