The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-26 00:00:00

• bate. He did not at all shrink from the discussion;
and when the Honourable Gentleman the Member for
the city of Dublin told him that he intended to
bring on the debate to-day, he intimated to that Hon.
Gentleman that he should be prepared to meet him on
the question. Having stated thus much, lie would only
say, that had the discussion been resumed, he should
have taken up the ground that the repeal of the union
and the establishment of a separate Parliament in Ire-
land would have the effect of degrading that country to
a mere province of these kingdoms, while the separa-
tion of the two countries would deprive the repre-
sentatives of Ireland from taking any part in the
general legislation of the country.—(Hear.) Ireland
ought to consider the union an advantage, for while she
was separated from England, none of her representa-
tives, however eminent or able they might be, would be
in a situation to take part in the discussion on important
imperial matters. They would be precluded from parti-
cipating in the debates on colonial subjects, while they
would be equally shut out from deciding upon the mi
mentous questions of peace and war which would natu-
rally be ever as interesting, and involve as much the
rights of Ireland as of England.—(Hear.) That would
have been the course of argument he should have takers
had the debate been proceeded with, but the advocates
of the measure having, as he thought, wisely postponed
its discussion, he trusted, whatever might be their views
and opinions of the course to be pursued for improving
the social condition of Ireland, that they would join with
Parliament and the constituted authorities in averting
the miseries and social evils which must follow the at-
tempts and designs of traitorous parties to overthrow
the institutions of the country.—(Loud cheers.)
He trusted that the Gentlemen of Ireland,
whether they were Protestant or Roman Catholic, or
whatever might be their views and opinions upon the
question of repeal, would unite with the loyal portion
of her Majesty's subjects and the Government of the
country in maintaining peace and order in the sister
kingdom..)
a.—fe(wChweoerr.)
words
from Mr. F. O'CONNOR, the de-
bate was adjourned.

HORSHAM ELECTION.
The SPEAKER informed the House that he had re-
ceived a report from the Examiner of Recognizances,
stating that the recognizauces entered into for prosecut-
ing the Horsham election petition were unobjectionable.
WASTE LANDS (IRELAND) BILL.
On the motion for going into Committee on this Bill,
Sir JOHN WALSH said the subject embraced by
this Bill was entirely novel, and it proposed to empower
the Government to try an experiment which no former
Government had ever attempted before. The principle
involved in the Bill had already been tried in France and
failed. It was nothing more than the principle of in-
vesting Government with the power of employing the
Irish people in reclaiming waste lands and build..
ing cottages, as a commercial speculation, and
looking to the miseries and evils which the
adoption of this principle had led to in France, he
must be allowed to take exception to its introduction
into this country.--(Hear, hear.) The knowledge of
the Hon. Member who had introduced the Bill as to the
reclamation of bogs and waste lands in Ireland, was en-
tirely of a theoretical character. The Hon. Member,
in a pamphlet which ho had written, referred to
Chat Moss, in Lancashire, as an instance of the
successful cultivation of waste lands, but that
was attended by circumstances which made it
entirely different in character to similar lands in Ireland.
It was situated in the centre of a populous manufac-
turing district, was traversed by a railway, and therefore
presented every facility for its improvement and cultiva-
tion. But, although the railway had been in
existence more than twenty years, a great
portion of the bog remained in a state of nature. In-
stead of the measure improving the condition of the
cottier population, the effect would be to increase their
present poverty, and to spread more widely the evils
which now existed, and render it more difficult for any
future Administration to grapple with them. Believing,
therefore, that the measure would wholly fail in effecting
that good which it was intended to accomplish, he should
propose that the consideration of it should be postponed
until that day three months.

Mr. P. SCROPE considered that the Bill was
most necessary for the purpose of improving the
social condition of the Irish people, and he did
not stand alone in entertaining that opinion. H
the waste lands of Ireland were reclaimed, and ap-
portioned to persons who were willing to cultivate them,
there would not be thousands of persons emigrating
every year to America and the British colonies to pur-
chase land. Besides, the reclamation of these lands,
which were now lying entirely unproductive, would give
employment to the Irish people who were driven to this
country. In order to show that these lands were capable
of improvement, he referred to a communication which
he had received from a Mr. Robinson, stating that in
1838 he reclaimed 104 acres of land, the produce of
which this year had been sold for 7101., being at the
rate of nearly 71. an acre. His original outlay
was only 3001, or 3/. an acre. The communication also
stated that there were at present about two millions of
acres of similar land in Ireland, and by it remaining un-
productive there was lost to the country fourteen mil-
lions' worth of produce, and about six millions to the
labour-market. If the measure were carried into effect,
he considered it would give productive employment to
the poor, and put an end to that destitution which was
now ruining the landlords, desolating the country, and
keeping it at this moment in fear of rebellion.

