The Sun.
London, England, 1834-07-07 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

posed the omission of tba_ filth clause of the Irish
—"ea-- 1 Church Tem -
"eu-nu.ities pill, and let him say whether that
The proceedings of
'2,:mparison is creditable to his reputation for fair and manly
Bestowed ?i-iday last in both Houses of Par- I
Eament deserved -.. all the attention that was then dealing. We would ask him what influence he can ex-
pect or deserve to exercise in the House of Commons, or
upon their , .1 all
anuthe interest that h:.•; since been attached
to thrfin, by those who are most alive to the conditioti and on the country, if he does not scruple to resort to such dis-
ingenuous, or rather to such disreputable, means_ to
Faxspeets of the country. In the House of Lords Lord
has . in view ?
Durham objected to that clause of the Irish Coercion Bill promote the immediate object he our
may recollect that the c 1 .use -
in question enacted
'which places popular meetings under the control of the readers
Government, on the ground that " such a power was, in his that the surplus which ~,as anticipated from the conversion
opinion, unnecessary." The Lord Chancellor defended of Bishops' leases into perpetuities should be applied to
the same clause, on the principle that assuming a Coercion such purposes as Parliament might hereafter appoint and
Bill to be indispensable—a point which had not been dis- direct. Mr. Stanley proposed its omission ; and the sole
puted by Lord Durham—there was nothing more unconsti- ground on which he called upon the House of Commons
tutional in the provision against meetings which might be, to acquiesce in striking out this clause was an authoritative
because they Itta been, of a seditious character and con- statement that in point of fact there would be no surplus
ducive to the spread of disturbance and outrage throughout after the various payments contemplated by the Bill were
the country, than in that which had for its aim the provided for. And then he argued that it was desirable to
suppression of those " praedial crim2s," which not avoid affirming a mere abstract proposition, which might
merely Lord Durham had tacitly acknowledged to endanger the success of the Bill in the House of Lords,
be fit objects of penal sle ig- i
,ation, but which were and deprive the country of the practical good which it con-
distinctly traceable to s':..-aitious meetings and in- tained. " If, however, a surplus should ever arise (said the
flammatory speeches as their origin. If, however, the Right Hon. Gentleman), then the omission of this clause at
continuance of any measure so unnatural in the eyes of the present moment will not prevent Parliament hereafter
Englishmen as this Coercion Bill be really requisite for the from dealing with it as it may think fit." The clause was
protection of life a:id property in Ireland, and if on the omitted on the faith of this statement, though not
at a strong manifestation of feeling onthe
with-
authority of thr, Lord Lieutenant's despatch, • • 0-
describing -
" meetings
for the purpose of agitation and acts of .;:10.. Commons. As if, however, to test his sincerity, it
leuct and outrage, as no less inseparable than cae,se and so happens that a surplus, contrary to expectation,
h
elect," a clause against O'Connell meetings should be arisen ; not an inconsiderable surplus which might
deemed an essential portion of such a law,
`:(oui1 dit not be- be smuggled out of sight, but a large and important
'come a statesman to search somewhat de,
"eper into the ques- surplus, which it was estimated would amount to 1,200,000/.
tion, and to answer the inquiry-1/4'4 it is that puts it in and which Parliament must deal with. Now mark the
the power of seditious agitators so to stimulate and madden language of the Right Honourable Gentleman on Friday
the minds of the Irish multivado, that all considerations of night :—" That (the perplexing fund in question), at least,
loyalty, humanity, an was recognised as Church Property ; the House itself had
d honesty, are set at nought, and the
decided that it was the property of the Church by the Act
most atrocious offences committed, with all the resolution
and open alacrity 'with which men at other times, and under of last Session ; and whatever principle might be advanced
different circur,
~stances, discharge the most honourable du- with reference to the other property of the Church, he did
not think that the Government meant to apply it to pur-
thatties ? Whey, lord Wellesley st,ates,and we believe with truth,
poses differing from those for which the Legislature had
the 'criminal •`combinations of the Irish, surpass the
designed it. He did not believe that they harboured any
law "ir, vigour, promptitude, and efficacy, and that it is
such intention, but he wanted them to speak out." This
" nze,re safe to violate the law than to obey it," his Lord-
m
sh'.p characterises a condition of society which may be re- may not be petty larceny, but it is very disreputable : has
he utterly forgotten the language which he held in Parlia-
anytarded as one terrible disease. It would be impossible for
merit on the former occasion ? Does he or does he not,
.political incendiary, or any body or succession of them,
to give birth to such a lawless spirit. The common ten-
when he now arraigns the Government for proposing to the
dency of mankind, wherever existence can be rendered
Legislature to deal with this surplus, stand convicted of
supportable by industry, and wherever protection can be having practised a paltry deception to secure its temporary
c
