HC Deb 21 May 1817 vol 36 cc812-3
Mr. Peel

rose to move for leave to bring in a bill to continue for one year the Insurrec- tion act in Ireland. This act was familiar to the House, and though passed as a general measure, was only intended for limited operation. It was unnecessary to discuss its general character, and all that he felt required from him was, to state that there were some districts in that country where the enforcement of the measure was demanded, by that protection which the state owed to the lives and property of the subject. He asked for the continuance of this confessedly rigorous measure, with the confident conviction of its having never, during the past time, been abused by the Irish government. He had in the last session given an historical account of the proceedings under that act. During the last year no application of it was made, and indeed, whenever applied, it was after the most mature consideration of all the circumstances. In this year, in the county of Louth, in consequence of a very atrocious outrage, and the manifestation of a general spirit of insubordination, the government acceded to the unanimous memorial of the magistracy calling for its enforcement. He concluded with saying, that he felt it his duty, at the moment when he called for the enactment of such a measure of rigour, though no description could give an adequate impression of the distress of many districts in Ireland, to bear testimony to the general spirit of subordination and good order that prevailed where that distress was most deeply experienced.—Leave granted.