The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-04-13
THE 1R1sH' COERCION BILL.
Secretary Fortescue's Statement.
from the London Times.l

Mr.. C.. Fortescue brought in his ne" feaee
Preservation bill. He prefaced the eAplana''on
M i,s nroyisions by long comparative Fe'ie" VI
tho condition of agrarian crime and outrage IN
Ire,and showing that these offences have oeen
more rife within the last fourteen months than
at any time since the:year 1852, but that IN this
,atter wear jhey were not only more numerous,
INIT more violent and hOmlciddl. lncluaihg
threatening letters, the agrarlan ohences, " sicI
were only In 1866, had risen 10 IoI IN loos, anu
10 over 500 in the present year. But, Puttlug
comparisons aside and looking solely to the ae.
tual condition Of Ireland, the government mad
come to the conclusion that they Could NOT cneck
Intimidation and terrorism withoat oetalning
fresh. gpower from Parliament. Mr.. Fortescae
yIndicated the efforts OF the Executive anu tne
constabulary to meet these outrages, anu nrgea
that, although they had not succeeded, suinc,enC
allowance had not been made FOR the dlmcuIties
with which they had to contend. with reference
to the argument that the pollce estaoilsnhensS
was too military in its character, he mentioned
tnted besides other additions made to the police,
which the public interest did not permit MIN now
to disclose. Assigning them to the provisions
OF the bill, he classed them under three heaas,
as they will apply 10 districts proclaimed
under the Peace Preservation act, 10 me us
tricts specially proclaimed by the LORD Lleuten-
ant for the purpose OF TINS act anu 10 tue M Moe W
emption given by the possession OF game IL
cense from the arms clauses OF the Peace preser-
walton act would be abolished; special license
would be required for the possession OF rero!vers,
and the punishment for offences against these
provisions would range from two years Win hard
labor to oneyear without. Powers would De TAKEN
to search for arms by night as we'll os day, anu
for documents connected with threatening letters,
and no arms or ammunition would be allowed TO
be sold except to persons licensed TO carry arms.
Magistrates would have power 10 examne per
sons on oath, aud commit them Tor refusing 10
give evidence, even where no one hau oeen
charged with an offence, and they would also
have discretion, which they did not now pos
sess vested in them to refuse bail. Next came
the provisions applicable to the districts specla!ly
proclaimed by the Lord Lieutenant. II the police
found persons out at night under suspicious CIR
cunstances, they might be taken before magls-
count OF themselves they would be liable 10 be
imprisoned for six months. Strangers also might
be dealt with In similar manner and committed
to Jail until they foupI securities for good conduct
The Executive world have power TO close public
houses after sunset and slso on application TO the
Queens Bench, TO change the venue for any trial
coming out OF one o. these proclaimed districts
In dealing with certain class OF Offenders an op.
ton would be given to magistrates either to send
them to trial or to commit summarily for not
more than six months. Finally. In the whole OF
Ireland every sale OF arms and ammunition must
be reRistered, and grand juries, subject TO the
usual sanction, would be empowered TO assess on
any district or area compensation for the victim
OF any outrage, or his relatives. The most lmpor,
rant provision, however, was one giving the Lord
Lieutenant power to seize on the press, copies,
&c, Of any newspaper engaged In preaching trea-
son and sedition, with this safeguard, that any
person aggrieved may bring an action against
the Crown, and recover damages II the Crown
character. Regretsing the hard necessity OF
bringing in sucn measure, Mr. Fortescue con-
cluded by claiming for it that it was an act not
only Of policy, but Of patriotism.