On this page
-
Text (1)
-
abandonment carrud without the bill whic...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
[.Jj M0nd4y. Aran. 10. Is Gilil Pe235stw...
and societies , aad revolution burst upon the kipectom before there was any public intimation ot it . And such must bs the statoof things in this connitf , if thsf expression of public op inion wasattemjtedtobeputdown . ( Hear , hear . ) Since tne days of the Reform Bill , the system of centrali « - tioa of power within that hou ^ e , and tho virtual suppKsuon uf the public voice th -f L l edVd greLd at a rapid . ate . And if he ineeded any illustration of the dep lorabo effecj cl such attempts to drown the V ^ l ? i £ th 7 * ould ask them , to look to America ^ wn . ch they iad forfeited by their ^ r ^^ r ^^ . *& £ America presented pemjon ,, to ^ J ; ? ' bad remonstrances « w not « 1 ^ afned 7 u the l nf the ^ bTeL nrd atthe hea l of the Treaof tne « oot
T ^ apothegm . Xafd the Secretary of State for the Home De SrtoienV viz . that moral power was but a shadow , Ind tbat p hysical force was a substancs . America , then was l « t , and from the news which he had recentlv received from Canada th-t country also winkihelost unless they cunteuted . t > yield to the Canadians their just political rights Canada nb ° ! led , and Canada obtained its Parliament . Well , then , when they saw these things- wnen they saw that , contriry to the promise mad . ; at the time of the Reform Bill , that this country should 5 e govera-d by local init tottons , all power was beingcenfralhed in that house—be called up > n the _ really
patriotic men on both sides of tie hou * t > resist this measure , which would cwbuh t \ the care of the Attornev General , the judges a > d jury of the land and to heavy penalties every man of capacity and jniad who should hereafter , by writing or speaking , agitate for popular right * . Was it not notorious that ¦ we w <; re progressing in manufacturing and mechanical improvements beyond any other country in the world ? By means of tbe electric telegraph , railroad travelling , penny postage , aad other improvements , we are enabled to take a stand preeminently abjte all other nation ? , and wasit ri ght that the new and active genius which those improvements had created in this country should be
opposed by retrogressive legislation such as this ? Was it rig'dt that the progress out of that boa ? e should be met by an unconstitutional ' bass , brutal , and bloody' Bill within ? ( Hear , hear , hear . ) He could call it by no ether name . What was this bat a Coercion Bill against the frea interchange of mind amongst the people of England ? Iiic p ^ sed , t ' len -wjuld that freedom of expression of opinioa which was tbe bjastof England be changed into slavery , and tue free voice of England oa changed into muteness . YTe should then he placed under the ban sni control of the Attorney-General—then the Attorney-Ceneral ought to be Prime Minister in tbat house . He meant no in-mlfc to tbe honourable and leirned gentleman who no ^ v filled tbe ofnee
of Attorney Gm ? ral , whose talent , sagacity , and eleaency- be rai . ht say , entitled him to to the highest admiration . His remarks applied to the nffivalt-elf : fcr , under the new law , the Attornev-Gsneral would have the p > wer of a Prime Minister . But he ( Mr O'Connor ) was net willing to surrender his rights , nor the ri g hts * f any das * in this country , to the system to he created under such abrlasthfs . ( Hear , hear ) Again , he repeated , that if such a bill as this had been introduced into the house when the noble lord now at the bead of the government was on tbs Opposition s de ot the £ ous 3 , the blood of a Kussell would have bsi-a roused into maJce = s to think th » t tbe law under which his ancestors suffered w .: s about to be
reenacted hi the prrs :.-t age . ihey had had nraple proof from the history of yesterday ' s proceedings , a * stated by the mbt hon . baronet ( Sir G . Grey ) himgelf , that there was no necessity lor this bill . They Bad amp le proof that the loyal O-angeaen of Ireland did not ask for such a bill as thi * . Above all . lie protested against the unconstitutional attempt of the government to tr . ck ifeelf to the Grown by bringing in a bill fW ths better security of the Crown and government . If this bill were passed , then the government would be able to p-rpetuate itself in office . He would tell ihem candidl y that he did not attach that importance to Ministers speaking from that , side of the house which he did to independent members speaking from the Opposition and
JJinisterial benches . He did not place muchconS deace in the fervid eloquence of Ministers , the effect of which they sought to increase by bolily slapping the red bos on the table of the house . He cared very little for tke big swelling words in which iher se ' eraalv proclaimed their 'intention and determination to uphold , by all means , the dignity and the power of the Crown and their own government . The echn to that was ' Quarter-day . ' ( ' near ' and laughter ) That was the only const ! action which he could pat npin it . Provided there was free discussion in ihis country , be had no objection to atnon-ircay , elective or hereditary . It they passed this biil a man would come under its operation , not only for advi-ed'y speaking , but
for advisedly thinking or dreaming , as had been said by tWh-roourable gentleman tbe me mber for the eitv-of Oxford , lie warced those who now supported this bill that they would be the ? first to smart tinder its operations . ( Hear , hear . ) Honourable gentlemen who supported the bill had carried on the Reform and Free Trade agitation , which system of advocacy it would crush . Thty hsd not even refused their sanction to demonstrations whose motto was Bread or Mood . * Cordially as he now approved of lis monarebial system , yet if this bill parsed he should declam himself a Republican , at ail events . He confes-ed he was astonished by what he had read respecting a nobleman « ho had spt-kea in another place on the previous evening . The noble lord to
whom hereferad had stated tbat one voiiceman dispersed the whole of tbe meeting on KenniogtonCora . mon . Thera could be no greater fallacy , ignorance , or folly , than for a minister , in the performance of hh dntie ? , to make such a statement . ( Cheers ) The fact was , that a policeman came to him ( . Mr O'Coanor ) at the meeting , and told him that Messrs Rowan and Mayne wished to see hira , as they had a message from the Home Office . Ft-aring that tbe people might molest the policeman , he ( Mr O'Connor { said that he would knock down the first man that touched him , and he made thsm give ths po liceman plenty of room . The people obeyed him , and were they , on that account , to be met by a jeer ?
He cautioned that house not to laugh at the people when toeir conduct was so perfectly peaceable , it ¦ would afford them a bad precedent . He ( Mr O'Connor ) was not exactly in a state of hral th to justify his occupying tbe bouse any longer in this stage of the bill , and particularly as he had already expressed Lis views upon it . He pretested against a government which mosked Ireland by making it equal with England ia its participation of punishment , but refused to nub her upon the same fo- « ing with regard to political rishts . After eulogising the speech of the hon , member for Bolton ( D .-Bowring ) , and thnt of the hon . member for the T-iwer Hamlets ( Mr G Thompson ) , be concluded by callins upon the Liberal members to oppose every stage of the bill .
Mr HoBSHas < tsve his raod fisd support to the bill . Hr HcME said thst the present bill was the worst Stuck made on public liberty since be has a seat in that house . He wanted to know w eth . r tbe words of the clause objected to would tff : ct members of thit bouse sptaklu :. ' in tlmr places ; and whether , for words spoken in tbat house they would bs liable to be transported to B uany Bay ! This bill was a violation of all constitutional right—a right to which he attributed a ' great portion of the liberty of England . He alio wished to know from tha right hon . gentleman ( JJr G Grey ) whether what had been stated b y a ctbinet minis .
ter in another place was true , that the meeting of Monday had been dispersed by a polxeman , or whuher tbey ^ iepersrd of themselves ? Tie house might not beawsre of tb . 2 effect wbich Monday ' s meeting would produce on the continent . What wonid foreign governmeEts think of the Date of Wellington having to be calltd cut , and Somerset House , and other plac-s occap ' ed with horse , fbo ' , and artillery , in order to suppress the meeting of Monday ! He bsiiered that all tbey did was to create an tm-Keceisary alarm ; aufi that they did much mischief by their unnecessary preparations . He balitved tbat a continuance in such a system would be productive of serious consequences to tbe liberties of England .