oi'itained against wrong, is to uphold the peace and order concurrence in the omission of that clause, which gave the
isf the social system, and to treat its disturbers as enemies. Legislature a right to direct its future application ? A
d
The long endurance of individual privation in its most deception unworthy of a Statesman—scarcely permissible
in a thimble-player. We rejoice that the Right Ho-
tire and oppression, have ingrafted upon the popular mind
frightful forms, and the long familiarity with general injus-
nourable Gentleman did receive what he asked for—
of Ireland an absolute distrust of the law as a protectiga manly and explicit avowal from Lord Althorp of the in-
;power,ntention of the Government with respect to the appropria-
the established institutions of her governors, as the symbols and have inspired hatred instead of reverence for
tion not only of the fund in question, but also of whatever
and muniments of a conquest founded oil aggression, and surplus may ultimately be the result of the Commission of
maintained through tyranny. These latter impressions
Inquiry. With regard to the appointment of this Commis-
may not be historically just. But the actual wretched-
sion, the statements of the Right Hon. Gentleman are
'less of the people has placed their imaginations at the
scarcely more creditable to him than those which we have
quoted. He declared " that the (late) Cabinet repu-
mercy of any plotter against ',:he State who will make it
diated the idea of such a Commission, because they be-
his business to supply fur.,l to their resentments ; and
though such a man cann.'dt be said to cause or generate the lieved that it was vicious alike in principle and in practice,
national spirit which finds vent in c and believed that the country would not endure it." Now
rime, he undoubtedly
it is notorious that such was not the fact, not only by the
has the means of aggravating and inflaming it, so often as
declarations of Lord Althorp and Lord John Russell, that
his occasions may require. We shall not therefore dispute
i
the recomme.odation of Lord Wellesley, or the propositiont was the desire of the Cabinet to avoid this question—so
which Lords Grey and Brougham have justified on the long as it could be avoided without delaying or impeding
strength of it, that the facilities afforded to O'Connell by other measures of public utility—not because they " repu-
means of agitation meetings, to disturb the peace of Ire-
diated the idea of a Commission," not because of the opi-
nion of Mr. Stanley and his friends, which they know to be
land, be that peace ever so superficial and precarious,
ought to be for the present withdrawn from that learned irreconcileable with their own, and which they were aware
gentleman. But it is impossible to make such a concession must eventually lead to the dissolution of the Govern-
otherwise than strictly conditional on the faithful perform- meat. But in corroboration of these declarations, we
ance of the promises made by Ministers, that iriastires have the statement of Mr. Stanley himself—curious and
remedial and conciliatory shall proceed pari inassu with inconsistent as it is—that the issuing of such a commission
bills of Irish coercion, and that while the expression of had never been the subject of discussion in the Cabinet.
hostility, or its outbreak in acts of lawless violence, is re-
How, then, can he assert that it was rejected as vicious
baked, the causes of it—namely, the grievances of the in principle and in practice ? We have more than once
people—shall be eradicated with all the speed of which done justice to Mr. Stanley's powers as a debater ; as a
such a process is susceptible. Now, if we attempt to sooth statesman we have never thought very highly of him ; and
the people of Ireland, and tell them that the Coercion Bill with respect to his opinions on church policy, they are truly
characteristic of a bigot. His friends should counsel him
is an act of necessity, but that the real dispositions
of Ministers towards Ireland ought to be judged or by to pause in his headlong. course ; not to suffer the •
vehe-
those conciliatory measures to which their own unshackle3d mence of debate—the virulence of right honourable enmity
sense of justice has impelled them, we may be answered —the disappointment of ambitious hopes—the mortifica-
" Where are they ?" and in fact what must be our re-
tion of being followed by so few deserters from the liberal
joinder ? What measures for the settlement of Irish af-
camp—to betray him into the exhibition of a temper and
fairs have Ministers, we will not say accomplished, but what spirit from which the feeling of the House revolts—or into
have they put into a way of being carried duringthe pre-
statements and assertions which cannot stand the test of
truth. ir James Grhamas not yet offended with s
sent session, save only the Coercion Bill? Let anybod -
tongue ; S
Ivhat his opainions fare on church matters he ]has
look at the Irish Church Bill, and the treatment it received
front a powerful minority in the House of Commons last not yet communicated to the House. He has himself in-
Friday, and then tell us what are the prospects for the
deed afforded no explanation of the cause of his resigna-
peace of Ireland arising from that singular collection of nu-
tion, which is yet a mystery : he appears to be laid up in
merous and complex clauses. It is agreed on all sides, at ordinary, his guns out, his powder and shot expended—it
least in theory, that no portion of the spoils of the church
was cruel and unjustifiable in Mr. Sheil to fire into an un-
ought to go into the landlord's pockets ; is it, therefore, in armed and defenceless vessel.—Morning Chronicle.
