The Sun. — 1847-12-14 (London, England)

ROBINSON- attempted to address the House, but was met with loud and reiterated cries of " Divide, divide," and was not distinctly heard in the gallery. Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL supported the third reading of the Bill. This was a different Bill to that of 1846 ; if it had been at all like it he would not have given it his support, but he thought this a very moderate Bill, and it interfered as little as possible with the ordinary law. The power of calling in arms was certainly unconstitutional, but it was a power which had been exercised in England, and he rejoiced to see the Government legislate for Ireland as had been done for this country.—(Hear.) Mr. BRIGHT said he was compelled to speak on this question. He had presented a petition from Manchester, signed by twenty thousand persons, against this Bill ; he must, therefore, state why he supported it. Had not the Government thought it absolutely necessary he was certain it would not have been proposed. The case for the Bill was complete ; the ordinary law was utterly powerless. In England the people generally supported the law ; but in the disturbed districts of Ireland the public sentiment was so utterly depraved and vitiated that the law was deprived of its force.—(Cries of " No, no.") He maintained that it was so. Many of the murders that had been committed were not regarded as assassinations, but rather as executions. In the case of Mr. Lloyd, the murder had been committed most deliberately. Extraordinary powers were clearly required. Whether the present Bill would be effective he could not say. He feared the Government had not shown the necessary courage for dealing with the condition of Ireland. The recent poor-law was certainly a most advantageous measure ; and the Noble Lord at the head of the Government had power to pass any measure that he might propose through that House. He blamed the Irish Repeal Members for not having themselves brought forward the remedial measures which they thought desirable. He had never yet known those Members bring forward and consistently support any measures, or, doubtless, they might have carried them.—(Hear.) He would not imitate their example, but suggest some remedy. He ascribed all the evils of Ireland to idleness ; if it could be ascertained, he believed it would be found the people did not work more than two days a week. Hence Ireland starved, and consequently rebelled.—(Hear.) This could only be prevented by setting their industry in motion, for their idleness was not their own fault ; they were able and willing to work, and, when at work, were as ready as Englishmen to keep the peace.—(Hear.) The means of employment were extremely small in Ireland; there were few large towns or manufactories; and in the towns of the south and west, groups of 20 or 30 were to be constantly seen standing idle. This gave rise to annual emigration, by which large numbers of ,the peasantry were drafted off to other countries, and thus the means for producing wealth were abridged. He doubted whether tenant-right would be a beneficial measure. The House would never consent to such a measure as the Hon. and Learned Member for the county of Limerick wanted. What was most needed was a measure empowering the sale of encumbered estates. Why was it not ready ? Lord J.