Col . SibthuB ? tendered his best thanks to tbe government and to the ri ? ht bon . gentleman the S ; er ^ tary of State for the Horn ; Department , £ <> r tbe firmness he exhibited on Monday , and the determination he showed inpropofing ihisbiil . He hoped the " government would not sl * er a word of the meaaurej anl he only r < grttte-5 that it ' was not ten times stronger . With respect to tbe question of the hon . member for Mbutrose , he had no hesitation in saving that if that hon , gentleman violai ' ed the act intbat ' iiouEefce woald ^ ore that thehon . get :, t ' eaten bs committed to the Tower . . . .-HrAaLiosBrsngporteNS ' and Mr Gbattah opposed tfcebill : " - f ; ¦' - i > ' .
- ' Sr ^ RBT « U ) Scoa ^|^ . ; -thi » t-eo :. yen 8 i were ; unes in ibis country ,: " that j » ~^ M ' sc ^ 4 be 3 dfe fronr ebverneefitptHccution U'V . iv . bii ^ weri ^^ se . d , tbe . more es-Bsciaily : that . conviction ' s ''' Mdlr ft would shut out the possibility of- that appeal ~ i $ : the * House of Lords which bad remedied the " iajastisB done by a > packed jury to HrO'Coanell and bis associates . He appealed to the gallantry of the house to exempt , at all events , the ladles from the operation of tbe measure . As the bili itood any of tbe female tea and tract parties so prevalent in Ireland mi-fbtbe indicted for treason or sediiion . if the compsav happened to turn the conversation upon political matters . ( A laugh . ) He denied tbat Ireland sas disturbed . There were but two n-wspapers in Dublin which inculcated violence , and in his confident
bslief nearly nine-bundredths of the population of Irelend repudiated the wild ssd extravagant doctrines of these two journal ; . Cork was quiet , Limerick was quiet , Cloumel , Waterford , Belfast , ail tbe towns of Ireland with large p-. pulations were qniet and obedient to the law . Tnere was , Indeed , dissatisfaction , for there » as almost universal misery . Ia tha last eighteen souths one million of human beings had suskinto tbe ItaVfi in Ireland from sheer famine , and hundreds wart Bull < j « fBgia tbe tame iway . ^ every Week that passed over DOT fesads . Ifecra WiJs butthe other day a ease ia Gal-Bray ia which a * ® enwes charged with sbeep-stealinp , audit Bat , Indeed , tSfOyedthathe had stolen the aniaal ; bgtoade ? what circ ^ Staaees ! Why , these : that bis family aauhlastlf were * BI 8 . Wel y starving ; tfcat two
[.Jj M0nd4y. Aran. 10. Is Gilil Pe235stw...
days brfore oae of his children bad died of famine , and that in tke desperation of hunger , the mother had absolutely gnawed the flesh from ber dead calld'a arm . _ Alf ihis the poor man had wfcne & sed before be committed , the act with which he wt-s charged . Tbe hon . niembcr , recommended the postponement of any farther proceed . ; ing with this bill until after E isrer . The present were angry times , and the papaltr difcontent should not be eiasperated . That discont . nt was now peaceful enough , if one might judge from thehon . member for Ko ttinghum ' s exhiM-ion of yesterday , which had passed over as quietly as a Q-iakers" * meeting- , all the grand preparations of military and policei'haviog proved quite unnecessary . {¦ Qh , ob . ) He fearcdhe had hurt the feelings of some of the special conttables-of the occasion —( laughter )—but he coulfl not help thinking that tbeir enthusiasm bod been needlessly wromjht np . He repeated bis bops that the hi 1 might be postponed until after Easter .
MrSsDLEia supported the bili , as j measure which , while it would tend to suppress tbe open end scandalous inculcation , by word or deed , of sedition or treason , would not preventabe statement oa the part of'the . peo p ie of Ireland of the grievances which were felt throuihoutthe width and breath of the country on the part of all classes . iird Joes RurSL & i utterly denied that the . government had manifested any indifference to the physical sufferings of Ireiand , ( Hear , hear . ) H « had , indeed , said that it was not the business of the government to iaterfEra between the various relations of social and industrial life , but he had never put forward anj proposition that government did not can « idtr themselves called upoa to come forward when measures were required to meet some marked p hysical destitution in Ireland , ( Hear , hear . ) He could not have said any such tfcing ; such a proposition would have bien total ' y opposed to the whole conduct of her
Maji * ij ' s government . ( Hear , hear . ) Last yesr tbat govetnment hud obtained the means from parliament of providing daily relief for three millions ef persons in Ireland —( hear , hear)—a step certainly evincing no indifference to thephysical condition of that country . In the present year , again , although tha poar law had b & i p lac-din operation , the government bad felt that , also early a stage of its proceedings , the attention of tbe general government might sti'd be needful , and he hart , therefore , transmitted instructions from the Treasury to Ireland , that in the event of peculiar suffering ma . nifesting itself in sny of the unions , whether from actual inadequacy of fuo ^ p , or from the non-payncnt af their rates by persons able to pay , but ex mpted from payment by tbe negligence or connivance of the col ' eciors , a report should ba made of the fact , in order tbat means of relief might be considered . He repelled , therefore , the suggestion tbat the government was indifferent to tbe physical condition of Ireland at wholly libellous and calumnious . ( Hear , hear . )
Sir D L Evaks said that having on a former evenlug claimed oa the part of bis constituents the prctec tion of tbe government ajrainst the violent and tumultuous proceedings wbich w . re anticipated from tl e meeting of yesterday , he felt it is bis duty to take tbe firsopportunity that presented itself of thanking minister f r tbe admirable arrangements which they had midi against any violation of the public peace . ( Hear . ) Tber . never had been an occasion when greater provocation had ben offered to the authorities than had been given by the menaces of those persons who encouraged anc
promoted the proceedings of Monday , and if the wl-. ole city waa not now d plorios tbe effects of those proceed ings-it was because the government had done its duty . ( Hear . ) At the same time he must say that nothing could have done the inhabitants of London and West mmstir greater honour than the conduct of tbe people generally daring Monday . The meeting- was now cha racterised as conten . ptible . If it was so , the government was to be thanked ior that fact . Again he be ? ged , on the part of his constituents , to reiterate bis thanks to tbe ministers .
Mr Mastebhak expressed some surprise at tho obscrvat o- ) s made by tbe hon . number for Montrose , ani had great pleasure in returning thanks to ' the government for the exertions m « d « by the authorities to pr . serve tbe peace ii tie city of which he had the honour to ba a repress ntstivr . Sir G . Gbet said tbat he had been asked b tbe hon , member for Montrose a question , to which he felt it his duty to give n distinct answer . The hon . member aeked whether tbe meeting had been forcibly dispersed by the p dice or whether it had been peaceably separated . He begeed to state that tbe meeting was not forcibly dispersed by tbe police , bnt that tbe polica commissioners , acting under the authority of her Mo ^ sty ' s ministers , b-jd notified to the persons composing snd heading is that saeans- would be tsken to prevent tbeprocejston ap . prosching tho Honse ef Commons or any of the public nffijss , and thereupon tbe meeting was peaceably dissolved . But , at the same time that he stated this fact , he must say that ho could not admit the inference
drawn from it by the hen . member for Montrose ^—namely , that the preparations were useless or uncalled for . ( Hear . ) It was those preparations , and tbe knowledge that thoy had been made , which gave confidence to the loyal nnd well-disposed iahabitants of the metropolis and struck terror into the minds of the dif aff cted aud promoters of confusion . ( Hear , hear . ) Nothing conld ba mora meritorious than the conduct of the preat bo ly of tbe people had been during tbe whole of Monday ; and that circumstance would have its tff . 'ct throughout the country . Indeed , it bad already , ho believed , had a bsnefljia ! tfLct , for tha telegraph had brought h ' m in . diligence that morninj that the best iff cts h .- 'd already been produced in the great provincial towns . He , therefore , entirely coincided in the opinion that had been expressed , that tbe result would prove most beneficial , not only in England , bnt also throughout all Europe , as it would be manifest that the authorities bad been aided in the performance of their duties b y the cordial co-op : ration of the ? reat body of tho people themselves .
