Mr. Hutchinsonrose and said, that notwithstanding what he had heard that night, with respect to originating motions without notice, he would assert the right which every member of parliament possessed of doing so; and would, therefore, proceed to address a few observations to the chair, on a notice which he was about to give. It was now the 13th year since the enactment of the legislative union between Great Britain and Ireland. It would be in the recollection of the members of that House, that at the time of the passing of that act, it was carried, in consequence—in direct consequence—of promises made on the part of the government of England, by persons in the highest stations, and with the sanction of the highest authority—
§ The Speaker.I conceive that the hon. member is not proceeding in a right course. I should like to know whether the hon. member is making a motion, or giving a notice.
Mr. Hutchinson.I do not wish, at this hour, to detain the House many minutes; but I insist on the right which every member possesses of originating a motion without the least notice, if he should so please.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer.Then, if the hon. gent. will insist on his privilege, it is right that that privilege should be ascertained. No member can make a motion, without the permission of the House, after five o'clock, if the regular orders of the day have been disposed of.
§ The Speaker.The right hon. gent. is right. If the orders of the day are disposed of, no member has a right to make a motion without the permission of the House.
Mr. Hutchinson.It was not my intention to state my objections at large against the continuance of the legislative union: I merely claimed my right as a member of parliament; but I see that as soon as one word on the subject of Ireland or the Union is said, no indulgence from the right hon. gent. is to be expected. I ask no indulgence from him; but if I am to be precluded from addressing a few observations to the chair, let the House remember that the right hon. gent., the Prince Regent's first minister, has prevented an Irish member—
§ The Speakersaid, he had already stated what was the order of proceeding in that House.
§ Mr. Burton, after an experience of 30 years as a member of that House, entirely agreed with the Speaker as to the usage laid down by him.
Mr. Hutchinson, after a short interval, stated that he rose with the intention of giving notice of a motion on a subject of the very last importance, and he hoped to be indulged with permission to stale, shortly, his reasons for making the motion of which he was now to give notice.
The Chancellor of the Exchequeragain spoke to order. It was an established rule of the House, that no member, in giving notice of a motion for a future day, should be permitted to anticipate the debate of that day, by assigning the reasons by which he was actuated in giving his notice. The propriety of this rule was apparent, because there being no opportunity afforded on the other side of answering the reasons adduced, an undue prejudication of any particular question might thereby be occasioned. He was aware of the force of this objection on the present occasion, and was desirous of guarding the House and the public against any premature impression which the ingenuity and eloquence of the hon. gent. was calculated and likely to produce.
§ The Speakerheld, that it had been the 126 uniform practice of the House to confine members giving notice of a motion, to the precise purport of the motion, and the day on which it was to be brought forward.
Mr. Hutchinsonthen gave notice that he should, on the first Tuesday in March, move for the Repeal of the Legislative Union between Great Britain and Ireland.