Colonel DUNNE, having looked through the Bill,
considered it was another of those visionary schemes for
improving the social condition of the people with which
the Hon. Member had so often troubled the House. There
were, undoubtedly, a considerable quantity of waste lands
in Ireland, but he was of opinion that their cultivation
ought to be left to private enterprise, and that it was
not the duty of the nation to take them under its cog-
nizance. He sincerely hoped that the Government would
not lend their sanction to the scheme, believing that it
would only end in disappointment.
Mr. REYNOLDS supported the Bill, considering that
the principle of it was a correct one. He understood
the object of it to be to enable a company or a board
of commissioners to reclaim waste lands in Ireland.
It would accomplish one great good which was deserving
the attention of the House, namely, giving profitable
employment to the able-bodied population of that
country. Another salutary effect would be to enable
small proprietors to purchase the fee simple of land in
Ireland, and nothing, he thought, was more calculated
to benefit the country than such a plan. lie rejoiced
that this attempt had been made to benefit Ireland, and
if the Bill were imperfect in any of its details, Hon.
Members would have an opportunity of amending it in
Committee.

Mr. F. FRENCH defended the provisions of the Bill,
and denied that private robbery was contemplated by it•
Mr. ORMSBY GORE said the objection to this
Bill was its compulsory power. There was at pre-
sent in existence a measure for the recovery of
waste lands in Ireland, but in that measure
there were no compulsory provisions. If the Govern-
ment wished the recovery of waste lands in Ireland,
they ought to assist private enterprise; and there was a
company at present in existence who were anxious to
carry out the provisions of this Bill without any com-
pulsory Act of Parliament. He thought the passing of
this Act would only interfere with the law as it at
present existed.
Sir G. GREY gave full credit to the lion. Gentleman
who had introduced the Bill, but the question was
whether the Bill was calculated to carry out the object
the Hon. Member had in view. Upon looking at the Bill
he found it was not calculated to do so. Added to this
the Bill would require an expenditure of public money.
He thought the mode in which the Hon. Gentleman
proposed to: carry out the; measure was most objection-
able, and ho objected most strongly to that part of the
Bill which constituted the Poor-law Commissioners
of Ireland as the unpaid commissioners for carrying
out its provisions. He was not prepared to deny that there
were extensive tracts of waste lands which might be re-
claimed in Ireland ; but from the interpretation clause it
was manifest that something more than waste lands
were included in the Bill.—(Hear.) lie should be
sorry to stand in the way of a Bill which proposed to
give employment to those who had none among the pea-
santry of Ireand, but looking at the provisions of the
Bill he felt bound to oppose its further progress.
Sir D. NORREYS supported the Bill.

Mr. F. FRENCi-i said, after what had fallen from the
Government, he should not divide the House. lie should,
therefore, withdraw the Bill.
The Bill was accordingly withdrawn.
LIFE POLICIES OF ASSURANCE BILL.
Mr. FAGAN stated the principle lof this Bill, and
moved that it be read a second time, It was read a
second time, and ordered to be committed this day
week.

APPEALS IN CRIMINAL CASES.
This Bill was read a second time.
SALE OF BEER BILL.

This Bill went into Committee.
Mr. SPOONER proposed an amendment to the effect
that no public-houses should be opened during divine
service, namely, from halflast twelve o'clock to one
o'clock.
Mr. THORNELY considered that the matter was not
clearly defined; divine service was over in some churches
sooner than in others.
Mr. SPOONER said the time of opening should be
set forth in the beer-sellers' license.

Mr. BItOTHE ilTONthought a definite time ought to
be fixed when the house should close.
Sir E. BUXTON entirely agreed in that opinion.
Mr. W. PATTEN said the Bill was approved of by
the licensed victuallers' from one end of the country to
the other; and, acting upon the suggestion of that body,
he felt bound to retain the words " half-past twelve."
Mr. DUNCAN wished to know if the Bill extended to
Scotland ?
Mr. W. PATTEN replied in the negative.
Mr. DUNCAN must move then the insertion of
words making the Bill applicable to Scotland.
Mr. HENLEY said it was decidedly for the advantage
of the publican that some definite time should be fixed
andrineatshoenaßbillel,hou.
rhe thought half-past twelve was a very
After a few words from Mr. SPOONER,
it
wtwaselvheisOPinio that the
o'clock.
hour ought
uWghltLtLo IbAeMchSansgsid changed
to
Captain PECHELL thought the Bill ought not to be
applicable to rural districts.
It was eventually agreed that the hour should be half-
past twelve, or " after the termination of Divine service
at the parish church."
Captain PECHELL said it would be utterly impos-
sible to carry that provision out in the rural districts,
and if he were in order he would move that the words
"after the termination of Divine service at the parish
church," be left out.
Mr. W. PATTEN could not consent to the omission.
Mr. HUME wanted to know how an Act of Parlia-
ment could promote the morality and religion of the
people ? For his part he thought that more might he
done to effect such an object through the influence of the
clergy of the Church of England and the squires than
fr by such stn Act.