POSTSCRIPT.
SATURDAY NIGHT.
Ireland was again a prominent topic in the House of Commons last night ; being the subject of various random questionings, some of which came to nothing. One very important statement was made, in reply to Mr. SHEIL and Mr. WYSE, by Sir JAMES GRAHAM—
He said that Government felt the necessity of introducing a bill for the registration of voters in Ireland; but the difficulty lay in the tact that a mere alteration of the registration would cause a diminution of the county consti- tuency; which Ministers were anxious to avoid. They had thought of a plan, however, of compensating for that diminution by means of an improved sys- tem of valuation under the Poor-law ; and they hoped to carry a measure on that principle of compensation this session. In its general features the bill would resemble the English Registration Bill.
Lord Josue RUSSELL endeavoured to force a statement of general po- licy from Sir Robert Peel—
Ile first took the opportunity of stating, that the post which the late Go- vernment offered to Mr. O'Connell was not that of Chief Baron of the Ex- chequer, but that of Master of the Rolls, which Sir Michael OLoghlen was understood to be about to resign. He then adverted to the extraordinary state of affairs in Ireland—rumours that Dublin Castle and the Pigeonhouse were under preparation for defence, and the despatch of military reinforcements from England. The country, he said, would expect a full:statement from Ministers respecting those movements, especially at a time when reduction of expendi- ture was so necessary. If Government made no new proposition, he intended, in no long time after the recess, to move an address to the Crown, conveying the advice of the House at this important juncture in public affairs.
Sir ROBERT PEEL declined to reenter upon the general subject of Ireland after three nights' debating. He guarded the House against the rumours afloat, which were often incorrect. Mr. HUME having attacked the Ministerial policy, especially in regard to the "sinecure Church," the appointments, and National Education, Sir ROBERT PEEL took the opportunity of stating that Mr. Smith, the Attorney-General for Ireland, when a candidate for the representation of Dublin Univer- sity, refused to give a pledge that he would oppose the system of edu- cation; and the Solicitor-General had actually been one of the Com- missioners for carrying out that system. There was some more desul- tory discussion ; in which Sir HENRY BARRON was very violent against Ministers. Mr. MOORE O'FERRALL, as an original Commissioner of Irish Poor-law Inquiry, urged the necessity of amending the laws of landlord and tenant ; and Mr. LANE Fox declared that he should per- sist in his motion for the repeal of the Catholic Relief Bill, as he could prove Popery to be the cause of all the confusion (Loud laughter.) The order of the day having been moved for the second reading of the Canada Corn Bill, Lord WORSLEY moved as an amendment, that the bill be read a second time that day six months. Thus the mea- sure was debated all over again. The amendment was supported by Mr. J. E. DENNISON, Mr. BENETr, Mr. P. M. STEWART, Mr. BANRES, Mr. MITCHELL, Mr. VERNON SMITH, Mr. SHEIL, Sir CHARLES NAPIER, Mr. WODEHOUSE, and Mr. BLecnsTorin ; opposed by Mr. ELIOT YORKE, Mr. STUART WORTLEY, Mr. G. W. HOPE, Lord STANLEY, and Lord NORREYS. The novelties in the debate were few. Mr. SHEIL taunted Ministers with having, at a private meeting, threatened their supporters with resignation if the bill were rejected : they had much better have appealed to the country. Lord STANLEY sharply denied that Ministers had taken the "indecent liberty" imputed to them by Mr. Sheil; and did not wonder that a member of the late Government should re- commend any measure rather than resignation. He remarked that the agriculturists had just now little to fear from the bill : flour at Montreal was now from 22s. 6d. to 25s. per barrrel at New York it was 2s. 6d. higher ; and it was expected that New York would require the chief part of the Western produce of this year. Lord NORREYS created much amusement by quizzing Mr. Blackstone for dining with Sir Robert Peel the day after his exposition of the new Corn-law, and then getting up meetings to malign him for it ; which drew from Mr. BLACKSTONE some indignant reply. On a division, the second reading was carried, by 209 to 109; majority, 100.
Some notices were renewed for days after the Whitsuntide recess. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER is to move the Sugar-duties on the 12th Jane.
The House adjourned till Thursday next, the 8th June.
Previous page
