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    :JtJyE:dap;1652.]; IB«; tlABER. $5$

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    ARREST OP MR. FEARGUS O'CONNOR. Mr. O'Co...

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    The Week In Pisliament. Public Business....

    tost knew the final decision of the Government . This Zgs where these j ^ ntlemen had felt themselves aggrieved . Wig lordship was quite sure that no disrespect had been intended by Sir J . Pakington ; nor was there the repeat wish on the Dart of the Government to show the slig htest discourtesy . " Turning to the merits of the projected schemes , he made a declaxation ° f some importance : — - « He could not help saying that the first arrangement adverted to bythe noble Earl—namelyi that the construction of tliis great line of railway was to be entrusted to a company who would undertake its . formation upon receivhelfr the oloniest with

    ing pecuniary , p om c , ogether a concession of the waste land on each side of the railway , to be formed for commercial and Government purposes , —he could not help saying that he thought that that was a more satisfactory footing upon which the negotiation should have been conducted than that of leaving it in the han of the . colonial Legislature , thereby excluding the advantages of emigration , and substituting for a definite pecuniary liability an indefinite liabuit ^ in the shape of a gu arantee for seven millions of money . He believed that the smallest amount which could be calculated as the expense , would press very heavily upon Canada and Nova Scotia , . and that the interest alone would more than absorb the whole surplus revenue of New Brunswick . He then entered into a

    minute examination of the new and old project for a railway ; basing his objection to the former on the fact that it ran to the Maine boundary of the United States , and ' completed the communication between Halifax and Quebec , by passing through the United States' territory . Lord Derby repeatedly stated that he would not have hesitated to advise Parliament to sanction the guarantee which formed a part of the present scheme , provided the railway now in contemplation promised to effect the objects desired by this country—namely , the application of waste lands on either side of the line to immigrants . That was not the case with the present scheme . Government had nothing to conceal in the matter , and he had no objection to lay the papers on the table .

    The only point in the subsequent remarks made by Earl Grrey was a weak expression of regret that the decision of the Government should have been made known to Mr . Hincks and Mr . Chandler by the " officer of a private association . " The other speakers were Earl Fitzwilliam :, the Earl of Desaut , Lord Mo ^ TEague , and the Earl of Powis . The discussion had no fruitful result . The papers were not ordered . On the same evening , in the House of Commons , Sir H . Vebstey asked the Colonial Secretary whether the letter addressed to him on the 1 st of May , by Mr . Hincks , and published in the Times of the 31 at of May was authentic ; and if so , what explanation he could give relating to it ?

    Sir J . Pakhtgtoit stated in reply , that the letter referred to was founded entirely upon a mistake , and he expressed surprise that it should have been published without any of the documents connected with jt , as most erroneous inferences were likely to be drawn from it . He then went through explanations with regard to the allegation of delay , similar to those given V tho Earl of Derby in tile House of Lords . He had acted towards Mr . Hincks with every courtesy that he

    thought was due to that gentleman ' s distinguished station . He had been told that he ought to have resented tho letter alluded to , but , though it contained expressions not borne out by the facts , which were evidently narrated under feelings of irritation , yet he thought it was most consistent with his own office and tho friendly relations between this country and tho colony of Canada , to continue to act in tho same spirit of courtesy aa before .

    WEST INDIES . Mr . Bernax , called tho attention of tho House , on Monday , to the distress existing in Jmnuica , and in an mmost equal degree in the other West India Islands , wising from a complication of causes—the imperial policy adopted within tho last few years , the ravages of diseoso , and , abovo all , tho want of a proper supply of wbour . Ho inquired if the Colonial Secretary was prepared to initiate or assist in any measures for proving the colony with an adequate supply of labour .

    Shi * J . Pakington eoid his attention n « d been kept pnmfull y alive to the distressed and exhausted condition of tho West India Islands , by tho representations ho «« rt recoived , and tho interviews ho had had with , dolpgatos uppointed to represent their wants in this count y- Irrespective of tl \ o visitations of Providence , ho ^ iiBidered that their distress was to bo ascribed in a Rnmt dogroo to tho policy adopted in 1846 . The altor"tion of tho sugar duties was a subject that had boon c "moHtly pressed upon , and must rocoivo , the sorious considorution of Government ; but it was not tho only romgd y which had been proposal . He had hod to deal with a groat accumulation of lioavy duties since Ins ' ^ cession to office , but , whenever circumstances permitted , ho should not loao a day in turning his attention

    to the subject of the supply of labour , and considering whether any remedial measures could be adopted .