Mr Hche paid , that both the hon . and gallant member for Westminster and the rbihthon . baronet ( Sir G . Grey ) had mi * -stated bis former observation . What he said was , not that the governmt nt were wrong in making the preparations 'hey had done — on the contrary , he said they were right in so doing ; but that he thought them wreng in having created a v > ry disproportionate degree of alarm , as compared with the realapprehensions they entertained . Mr F . O'Conkse said that before any communication Lad been received from tbe commissioners of police , and even before the procession started for the place of meeting , it bad been resolved that the assemblage should disperse after they had reached K-nnington Gammon , and that no attempt to have a further proces sion to the hou = e should be made . Mr S . Cbawp . bd wished to know whether , as thehon member for Carlow had stated , there were , in future , to be no witnesses required to depose as to sedition er treasonable expressions under the bill !
Sir G . GaEE would answer the question when the bill was in committee . On the motion that the Speaker do leave the chair , cries of ' divide , ' and ' no , no ' were raised . Mr F . O'Coswor said , tbat as those who premised to act faithfully with him in opposing the bill , now cried no to the division , on which the gallery was cleared , For going into committee ... 321 Against it ... ... ... 19—302 Ia committee , on its arrival at the third clause , Sir G . Gre y slated , that with the exception of the words now introduced f > r the first time b y ' open and a ^ vis-d speaking , ' the powers given by the bill were precisely the same as these contained in former aud existing acts of parliament . The reason for inserting these words being , that the existing law was found in
efficacious as regarded persons who excited others to sedition and treason by their speeches ; and in Ireland , even , when persons who bad used seditious and treasonable language were subjected to prosecution for the same they were , under tbe existing law , still able to continue in tho commission of that offence even during the interval of their ttiag accused and held to bail , and of their being tried . In order , therefore , to put an en < l to this state of thincs , it was proposed to make cases ol this description felonious , because in that cas « . the offenca would not be bailable , and , therefore , the iffendin ? pirty wonld not have tbe opportunity of repeating bis offence beforebe was brought to justice . By a temporary act of 36 George III ., it was provided tbat , in order to bring any person within its operation , the information
of bis bavin ? uttered treasonable or seditious expressions must be depotedto by twe witnesses , within three days of the time after the expressions were uttered , and also that the person accused should be brought to trial within three months of the time when the deposition waa taken .. A similar enactment ministers were ready to insert in the pr-. sent bill , but they would not recede from the principle of making this iff nee felony . After some debate , and a variety of suggestions for alterations , amendments , and omissions , Sir G . Grey said , that as it appeared that not only the words * by open and advised speaking' were ol ^ -cttd to . but also the whole wording of the clause , he should move that tbe chairman report progress , and tbat the bill be recommitted this day at twelve o ' clock , which proposition was agreed to .
The house resumed , and adjourned shortl y before four until five o ' clock . At that honr Captain Robhout mived tbe issuing of tbe Bewdley writ in the room of Mr T . J . Ireland , whose elect on bao been declared void . Sir J . Hakhee moved , as an amendment , that , inasmuch as tbe late member bad bten unseated on the ground of corrupt practices which prevailed in the borough of Bewdlry , the wiit be suspended wilh a view to further inqniry . On a division , the motion for issuing the writ was carried by a majority of 42—the numbers 83 to 38 ,
EEPEALOFTHEUsioH . —Mr John O'Conhew , moved for leave to bring in a biil to repeal the legislative union between Great Britain and Ireland , and to enable Her Majesty to summon her parliament of Inland . He commenced by drawing a wide line of demarcation between his own sentiments on this subject , and tbe wild and mischievous menaces of the Irish Confederation , and then proceeded to diclare bis conviction that the Repeal of tke Union between 9 reat Britain and Ireland would be of advantage not only to Ireland , but to England also , and would add greatly to the strength of the empire at large . As at the time of the Union , there v » as a treaty between the two countries for it , and as tbe articles oi that treaty were subseqaently embodied into a separate -etof parllamtn * , be thought that tbe consideration ot tbe articles for the Repeal of the Dniou would not be injgredb y IffcirgMe bill fcr accomplishing that Bepeal
[.Jj M0nd4y. Aran. 10. Is Gilil Pe235stw...
i-e previously laid on the table . He proposed that the preamble of his bill should declare the necessity of each ilRepeul—tbat Ha first clause should enact thatRo ^ anl —tbat a Mlowing clausa should enact the Integrity ol 1 he old Irish House of Lords—and that another clause should recall into existence r . House of Commons for Ireland , with 390 members . He then proceeded a « great length to alhge that the Union , as it bod exiettdr / or the last forty-Eeven years , was unjus % injurious , ambunwiso that it had begun In injustice—that it had be <* i maintained by injustice—and that it still subsisted in injustice . Sir W . Sohebvilie met tbe proposition cf Sir Jiibn O'Connell with a direct negative , and < ntered into several otfttements to pointout the injury which the Eewteal of iho Union would inflict upoa Ireland , both socially and politically .
Mr Buck ail moved , as an amendment to Mr John O'Conoell ' i motion , that an humble addrew be presented to Her Majesty , praying her to conveue the Imperial Parliament in futuie for a certain nnrriber of months iu each year iu Dublin for the despatch of Irish business . Mr M & DBIOE G ' Oowweh ; opposed the amendment , and called up n the house not reject lightly the appeal io favour of Ireland tbe appeal which his hon . relative had just made to its justice Every reason which could ba urged in favoar of Mr Bluckall ' s amendment , aj-plled with tr-nfold forco to the total Repeal of tbelTninn .
L < rd MoBPern observed that ha should d-plore the Ripeal of the Legislative Union for the conaiquences which it would entail on G . eat Britain andth « empire a t large ; but cont ( nded that , disastrous ns it might be to the unity , tranquillity , anrt safety ef thecouotty to which we belonged , It would be still more grievous ar . d fatal to the best interests of Ireland . But he agreed with the views which h « d been expressed in an article in the Joubnal des Deeats , that it was not repeal or revolution that Ireland wanted , but regeneration . ( Hear , hear . ) The people of that country possessed mnny attractive and brilliant qualities ; and he would again repeat wbat bad procured censure for him b fore in York , sbire , that ho btilicvtd there was to ba found a greater absence of theft amongst the males , and B > oro chastity among tbe females , of Ireland than in this country . ( Hear , hear . ) There was greater kindness amongst
tbem one towards tbu other . Bnt while be paid what was but a just tribute to their many virtues , he could not shut bis ojes to tbeir failings ; and thvy wanted tho pitlent and persevering industry of the Saxons . ( Hear , hear . ) He had beard it said in America that an Iriehman , when placed between a Scotchman and a Yankee , was the perfection of a settler , because on the one side he 1 arnod firam tho sobriety and industry of tbe Sc-tchman , and on the other side be was incited to activity by tbegou-headedness of the Yankee . ( Laughter . ) He believnd f'titmueh the same thing would take place by a c « rdin ! union between the three countries . ( Hear , hear . ) He concluded l jy declaring that the government could not nd weuld not abandon tbat union . The debate « a < then adjourned till Thursday . The other orders were disposed » f , and the house adjourned at a quarter to one o ' clock .
