The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-03-06 00:00:00

LAW OF LIBEL,

_ .
Mr. O'CONNELL asked the attorney-general whether it was
his intention to bring in any bill this session to amend the laws
of libel?
The Arron-;v:Y-GENERAL could not say that he was prepared.
to bring in a bid himself; but would be happy to concur with
or assist any gentleman who shall piopuse a proper amendment
of the defects of the existing law.
Mr. O'Costeku, then gave notice that he would on Wednes-
day week move for leave to bring in a bill to amend the law'of
libel. P3STOFFICE COMMISSION.

Mr. Wat.t.ites asked Sir R. Peel what were his intentions
with ie,pect to the Postoffice commission ? '
Sir lt. PEEL said that, on taking office, ha found that his
predecessor had appoiutPd a commission to inquire into the
state of the Postoffice. That commission had already made
one report; but (as we understood him) had now expired. lie
had appointed another commission—au unpaid commission—
upon the same principle as that appointed by the late govern-
ment. He had no objection to lay the report of the last com-
mission on the table.

Mr. WALLAce said, in consequence of his hon. friend, Mr.
Ward, having a ►notion on the subject of the divisions of the
house to come on to-morrow night, he should defer his moticu
for allowing the reporters of the public press to be present
during the divisions of the house.

STATE OF EDucArlor4r.

Mr. ItoEacca, after a few observations, a hick were inandible
in the gallery, moved fur a select committee to implire into the
resent state of the education of the people in England and
Wales, and into the application and effects of the grant made
in the last session of parliament for the erection of school-houses,
and to consider the exnedieucy of further grants in aid of edu-
cation, and to report their observations thereupon to the house.
After some discussion the motion was agreed to.

ouDERS ISSUED TO THE MILITARI' IN IRELAND.
Mr. O'lliVyEß said that he rose, pursuant to notice given
the other night, to move "that there be laid bcfoie this house a
copy of any order recently issued to officers commanding troops
in Ireland, directing that in future miiitary pat ties shall net
be granted to assist. in the collection of tithes without special di-
rections from the officer eonnfianding in chief; and directing.
that in the event of any collision between the King's troops and
the populace, the improper practice hitherto pursued at times,
of firing °vet the heads of the peasantry, be discontinued, and
that the troops shall always fire with effect,' or words to this
import." He was informed, aid he believed, that the Cent-
mander-in-Chief in Ireland had felt it his duty to issue a circu-
lar letter to the officers commanding regiments there, directing
them that when the King's troops should come in collision with
the peasantry, the practice hitherto pursued, of filing wide of
them, should be discontinued, and that, when the troops were
called upon to fire, they should do so with a view to deal de-
struction amongst the people. (Hear, hear.) Ile had no wish
to indulge in any criminatory attack upon the gallant offiCer
who had issued that circular. He was disposed to admit/that'
that gallant officer had done so through the most humane and
benevolent motives, and with a view to preserve life where it
was practicable to do so. (" Hear, hear," frem the ministerial
bencnes.) But if such an order had really been given, the ut-
most publicity should be given to it, in order ,that the people
might know what the consequence would be of a colliSioa un
their part with the military. Whether it was, wise, CoUstithted
as thelrish magistracy was, to take away from the officers com-
manding the troops the only discretion that was vested in their
bands to check the conduct of the magistrates was another
queeinn.. The lion member concluded by making
his Motion.
Sir Hairy IIARDINGE said—lf the hon. member iu his Mo-
tion alluded to an order with regard to the collection of tithes,
by which the military would not be called upon to act without
the circlets of the Lot d Lieutenant and the Lieutenant-General
commanding the forces, if that was the order to which he
alludd 1, it. was a circular order, and there would not be the
slightest hesitation 'on the part of the gcverntnent to produce
it. But if the hon. g,eateemau refereed to confidential orders
issued by the Lieutenant-General coramanding the forces in
Ireland to officers commanding the regiments in Ireland, be was
afraid that it would be his (Sir H. Hardinge's) duty to resist
the production of such an order, on account of the very incon-
venient precedent that it would establish. If the honemember
alluded to an order issued before be (S r H. Harding-) came
into office, as to officers actiug under the orders of mag:strates,
it was not a confidential order, and there would be no objection
to produce it. His gallant friend, in a letter addressed to the
tight hone gentleman opposite, (Mr. Littleton,) and dated the
of Yoveinher, 1831, referred to that order. Ile would just
read,an extract from that letter to the house, which would show
that his gallant friend was always guided by constitutional prin-
ciples iu the line of conduct which he pursued. The magistrates
had expressed a wish "that the officer iu command might
be instructed tri obey, without comment, such orders as he might
recereefernei them." In reply to that his gallant friend said
"The trotfps are at all times ready to attend the magistriites,
and to obey their orders. The withdrawal of the troops from
Watergrass hill was in consequence of uo magistrate being
prepared to remain on the spot with them to give any orders.
The commanding offieer very properly did not feel himself au-
thorized to remain in the midst of a highly-excited population,
without having. the civil power at hand: to order him to act in
case a necessity should arise, and thus expose himself to the
alternative of either neglecting that duty which the magistrates
would have imposed upon him, or having recourse to measures,
without orders from the civil authority. which, looking to the
very proper jealousy the laws.have of military authority, might
have subjected him to the heaviest penalty or those laws. To
placing troops in such a situation, whilst I have the honour to
command the army in Ireland, I never will consent; whilst, on
the other hand, in support of the laws, the military will ever be
found ready, as they ever have been to attend the civil magis-
trates and act under their orders." This letter was writteu in
consequence of a requisition of the magistrates fur the assist-
ance of the troops in the collection of tithes. On the margin
of the letter the following remarks were written by the late
Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland :—" This is a most judicious and
truly constitutional statement. I entirely approve of it, and 1
think that a copy of it should be sent to the magistrates, and
another to the Home-office." If the hon. gentleman's motion
referred to the order to which that letter alluded, there could
not be the slightest objection to its production, or that of any
- other order or circular; but he must Woject to the production or
confidential instructions sent to the idlicers commanding regi-
ments-in Ireland. When the hon. member gave notice of his
• motion, he (Sir H. Ilardinge) wrote to his gallant friend in re-
fetence to it. In reply his gallant friend informed him that he
most anxiously desired that that order, and eve; y outer he had
issued; should' he laid on the table of the 'tense; and he (Sir
H. Hardinge)eould well imagine that he was so, as no doubt
their publication would redound to the honour and credit of his
gallant friend. (Cheers.) But on principle he (Sir 11. Hai-
dinge) felt it his duty to oppose the production of the order, As
he feared that in doing so he should establish a most inconveni-
ent precedent. 1,.3 trusted, therefore, that the hon. Feutleman
would not persevere in his motion. The hon. gentlemen hail
made an observation iu reference to the affair at Hathcorniac.
He stated that on that melancholy occasion the military might
have dislodged the peasantry without having recourse to fire-
arms. lie (Sir H. Hardinge) would not enter upon that sub-
ject at present; hut he would recomnieud the hon. gentleman
to read the evidence given at the coroner's inquest, and he
would find from the evieence of the officers that every attempt
had been made to dislodge the peasantry by the bayouet before
recourse was had to fire-arms.

The discussion on this motion, which was subsequently with-
drawn, was continued for sou time. In the course of it,. Lord
John Russell and Mr. Littleton imituated their intention of vot-
ing against the motion of Mr. O'Dwyer.

THE HATHIORMAC INQUEST.

Mr. F. O'CoNNon moved fora coo of the evidence taken be-
late the coroner on this inquest. This motion, iu deference to