illustration of such an acknowledged truth that the land- The usual official tables of the state of the Revenue for
lords are actually to be complimented with a donation of the last quarter were made up on Saturday night, and will
40 per cent.—that is, of 400/. out of every 1,000/, now paid be found in another part of our paper. Theyl present a
by the tenantry of Ireland in tithe—as an inducement to satisfactory report of the public resources for the period in
them to assist in the restoration of that general tranquillity question. As compared with the preceding financial year,
for which we should suppose that the landlords themselves there appears an advantage in favour, of this to the amount
would be inclined to pay magnificently (instead of being of 390,236/., and upon the quarter also a favourable excess
bribed to it), as the greatest blessing that could be con- of 350,952/. The difference is most strikinc, under the
ferred upon themselves and their families. We ask, head of the Customs, which are more productive this
therefore, why are the Irish landlords to take 40 per cent. quarter than the same period last year by 414,205/., though
off the tithe revenue of the country for consenting to change upon the whole year they are deficient 116,477/. The
the tithe into a land-tax, for consenting to do that which Excise, upon the other hand, exceeds the receipts of last
the law, in tenderness to their best interests, ought to do year by 353,036/., though upon a comparison of quarters,
for them, or even in spite of them, with a view to the con- it shows less by 1.51,076/. The income from stamps is
tentment and pacification of their tenantry, viz., relieve the uniformly more productive than last year, the excess in the
tenant from the payment of tithe, and terminate the colli- case of the year being 148,767/., and upon the quarter
sions between him and the established clergy ? This 38,504/. Taxes have increased upon the quarter 3,764/.,
seems to us a short-sighted and most ill-judged regulation. but decreased upon the year by 121,400/. The revenue
Next, is it by way of a boon and advantage to the church, arising from the Post-office shows a decrease of 7,000/.
that the deficit thus occasioned in its revenues is to be upon the quarter, but an increase of 5,000/. upon the whole
charged upon the general income of the country ?—that year. Those taxes classed as Miscellaneous present a
first the country gentlemen should be permitted to rob the decrease upon the year and quarter, in the one of 21,624/.,
clergy, and next that the amount of the robbery should be and in the other of 3,740/. The amount of Exchequer
-made good at the cost of the nation ? This, we suppose, bills required to meet the charge on the Consolidated Fund
is Irish relief Then, instead of the abolition and subse- for the coming quarter is estimated at 6,852,601/.—Morn-
quent redemption of tithe, what have we ? The tithe is ing Herald.
abolished as between the clergy and the tenantry, but it is The Marquis of Chandos will to-night call the attention
_ revived in another form as between the church- and the of the House of Commons once more to the distressed con-
'landlord, and the latter is by the very frame and constitution dit' nof the agricultural interest. From the Government,
of his land-tax precluded from the alternative of of course,
f we must expect that the motion of the Noble
redeeming it, and thus made by no act of his own a mur- marquis will be received with the same cruel mockery
murer at the exactions of the establishment, by being sub- which has awaited his former efforts. There will be the
jected to a perpetual rent-charge for its benefit, from which same admissions of the evil, and the same denials of the
he never can relieve himself but on disadvantageous terms. remedy—the professions of anxiety to do much, and the
So much for the provisions of this Bill, should it be ever .so same demonstrations of resolution to do nothing. But we
successfully carried through Parliament,—an improvement on will still hope that a majority of the House may be found
the. actual system we admit, in so far as it converts the daily ready to ratify the hope which has been held out to the
strife, from one between the parson and the poor man, into farmer under the most solemn sanctions—the of
speech his
a Struggle for reimbursement between the landlord and the S • from the throne, and the vote of his representa-
overoignparl .
poor ; but in all other respects, as it seems to us, very t*The friends of the agricultural ament.