WEDNESDAY . April 12-HOUSE OF COMMONS . —The hou-e met at twelve o ' clock , and on th" question being repeat-d tbat the 'ouse co into committee ea tiie Crown and Government vcirity Bill , MrG . Thompson rose to oppose the motion on th around that tho country were In ignorance of the nature f this measurf , and bad not bad time to rxpr < jss its opinion upon it , although it was one of the worst that Irid been introduced during the present century . He could account tor its introducti on only on the supposition that the povernment were panic-stricken by recent events on the continent , and had come to the conclusion tbat her Majesty ' s throno was in danger from the d 'pp seated disloyalty existing throughout tho kingdom . If her Majesty bad been so instructe-. ' if the rovsl ear had been
h . i abused , sh « ought to know that there was no port ' on of British territory on which she couldput her foot where sho would not find a warm welcome at the haads of all classes , ( Heir , bear . ) Batthepovernmen * conf-unded loyaltr to the Queen with obedience to themselves . ( H « ar hear . ) He to ' . d them that there ivi . a not a cabinet in Europe which lees enj-yed the confidence of the people tuan the present government of this country . ( Heir , hear . ) They had stated no ground for intrpdacing the msasure . The right honourable baronet had not q-iott-iS a sinule article or spe ch delivered in England , Scotland or Wales trustify h'm in applying this measure to England ; and even in Iroii . n'l he hod mer * ly rentf articles wbich appeared ia tbo Nation and United Irishman , and the speeches of a few psrsons belongiug to the IrisV . Confed - ration . Let tbem rave at- > he Clwtists ea ttcy
wouP' —let them rare at the worltinir classes as th » y would , and whilst they did ? o enlogisc ihe middle classes , and try to set one again-t tho other , yet ho challenger ! them l : \ point out one case of tbo description to which he bad alluded . He knew manufacturers whobad in their emplojnunt hundreds of Chartists ; they were trustworthy , they were nrsn of intelligence , thty were loyal men . Her M-jesty ' s government had not made a conces' . ion to tbeir just demands , but had met them with an un-English and unconstitutional law , and sought to deprive them of those privileges which all the governments of Europe of the present day were guaranteeing to tbeir sulj cts , Hif denied therefore , altogether , ihat government had made out a esse for this biil . He wai no : here to siy tint some alteration of the law might not be necessary as to p articular individuals ; but ho denied tkat government
bad any right , by implication , to cast a falau accusation in the teeth of the people of this country & t large . It might be said tbat if expressions were used hostile to the st y le and title of her Msjenty , and tbe integrity of her dominion ? , tbat there was no guarantee that they would not be madu tbe instrument of widespread operations throughout the country , Let a man be obsoxioua to those In whose neighbourhood be lived ; let him be reported by an illiterate ptisan ; he might be instautl-. committed ; no bail could be put in ; and when he came to take his trial , he was in an infinitely worse position than if he had been accused of high treason This law was either wanted , or it waa not . If it were wanted , ffor whom was it wanted , and for what parti cular end » and purposes ? With regard to tho people of Irsland generally , they were nottmploving this Ian
guage . Let the house know that the Chartists assembled on Kennington Common were but an insignificant fraction of the Chartists throughout tbe country , "Where were not the Churtists ? You could not travel east , west , north , or south , without fiodlug them . He had never taken a Chartist aaide into a room , that he had not found him as docile aud teachable as any otter member ef the community ! Who were ihe Chartists ? Tho men who made tbo members of this house what they were — the creators of their luxury—the men without whom the country would hinothing—the men whose value oeuld not ba computed with tbe value of any other class of the country . If he were called on to say which was tho most valuable claps be should say the working classes , They did not yield in intelligence to any other class of tbe community
Thc-y read the speeches of members in this hemso with as much attention as any oae ; they weighed the value of every measure brought before it ; they were skilled in mechanical arts , and trusted by their employers . Tin sc were the men whom you were branding by the present bill . How would tbe right fcrmimrable gentlemnn tbe Secretary of State for the Horns Department , nnd the noble lord , and tbe Attorney-General , whose namfp flood at the back of the bill , answer to tho working classes of the country for tbii bill ? Donotoutf ' o Mr ritt in his hostility to tho priviicBtB and rishts of the people . Do not outdo Lovd Castlereagb , wHo never rfreamt iu tka days of tbe Manchester massacre of intro ducirgsuch words as were in this bill . AH he asked for was delay . If this law were passed , and the people ignorant of its Intention , a man mi ght be Visited by a
magistrate ' s warrant , and told > . e bad committed n felony ; aad when he asked how it was to be proved be answired , proved by an act which the people ' s representatives in the House Of Commons have passed without giving timo to read it . H * » aid that a more monstrous act was " never meditated tfran a passage of such a bill in BO short a period of time . When he heard that , the Government had summoned tbeir adherents to come doivnto the house to make this bill law , he dospaired for any one who looked to the government f ,. tho smallest instalment of their political rights . Upon what principle did tbe American colonies revolt and justify that revolt ia the eyes of tho civilised world ? On the ground of taxation without representation . On the
imposition of the S ' amp Act and the dut y on tea , ihey fljw to arms , and finally won their independence . Tbe people who had come to this house , by their petition s'oodiu precisel y the same rolatiop to the ? ov < mmen ' t of this country bow , as the . people of America stood to the govH-nmrntef England in 1 T 7 G , and tho pelition . rs whrs-i signatures Wero appended to tbe petition were more in number than the inhabitants of tho North American colonies at the ' time of their declaration of Independence . Whilst the words to which ho objected remained in this bill ho would obstruct It in every stage . The house was not the friend of tbepeeplein passing it ' Gather their troops together as they might ; garrison Somerset-bouse ; glery in the mej ^ stic attitude of the metropolis for a day ;
• But in these cases We still have judgment here ; that we but teach Bloody instructions , which being taught , return To plague the inventor . This even-handed justice Commends the ingredients of our poisoned chalice To our own lips . ' They were alienating from tbe Sovereign millions of tbe people by passing such a bill as this . Her Majesty's ministers would take the bill to her Majesty , and ask for her sign manual , nnd commit her to tho act of trea . son ; but although tbo people were despised by tbe House of Commons , and looked upon with scorn , the day would corte-when they would havo that which every man was entitled to—a right to elect tbeir own representatives in that house .
Mr . Osbobke very much fcarsd tbat ministers were returning the course of policy of 1795 , with this difference , tbat the descendants of those men who resisted Mr Pitt in his policy of 1795 were flow installed in office , with much less excuse for passing acts wbich Mr Pitt dared not carry Into . execution . They were trading upon a panic . A certain old lady had got into tbe cabinet of the noble lord , and bad been exciting him to sets of terror . Nothing could be more despicable thim the manner in which tbe government put forward tbe Q if en ' s name as a cover for their own unconstitutional demands upon the parliament . Why her Majesty was
[.Jj M0nd4y. Aran. 10. Is Gilil Pe235stw...