    SUGAR DUTIES . Several petitions were presented to the House of Lords , on Thuisday , from persons of high station in the West Indiah islands , complaining that the imperial policy as to the sugar duties had produced great distress , and enormously increased the traffic in slaves . The Earl of Derby ; said that he had received , not a petition , but a memorial from clergymen of all denominations in Jamaica , bearing witness not only to the distress which prevailed in the colony , but also to the barbarism into which a large proportion of the coloured

    community were rapidly relapsing . In his opinion , the only effectual remedy for colonial distress would be to stop the progress of the reduction in the differential duties on sugar , for in spite of the assertion of Lord Grey , he believed that it was not possible to produce sugar by free labour to compete on equal terms with slave labour . At the same time he confessed that he entertained great doubt whether the public mind of this country was prepared to sacrifice the economic interests which might be involved in such a proposition .

    COUNTY POLLS . Lord Robert Grosyenor ' s bill , for taking the poll at county elections in one day , was discussed on Wednesday , on the motion for going into committee . The opposition came from the county members , led by Mr . Packe , who , with Colonel Sidthorpe , objected , that , as each had seven county votes , they would l ) e deprived of their franchise , The other speakers against the bill were Mr . Henley , Mr . 3 ? e : lxowes , Sir B . Bridges , Mr . Deedes , and the Attorney Generai .. It was supported by Mr . Beckett Denison , Mr . William Brown , Mr . Locke King , Mr . Axcoce , Mr . Cobden , Mr . W . Miles , and Mr , Oswald . Mr . Walpole remained neuter . On a division , the motion for going into committee was carried by 166 to 82 .

    In committee , Mr . William Miles attempted to delay the operation of the measure > until after the 1 st of January , 1853 ; but he was defeated Fy 134 . to 91 ; and the bill passed through committee .

    SUPPLY . Votes in Committee of Supply were taken at the morning sitting on Monday . Mr . Anstey , who has taken upon himself the office of Mr . Hume , opposed almost every item , but without effect . The committee was resumed again at the morning and evening sittings on Thursday . But all the votes were not even then got through . Mr . Anstey continued his opposition . The notorious vote of money to Presbyterian ministers in Ireland known as the Meqivm Donum , was carried by & l to 34 .

    Posthorse Duty . —Mr . Duncombe brought on his motion for a committee of tho whole House , to inquire into the posthorso and carriage duty with tho view of modifying tho same . The Government objected that the state of tho revenue would not permit reductions of duties . On a division , tho motion was lost by 94 to 43 .

    :Jtjye:Dap;1652.]; Ib«; Tlaber. $5$

    : JtJyE : dap ; 1652 . ]; IB «; tlABER . $ 5 $

    Arrest Op Mr. Feargus O'Connor. Mr. O'Co...

    ARREST OP MR . FEARGUS O'CONNOR . Mr . O'Connor has been at length handed over to tho keeping of the Sorgcant-at-arms . Last week Mr . O'Connor selected the Law Courts in Westminster Hall as his theatre of display ; this week , ho has appeared in the House of Commons . According to some accounts ho lias for some time been a terror to honourable members in all parts of tho House ; and according to others , ho has been habitually drunk for some time . On Tuesday , in tho midst of tho dobuto on Mr . Bennett ' s case , just as Mr . Gladstone was about to rise in defence of tho Bishop of Bath and Wells , Mr . O'Connor ' s conduct became intolerable , and the following scene was onacted . Sir B . Hall roso , and addressing tho Speaker , said : Sir I riso to order . I have to appeal to tho House on tho conduct of an lion , member who sits noarrao ( Mr . Foargus O'Connor ) . I was callingon tho House to divide , not seeing any lion , member riao to nddross tho House , whon tho hen . gentleman turned round and struck moon tho eido . ( Laughter . ) Sir , 1 had told tho honourublo gontloman on a former occasion , that iI' ho naUroasofi morn tho Home , or pursued an annoying courso of , conduct towArdn mo , I should call tho attention ot tho llouso to f . lm mnHnr . / T ) utinA " tho timo ocoupiod by the honourable

    baronot in his statomont , Mr . F . O'Connor indulged hi a eorioa oi'bowe and smilos , eventuall y adding his imto to tho hilarity so generally occasioned by tho roloronco to tho lmmocliato cause of tho complaint . ) The- Si'KAKKii : Tho lion , member for Nottingham has been bo long a member of tho Houho , that it is unnecessary for mo to remind him that no mombor can bo permitted to intorrupt tho dobatoB , and I am florry to nay that tho lion , mom bnr has so habitually vi olated tho ru les oi tho Houho , that , if ho further porsiuta in this course , I shall ieol it my duty to call on him by name , and leave tho House to upal with him as it thinks fit . . , ¦ > ¦ Mr . FisAKOVfl O ' Connor nnmocliwtoly rose nnd

    oxclaimed , in a most exeitied mariner : I did nothing to tho honourable member ; I 'only caught him by the coat . I did notning to h . iirL ~ He is my greatest enemy ; he was a member of the Land Commissionj and was opp osed in everything to me- ^ -therie ^ Mr . Speaker . The members of the Government were a all ; -opposed to me . ' I built houses ( cries of " question and order" ) and gave money on loan ( order , order ) , and they paid me-no rent—¦ the ruffians ( order , order )—though in five years they got as much manure a 3 would fill this room . ( This idea seemed particularly to affect the hon . gentleman , for the allusion caused him to weep . ) Those that paid lOOZ . and QOl . paid no rent , and a farmer who was speaking to me , by his fire-side , came up with a hatchet in his hand , and a red cloth , round his head - ——( the remainder of tlic sentence was lost in the confusion which followed ) .

