Mr. O'CorstseLL has startled the Dublin Election Commis- sioners, whom
indeed it was high time to call to account. One of these gentlemen, Mr. JOY, appears to have conducted himself more like a Tory partisan than an impartial judge. He is said to have been seen whispering with the agents of the petitioners, chuckling, and winking at them, when any point was gained for WEST liner HAMILTON. He was especially delighted, the other day, when the Court decided that they would not hear evidence to prove the agreement alleged to exist between some hundreds of Mr. O'CostNeu.'s voters and their landlords for the payment of the municipal taxes—the voters in question having been struck off the poll in consequence of non-payment of these taxes. The pre- tence for this refusal was a qualified admission by the petitioners' agent of the existence of this agreement. Mr. O'Cosevxm. was of opinion that the admission, as made, was useless ; and, on Tuesday, demanded to be heard in defence of his right to bring forward the evidence in question. The Commissioners refused to hear him ; assigning no law, nor any instruction from the Parlia- mentary Committee, as a reason for -their refusal. O'Cozorsi.r. persisted, and the Court was adjourned. The next day, a similar scene occurred; the Court was again adjourned; and there, for the present, the matter rests—the proceedings of the Commission being suspended; If is worthy of remark, that the Commis- sioners do not object to receive written arguments—they only refuse to hear speeches..
We had always supposed that the principal object of appointing this Commission was to procure evidence on the spot, and that O'CONNELL obtained it on the allegation that be should have to bring over several hundreds of witnesses to prove the existence of these agreements. The Commissioners, in refusing to hear this evidence, seem to shirk the duty which they were expressly di- rected to discharge. The discovery of the bribery plot has put an end to all hope of Wan and 1.1Amitrosr being declared the sit- ting Members ; and now, by way of counterpoise, it would seem that the Commissioners are doing their best to prevent °Corr- NELL and RUTHVEN from proving that they polled a majority of good votes, and thus make a new election necessary.
