The Sun.
London, England, 1850-08-07 00:00:00

ACT (IRELAND:

CONTINUANCE (No. 2) BILL.

(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
Mr. T. B. ROCHE was one of those who, from the
commencement, objected to the introduction of this Act.
At the time it was passed he was alive to the state of
crime and outrage in Ireland, but then and now ho was
of opinion the ordinary law of the land, it properly ap-
plied, was amply sufficient to put down crime in that
country.—(Hear, hear.) That this opinion was well
founded he need only remind the House that
the present peaceful state of Ireland had been brought
about not by the aid of this Act, but through the instru-
mentality of the ordinary law. To continue this Act,
then, would be most unconstitutional. The root of all the
evil, and the cause of all the crime in Ireland, was the
unsatisfactory state of the law of landlord and tenant,
and rather than pass such an odious Bill as thii, the
Government and the Legislature ought to turn its atten-
tion to plans for improving that law. The people of
Ireland, though suffering from unparalleled injustice
and distress, were perfectly free from crime, and under
these circumstances this Bill was more calculated to pro-
mote outrage than suppress it.
Mr. A. STAFFORD said this was a question of
confidence or no confidence in the Government.
Could they safely entrust them with the powers to be
continued by this Bill? He thought they could. Those
who entertained a different opinion should not fight the
battle on this Bill, but boldly propose a vote of want of
confidence. No one, however, had found courage
enough to blame the administration of Lord
Clarendon, for all parties concurred in eulogis-
ing the wise and conciliatory policy of that Noble
Lord. - On a former occasion he opposed a similar Bill
t‘gthilt• not because he llisippecived-of its powers, but be-
cause he thought it was for the interest of the country
that the then existing Government should be thrown out,
and he was ready to admit that if those who ap-
proved this Bill felt the same towards the
present Executive, they were justified in their
opposition. But, on the other hand, if they were
not ready to take upon themselves the government of the
country, or could point out a party ready to do it for
them, they were bound to pass this Bill, because the
Ministry had declared that they could not carry on the
government of Ireland without the powers of this Bill.
For bis own part, he knew no man to whom he would more
readily entrust the extensive powers of the Bill than
Lord Clarendon, and as he was not prepared to under-
take the responsibilities of the Government he should
give the Bill his hearty support.
Mr. P. SCROPE thought it strange that the Ho-
nourable Gentleman who last addressed them should
have such unbounded confidence in the present
Government, for, if he were not mistaken, the
Hon. Gentleman was one of the bitterest opponents of
its policy.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) Now, the
circumstances which justified the passing of this
Act did not exist at this present time; on the
contrary, Ireland was compsratively speaking free
from crime, and nothing should induce him to
support the Bill. It was monstrous to argue that be-
cause the power of this Act had at a period of unusual
excitement succefded in repressing crime, they ought
to continue the Act in force in a time of peace and tran-
quillity. As well might they say that as despotism
enabled Governments to repress crime despotic mea-
sures ought to be passed by the Legislature.
Sir D. NORREYS was favourable to the introduction
of this Bill as a vote of confidence in the Government.
He was not afraid that any Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland
would so brave the feelings of the country as to exercise
vindictively the provisions of this Bill.
Colonel CHATTERTON was surprised that any
Member from the sister isle should object to the Bill.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, aid the
House divided, when there appeared—

For the amendment
Against it ...
Majority against the amendment ... —53
On the original motion being put that the Bill be
read a first time,

... 28

Mr. HUME objected to the suspension of
the constitution in Ireland, when no case had
been made out to justify such a proceeding. He
thought the Irish Members were justified by every
means in their power to resist such a measure as
the present, and, keeping within the firms of the Home,
he would give them every assistance in his power.

Mr. ItkYNOLDS thanked the Hon. Member for
Montrose for the manly and straightf,rward course he
had adopted. He looked upon this Bill as an insult to
the people of Ireland, and would give it his determined
opposition. '
After some discussion, _ _

Lord JOHN RUSSELL stated, in answer to a ques-
tion from Sir James Graham, that he thought the
best course to adopt would be to finish the present
discussion and then adjourn for two hours. He was
most desirous that orders of the day should take pre-
cedence in the evening, bat if Hon. Members who had
notices insisted on bringing them on, there was nothing
to prevent thi-m.

Mr. S. CRAWFORD had no confidence in her Ma-
jesty's Government relative to their policy towards Ire-
fund. He was glad to see the manly stand that had
been made by the Honourable Member for Montro,e,
and he trusted be would divide the House on the ques-
tion of the in roduction of this Bill.

Sir J. WALMSLEY strongly urged upon the Go-
vernment the propriety of withdrawing this Bill. The
time had come when they must govern Ireland by love
and not by tear.
After some observations from Colonel THOMPSON,
strangers were ordered to withdraw, but no division
took place.
Mr. Fox having moved the adjournment of the de-
bate, after some observations from Mr. REYNOLDS,
strangers were again ordered to withdraw, and the.
House divided upon the question of the adjournment of
the debate, when there appeared—
For the adjournment of the debate .-. 24
Against it... ... ... •• • ... 85
Majority ... •.. —6l
The House then divided on the main question of
giving leave to bring in the Bill, when there ap-
peared—

For the motion
Against it ... 24
Majority •••-60
Leave was then given to bring in the Bill.
The House then adjourned at ten minutes Wore Four
to Six o'clock.

The House met again at Six o'clock.
The CHANCELLOR of tho EXCHEQUER an-
nounced that the sitting would be held in the Now house
to-marrow (this day) at twelve o'clock. Some altera-
tions had been made in the ceiling, which it was expected
would cure the defective hearing.
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY presented a petition from a
place in Shropshire, against the admission of the Jews
to Parliament.

Sir G. PECIIELL presented twenty petitions from
Brighton, praying that such laws may be enacted as
will leave every • religious community self-supported,
and to apply to the relief of the national burdens what-
ever public property is now devoted to spiritual pur-
poses, and in particular that of the Irish Church Esta-
blishment.

Sir H. INGLIS put a question with reference to the
precedence of Roman Catholic clergy over the clergy of
the Established Church, in certain of the colonies. He
wished to know whether such precedence had the sanc-
tion of her Majesty's Government.
Mr. HAWES was not aware until that moment of the
direction which the Right lion. Baronet's question would
take. The papers on the table of the House" contained
all the information on the subject he could give. A cir-
cular, addressed by the Colonial-office to governors of
colonies, provided that the Roman Catholic priests
should be recognised by the titles of ecclesiastical dig-
nity they bore. As to the question of precedence,
such recognition did not involve the right of prece-
dence. The question of precedence was governed by
different rules.
Sir H. INGLIS said he should call the attention of
the House to the latter part of the answer at an early
period next session.

EXHIBITION OF 1851.

In reply to a qtvistion from Colonel SII3THORP,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
the report of an advance of 14,0001. made by Govern-
ment towards the exhibition was a total mistake. He
declined to give any assistance to the exhibition.
IRISH MAILS.

Mr. REYNOLDS called the attention of the House to
the great public inconvenience caused by the present
mode of transmitting the mails from London to Dublin.
The Right Hon. Gntleman said the time required to
perform this service was seventeen hours and a half,
whereas, according to the system he advocated, the ser-
vice could be performed in fourteen hours and a half.
The HOP. Member went into a statement of the mode of
arrangement he proposed to adopt with respect to the
time of starting of the trains and the steam-boats from
London to Holyhead, and showed that the time which
would be occupied by the adoption of his plan, except in
cases of stormy weather, would be less by three hours
than the time required at present. He hoped this matter
would receive due atteutim from Gcrverureent. Se