HC Deb 04 July 1831 vol 4 cc652-4
Mr. Hunt

presented a Petition from Richard O'Moran, of the County of Dublin, praying for a Repeal of the Union; he rattier regretted that that petitions of that nature had been sent to him, as he had so many from the people of England to present on the subject of Reform. He presumed, however, it arose from the members for Ireland having ceased to advocate the Repeal of the Union. The hon. Member for Kerry had suffered this question, to which he had pledged himself, to he dormant, because, as he had said, he did not wish to impede the cause of Reform. The people of Ireland had been taught that the Reform Bill would merely postpone the discussion on the Repeal of the Union; but he (Mr. Hunt) was convinced that the subject would be entirely lost sight of by those who had been its most zealous advocates.

Mr. O'Connell

wished to know if the hon. Member had anything farther to say to retard the progress of the Reform Bill? The hon. Member had stated what was unfounded in facts. The object of those who advocated the Repeal of the Union was, to obtain a cheap government, and a just administration of the laws—and they naturally hoped, that as his. Majesty's Government had brought forward a beneficial measure for England, a similar been would be extended to Ireland. The Repeal of the Union was merely a means to attain an end, and those who advocated that measure, expected now to attain their object without going through that ordeal. It was a calumny to assert, that any of the advocates for the Repeal were favourable to, or demanded, a separation from England. They merely desired a local legislature, to attend to local interests, which they thought were not sufficiently considered in that House; but they were now willing to try the effects of a reformed House of Commons, and those who told the Irish people that, they were deluded, uttered calumnious assertions.

Mr. Hunt

said, he had no wish to present this petition, as he was satisfied in having the petitions of the people of England intrusted to him; but he hoped the Irish people would not be longer led away by the assertions of the hon. member for Kerry, who, he had no hesitation in saying, was an apostate from his former opinions; he meant only a political apostate. He asserted, the hon. member for Kerry had deceived the people, for he had himself heard him declare, before a respectable meeting of upwards of 30,000 persons, held in the City Road, that he was in favour of Annual Parliaments, Universal Suffrage, and Vote by Ballot; and that nothing should induce him to abandon these opinions; and in confirmation of this assertion, he (Mr. Hunt) had a letter from the hon. Gentleman, in which he renewed these pledges, lauded him (Mr. Hunt) to the skies, and bedaubed him with praise.

Mr. O'Connell

was obliged to the hon. Member for his kindness, and set a just value on his opinion. He had never adverted to Annual Parliaments, but had always been in favour of triennial ones. The object of universal suffrage was to procure a just Representation of the people. Now the proposed Bill would, if carried into effect, in his opinion, attain that object; he was willing to try the experiment, and he trusted that its benefits would be extended to Ireland as well as England. The hon. Member had called him an apostate, but others would say he had merely changed his opinions, which he never hesitated to do when convinced he was in error. There were some persons, however, who would never allow that they had entertained erroneous opinions, and he was satisfied the time was not distant when the advocate and supporters of universal suffrage would be as rare out of the House, as they were now within it.

Mr. Slaney

was satisfied that nothing could be more injurious to the cause of Reform, than the course pursued by the hon. member for Preston. The only tendency of such statements as he had made to-night, would be to alarm the timid. He trusted the time was not distant, when the people would be able to distinguish their friends from their enemies, and would withdraw their confidence from those who called themselves advocates of Reform, but acted in such a manner as to retard its progress.

The petition was laid on the Table.