The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-10 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, Afonday, Feb. 9.

The 1.03. D CHANCELLOR took his teat on the
Woolsack at Fiv.l o'clock.

Lord STANLEY presented a petition, egnecl
by 12,339 owners and occupiers of land,
and tradesmen, manufaeturers, and labourers of
the north division of the county of Lancaster. He had
examined the signatures to this petition, and be had
found them all to be genuine, and to belong to the dif-
ferent classes of trades and callings enumerated in
the heads of the petition. The petitioners stated
that their confidence in the continuation of
the protection to agriculture was such that they
had bean induced to expend capital in extensive
improvements in agriculture and manufactures. It fur-
ther stated that it was the opinion, not only of the
owners and occupiers of land, but also of the working
men and manufacturers, that it was of the greatest im
penance to their different trades that the protection
to agriculture should be continued. The petitioners
also complained of the unconstitutional, they would not
say illegal, interference of the Anti-Corn-law League,
with the constituencies of the country. He had also
several similar petitions from different parts of the
county of Kildare in Ireland.
Lerd REDESDALE said he bad a petition of a
similar nature to present from the county of Oxford.
Lord BEAUMONT presented several petitions frem
tenant farmers and others connected with agriculture in
favour of protection to agriculture, and expressive of the
great alarm those individuals felt at the proposed
changes i • and he also begged to give notice, on the part
of his Noble Friend the Duke of Richmond, that, on
Thursday next, the Noble Duke would move for certain
returns regarding local taxation.
Lord FARNHAM. presented petitions against the
repeal of the corn-laws.
Lord GREY presented several petitions from tenant-
farmers and others connected with agriculture, in favour
of the propositions of Government. They had only two
objections to those propositions; namely, that the aboli-
tion of the dudes of corn and sugar were not immediate.
Almost all the tenant-farmers in this country con-
curred in the opinions expressed in the petition. He
had great satisfaction in presenting that petition, and he
hoped and believed that the opinions therein contained
were entertained by the first farmers in thie country,
whether they were at once opposed to protection, or in
favour of a delay of three years.
Earl. ST. GERMANS said, that with regard to the
motion he was about to submit to their Lordship; he
anticipated their fullest consent. This was a Bill for the
further amendment of the Act now in force for the ex-
tension and promotion of the public works in Ireland.
The proposed measure divided itself into two questions;
first, that of loans, and second that of grants. In regard
to the first of these, the alteration upon the old law was
very small. It was proposed to place at the disposal of
the Commissioners of Public Works for Ireland the
sum of 50,COO1.; the sum originally placed in their
hands being now reduced to 60001,; and the present
grant was to furnish a further supply. The ul-
teretion in ite administration was, that
whereas formerly the application had to be made
through three magis!rates, it was now proposed to be
made through two magistrates, assisted by three rated
or assessed. Respecting the second division, that of
loans advanced for the improving and reclaiming of'
lends, the old law required that such advances should
be paid back in three years after the improvements
were effected. This was fount to be impracticable,
and now it was proposed in the Bill to
extend the period to twenty years. lie had no doubt
this measure as ould work beneficially in developing the
resources of Ireland, in connexion with three or four
other measures which were submitted.—(Hear, hear).
He believed that no measure could act more
~benefisielly
for the peopte of Ireland than the drainage measure.
The Bill of which lie then spoke was eminently calcu-
lated to extend and enlarge the power of the Bill iatro-
duced by the Noble Lord who preceded hien, as it ena-
- bled the commemoner of public works to give employ-
ment to the people—(Hear),—which was essential in the
existing emeigency. The Harbour Bill would also be
introduced, which would further enable the people to
avail themselves of the kindeess of Providence. An
other-Bill would also be introduced, which would enable
grand juries to appoint presentment sessions for' the
carrying on of public works without requiring the
sanction of an asdze. A more profitable outlay of capi-
tal they could net have; and he called on the Noble
Lords to entertain the measure kindly, particularly in
the present moment when the people of Ireland were
threatened with the disastrous consequences of a general
failure in the crops and prepahly a grievous famine.
Lord ISIONTEA.GLE said that at the present moment
it not only behoved Noble Lords to pass the Bill, but,
further, that they should pass a series of measures, of
which the present was but a component, fur the
improvement of the condition of the people of Ireland.
He had heard it stated that the pressure on the people
of Ireland was but slight, and nut entitled to serious
consideration. A greater or more grievous mistake
could not be entertained, and could only have pro-
ceeded from a misapprehension of the real facts.
It was by no means a trivial matter in the present posi-
tion of political affairs between the two countries, that
no individual Member of that House should be repre-
sented to the people of Ireland as indifferent to their in-
terest, particularly when the deficiency of food in that
country at present was considered. It would be of great
importance that it should not appear that that House was
indifferent to this state of things. He should say, that
