The Sun. — 1847-12-17 (London, England)

STANLEY—Yes; the Arms (Ireland) Bill was introduced in August ; but the Bill of which I was speaking was not introduced until a considerable period after the commencement of the session ; and it was at the time that your Lordships' House was discussing the repeal of the corn-law that the second reading was proposed in the other House of Parliament.—(Hear.) I think the allusion to the rejection of that Bill was unnecessarily introduced by the Noble Earl (the Earl of St. Germans), and that he would have acted more discreetly, more wisely, not to say more generously, if he had followed the example of a Right Hon. Baronet in another place, who referred to the same subject in a different spirit, and condemned all recrimination, hoping that such feelings would not be allowed now to interfere with the passing of a Bill which all agreed was necessary to the future peace of Ireland.—(Cheers.) With regard to the Bill itself, I must trouble your Lordships with a few observations, not because I do not feel all the importance of the cas*, not because I do not feel all its difficulty, bnt because, though I agree with the observation which tell from the Noble Earl opposite (Earl Fitzilliam), that it is a measure which should be passed with the least possible delay—but because I think it is desirable that upon the Government singly should rest the sole responsibility of the sufficiency or insufficiency of this measure.—(Hear, hear.) But though, on the one hand, I cannot give a silent vote on this Bill, I cannot, on the other, express my readiness to assist in carrying through this measure without, at the same time, saying that I believe—and I shall be as delighted as astonished to find that I am mistaken—that this Bill is utterly insufficient to meet the difficulty—(Cheers)—nor are its provisions calculated to grapple with the principal source of the evils it is intended to remedy.—(Renewed cheers.) The condition of Irelaed has been painted by the Noble Lords opposite, and by my Noble Friend on this side of the House (Lord Farnham) in glowing and appalling colours.—(Hear, hear.) We have been told by the Noble Marques of a general organized conspiracy, which prevails throughout the greater part of Ireland ; and of the destruction of lives and property in certain districts, riot only of the rich but of the humble and industrious.—(Hear, hear.) My Noble Friend near me speke of assassination in those districts, and he spoke of the circumstances connected with them in a manner which must have excited the astonishment of your Lord. ships, as it did mine—and of money being subscribed for the assassins. He told us of murders being committed on individuals of the highest character, and of those murders being celebrated in the country round by bon fires.—(Hear, hear.) We heard also of a murder being committed with so universal a knowledge that it was to be committed, that, at a particular market or fair many miles off the intelligence of the crime preceded by three hours the time at which it was committed. We heard, and I am sure your Lordships did not hear it without a shudder, of an instance of brutality without parallel, I believe, in any country, even in those where law and humanity are least regarded, in which, where the murder of a father and a husband were meditated, the atrocious assassins obtained a foretaste of their infernal vengeance by threatening with this double murder the daughter and wife of the intended victim.—(Great sensation.) That, my Lords, is the state of Ireland ; and the picture is drawn by the Noble Marquis and my Honourable Friend.—(Cheers.) Let us pass with that picture in view to consider the provisions of this