never more popular than she was at the present moment Sg hout the land . ( Hear , hear . ) It was , therefore I 3 m device , on thepttrtof the Ministers to put tb 0 Q eeu luthe front rank , when »^; dr policy which was unpopular . The Wh « KW"W wM d the bill of that day ; but the government of that day did not attempt to thrust their bill upor . 'tbo house without giving the people time to consid er-lt . ( Hear , hear ) Ho was surprised the other night , wben tb » bon . member for Montrose alluied to the case-of Mnir , to bear him taunted by the hon . member fortho Umversityor
Oxford , who snid he had no sympathy with Midi a man orhisfate . But whai was Mull ' s crime 1 The prime charge ogainot h ' m was 'hat he na < 3 lent a copy of Tom Paln ' e ' d works to a third parly , andlie wsg convicted on tbe evidence of bis servant-maid of having said that lie thought a r-form of the preBeBt * 5 8 tem necessary . For this he was sent to tbe hulks in irons and tr . Mfported for fourteen years . ( Hear , bear . ) Mr Pitt in 1795 did not venture to carry » uch o measure as thin } ho withdrew the obnoxious clause respecting ' open and avow d speaking' en tho intercession of Lord Granville . He wished there was some of tho old leaven <•( Wnigglsm in
that honor , respectfull y to requent the Government to withdraw tlrooe words , which , if carried into law , would assimilate the condition of this country to that of RufOia . Un * er the rioctrini of constructive treason ft was imposs ible to say what p roceedings might tilt ba brought within the province of this act . In the newspapers of that very day n remarkable case wos cited which occurred in the rrlgn of C arles II „ when it was held tbat tbe destruction of brothels amounted to treason . If these words bad been law In 1830 , tho hon . on * gallant member for Westminster ( Sir D . L Evaus ) and that excellent and able man , the right bon , member for Harwich ( Sir J . Honhou » e ) , might bo sent to N r .
folk Wand . Even Mr Macaoluy mig ht now bo accused of feloniously writing nnd sent out of tho country for Aev < n years , hreausa he justified tho conduct of the Puritans in bringing Charles I . to tho block . ( A liuah . ) Hj thought this a slavish bill * ( Hear , he-it . ) Circumstances might arts- in ibis country which would make It , thli duty of every mon to make war on tho sovireisn ( Grlea of ' oh , oh' from several members , and 'h' -ar . hear' fiom Mr Hume ) . If tbey shut up ihe sufe y valve , as it had been well called , which freedom of speech gave to the people , tbe tendency ot such an un constitutional measure wr . uld be to drive tbo people to secret nnd armed conf . diraciis . Ho wonld direct tho
attention of tho gentlemen of the Fox Club to the language which Mr Fox had used when speaking of the freedom of the press and liberty of speech , Hostid , 'The power and influence of tbe Grown nresogrent thst all the lib' -rt . v of this country is preserved by freedom of speech ami liberty of tbe press ; and if Ibose great barriers of liberty arc destroyed , though men may spMik less tbey will feel more , nnd arms will be tbe only resource lefc them , cither for redress for them , selves of for veneeauce upon th . lr oppressors . If such 11 bill is passed , if such a line of conduct should b : adopted , resi-tnnce to it would be n matter of prurience . Thntwnsin 1795 ; but he wonld not go into any comparison with tho man who made those observi ions and tho Whig ? of the present day : plvo them rnpe enough . « nd that was all they required , ( Lmigbterand cheerF . ) If hon . andrfclithon . gentlemen on tho Treasury bench disowned these sentiments , let them abandon Brooks ' s , r . nd immediately become members of tbe Pitt Club . ( A laugh . ) He lamented tho state of parties in that bouse .
The present was a government of invalids — ( a laugh ) - who were just the sort of people who alwnys lasted longest . Atone time they leaned for support on this party , then on tbat . On one side the riirhtlion . baronet the memVer for Tnmworth served them for a crutch , and on the other the aid of the noble lord the member for Lvnn was invoked , while the party by whose support and under whose auspices the Whig' attained power were completely thrown overboard . ( Hoar , hear . ) Thegrcntest in « nlt that oould bo offered to lib » rt , y . the greatest derogation to the rights of property , would be the conduct cf tliatbou < e b ^ ing in a hurry to pass acts of coercion while they held out . no hopes of conciliation . iHear , Ueur . Unless Ministers were prepared to take the initiative in measures not only with regard to this country , but Ireland , unless they could cherk the old ivonvn in the Cabinet , Hie government of the country would be in the gre "test peril . Then wmi'd it be necessary to bring in a bill for the better security of tke crown and government . It wa" . with the utmost astonishment he had seen it
stated that an alien net . had been introduced elsewhere . ( Ironical cheers . ) A nob ' olordin another place said ire had seen a number of Frenchmen walking along tbe r ftrahd ; Lord Proughasi was excessively frightened , nnd they wire therefore to have an alien bill Mr Pitt ' s alien bill was one of the first eauces of war with Prance . The House of Lords and the panic-stricken majority of that bouse were pursuing a course which , would wry pvobaWy plunge the counfry into war . (* Oh , oh ! ' ) Wouldnotthe government of France be likely to say that we had received Louls-Ph'Pppe and , bis Ministers , but resorted to an : ilien act in order to keep out those forei- 'mrs who had opinions of their own ? lie appealed to the * good sense of the . cou-itry . Thpy were reviving Ihe old Tory
policy of 1793 . lie should look with great suspicion to the course pursued l y the Foreign Minister . ( 'Oh , oh !') He remembered the interference of the noble lo-d in Portugal , and if Up got a good opportunity to meddle in tl > e affairs of France , he very much doubted whether tlere were not certa n influenees at work thnt would plunge lbs country i :, to a continent" ! war . ( ' Oh , oh !') II e hoped the middle cUsses would not be carried away by a temporary panic : tbat the shopkeepers would not tnke alarm because a few windows had been tiroken , and that the people would yet St : ind firmly by those liberal principles which hon . gentlemen below h ' m on the Treasurv tench had so disgracefully deserted . After a few wo : ds from Mr Aqlioxisx
Mr FEAncus 0 Connoh expressed bis regret and disgust , that Mr Reynolds had g iven way to the appeal of ihe government ; but it only confirmed the op inion be had ever slated of the Irish liberals in that house , and lie repeated it now , that bad as even the present government was , it was too good for such a set . ( Hear , hear . ) What , was this one of the remedial measures for Ireland that was to have succeeded the . Co . rcion Bill ? and with what pomp the Attorney-General and the government told the house , that theobject of thia bill was to put England and Ireland upon a perfect equality , as regards the law of treason . _ ( Laughter . ) Would they put Ireland upon a footing with England , bad as that was- in all other respects ? No , it was their Poland . Just at
a time when olher nadons were wringing concessions from despots , the reforming government was curtailing the little liberty the British subject had . 'Oh , ' bnt says the noble lord , ' it is clemency , it takes away the punishment of death for certain acts which are now treason , and attaches the penalty of felony to acts which are now sedition ; but see the fallacy , the sophistry , and delusion of this affected clemency ; it takes away the punishment of death in cases which do not happen once in a century , and it enacts the punishment of transportation for offences of . every day occurrence—( hear , hear )—and offences which will be constituted a virtue , arid become more numerous , if the present act should pass . But look to the causes which have led to revolt and triumph in other countries , and see if the disaffection anddi
satwucti .-n was nofparalleled in that house . He would not mock even a fallen monarch in bis misery ; l > u ' as it was notorious that ihe noble lord was taking counsel from the deposed king of the French , he would ask him to tear the fact in mind , tbat the cause of . his overthrow and expulsion , was the overawing the Chambpr of Deputies , ny the voice of placemen , officials , hacks , and pensioners , precisel y as the noble lord is now relying upon the subserviency of ( he same class , to " overawe tbe House of Commons and the nation . He ( Mr O'Connor ) not onl y contended for the people ' s rig ht to remonstrate with that bouse , and to compel that bouse to a performance of its duty , but he contended for th constitutional ri ght of the people to overawe that house if necessary . That house should he the ' -xnownt of the national will . It lad
no constitutional ngnt to us-urp a prerogativef < v seven year . playing the tyrant for six , and the penitent for one , leaving its poison upon tho Statute Book , and its antidote on the winds- Look to the stati' ot Spain , with her immense population , and only 96 , 000 voters , ( Hear , hear , ) lie wnu'd answer tbat cheer presently . Look to tho state of F > anco . with her immense population , and not 300 . 000 voters . ( Hear , hear . ) He w . uld now answer both those cheers . The mind of Eng land untrammelled , and her opinion unfettered , had achieved a larger amount of representation in the Senate House thin either France or Spain ; and the aotive geniua of the day , an irresistible thine , admitted no other standard than lh « fair representation of all-the want of which had caused revolution iu other
countries , and tbe attempt to atop which would be ineffectual in this . ( Hear , hear . ) But he would go still 'urther , and he would quote precedent , to prove that the law in England , and tyranny in Ireland , had ever been foundi strong enoueh to secure peaca . In 1839 and 1840 , tbe law had imprisoned him , and nearly 600 working men—jiims convicted against law and evidence , without leaving the box , and the consequence was increased hostility to the law , and an increased determination to override its injustice . Well , in 1842 ( here was a general rising of the nation , and he ( Mr O'Connor ) was tripd , with fifty-nine others , at Lancaster , during eight dava . They had a 'just judge , ' and a highly constitutional lawyer upon the bench ; he explained tbe law , and showed the legal power which the people possessed . Hmjudument was imprinted upon the mind t <{ every leader in the country , and , through them , upon the people ,
and irom that hour to the present , now six year ? , there has not bon one single political tifender tried jn Eng land , ( Hear , hesr ) Wed , if that precedent was distributed over too lonif a period for the Whig tiovemment , he would now draw their attention t » Monday ' s proceedings ; and he defied the house to arrive at any other conclusion than ' this . The people who at'ended that meeiinif went there with the express intention of having their prooifcsion aa proclaimed—and , therefore , if the preparations of the government were necessary , the inevitable inference is , tbat many of tho . ^ e people wnuld bare gone armei ) , and that all wonld have felt baulked by the suppre-esion of this armed displvy . It was to have bsen a day of rejoicing aad tri * umph , and yet , hear tbe startling truth that whereas not a man in that wultitnde knew of my intention of prohibiting the pr . 0 ce 8 i . ixn until they were assembled upon the Common fur th
[.Jj M0nd4y. Aran. 10. Is Gilil Pe235stw...