    The Speaker : I now must call on the lion , member by name . Mr . O'Connor , you are now called upon to apologiso to the House ; and if you have any apology to offer to the House , now is your time to do so . Mr . Feaegtts O * Conn or : I beg the pardon of the honourable gentleman , and now I apologise to the House . I beg pardon . You ' re the best Speaker that ever sat in the chair . ( Loud laughter . ) ' But this did not end the scene on Tuesday . Mr . Gladstone had scarcely uttered ten sentences when Mr . O'Connor interrupted him by walking down the floor from his seat in the front of the Opposition bench , and endeavoured to shake hands with the speaker ; but as Mr . Gladstone declined the proffered honour , Mr . O'Connor withdrew .

    The climax was reached on Wednesday . During the debate in committee on the County Polls Bill , Mr . O'Connor excited the attention of the House by continually walking in and out , and offering to shake hands with the principal members of both sides of the House . About three o'clock he sat down beside Captain Fitzroy , and familiarly slapping the captain on the back , snatched an unopened letter out of his hand , which he did not return until Captain Fitzroy had mildly requested him for some time . to do . Mr . O'Connor retired , and Captain Fitzroy went below the bar . As , however , Mr . O'Connor was making a pilgrimage round the House , he offered to shake hands with the captain , but the latter declined , and upon Mr . O'Connor saying something Insulting , threatened to knock him down , whereupon he made a precipitate retreat .

    A few minutes afterwards Mr . O Connor again entered the House . Every one was painfully conscious that a scene was now approaching " . The member for Nottingham , after tendering his hand to Mr . Cobden , wlio , for the twentieth time , accepted it , and to other members , who refused it , found his way to the front Opposition bench , where he took his seat beside Mr . T . Duncombe , and began conversing with him , amid cries of . *' Order ; order ! " which continuing , . Mr . Beckett Denison touched Mr . O'Connor upon tho shoulder , and called " Order I" when tho hon . member for Nottingham , turning sharply round , struck Mr . B . Denison a slight blow upon the face , or rather conveyed Iris lingers to the face of the hon . membor , as if he were about to pull his nose . This indignity , inflicted under the eye of the chairman and of a full House , elicited loud and indignant cries of " Order , order !"

    Mr . B . Denison hereupon roso and said , —Really , Mr . Bornal , I must appeal to you . ( Hear , hear . ) I do think that when tho Attorney-General of her Majesty ' s Government ia addressing tho committee , if I call an hon . member to order , and ho puts his liand in my face , I think that —( tho vest of tho , sentence was drowned by loud crios of " Hear , hoar . " ) I have myself exporionoed considerable inconvenience , and I havo seen other gontlcmen oxporienco tho samo inconvonionco from tho sumo cause . ( Loud cheers . ) Wo havo endured this system of interference and forbearance

    with tho greatost goodwill , and kindnoss * but there is a point boyond which wo ought not to go . ( Hear , hoar . ) I rogrot that I am in tho unfortunato position of being obliged to niako this observation , but I cannot help it . Mr . Bicknai ,. —Tho power of a chairman of committees is limited . What tho chairman can do i » to report to tho llouso tho conduct of any hon . gentleman . If tho llouso should consider that I ought to report tho conduct of any hon . mombor , they will bo kind enough to instruct mo , and I will report it accordingly . '

    On tho recommendation of Mr . Waiypoiyb and Sir John Pakincitok , Mr . Bornul was directed to report progress , and tho Speaker was sent for . On Mr . O'Connor ' s . conduct being reported to him , Mr . Wamoi / h moved that Mr . O'Connor bo ordered to attend in his pluco . Thin was objected to by Mr . Jacob Beix , who thought that , ns Mr . O'Connor was evidently labouring under a , misfortune , his cane ought to bo referred to two mudiuul won . Tho Attornioy ^ Gentchaiv , oh tho contrary , argued , from what had takon plnoo on Tuesday , that Mr . O'Connor was evidently master of hU own acts .

    Mr , T . Duncomjik . — . 1 think I was partly responsible fof JiiB rotiromont . i was sitting horo ( on tho front Oppoai * Lion bench ) , and after convorsing with tho hon . member , who fcalkoa an extraordinary quantity of nonsonHO , ho gavo jno a blow in my » ido . ( A . laugh , and orion of " Order , order I" ) I said to him , "If you repeat this you will got yoursou , into a nempo , and will gofc yoursolf shut up , " upon which ho laughod and turned round to tho hon . mom bor on . bis right ( Mr . 33 . Doiiiaon ) ami struck him in tho

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), June 12, 1852, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_12061852/page/5/