in-
loosely and injudiciously concocted. The question, how- Zee: inill t will now have an opportunity of making, perhaps,
ever, is forced upon us, whether the Bill will pass the afinal effort,. for this Session,
in favour of that dis-
House of Lords ? Mr. Stanley's speech, though most able, tressed and ill-used but most loyal body. Lord Chandos,
was too violent, and has flung that Right Hon. Gentleman' we understand, will move, at an early period of the evening,
into the ranks of Toryism : but that is not the point. When aresolution respecting the present situation and prospects
the late Secretary for the Colonies was supported by so for- of this class of his Majesty's subjects ; and it is to be
midable a minority in the House of Commons, is it too much hoped
oped that every friend of the agricultural interest will be
to predict that a similar motion would in the House of
present to assist this nobleman, the farmer's staunchest and
Lords be carried by a powerful majority ? Since, however,
most indefatigable
friend, in his efforts to wring from the
it is probable that any alteration by the Upper House, in Government that attention and consideration which their
the bill, of the nature of that which Mr. Stanley urged on
situation at this moment so imperatively demands. We
Friday in the Commons, would come under that head of
body have
to say that the interests of this most suffering
Parliamentary proceeding which is denominated " a change t not received at the hands of their representa-
in a money bill by the Peers," the only form which the trues,
up o this period of the session, that determined ad-
hostility of their Lordships coud regularly take. would be v
merit and
support. which. alone will compel the Govern-
that of a total rejection of the bill, and indeed the public by to turn their attention to the subject ; and we trust
this time speculates on no other result of this much-tor- thatn the present occasion will not be lost sight of by those
mented question. Then once more let us just remind our to
readers of the predicament in which the Ministers stand, for •
their support and for their advocacy, when his claims, so
and in which circumstances have involved theunfortunate
long neglected and setaside for less important interests,
church
church of Ireland. Tithes can- na longer be collected.
are, . atlength, brought under the consideration of the
That is on all sides given up. A bill is brought •
in topro- Le slat r '
gi ue. Morning Post.
vide a less obnoxious substitute for tithe, as a support for Mr. Stanley, we fear, has irretrievably committed him-
the Protestant clergy : that bill, if there be any truth in self at last by his speech on Friday last, not ?nly with his
prognostics, or consistency in the declarations of parties, late colleagues, but with the country at large: We say we
will not become an act of Parliament. What, then, has' fear that he has done so, because although we had never
the church of Ireland to expect ? Tithes fail, the substi-
any great liking for the youthful orator, nor any excessive
tute fails, the clergy appeal to Parliament for assistance.
Parliament cannot enforce the payment of tithes, and will reverence for the wisdom which he displayed in his speeches,
-not provide any other revenue in lieu of them. A yet we thought that, along with a power of debate which,
motion is made for the grant of another million, to clear off at his age, is not commonly to be met with, we saw glimpses
the arrears which have again become due to the church it of honourable and right feeling, which, duly nursed, and
is refused with indignation, and the clergy starve at least; duly regulated, might one day prove as creditable to him-
until a poor law shall have been introduced into' Ireland, self as they could not fail to be useful to his country. But
when the destitute ministers may sue as paupers for a 1M have for once been in error. The Right Hon. Gentle-
pittance from the rates of those parishes of which they were rnan has belied our expectations, and done injustice to his
once the incumbents. For this issue to the church tempo- i own talents. What his motives of action were—whether
rality question the Irish clergy will have to thank first tbe 1 pure anger—disappointed ambition—or the supposed neces-
weakness of Ministers, next the obstinacy of their Tore sity of forming a portion of some party, we know not—but
patrons, who talk high and mighty nonsense about ts,:king the attack which he made upon his colleagues, in every
their position upon this or that abstract principle of kormer respect so unworthy of him, has not only created an impas-
ages, while the ground which they stand upon slaps away
ps sable gulf between them and him, but identified him so COM-
from under them, and carries with it the remnants of the p 1 et ely with that party in the State which hates the people and
misguided and ill-befriended church. This is an awful re- scorns the people's rights, as not even to leave him a standing
presentation, but A just one, of the prospects which impend midway between the Whigs and Tories—nay to pronounce
over the established church of Ireland. We pray God him an aristocrat both in Church
and q' -,
' pronounce
t ,Aate, in the mos that no sinister reaction ma in 1% th ational church of absolute sense of the term, and
to leave but little hope that
England herself in ruin.—lnievso •e e n the years of maturity •
will bring • •
with 'additional wis-
(nem
77 • do A
nd what is Mr. Stanl •
We are persuaded Mr. Stanley cannotreflect on the duct? ey t-,, gain by this outré . Who are to be his fe' ' l-i•
con-
course which he pursued on Frida..cure associates? v[71,4 ~.15
evening without feel- future poll • ?
tics Of the To • v.,
ing' of mortification and self-reproach—eveny
though the and with the Radicals ••• ries he can never be the bean,
Tory cheers which greeted the expression of his fierce andnever allow him •
_ .. to -inmgie.
his nature and connections
t will
intolerant zeal, and above all, the vulgar and virulentlie is too amb i ious to be the
hctl.9.huse tail of any pC.fty, and at present there is
of his late colleagues and friends, may yet none which it is
juif ing in possible for him.to lead. His better
his ears. Let him compare his speech on this plan will be to retire
when .a e oca- for a few years into private life and to
lion with that which he delivered last session, cultivate that leisure
he pro- which mav'enable him to '
comprehend the difference betwee
n