purpose , yet iw abandonment was carrud without a single dissentient , and with universal approval . ( Hear , hear . ) Well , thus baulked of a saiciuuar > triumph , for which we were told prepuratuns were made , this armed multitude , " without a walking stick , quietly dispersed , and not a pane of glass wss broken . ( Hear , hear . )—Well , then , if mischief was intended , or if vergeance was the aim , would they uava dispersed with acclamation , and would they have restrained their feelings of diiaopointment to tbe mnst perfect observanco of peace ? ( Cheers . ) lie wonld caution hon . memr & s in that house again t invitations to loyally , and scoffings at prace . ( Hear . t ; ..... i * ~ „ . _ .,. A ~ :. k .... t ..
hear . ) Tne people had learned their leesona from the Whigs , and if thia was to ba an tx post facto law , there was not a bulk in her Mijesty ' .-i service tb » t would l-e large enough to hold the n « ble lord and hie associates— ( cheers and laughter)—and amontist whom would stand prominently the hon . and gallant member for We ^ min-ter . who ban threatened , if the Reform Bill w . is rtjacted , to invade London with a hundred tl-omand fUbting men . ( tlenr , hear , and cheers . ) He added his testimony to the intelligence , the industry , and the honour of the Chartist body , for that high and just character so gener . ius ' y and nobly paid to them in the eloquent and manly speech ot his hon . friend the member for tbe Tower
Hamlets , ( Mr G-. Thompson ); and he would bo farther , and cay , tbat if industry was rewarded , they would bo the first to punisl . idl-ness , and all that they required wasai ' air d : iy '» wage f ' ora fair day ' s work ; and In ib . it noble struggle ho would go with thrra t ' the death , and he told the house that if he and thousands fell in tbe contest , for every drop of the martyrs ' blood wonld spring 10 , 000 wi t riots to avenge tbe 11 a'tyrs' de ^ th . He ( Mr O'Connor ) h ; id made anin-ff . -otnal appeal to the landlord-class , who . « houM be the natural pr . itectorsot' the people , but who were n'w tiie forenvist tolliund the government on io ihpir acts of treason against the crown ; and serine that they relied upon such tteason for the upholding of their privileges and their power , the country would no longer rest satisfied with that
piebald patchwork opposition now si'ting upon these benches , an opposition of shreds and patches ; but after the country had reflected during the Easter week these benches would present a marshalled opposition of the middle and the working classes —( hear , h ar , and cheers' )—loo strong for tyranny to resist , and ton powerful for ( reason to put down . ( Hear , hear . ) The Whigs ? tink i't the nostrils of every man of common sens ? in tho kingdom—( cheers)—and having received credit lor some inlluenco wilh ih ^ working clause * , he ( Mr O C-mnor ) would martial a national mind which would hurl tbem from those benches in spite of the support of the rig ht hon . member for Tarn worth , or of their old opponent ? , th « Tories . What a humiliating pi'sitinn , to fee the descendant « f Russell relying upon ihe disciples of Pitt . ( Hear , hear ) Ihe noble lord
might have been a powerful minister if he had acted upon constit'iti- ' . n ' 1 principles , and the prrgsnt hll bein ^ treason asainstthe Crown- tn asrn against the Constitution—and treason anainefc the people , he ( Mr O'Conno : ) demanded breathing time for the nation , to allow the people an opportunity of d ( clarina their sentiments . Let them piss this bill , and that which was tbe safety-valve of tbe constitution would at once explode ; there woald be no more safety for the expression of public opinion . Vulgar men would be a'lowid toprpach'throughout Ihec-ountry what doctrine they desired ; ef them no noti . twoiild ba taken ; but as soon as any man , opaofed in the government , spoke advisedly , tbey wou . ll mark him rut their victim . Well ; and if thoy were to fill tbe hulks with martyrs , he would tell them that for each one of them ten thousand new men would arise
fagerand wi'lmg to step into their places , and t- - ' bids tho event . It was impossible that they could maintain Ireland in her present position . S > me thing must be donefor her , and tha-. sp ' e dily . This biil would not put her down—this bill , which he denounced as treason against the Crown at . d the person of the sovereign Such a bill he never expected would haveemarnsted from a Whig Ministry . They had now become the most unpopular governirunt that had ever possessed the reina of power in this country . Was i : nit . well known that the Govern ment had the p : > wer of felectinu' the judge ar , d the jury ? What chance , then , was thera for the liberty of the subject ? lie entreattd the bouse—h > - en treated the g " Vern » nent—to yivc the people of this country breathing time , to give them an opportunity of expressing their opinions upon the bill . He besought tho noble lord not to di ^ mce the high « am « he bore by thus pressing sueh an unconstitutional measure . lie did not mean to taunt tbe present
men in offi ' -e with tbe treatment which he bad personilly received at their bunds . HecQnsidond that it was but right that those wlv > led tbe people shou'd suffer any penalty which might attach to their positiun . H » protested a » ainst a reformed paria- « ent thus stealing a march upon the people ; liepiot ; 8 'ed ajjainst ihe bill , I clause he was a loyal subject , and because he objected to her Mnjesty ' d becoming tinged by the disloyalty of her ministry . He could not fur ! language sufficiently s ' rong to denounce his abhorrence ol it If folly or treason were spoken at a public meeting , the good sense of those present would put the surest extinguisher upon it . He had naver : tllied himself to secret societies , he never would ; but let them pass that law on tea " , day , and on that day week hundreds of secret societies would be organised throughout tho kingdom , which sooner or later should result in a storra that would svmwp the government , and . shake tbe empire to its foundations . Let not the noble lord despise his warning —; o be forewarned was to be torearmedi
sir P . Howard urged tho adoption oftbo amendment of & fr Uorsmaii , ( living the couvt power to mitigate the penalty of transportation to three years . Mr Reynolds contended that b y a clause in the bill a spy mi g ht be hired by a wicked nnd venal minister to go to a meeting aud utt-ir incendiary and treasonable expressions , nnd the re ult would be that every person present would be liable to two years'imprisonment and hard labour . Mr Hume ' s advice to the government was , to stay further proceedings for a week , iu order that the country mtynt be made acquained with the provisions of thu bill , and thus avoid the disgrace of precipitation in reference to a measure of such vital importance . He contended that the experience of the past showi d that prosecutions ol that nature had never been attended with any public advantage . The governments of bygone
years had not attempted to prevent the assembling of the people to petition for tha removal of abuses or assertion of rights . He had himself headed a deputation of 1 hO . uOh persons , with an address to tha Crown , and 110011 a had dared to opp-ise him . He well remembered the occa-ion upon which lie had presided at a meeting where a resolution was passed pledging tho meeting to pay no more taxes . Tliatresolutt ' on was brought urder the notice of the Attorney-General , who told him that he had acted illegally , and bisreply was 'Iknow [ it- try me . '( IIca " , hear . ) But the Attorney-General did not try him . Thegovernment of tho present day had been raised to power by thosa very Rpform demonstrations nnd that unrestrained liberty of speech » hich this bill now sought to cheek . Lord J . Rossell observed tbat we were living in extraordinary times , wh- n persons deem it consistent with their duty to call together councils Mid eonfed > . > rations tortile purpose of (}• daring war against the sovereign , Cor sed ucing or bribing the tinned forces of the sovcrcigii . aad for opposing-them in arms in case seduction > nd bribery
do not succeed . Tie bo'ievcd that thegemrul opinion of the country was not that Ministers hnd interfered internp rately and hastily , but that they had waited too lontr-Considering the designs which traitors had avowei , he should be ashamed oi' himself if , seeing danger at hand , ho had boeusoaivodbvtUeautuorltyot'Mr Fox as to for . bear from taking those measures of precaution which he believed to be necessary . After pointing out the rMflferenee between this bill and that under which Muir and Palmer had been formerly cor . v . cted , Ue added that , v . hile he retained all the other parts of the bill , he was roiidv to limit the operation of that part of it which related to ' open and ad vised speaking . ' The measures which the government had introduced nero introduced under tindeep conviction that the peace of this country was worth pveaei'villg . Tiie trustor preserving the institutions of this country , its monarchy , audits constitution were in the hands of the Administvatir . n , ar . d it would be its constant endeavour to . preserve them . The house then went into committer .
