The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-09 00:00:00

PUBLIC DEBT BILL.

Mr. WILSON gave notice that on the motion for the
second reading of the public debt bill, the object of
which was to repeal the acts which provided for the
repayment of a portion of the loans raised during the
late war, he should move as an amendment the following
resolution :—" That in the opinion of this house the
extraordinary expenditure in time of war beyond what
can be provided for by the usual taxation ougLt to Le
raised in the form of terminable annuities."

GRAND JURIES (IRELAND).
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND gave
netice that he should, on Monday next, move for leave
to introduce a bill relative to grand juries (Ireland).
TENANTS' COMPENSATION (IRELAND) BILL.
The adjourned debate on the second reading of this
bill was resumed by

Mr. Sergeant DEASY, who expressed his conviction
that there was no probability of any effectual lygialatioe
taking place this session on the subject. He contended
that the exceptional circumstances of Ireland in regard
to the relation between landlord and tenant demanded
exceptional legislation. No class of society ought to be
placed in that state of dependence which the tenants of
Ireland were subjected to, but rather there ought to
be that mutual confidence between them on which each
could rely. Political exoitement was not the only oc •a-
sion of the abuse of the power oflandl)rds in Ireland, for
it frequently happened that a change of proprietor was
made the ground of the excuse for increasing the rents
Of those tenants who had by their industry and capital
improved the value of the lands in their occupation.
He admitted that only a few of the landlords of Ireland
abused their power, but he thought, however, it was the
duty of the house to protect the oppressed minority. The
Devon Commissi m reoerntnended such a measure as
this, and several bills bed been introduced for giving com-
pensation, and, although this had received the support of
successive Governments, the opponents 81 the measure
had been strong enough to prevent them passing that
house. The opinion of
Irish members on this comp-
tionel legislation ought
to have received greater
weight than it bad hitherto received in that house.
The house had sanctioned the principle of excep-
tional legislation fer Ireland, in the establishment of
the Encumbered Estates Court for the relief of
landlords and he asked the house to extend that principle
to the property of tenants. He .asked the house to give
forco by legal obligations to that which now depended
on the force of moral sanction. Tho measure was not
proposed only for the interest of the tenants. He had
presented a petition in support of such a measure from
landlords who believed their interests would be advanced
by it. Many landlords in Ireland were willing to give
compeneation but they were afraid to accede to such
claims, from the fear of exaggerated claims, and there
being no legal tribunal by which the claim might be
fairly investigated and
equitably settled. This hill em-
bodied the principle of the bill introduced by the hon.
member for Stroud,
which received the assent of the
house ; and he asked those who voted for that bill to
support the measure now before the house. Any-
thing objectionable in the phraseology of the clauses
could evilly be remedied in committee. The bill pro-
vi.led for retrospective improvements. He felt that
was open toeoljection, but the present Lord Chancellor
of Ireland was of opinion every measure of this kind
ought to contain a provision for retrospective im-
provements. The other objectien to the mea-
sure was that it would encroach upon the property
of the landlords, but be
denied it would
touch their property injuriously, The present law
of a n
o t
f Ireland
driven large numbers of the
tenants
labouring population across
tencelndsatio and compensation had iaed
the Atlantic. It was from the hills and valleys of Ire-
land they drew their suppliers for maintaining their late
struggle against the power of Russia, and should an
European war break out they might find those su
plies bad been cut off or p,
greatly diminished and
regret tbey bad taken no measures to prevent it.
Principle of the bill. It
a s
would iput°4lßfeßreS w°ittiji:ethteedritgohtthe the Principle
property, and put land-
lord and tenant in
occupied. It wou Position than they had ever
ldwor lead to increase bad feeling
where it existed between landlord and tenant in Ireland.
" Tenant light" was a mi'nonner, and since its in-
troduction twenty-five years ago into Ireland it bad
been productive of great it jury to Ireland. There were
no tenant rights, but onlycustoulary rights.
Mr. MONSELL supported the bill. In England
the landlords made the permanent improvements n
their lends; whereas in Leland they were made by
the tenant, who ought not_ to be dispossessed without
the bill, on the ground that it
first being compensated ,r them.
He approved of com-
pensationimprovements reede by the tenant with
for
wouldMr psrioivtjelinEjltori(oirtTsgtVlrelana.
the consent of the landlord.
Mr. WALDRON supported the measure.
Mr. BLAKE also spoke in support of the measure.
It was for the benefit of England such a bill should be
passed, to give tenants confidence, and stimulate them
to develope the productiveness of the soil to its fullest
extent.
expressed his regret at the difference
Mr. BRADY
of opinion that existed both in that house and in Ire-
land on a measure that was one of a purely social cha-
racter,
Since 1780 the value of land in Irelard bad in-
creased from 6e. 41. per acre to between 16s. and 17s.
per acre, through the
energy of the bard-worked, indus-
trious, and mush-wronged people. He called upon tee
Government to support the bill and settle the question.
Mr. C. FORTESCUE was in favour of tenant com-
pensation, and should support the second reading of the