Several witnesses have been examined before the Dublin Election Commissioners,
in further proof of the gross bribery practised by the
Tories. The Chairman, Mr. Chambers, has quite lost his wellies" at
the reiterated proofs of corruption on the part of his friends. The other day, he went so far as to threaten a very straightforward witness
with imprisonment, for prevarication ; but his brother Commissioner, Mr. Ardill, interfered, and declared that he the witness had given his testimony very fairly, and with great promptitude " he did not think he had ever seen a better witness on a table," So Mr. Chambers, under fear of an action for false imprisonment, muttered something about his regard for the liberty of the subject, and not did execute his threat.
The Dublin correspondent of the Morning Chronicle gives some further particulars of the proceedings before the Commissioners, and of the tactics of the Orange Tory agents at the election.
" It is now proved, beyond all controversy, that marts for the sale of votes were regularly established during the late election in several parts of the city. A house in Suffolk Street appears to have been the great emporium of the traffic. But this was not enough ; there were persons duly appointed and authorized by the Conservative agents to pick up as many straggling voters as could he fimnd in the streets, and to secure them the payment of tat. each, on having polled for West and H. 'Icon. This system of recruiting was clearly proved by the oaths of several witnesses, and reluctantly admitted, even by the friends and employes of the petitioners themselves. On Tuesday, the evidence of Ilatehinsou (a freeman who had testified to acts of bribery) was corroborated by a person named Hall, who admitted havin,„.• accompanied the former, after his having voted, to the street aforesaid, and having brought him to Jones's. On being asked for what purpose, on the Chairman's suggestion, he said, Sir, I decline answering, as it may criminate myself.' To the further question, whether he had got any money from the agent to whom he had given Ilutchin- son's: certificate, his answer was—' I would wish to decline answering that.' Again being asked if any money had been sent to Hutchinson to a public-house, where both had retired after leaving Suffolk Street, he once more declined answering, for a similar reason. In short, this is only an epitomise of the genera/ tactique of the Tories from the first day of the election to its close. And after this, will it be said that the Dublin freemen should he allowed to remain the exclusive creatures of the Corporation, nominated by that body alone, and sub- servient to its purposes? I maintain it as an undeniable fact, that no measured municipal reform can strike at the root of abuses in Ireland, that does not en- tirely lop off this hateful excrescence from the electoral body of the country. While on this subject, I may as well advert to the failure of a meeting which was announced for this day (Wednesday last), to raise a fund for the liberation of Captain Childers from prison. The Captain was the principal agent of the Conservative candidates at the January election, and was intrusted with large sums of money for procuring votes. He laboured with indefatigable iodising, in his calling; but with more of zeal than discretion, fur he far exceeded the extent of his memo, and gave acceptances in his own name fur a considerable amount, which his employers have left him to pay. This person was what we Call in Ireland a man of straw ; and having no property of his own, was thrown. into gaol by the holders of the bills in question, where he still is suffered to remain, the Tory fund being now pretty nearly exhausted. A meeting had been called fur the next week, to raise subscriptions for his release ; but this morning it was announced in the Tory liournals that the meeting could not take place. Thus have the Tories proved themselves as shabby as they are unprin- cipled. Many causes are assigned for this failnre, into which I shall not at present enter. Suffice it to say, Res eat notissima."
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