Mr IIobsmah expressed his satisfaction that the ob . ectionable clauses of the bill were to be iu operation fov a limited periodonly . MrMAimn moved that the words in question should be struck out altogether . The Attornky-General followed against the amendment ; and after some observations from Sir F . Thesigri-, who expressed liis deep regret at the determination of thafrovernment thai thia most important feature Of the biU Bhould have only a temporary endurance , and from Mrl > . Wood , who considered that Chartism mfebtbeex . ploded by extending the franchise , which would super sede the necessity of resorting to such a blister as the present measure applied , aud various desultory an . time-engrossing observations from other hon . members , lie had recently voted against the motion for allowme that 4 astard Frost to return , which did not look like sympathy with such men . But while he joined in tho indignation against them , and iu ihe repudiatiun of their sentiment * , he must say , that he thought the present a most unhappily chosen moment for introducii . i ? such n
measure as that now before the house . He thould much prefer seeing Chartists put an end to by extending the franchise- ( . heers)—and giving thera an opportunity of occupying their time in sending members to parliament instead of to the Convention . If that were done , he was sure the parliament would never again havo occasion to resort to ouch a blister as this bill . Lor f m ^ f 5 " ? ' Perceiving that it was near fix o ' clock , moved that the chairman report progress , and ask leave \\ J Hll * ilLftllili Sir G-. Gket sail the only amendment which govern ment had to propose was tho alteration of part of the third clause hunting its operation to a pertod rS " hvo &^ = 5 ^ ffi ^? o 7 th « e ^ ^^^ ^ Colonel Sibtuorp wasnerfect 1 vvf . n / iv ^„ _ , twelve o ' clock , or indeed ¦ " „? l 'f / £ 03 lne d r - at the bill ; but he agreed with tlmV , ™ , ' ^ P roci * d with late government denoSi ?/»^ SS n ?^ C ment , as exhibited by their ab ^ ndon ^' a'S SSSK
He believed that a Sritf Xi " stnbles - ' Oh !') tion of the peace , and ZiS H > edin » 'e conservarable alarm . ( iSud „ l « of ^ * " " ? tat of con 8 ld " glad to hear it was not io At ?« ' no '} He "as very ' ¦• Cnt bad at tfeeU- command I ! ' mm Wll 0 n * ° ve r , ? . 'hould the bnsi nero ? commi & lr £ t ** \ Why to a small minority to ttt ^ S ^ ff ° rS ? SfS
[.Jj M0nd4y. Aran. 10. Is Gilil Pe235stw...
the bill which the forms of the house admitted uf . - ( 'Oh ohl' ) . Ho would not . sanction . ouch a course ; but . still such might be tho consequence . He hoped , therefore ,, the bill would not bo hurriedly pushed thiough the house , especiall y when it was considered that the discussions wh'ob had tiken place had already changed the opinions of many members aud even of Mini . tt-rs them , selves . ( Hear , hear . ) Mr Mowatt moved , as an amendment , that the debate beadjourcedto Mond-. y next . { 'Ko , no . ') He had no defiro whatever to give any factious oppos'lion . ( 'Oh ,, oh ! ' ) It must be admitted that government , that house ,, and the country , were under great excitement ( 'No , no . ' ^ One reason why a little more time should be given for the consideration of the bill was , that wi . en it was- - brought forward on Friday tbey had before them thismig hty ghost , this mighty bugbear of the Chartist meeting , but they had succeeded in laying this ghost , and there was now no reason for this indtcent hnste . thp hill wliii-ii l ! i . > ( Vit'itm of tha house , admitted uf . - ( 'Oh
Mr Faqav seconded the amendment for postponing the hill till Monday , and proceeded , amidst constant interruption , to address the house . Itbeinif now six o ' clock the Speaker announced that , according to the standing order , the house roust ., adjourn , Tho house adj-mrned accordingly , tbe effect of which is , that the further consideration of the bill stands as an order of the day , and will have to take its chance with the other business on the paper . { From our Third Edition of latt week . ) HOUSE OF COMMONS . —FRIDAY , Apeii 7 . THE NATIONAL PBTITIO . V .
