The Sun.
London, England, 1850-04-26 00:00:00

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LONDON, FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1850.

The adjourned debate on the Securities for Ad-
vances (Ireland) Bill was last night resumed in the
House of Commons, and, after an animated discus-
sion, the principle of the measure was affirmed by a
decisive majority of 145, there being 186 in favour,
and only 41 against the second reading. This deci-
sion does not, however, in any degree affect the great
point of the case—the extension of the principle to
every description of real estate and to all classes of
landowners. That is a question which can only be
determined in Committee, and, from the tone and
character of the speeches last night, we trust
that the ultimate result will be such as
justice and equity, as well as policy and
expediency, so imperatively demand. The opponents
r of the Bill, although they brought forward other ob-
jections, rested their case mainly upon the unfair and
partial nature of the proposition. The Noble Lord
the Member for the county of Kildare, who brought
forward the amendment, declared " that he would
not, perhaps, divide the House, if the Government
would agree to give the same advantages to the
ancient proprietors of the soil as they proposed, by
the Bill, to confer upon the new purchasers," and the
majority of those by whom he was supported ex-
pressed similar sentiments ; while the Hon. Member
for Carlow, and some of the most strenuous advo-
cates of the measure, declared their readiness to "vote
in favour of a proposition, similar to that before the
House, which should apply to another class of pro-
prietors." Even the Solicitor-General himself was
not very decided in his opposition, for although the
Right Honourable Gentleman said "be could not
agree to the propriety of extending this measure to
every proprietor in Ireland," he did not venture to
enter into the question of the fairness of the restriction,
and he added, "If such a plan could be adopted, by
which every person desirous of borrowing money
should consult the Commissioners, and after their in-
vestigation obtain a Parliamentary title to his land, and
so obtain money on debentures, he shouldapprove of it."
His only difficulty appeared to be that "it would re-
quire more extensive machinery than this Bill con-
templated, and, moreover, if they wished to proceed
safely, it would be wise and prudent in the first place
only to apply the measure to the case before them,
and if it answered it might then be extended to
others." The cautious suggestion might be very
prudent and judicious if the operation of the Bill
would not be deeply injurious to the unencumbered
proprietors, to all those, in fact, whose pro-
perties were not charged to more than half their
actual value. But, as we have already shoyvn,
that such would be its certain result, and as the ad-
mirable letters of Mr. C. H. BOWEN, which have
appeared in The Sun, have remained altogether un-
answered, we must, in the strongest and most une-
quivocal terms, dissent from an experiment of so
ruinous a character to those who have already suf-
fered so severely from the recent legislation for
Ireland.

But there is no real difficulty in the case. On
Wednesday last we suggested "a plan by which (to
use the very language of Sir JOHN OMILLT) every
person desirous of borrowing money should con-
sult the Commissioners, and after their investiga-
tion obtain a Parliamentary title to his land, and
thus obtain money upon debentures." And we
therefore call upon the Right Honourable Gentleman,
in redemption of his pledge, to give that plan his ap-
proval. It was, that every person whose estate was
encumbered to less than one-half its actual value,
and who, therefore, under the present law, did not
come within the jurisdiction of the new
tribunal, should be permitted to petition the
Commissioners, setting forth the amount of
the annual proceeds and estimated value of
his property, and also a full and detailed account
of the encumbrances, if any, by which it was affected ;
and praying, not for a sale, but that he might be
authorised to issue debentures similar to those which
may, if the present Bill be carried, be made by the
purchasers of the " Encumbered Estates." The same
investigation, at present necessary, might then take
place at a very trifling expense, and, if all appeared
satisfactory, the prayer of the petition might be
granted, and a Parliamentary title given to the
holders of such debentures. This would require no
more " extensive machinery" than that now in exist-
ence, and in efficient working condition. It would
not require the construction of any new tribunal.
If the business of the Court were to be so
greatly increased as to be beyond the powers
of the Commissioners, one or two could be
added to their number, and never would
a trifling expense, not exceeding 3,0001. per annum,
at the outside, be productive of greater benefit to the
country. Indeed, in place of an expense, it would
prove a source of additional revenue, from the stimu-
lus that would be afforded to new transactions, and
the consequent increase of stamp duties in Ireland.
Now, then, is the time for the friends of Ireland,
and more especially the Irish Representatives, to
bestir themselves zealously and energetically. No
time will be lost in pressing forward the measure
through Committee. The golden opportunity is at
hand, which, if taken due advantage of, will tend to
the regeneration and speedy elevation in the social
scale of the sister kingdom ; but, if it should be lost
or misapplied through any neglect or apathy on their
parts, they will have much to answer for to their re-
spective constituencies and their common country. On
such a point they should be prepared to waive all minor
differences and to exhibit perfect unanimity. If they
do so, they will command success. No Ministers
would venture to resist the unanimous voice of the
Irish Representatives on a question exclusively relating
to Ireland. No Parliament that ever assembled would
support a Government who attempted a course in
every respect so indefensible. The Honourable and
Gallant Gentleman the Member for Portarlington
has already given notice that he will move,
"as an instruction to the Committee, that the
same power be granted to owners that was
proposed by the Bill to be given to purchasers." The
whole question will be decided on that motion, and if
the Irish Members be only true to themselves, it can
only be decided in one way. Let Honourable Gen-
tlemen then for once be decided ; let them pull in
the same boat, and be seduced by ao persuasions
from the allegiance which they owe to their father-
land, and let their motto on the occasion be, " Ireland
expects that every man will do his duty."

Another week will find the House of Commons
deliberating in Committee on the Metropolitan Bill
for Extramural Interment recently introduced by the
' Government. Notwithstanding the general acqui-
escence with which the measure has been assisted
through the two first readings, we cannot persuade
ourselves into the belief that the Ministerial scheme
will pass unopposed into an enactment—recognising
as we do the very pernicious character of its tendency.
Nothing but oral or ocular demonstration can con-
vince us that the popular representatives are,
thus prepared to connive at a proceeding
'which
will necessarily tend to repose ultimately the
whole of the administrative power over the pro-
posed cemeteries in the hands of the ecclesiastical au-
thorities, thereby militating against the interests of
the community and preparing the way for the cle-
rical absorption of all kinds of emolument. That the
guardians of the popular rights, those men who are
especially returned to Parliament for the purpose of
watching over the preservation of the dearest interests
of the multitude, and of preventing especially their
abandonment preferentially for the interests of the
Archbishops, their suffraganP, and the bulk of
subordinate ecclesiastics—that the popular branch
we say, should wink
of the Legislature,
at any such pernicious contrivance on the
PUt of the Administration is, to us, alto.

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