Star.
London, England, 1831-04-14 00:00:00

land. This description of cuersion had nrcasioved an attack none :tip
horse, and had caused a number of these outrages that lie (
,'Connell) was sorry to say, had disgrscril Inland. A memorial
had been rent in, representing the real state of affairs, long
enough ago, hut no attention was paid to it: and now, ht the
eleventh hour, they were called titan to legislate in extremity—
when, if in the proper time it had been taken, the simplest mea-
sure would have been sufficient. He would embrace that oppor-
tor •-v of explaining the character of " Jerry All." Jerry was
intelligent and industrious nensioner. who resided in Clare, and on
err occasion, when the labourers had occasion to petition on their
cricvanees, they decided, that as Jerry was a more intelligent man than
many of them, that his name should be put to their petition. This cir-
cumstance made the name to be ever after adopted and as Jerry, who
never meddled in such matters, generally by this means got implicated
in whatever mischief was done or threatened, he was compelled to leave
the place. and had since obtained a situation. in the police of Wicklow.
Ti,e hon. gentleman proceeded to say, from certain information, that
h.ul Lord Angles. y not visited the county of Clare, the people would
l;.tve on the following day voluntarily surrendered their arms, but that
the presence of the Lord Lieutenant had induced them to hold oat, In
hopes that something might be done fur them. The hon. member,
O'er enumerating the many evils that Ireland laboured under, sat down
am:dst land cheers.

NIT. RCTHVEN advocated the adoption of a systcm of Poor Laws
in Ireland.
olorel TRENCH approved of the conduct of the Lord Lieutenant.
Air. 31. O'CONNELL and Mr. STANLEY explained.
Mr. D. BROWN said that he considered the disturbances to bs or-
emioned from want of employment.
• -

• •
Mr. BROWNLOW hoped that the Insurrection Aet would not be
re..orted to.
Mr. O'CONNOR DON also hoped that the Insurrection Act would
not he enforced.

