The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-01 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, March 30.

Mr. Chatterton, the new Attorney-General, was
re-elected for the Dublin University this day with-
out opposition. The Provost presided. Mr. Chat-
terton was proposed by the Rev. Dr. Carson,
F.T.C.D., who spoke in laudatory terms of the
manner in which he had acquitted himself in Par-
liament. The nomination was seconded by the
Hon. and Rev. W. C. Plunket. The Provost then
declared the Attorney-General duly elected.
Mr. Chatterton returned thanks, and in the
course of his remarks made the following reference
to public affairs :
" Even in the short period that had elapsed since
he last addressed them important events had taken
place in the country. There had been an armed
rebellion against the Soveregn of this realm. He
was glad, however, to say, from what had taken
place, that there was but one opinion as to the
policy of the Irish Government. That opinion was
that their policy was not open to impeachment; for,
while on the one hand they did not yield to the
clamour which invariably resulted from a state of
panic, on the other they had taken every precau-
tion necessary for the preservation of the peace of
the country. He trusted that from the firm and
temperate course taken for the preservation of that
peace a better state of things had been brought
about than would have resulted from following any
other course. There had been a great deal said
about having martial law proclaimed, to supersede
the ordinary tribunals of the country, in order
that those found in arms might be brought
up for instant judgment ; but if they had followed
out that course he ventured to say, now that
the panic had passed, that they would have charges
brought against them very similar to those pre-
ferred against the authorities of Jamaica. On the
other hand, if they had not taken the precautionary
measures which they had adopted, they would have
been guilty of a most serious dereliction of duty.
The result of this outbreak against the authority of
the Queen proved that there was no chance for in-
surrection in this country, unless the insurgents
were composed of very different materials from those
which foreign emissaries had gathered around them.
He was glad to be able to say, and to say with
authority, that those emissaries had received no
support from the agricultural classes of the country.
But now his duty came on, and a very painful duty
it was. But now that the insurrection had been
put down, it was his duty to see that the punish-
ment which the law awarded to the guilty should be
inflicted. From the performance of that duty ho
would not shrink, and he should have the full sup-
port of her Majesty's Government in showing to
those persons that they were not to take upon
themselves to overthrow the Constitution and im-
peril life and liberty. Ile trusted that while the
administration of justice would be tempered with
mercy, wherever severity of punishment was called
for it would, so far as they were concerned, be in-
flicted. Ile hoped that they would thus get rid of
a state of chronic insurrection which had prevented
the expenditure of capital in the country, and which
had thrown it back for years in everything which
tended to its prosperity. On the last occasion that
he had had the honour of seeking election at their
hands, the election was held by his respected friend
(Dr. Lloyd) as Vice-Provost of the University.
(Applause.) He was happy to say that he was now
enabled to declare him (the Attorney-General)
their member as Provost of the University.
(Applause.) He thought that the selection of such
a man to preside over such an institution showed
that they knew very well how to put the right man
in the right place. The Attorney-General, in con-
clusion, returned thanks for the kind manner in
which he had been received, and he trusted that if