§ MR. REARDENsaid, he rose to move for a Return of the number of times the Habeas Corpus Act has been suspended in Ireland since the passing of the Act of Union; the number of Arms Acts, White-boy and other Acts of repression in Ireland passed since the said Act of Union; the number of persons sentenced to death, transportation, and imprisonment in each year for political offences; and a Statement of the Act under which each person has been so sentenced.
§ MR. J. STUART MILLseconded the Motion.
THE EARL OF MAYOsaid, he was sorry he could not consent to the production of that Return. The information sought by the first part of the Motion could be easily obtained by a reference to the statute book; but it was impossible to give the particulars required by the second part, as political offences, as far as he was aware, were not defined as such by the law. He apprehended that the prisoners to whom the hon. Member referred had been sentenced in accordance either with the statute or the common law; but it would be difficult to state the particular Acts under which they had been so sentenced. He must add that he thought no possible good would be derived from the production of those painful records of the past.
§
Motion made, and Question,
That there be laid before this House, a Return of the number of times the Habeas Corpus Act has been suspended in Ireland since the passing of the Act of Union; the number of Arms Acts, Whiteboy and other Acts of repression in Ireland passed since the said Act of Union; the number of Persons sentenced to death, transportation, and imprisonment in each year for political offences; and a Statement of the Acts under which each person has been so sentenced,"—(Mr. Rearden,)
—put, and negatived.