The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-02-27 00:00:00

Eniperial 13arliaturnt.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MoNDA-z,

Mr. HortsmAN commenced the debate on the state of
Ireland by complaining of the spirit in which the late
trials had been conducted, and denied that they would
'have the effect of quieting that country.
Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT had hoped that Ireland was
not to be again made a battle field of party. The charges
at first brought against the government respecting the
conduct of the trials had now, both by Lord Howick and
Sir G. Grey, been admitted to be without foundation.
He drew a happy omen for Ireland from the tolerant tone
of the Protestant speakers in this debate, when the only
religious acerbity exhibited had come from the opposite
party.
Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL said, that he should employ
the little liberty which might be left to hires before his
sentence in renewing with undiminished zeal, the efforts
which had earned foci him the honour of a conviction.
lie only wished that, as he was young and strong, and able
to bear punishment, a heavy measure of it might be in.
Bicted rather on him, than on those whose years and
constitution were less adapted to endure it. He called on
the British Parliament and people to be just to Ireland :
if they should persist further in injustice, let the conse-
quences
be on their heads.

Colonel VERNER bore testimony to the good conduct
and forbearance of the Protestants in the north of Ire-
land, under circumstances of much irritation.
Mr. FERRAND animadverted on the indecorum com-
mitted a few nights ago by that small republican party in
the house who had cheered Mr. O'Connell on his entrance
into it. The loudest among them all was Mr. Hume, who
had, not long since, advised the Canadians to shake off
the baneful domination of the mother country.: He
condemned the Ette opts which the opposition were making
to plunder the Protestant Church. The motion of the
noble lord, however, instead of strengthening, had wea-
kened the Whigs : he bad smashed both himself and his
party.

_ -
Sir C. NAPIER asserted Mr. O'Connell's disinterest.
edness. He thought tha trials would do no good ; but
desired he might not be understood to be a Repealer.
Mr. MACAULAY said it formed a prima' facie case for
a committee of inquiry that a great country, with so
many natural advantages as Ireland, and with a popula-
tion amounting to more than a fourth of the whole peo-
ple of the empire, should at this day be governed, not by
love, but by force. He trusted that Sir. 11. Peel would
inquire, not what had been said forty years ago about the
Church, but whether the Irish Church was now a good or
a bad institution—whether or not it accomplished its ends
—whether it was in reality the poor man's Church—the
means of comfort and of education to the people.
Sir %V. FOLLETT said, that the speech of Mr. Macau-
lay, able as it was, had suggested no arguments for voting
in favour of Lord John Russell's motion. He begged the
house to observe that it was a motion brought forward,
subsequently indeed to the verdict, but previously to the
sentence, which was still pending; and surely such a time
was little fitted for such a discussion in the House of
Commons, and surely a deep responsibility would rest on
those who had originated it. lie adverted to, and answer-
ed the charges respecting the omitted lists, and the ex-
clusion of Roman Catholics from judicial appointments;
and expressed his hope that the disposition now mani-
fested, and the measures now proposed, by the govern-
ment would have the effect of restoring a better state of
feeling in Ireland.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL explained, and the debate was
again adjourned.