The debate of yesterday week on Mr. Parnell's amendment was
resumed by Mr. Sexton, in a speech of more ability than candour. He accused the Government of having undertaken to make the Irish landlords moderate in their demands, out of "ungovernable jealousy of the authors of the 'Plan of Campaign.'" And that there was this ungovernable jealousy on his own side, Mr. Sexton made quite evident. For he occu- pied a great portion of his speech in a bitter attack on Sir Michael Hicks•Beach, Sir Redvers Buller, Captain Plunkett, and Judge Curran, whose great offence was that they had effected by reason and counsel a great deal more than the National League had effected by threats and intimidation. Mr. Sexton was rather amusing on the subject of the Attorney-General's opinion as to the legal right of the Government to take possession of the rents paid in by the tenants to the advocates of the "Plan of Cam- paign," when they had taken possession of them in a raid on Mr. Ponsonby's tenants. "Up to the time of examination in the police.conrt, the Attorney-General for Ireland maintained an obstinate reserve on the matter, and it was a matter of carious speculation why he should— Let concealment, like a worm i' th' bud,
Feed on his damask cheek.'
He had reluctantly admitted in the police-court, in reply to ques- tions of counsel, not only that the Government had no legal power to take money deposited by tenants in the hands of private agents, but that even if they could find the money, and had the power to recover it, they had no legal power to hand it back to any landlord."