Mr. O'CONNELL said, the evils of Ireland ought to be removed.
l'nwer might for a time put down excesses ; but unless the evils were
removed they would return, and with increased irritation. As to the
movements in Ireland, he agreed they were not of a political charac-
ter. In Clare they resulted from poverty. The produce of Ireland
was transported to absentee landlords. As to poor laws, he saw the
inconveniences of them ; but here it was a question of life and
death, and, therefnre, he agreed that they must have poor laws for
Ireland. (Hear, hear, hear.) The gallant officer (Colonel Trench)
who had attributed the disturbances to pelttical feeling, knew little of
the history of Ireland ; for when there had been political agitations
in Ireland, these disturbances ceased. He urged on the Government
the necessity of looking through the Commissions; the Magistracy
wanted purifying. In Clare there were insolvents who were blagis.
trates; perhaps they had been exposed to the Insolvent Debtors' Act',
Wrongfully, hut still that sort of whitewashing was not considered the
hest recommendation to the Commission. The Insurrection Act could
tin no good ; it could only separate more widely the higher and lower
classes :—but something was gained, for now all parties admitted the
wretched condition of Ireland.—ln conclusion he must repeat that he
saw no remedy but in having poor laws for Ireland.—( Hear, hear.)
Colonel 'PItF.NCH explained.
Mr. LEADER said, that many parts of Ireland were in a most de-
plorable condition—Clare was in a most wretched predicament ; but when
he saw 1,000 square miles deserted by the proprietors of the soil,what
was to be expected but a state of destitution and wretchedness ? At this
season of the year even, the people were exposed to extensive and deplo.
table want. The cattle and the provisions were the property of absentee
landlords—the ntanufactur, a were reduced—then what could be the con.
clitioa of the people? Where was the use of industry in such a state
of things ? Books upon books had been written, and reports had
been piled upon reports, to prove the great prosperity of Ireland ;
and yet there they beheld 3.000,000 people in anarchy and dis.
tress. The measures of the Marquis of Wellesley or of the Marquis
of Anglesey would he useless; all would be idle ;—there must be as.
sessment. If the Duke of Buckingham, Lords Egremont, Lans-
downe, Courteni, &c. would not supply means to relieve the dis-
tresses of Ireland. that House ought to take Ireland under its special
protection. He lived in the midst of 1,000 square miles of deserted
country; but in such residence, there was no pl in life. Unless
there was provided some permanent system of relief, the amelioration
of Ireland was hopeless.—( Hear).
3lr. M. FITZGERALD said, the course pursued by the hon. mem.
bee for Ennis was most correct, and it was justly put to the government
—what course did they intend to pursue? Four months ago he had
called on the government to know whether they were aware of the
dangers that were approaching ; whether they were prepared with force
adequate to meet the difficulties. Would they dare to say that they
had provided such protective force ? The county he represented was
as )et quiet ; but how long it would remain so, who could answer,
except something were done to check the progress of the evil ? As to
the censures heaped upon landlords, he would not quietly hear those
condemnations. If people were in a state of siege in their houses,
who could expect the landlords to remain there if they could get
away ? (Hear.) %With regard to remedy, he protested against resort-
ing to the Insurrection Act. It was inadequate to the purpose—it had
been heretofore partially executed, and persons could not remain in
their houses; the execution of the Act would be thrown on incompetent
persons. Besides, it would impose on others what ought to be done by
the evecutive. However, he ventured to say of his own knowledge,
that if come preventive measure were not adopted, and promptly, the
eve.: would so extend itself, as to make it exceedingly difficult for the
Government, or any power to deal with it at all. That being the case,
he wished to know whether the Government had provided any force to
meet the present emergencies ? As to its necessity, he would say no
more. He declared that the treatment of the population was most cen-
surable, and that it would be to the benefit of the landlords If
. would secure a provision on the land for the peasantry. He ex
this opinion from the closest experience. In conclusion he repeated his
inquiry, whether the Government were provided with adequate forces to
meet the exigencies of existing circumstances in Ireland ?
Mr. GRATTAN said that the hon. member who had just spoken
had touched on every subject but on that of pointing out a remedy for
the existing distresses of Ireland. As to the disturbances, they ought
not to be exaggerated : in his part of the country, for instance, all was
quiet. But if all Ireland were to become like Clare, it would be idle
to call un the Government for defence. lie declared that there was no
remedy but that of making provision for the poor by poor laws ;
that was the only remedy and defence against absentee landlords.—
(Hear, hear.) Much had be• n said about the rents ;he wished they
would have returns on the subject laid before the house ; they would not
then, as they did now, legislate and talk so much in the dark upon this
subject. II ith respect to a remedy for the distresses of Ireland,
five years ago he had moved for a Bill to extend the poor laws to Ire-
land ; and he could not then get any body even to second his motion,
till he could get the Member for Liverpool (General Gascoyne) to do
so. Since then, the question had yearly advanced ; and he was glad,
to bear the necessity of the poor laws for Ireland now so generally advo-
cated. He could not but here express the hope that the Government
of Ireland would in future be conducted on new and different princi.
pies ; but he trusted that the Insurrection Act would not for an instant
be thought of, and that the House would not be frightened by the alarm.
ing tone and inquiry of the Hon. Member for Derry.
31r. HUNT said that all admitted the distresses of Ireland, and the
necessity of poor laws for Ireland.—Why then, in Gon's name, were not
poor laws forthwith enacted for that country ? Why did not some
Irish member at once propose the adoption of the poor laws for Ireland?
—(Hear.) He must state that the labourers of England had endured
quite as much as the peasantry of Ireland—but without resorting to
such proceedings as had been adopted in Ireland. If poor laws for
Ireland, however, w,rc pi-nosed, they should have his zealous support.
Lord VALENTIA opposed the introduction of poor laws into Ire.
land, and contended that they were impraticable ; but tranquillity and
security ought at all events to be restored.
M•. O'BRIEN explained. He did not desire severer law than the
Insurrection act; but the government ought to give security for life
and property.
The motion was agreed to.