Mr H Da Osmond : Se < ing the honourable member for Nottingham in Ms place , I beg to esk him what is the course meant to be pursued with regard to the presentation of the petition on Monday next , of which he had if iven notice , I have seen in the public papers tbat it ban b « n a question agitated at a meeting at which tbat honourable gentleman was pnseot—What should be done iu case of this house remains to rect ive the petition then presented i I have raad the petition myself , aud I mlifcve there is not one human being in this house that would say ' N . > ' to the recpption of it . ( Haar . > Tht-re is no doubt that . the petition will be received as a matter of course : an > J —( Cries of order . )
Mr F . O'CoHHoa : In reply to the honourable gentleman , 1 beg to say that on Mosday Week last I gave notioa that ' I would movo a resolution , founded upon the princip leg in this patltlon , as an amendment upon the ordtr of tho day for going into committee ot supply on Monday next , I now find there is no supply for that nirfht ; therefore , unless the noble lord at the head of the Kovernmerit will be kind enough to allow m » to bring it forward the first question on Monday , I cannot give , the honourable (• cnlUtnun any answer as to the time when X shall be able to do * o . The noble lord 13 aware ( hat the petition is one of great importance to some millions of
die peop ' ej and I a » k this from hiw as a privilege , upon the undertaking that I at least shall not detail ) the hoaee lon / f upoa it . If tbe honourable member had not put tha question tome , I should myself have asked the noble lorA fcr permission to bring the measure forward—a raeaeure upon which , as a mutter o * ' course , there is i ^ rest excitement both in and out of this feoise . If tbe noble lord does not grant tbe indulgence I ask for , then I must look for another open night ; but on Monday I sl'all present the petition . ( Hear , hear . ) L < r \ S . Rosseu . : I should bo very unwilling , sir , that a petition bo numerou < ly signed , aa tbo honourable gentleman has declared the position be has to present will
b > , should not fce received , and meet with every constlerac ' on from the house . I do not , however , think that government should give up Monday to tho consideration uf the petition . But considering the importance of a petition presented by such numbers of the people , and that a petition s . > signed ought to have early cousidera-1 . 0 D , I shall be ready , having at tho same time regard to public convenitnce , to consent that the hon geutltman ih * ll bring on hie motion oa Friday nest . fLond chetrfl , " ] Mr P . O'CoNwoB—I am most thankful to tbe noble lord . I Hear ]
THE GREAT DEMODTSTRATIOK IX FAVOUR OP THE PEOPLE'S CHARTER Mr BniOBT—I v . ish to put a question to the government wiih regard to the notica tbat has beeo published , 'ouch' . ng the meeting proposed to be htld on Monday . I wish to know wheiher it is intended to refer to both the meeting and the procession , or only to the procession , If the people may meet quietly it ia one thing ; if tbey a .-e permitted , er not permitted , to como through the streets in immense numbers , it is a very different thing . 1 think , then , there should be no misunderstanding , for f th ^ re be , thtrc might probabl y be risk of collision and disturbance , which every member of this house would be ¦ inxioua to avoid .
Sir G . Gret ; Sir , the honourable gentleman asks me If I Ulidtratoad hini ri ghtly , whether the meeting as convened to assemble on Kennington-Coinmon , m pa rate from , and independent of , the proposed procession , would be illegal ? That would depend entirely up :--n the circurasiancea under which the meeting waa held . ( Hear . ) If any meeting should bu held , for whatever purpose , if it be accompanied with circumstances * m : h as I have bi-fore allud'd to—circumstances calculated to inspire terror and nl . irm—jusc terror and alarm —in the minds of h « r Majesty ' * loy ,. l and peaceable sub-JHete , thm , I apprehend , it would be sg ' . inst the common law . ( Hear ) But if themeet \ ng is held , or isconvi-ned to be held , f « r the express purpose of framing out of it a procession for the purpose of proceeding , contrary to the statute law , to either house of P < irl : am « bt , to accompany thepresentation of a petition in excessive numbers , then I also apprehend that a meeting identified with the procession would como within the provisions of the law . ( Hear , hear . )
Lord It . Grojvenob put a question to the right hon . baronet t ^ sp « ctln . g the meeting , not oaa word of which . was audible in the gallery . Sir G . Gbet . : All I know of the intended meeting on Ketninston-comni' n is stated in tbo notices published throughout England , that such a meeting was convened , take my knowledge fn-ui the published announcements of the Chartists' Association , signed by three gentlemen , one of whom calls himself' secretary ' which have not bi'in disavowed by the bon , gentleman ; opposite ( Mr F . O'Connor ) , who is considered one of the leaders of that association . In those announcements it is stated that tho object of the meeting is to marshal the people for assembling in large numbers—to the number of 300 , 000 it has been stated—and that physical force may accompany the petition to tho door of tht House of Commons , Mr F . O'Connor : I wish to ask the right hon . gentleman If he has received a deputation tO-daj from . parties who have issued a notice en the subject of tho meeting . «
Sir G . Geet : I waa very much engaged with public business this day when I received an intimation that three gentlemen , whostated themselves tobe a deputation from ' the National Convent on , ' were at the Home-ofE'ie . They saw the Under Secretory of State , in tho prrgcnue ' of the Attorney General and Mr Hall . I was not present . I will read to the house the letter which they addressed to me . ( Sir George here read tho letttr . ) Sir r , inglis : i wish to ash tbe Secretary of State for the Home Deparment whothir , through bis under secretary , he has acknowledged a National Convention fitting in London . ( Ob , oh and hear , bear . ) Sir G . Gret : I have no hea ' titiou in answering my sonoursbie tricntJ . The thro gentlemen who went totbe Home Office were not received or recognised as delegates from the National Convention . 1 h * vo received a note from the- Under-Sicretary , informing me that th © distinctl y stated to them he could not receive them ia the capacity of delegates from the National Convention . ( Hear . )
Jlr Wakley : I wish to ask a o , uietioc . The meeting on Kennl-ngtou Common has bet 11 publicly adver . tistd during the last uionih . I want to koow , if it were known by the government tbnt sueh a meeting and such a profession Wrro illegal , wh the p .: ople hvtdn iB information on the su'j : ct before this late period ? Sir G . Gbet : Because I had not the information which the right hem . gentleman , baterinformed ' thanhe Secretary of State possessed . ( Cucm , and liughl . * ) It was my daty to know , and from information which it was my duty to obtain I did ascertain , that at meetings held in certain parts of tbe metropolis speeches were made to email numbers of men in which such an Intention was announced , In which it was said that upon the 10 th ov 11 in there would hi a great demonstration to attend ibe presentation of tho people ' s petition to the Houso of Commons . But the first public advertisement I have sesn of any such intention is that which now
lias before me , which I received the day before yesterday . The Cabinet deliberated upon it , and after their diliberation the notice was published , tho nature of which 1 have stated . ( Loud cheers , j Mr "WiKLET . —Tho n ' sht nondurable baronet , in the first part of his reply to my question , intimated that I had better knowledge upon this subject than he t > uS . scssed . I can state positivel y ( hat I have attended no meetings whatever iu relation to the petition which is 10 bo presented to this house on Monday , I have not attended any public assemb . y regarding , aniTbZ had no direct communication with the persons calline themselves the Naiional Convention in r . Lio ™ to J" I demo my information frun a public newspapJ . the property of an honourable member of this hn ,,. ? \ ! U from no other source whatever IJoIiK uJS xaja ^ ar ^ ^ and can attend a prop ' s on to tw 1 ar R euun * en , bersalse dwing w S ? J „ Si ! 5 » Me ta large nnnjtbeannonno : ii ! 0 J ° B ! . ? r " ,, " transpired since insssssrirrsosi
" --« = ; r . t ~ 5 P- ' — l have attended 1 ° f the ' lenioa . tratlon J though now sitting fheho ^ n » f . ' L ° Cm ™*« » Meh % »« n , some | J & SK ^ * r VTmt ' <* tbat much influent ! I ^ ° partles - 1 h had down to the Hou » „ r " theM Chty BhoM aQt ° o «> e % = S ~ F- ' - ' ^ never denied leThlm ^ , ofa P riv »^ "Won was olare solemnly Sa 71 T » inls <™ lon 8 . X de-Wa 8 ¦»„„„» . * ., . beea knowa B « fo «* the meetlDK 0 uP n p er t th i r ¦ k v » »« « *»« £ « whem mtm "' * P * *> l have Held it : but havebe * ^^"''' 00 ! " ? ^ their rights , when wo f ? tha 1 t 4 XatI ( m wlln reprcBentntion is
r . J . nn- - _^ ... ° "' punSem S V' ^ 'i ^ tb sovernment should always * M iZ ?^ " * V ° «»»* ' «*» .. I have always said , and ! say a ^ ain , that I never shrink from m responalbllltj that may be impo . ed on mHud tS
Abandonment Carrud Without The Bill Whic...
. THE NORTHERN STAR . April 15 , 184 ^_ A . ^_____ n— miiumunww i i ii .... ______ „— — ' ¦ — ¦ " ' . ~ i I
-
-
Citation
-
Northern Star (1837-1852), April 15, 1848, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_15041848/page/4/
-