the magnitude of the evil in respect- to food in Ireland
had by no means been exaggerated. The Noble Lord
then read extracts from the reports made by Mr.
Lindley and Mr. riaytair upon the state of the
potato crop, by which it appeared that the crop was de-
ficient by one-half, and that there would also be a defici-
ency of seed ; and that the result would be that the
distress to be apprehended in Ireland from a
scarcity- of food would be most awful and appalling.
The Commissioners stated that it appeared from un-
doubted authority that out of 32 counties not one hid
escaped the failure of the potato crop, and that out of
the districts around 130 poor-law unions, not one
was-exempt from the failure. To those who were co' -
nected with Ireland this presented a very sad aspect. He
remembered, in 1822, being corneal: sioned with some of
the most useful men (amongst whom the late Mr. John
Smith was conspicuous) to inquire into the cause of
distress in Ireland. At that time, when they had at
their disposal 300,0001. subscribed by the English na-
tion, and which sum was afterwards doubled by Parlia-
ment, they had o:ily to cope with the partial distress of
ten -counties, and that distress did not begin until
the spring, They had now to deal with the dis-
tress of thirty-two counties, and the distress had
begun before the month of February. They knew by
sad experience that not only the want of food, in the
country would be felt, but they also knew that other
calamities would follow. The benefits which had been
done to that country had, however, been stated by others,
and he would not, therefore, refer to them particularly.
But he could not help saying that the treatment which
Ireland ought to receive ought to be the treatment due to
a young country. Now the public works had a tendency
to a public benefit. What had been the results of public
works in Ireland ? But it had been suggested to her
Majesty's Government that consider. be good might be
done by Government if they mate a better appropria-
tion of the constabulary and retie° rates in the
_ several counties. This was a subjeLt that call&l.
'fi a•• the peculiar attention of the Ministry.
Whatever diff rence was made in the appropriation of
public burdens, or wheteter pressure was removed, the
relief should be granted in agreement with jus ,ice. In
the' present instance the measures by the Government
on the Constabulary rate acted in an inverse ratio
to this principle. Take the counties of Down and
Tipperary. In the county of Down, which had been
tranquil and prosperous, and where the constabulary
rates had been light, the relief would be much less in
proportion to that of Tipperary, in which for a long
time the rates had been very high, arising from the in-
security of life and property. If a remission of
the- constabulary rate Ives to bit made,
the
alteration should be such as to appropriate the
Leeefits in the same ratio as the rates had
Lan imposed—apportioning relief in proportion to
the. tranquillity or disturb ince that might respectively
prevail. Ile doubted much whether the proposed re •
rare ion would be an improvement, especially the
taking away the constabulary force from under the
local magistracy. Great advantages had resulted from
this connexion both in the discipline of the force and
the benefits resulting from this employment ; and if
they took away this corps from under the control of the
magistrates, it would make the constabulary force as-
sume the character of a foreign gens d'armerie force. He
begged of the Government not to disFasociate the force
fraln the local protection under which it had hitherto
been placed. In proposiag measures fur the relief of the
•-people in Ireland, it was his, opinion more would be done
for the tranquillity of that country the employment
of engineers, the construction of publicbty works, draining
had such like measures for giving population em-
pioyment,than by any other course be devised.
If they di 1 an act of justice or let it be
directed by wisdom, as that course alonreostihtye
would
be at-
-pular
tended with success. With respect to repeal of
tatet the
taxation, though • it might be very Po
tinter it was proposed, it was soon forgo
would not survive the session in which it was agreed
He trusted that if tho: measures should be adopted,
they would exeic:se a beneficial and useful- in-
fluence upon the l.eople of Ireland. He had
p ()ken -upon this subject at greater length
than be had intended, but it was one in
which he felt a great interest, for he hail the welfare
of- his country sincerely.
.h 3
at heart,. and was mostsaxious to see her condition ammien s eholratemd.embers 11. had
wit of
had communication
that House as well
as with some of those
of-the other House of Parliament, and he had not met
with-one who had any interest in land in that country
who did not appear to agree with him in opinion upon
thla subj -ct.
The Dz.ke of WELLINGTON said he had no
right in king this
dieubt the Noble Lord
opportunity of speaking uwpaosnthis subject. But it
should be remembered that this was a Bill not yet
bifore that House. It was a Bill which had re_
received all
the attention from many Noble Lords which it was
possible to give it in the short space of time allowed, but
he could not say that they had agreed to adopt the
proposition it contained. It was well known that the police
is x had always been a tax upon the land, and it should
-•,.;tted the to be aliowed to continueso.
in the hands of Government
A from the police-tax. They
immendation from the Com •
ind before they came to any
t they would take into con-
don. No person was more de-
;stthimprovements as would
lotion, country," There, were
which would co
and which would have ule
on
Ireland ;
and,
therefore,thuee

be admitted that it ought not
't_ • at present a Bill i
' •
• ' ountie.
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