Star.
London, England, 1824-05-12 00:00:00

OUTRAGES IN IRELAND.

Mr. J. SMITH said he had to present a Petition from
an obscure individual, complaining of hardships, which
he was convinced could only be found to exist in Spain
or in Ireland. In the present case, the person com-
plaining was an Irishman ; who stated, that in Decem-
ber last the Petitioner found his cabin one night sur-
rounded by 20 or 30 individuals, who broke into his
house, stabbed him in several places, and broke his
arm, and also severely wounded his brother, and set fire
to his little cabin. After a time, this unfortunate indi-
vidual applied to a Magistrate to have these atrocious
offenders apprehended; they were apprehended, and
taken before two Magistrates, by whom, although they
were charged with a felony, they were admitted to bail.
They were afterwards tried and acquitted, and soon
after they came with a warrant, and tore away this un-
fortunate man's cow, in payment, as they said, of costs
incurred at the trial. Soon after the poor man was
himself apprehended on a charge of riot, tried and
found guilty, and sentenced to six months' imprison-
ment. He had now presented his Petition, in which he
prayed that the House would call on the Judge who
presided at the trial, for his notes; that they would call
on the Magistrates to produce the depositions on which
they admitted these persons, thus charged with felony,l
to bail, and that they would institute full inquiry into
this most atrocious case. He trusted the Right Hon.
Gentleman would institute full inquiry into this and
many other transactions which occurred in December
last. He concluded by moving, that the Petition should
be brought up.
General ARCHDALL defended the purity of the
Juries in Ireland. He complained, however, that the
great majority of Protestants in Ireland were Orangemen.
Lord MILTON expressed his regret at hearing the
charge thrown out by the Hon. General (Archd.lll),
against the great body of the Protestants.
Mr. CANNING did not understand the Honourable
General to say, that all Protestants were Orangemen ;
what he understood his Honourable Friend to say was,
that according to the sense in which this Petition was
couched, every Protestant was an Orangeman.
Mr. GOULBURN defended the Irish Government;
he said they had instituted every possible inquiry, and the
closet investigation, to get at the truth of this transaction.
Mr. PLUNKETT explained the course of proceeding
which had been adopted by the Irish Government on
this subject. As to the seizure of the cow for costs, the
Honourable Gentleman must have been misinformed.
The Magistrate who had admitted the persons in question
to bail was not a regular Magistrate.
The Petition, which was from John M'Eusia, of the
county of Fermanagh, was then brought up and read.
Mr. J. SMITH could not think that the Irish Go-
vernment had done their duty on this occasion. A very
different line of conduct would have been taken in this
country. Such Petitions he should always introduce
to the notice of the House.

Mr. DOGHERTY spoke to the impartiality and in-
tegrity with which the law was administered in Ireland.
He had never seen any distinction in the tribunals of jus-
tice in Ireland. Ile spoke from the experience of 17 years.
Mr. M. FITZGERALD thought that the notes of the
Judge who tried the cause should be first read. He
hoped there would be no objection to grant the prayor
of the Petition. His Honourable Friend (Mr. :3mith)
had been always actuated by the warmest regard for
Ireland. In some parts of the country he would Lather
oust to the Judge alone, than to the verdict of a Jury.
Mr. Secretary I'EEL thought the present discussion
irrelevant. He would recommend that the Petition
should be withdrawn for a few days till inquiry could
be..made; he did not see that a dikarrut course could
have been taken in this country.
Mr. J. SMITH had nu objection to postpone for