Star.
London, England, 1829-03-21 00:00:00

ere would do more pod to Ireland than the possession of the
40'. elective franchise could dolor it without Rauintiption.
lit TUITI3 reed eructs of a letter from his towitituenta of
IfiesAseark, esprit/log their gratitude to Government for the mu*
ewe of Rmanciptlon, and their acquiettlence in the Bill of die-
frauteldsentent. This enabling of content bad been agreed to at a
Meeting without one dissentient voice. That resolution Might be
take. as a specimen of die general feeling of content felt in Ireland
at do se measures.
Mr. Secrecy), PEEL—There could be no speech Sr
mincledve as the butt jaw read as as evidence of the feeling of
acqilieseence felt by the Catholics and Protestants of Ireland In the
Measures now before the House, not merely on the part of the gen
try, bat of the great body of the constituents. It had been said that
the Government had taken advantage of the national enthusiasm felt
In Ireland at the inuwductios of the first lhil to obtain the acqui-
escence of the people on the present measures.. He (Mr. Peel)
believed that the people of Ireland expressed their deliberate, sober
opprobatioo of it on eaten conviction. The Protestants, too, he
believed, felt acquiescence, If not content, at the measure. Is fact,
sorbing gave him such hopes of the great benefit of these measures
as the tranquil acquiescence entertained at there Bills by all classes in
'lreland. As to the resolution of the Noble Lord be must disapprove
of ft, as subversive of the.prineiple of the BM. The prospective
apality would take away all the saiety of the measure. His Own
opinion 'was, that the increasing the sum to £lO would induce
the forty shilling freeholder, to register their freeholds. Ile
had authority for stating that in one county •of Ireland, of
twenty thousand registered freeholders only two bad registered
co their own account, ur at their dun expense. The most im
portant observation which had Wen made was, he thought, that
made by the Noble Lord, and supported by an Honourable Getf-
drown opsweite, who wished that the forty *billing fr.nchise held
in tee-simple should he preserved, while that in freehold should
be abolished. Now, the law recogni.ed no difference in voting be
tweets the tee-simple and the leasehold franchise; at d if any New
distinction was introduced it mug necessarily give thasatiefacdon.
If this plan wereto be adopted it would have the effect of retaining
the franchise for one party of the freeholders, and that party the
Protestants. in proof of this assertion be would refer to a Catholic
cou..ty—that of Waterfited—where it appeared that in the year
1125 there were 2,119 forty shilling freeholders, not one of whom
registered do it vote froombeir, own fee-simple estate; whereas, in
a Protestant county, out 0f,11014. 127 bad registered from their
own estate. The fat Was. that Moe oat of ten of the fee simple
freeholds were belffby`Pronteraiitit, thtlight it wovid be
admitted that it was consistent with the principles of justice and
equality to refuse to form the distinction ;• besides, be believed
there were more fictitious freeholds held in fee from bogs and
moentains than were Weld in leasehold. For these reasons he could
not admit the proposition of the Noble Lord. As he was desirous
of snaking some alterations in the Bill, be should propose that the
House should to-night go into a Committeepro forme, and that
• the discussion of the details should be postponed to another
time. The attentions be should make would, be thought, Meet
with genera/ approbation, as the effect of those alterations would be
to extrod, rather than limit, the power of voting on ten pound free..
bolds; for esatuple, be proposed to omit the words" legal title" in
the Bill, as it might tend to exclude those who postesied an equitable
title to a ten pound freehold. The Bill is it at present stood men-
ti“neel ten pound freeholds, " free from all incumbrances." He
thought the word " incumbrances" would have the effect in Ireland
to 'retraining the right of voting. He should, therefore, omit the
word *I isseumbrances," and regulate it so that the freeholders should
• have a test pound interestlree Irons all parochial charge. Another
alteration he should make was with regard to the power of appeal.
At present the freeholders bad a right to appeal from the decision
of the Assistant Barrister as to qualification, but it was to a jury
appointed by the same Assistant barrister who bad already decided
ou the question. lie should alter it so far as to leave the freeholder
the power of appeal to the Judge of Assize and the regolar Jury.
There were several other alterations which he Amid make in the
!hit, and he should therefore move now that the House should go
into a Committee am the Bill pre forma.
Lud PALMERS'ION odd a sniggesti ,n to make
which had struck him from an observation of the Right lion.
Gentleman, that be foresaw leas inconvenience in the eseiciae of
the forty shilling frauchise in the curse of twenty years than at
present. He, therefore, thought that the operation of the present
Bill should be limited to a certain period.
Mr. Secretary PEEL said, that the n.eastwe was ad-
vocated by some as one of security, and by others as one of sub.
.srantial good. It was as a substantial good he viewed it, and as such
be could not consent to the proposal of the Noble Lord. .
Lord DUNCANNON replied.
The House divided, when there appeared—
Fur the motion 20 Against it 210 j Majority for the motion 900.
When we were admitted the House was in'thannottee. ibe
Ch iirntan reported progress, and obtained leave. to sit again on
Tuesday nest.
The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and tie
Howe adjourned at name...ease TWILVI o'Curtels.