Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-07-19

Mr.. RoEBUoK, member Of the British House of
Commons, found il necessary in the course Of some
observations which he made in his place on the
9th of last month the Irish Colleges bill to-
bear rather hard upon the conduct Of the Irish Re-
pealers. These observations not taken in good
part by Mr.. SoMERs, the member from Sligo, who
addressed the following belligerent note to Mr.
RoEBUCK: m t 3 d8
ssRKronM uB-HousK, JusR IA, o'clock p M Il
'Srn Unfortunately not in the House Of Commons
last night when you spoke in COMMITTEES the Irish Colleges
bill If had been present. the necessity Of addressing letter
like this, which of inquiry, could have arisen But
having been absent, compelled to the newspa-
per reports Of the proceedings which place. and the
guage used and beg in the first instance to ask you the
following words were spoken BY words 70 the
effect This consideration might have led what had
Witnessed and those who followed in the train Of such lead
deserved little respect either for their position intel
ect used those words the insult they convey me-
as Repeater Is plain My second question: therefore, is
you prepared to sjusffy" them The meaning Of the
word have underlined you too well read in the
old history Of chivalry to misinsrpret 4lsf
have the honor 70 be- sir. your obedient servant,
| w. r. SOMERs
P. 8. copy Of the Morning Chronicle hslewith,
the passage marked.
ing reply:
SSH You shall receive the which your letter re-
quos in the House Of Commons Monday evening nex
and give you the following warming for your gudance
the time determined that free expressions shall
my person be coerced checed and shall therefore
take the stringent and eectual punish your
present menace, and put down all future violence hope
sufficiently read IN the laws of country to under
stand this intimaton A4
On the 10th June, Mr.. RoEBUcK read in the
House of Commons the above letters. Several pas
sages of his reply TO Mr. Somers loudly cheer
ed He moved that Mr.. Somers's letter be laid on
the table, The Speaker here inquired whether the
latter gentleman in his place in the House, and
Mr.. SomERs rose in his place and bowed. The
Clerk having read the letter, Mr.. RoEBucK said
HE was extremely sorry be obliged adopt the
which he then felt called upon pursue but il he said
paramount duty which he owed, not to himself but to the
privileges of the House and he felt compelled by that duty
move that William Patrick Somers, in having sent chaL
nge member Of the House, for spoken in his place
in Parliament, guilty Of contempt, and breach of the
privileges of the House.
| Mr.. HUME rose to second the motion, but gave
way to Lord ASHLEY, who expressed great satisfac-
ton in secondng Mr.. Roebucks motion, and ten
dered to him his hearty thanks, to which he said
he believed he might add those of large party in
the House, and also those Of large portion Of his
countrymen out of it.
| oThe public said Lord AsuLEr, shave long viewed
with horror and disgust the prevalence Of the dictates Of that
mscalled law Of honor If this system introduced into
this House, and other delbeave assemblies he could
oresce the time when liberty speech would be end and
when members would meet under the influence and force
Of reason but of violence and disorder Therefore Lord
contnued in secondng this notion do tender to the honor
able and learned member, my name, In the of
many other members and the Of many thousands of
his countymen, my most sincere thanks for his manly, his
courageous and his constitutional conduct"
: Many parts of Lord As address were enthusi-
! astcally cheered.
4 Mr. SoMERs then made the most ample and COM
plele apology, and offered to Withdraw his letter.
And it was finally arranged that the House would
proceed no further than to declare that he had been
guilty Of breach Of privilege, his apology being
Igarded as sufficient expiaton.
Thus satisfactorily, reasonably, and honorably to
all parties, terminated matter which few years
ago would have probably led TO very different re-
suit. The very salutary change in public opinion
worthy Of imitation in other Legislative bodies
that we Mof of