The Glasgow Chronicle. — 1847-12-15 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

HOUSE OF COM MONS—Co/maven. Mr S. 0 BRIEN delivered, at this stage of the bill, a speech in opposition to it which he would have spoken at an earlier period had he not been prevented by in. d sposition. He took a review of the provisions of the bill not very different from that of Mr F. O'Connor and the two Messrs O'Connell. He remonstrated with great warmth against the establishment of & regular system of espionage in Ireland; under the specious and delusive name of a detective police. Mr G. ROBINSON attempted to address the house, but was met with such loud cries of "Divide," that it was next to an impossibility to make out a single word that he said. Mr M. J. O'CONNELL feared not the charge of Inconsistency on this question, for he had scorned it before, when he voted in favour of an Arms BilL This bill was not the bill of 1848, nor anything like it. It it had been, he would not have voted for R even though murders had been committed twice as rapidly as at present. This was a moderate measure, which permitted the use of arms in private dwellings, except in disturbed districts, and only prevented the use of arms when they were carried for ths purpose of disturbing the public peace. Be dented that the • magistrates of Ireland were slighted by this bill, for duties were left to them under it, which, if properly exercised, would tend essentially to the pacification of the country. (Hear.) He hoped that the law would be carried out by the firm I conduct of juries, and without any dentand for further ,powers. Now, on that point he merely wished to say :this; it Val the first duty of Parliament to pat an end ' to outrages which were disgraceful not to Ireland only but also to the empire at large. If the powers of this bill were not sufficient, he would not be deterred by any charge of inconsistency from supporting the government in its call for further powers. He hope( that government would proceed forthwith to suoh legislation as would develope the resources of Ireland. Sir B. HALL accused Mr J. O'Connell of great inconsistently in his mode of treating this bill, and read some of his letters to the Freeman's Journal in support of that accusation. The impatience of the house fora division made the hon. baronet close his observations  _ very prematurely. Mr BRIGHT felt compelled, as be had presented a petition against this 141 from 20,000 of his constituents, to explain the reasons why he must support it. Pub. ho opinion in the districts to which it was to be applied was so depraved and vitiated that the law bad no force within them, Such a state of things rendered in impossible for government, with the ordinary law, to preserve the public peace, and therefore it was noiseseery to arm the government with ertraordinary power. He then took leave of the bill itself, and proceeded to contend that the government had not exhibited the courage necessar - to deal with the evils of Ireland. Lord J. Russell bad stated that with respect to that country all parties were to blame; but he was now in the position of a dictator v ith regard to Ireland, and he hoped that he would exercise his power worthily. The Irish members complained, and not without juts. lice, of our past legislation towards their country; but considering that at this time 'TO of them belonged to the Liberal party, and 30 of that number to the Repeal party, English members had a right to complain that , they had never brought into the house any measure I calculated to relieve the grievances which they de I