Mr. Callaghanpresented a Petition from the Working Classes of Cork, which stated, that, in consequence of the distress which they laboured under, in common with the whole country, they were led to think that the best way in which that distress could possibly be relieved was, by encouraging manufactures throughout Ireland. These petitioners stated, that they had, accordingly, proceeded to attend a meeting having for its sole object the consideration of this important matter, but that they found the whole garrison had been assembled. The result was, that the military had interfered, and the meeting was prevented. They stated further, that, in consequence of the peaceable demeanour of the people, no riots occurred—the meeting was dispersed, though they had assembled for no political purpose whatever. "I think," said Mr. Callaghan, "that no difference of opinion can exist as to the impropriety of calling in military assistance upon such occasions, and that while such a system is pursued, we cannot be said to be living under a free Constitution; and I trust, that his Majesty's Government will not, because other meetings have been held on the subject of the abolition of tithes, which they have termed illegal, pursue this system of military interference with the people."
Mr. Sheilsaid, he had been requested to support the prayer of the petition, which he most willingly did. He had already presented a petition to the same purport from St. Mary Shandon, and he had only to say, that he fully coincided in the opinion which had been so well and so ably expressed by his hon. friend, the member for Cork.
§ Mr. Cramptonwould not, at present, pronounce any opinion upon the matter then referred to, because it would perhaps be the subject of legal inquiry. But, if the facts stated in the petition were true, the interference of the military was wholly uncalled for. If the object for which the meeting was convened was solely that which it purported to be, that object was, most undoubtedly, a laudable one. If, on the other hand, the object was not that which it was declared to be, if it were not that of promoting the encouragement of manufactures in Ireland, if such had not been the purpose for which the meeting assembled, but that, on the contrary, it had met for the 1024 purposes of intimidation, with a view to the utter exclusion of British manufactures then, he would say, that this was an unlawful assembly. It was true, the military had interfered, but he believed no force had been used upon the occasion.
§ Mr. Huntthought that the petitioners were rather fortunate, seeing, though they lived under military law, that they had not been served as the people of Manchester were in 1819, who met to petition for Parliamentary Reform. He hoped that this affair would not turn out to be all blarney.
§ Mr. George Ponsonbysaid, the military were of course on the spot, it being a military station.
Mr. Callaghanbegged to say, that the military were placed in readiness to act—that no meeting took place because notices had been published stating that it would be prevented. It would, therefore, have been dangerous in the parties to go on with the business of the day. The assertion, then, of the learned Gentleman, the Solicitor General for Ireland, was not in accordance with the facts, because the military were assembled for a particular purpose. The meeting of the people was not accompanied by any flags, or any other display which could possibly evince a bad feeling. He had no doubt it would appear that information upon oath had been given, that breaches of the peace were expected; but as to the constitutionality of such proceedings, there could not, he thought, be a question raised upon the matter.
Mr. Sheil observed, the petition did not state, that the meeting had been dispersed, but that a vast body of troops were assembled for the purpose of preventing it; that the people in consequence, abstained from holding it, and, therefore, it was evident that the very spirit of liberty had been invaded by the interference of the military. He had no hesitation in saying, that if the meeting had been proposed for a decidedly illegal purpose, his Majesty's Government might, in such case, be warranted in interrupting its proceedings; but it appeared that no sort of improper motive existed. He must, therefore, solemnly protest against the introduction of the military, and against the interference of thousands of bayonets, to interrupt the communication between the people of Ireland and the Common's House of Parliament. His hon. and learned friend (Mr. Crampton) admitted, that the troops were assembled for the purpose of preventing the meeting; but had expressed himself in a manner which must induce him (Mr. 1025 Sheil) to suppose he was in possession of some information of which the House was ignorant.
§ Sir Frederick Trenchthought it would be going too far to say, that when the military were called out to prevent a collision between the people, such interference was objectionable. The interference of the police had been complained of at a late meeting of 40,000 persons, in which a reverend gentleman had rendered himself conspicuous with regard to the "dumb tithe proctors," at the head of 10,000 of the meeting. At least, so said the Weekly Register.
§ Mr. Leadersaid, there could be no doubt as to the character of the meeting to which the petition referred, or of the object for which it was assembled. He had received letters from the chairman of the meeting, and from several other persons, detailing the facts connected with it, from which it appeared, that several thousands of the military appeared to prevent the meeting—nearly the whole garrison were out, consisting not only of Lancers, &c., but also a brigade of artillery was marched out. These facts could be corroborated upon the testimony of men above all suspicion. If this had been a tithe meeting, there would, perhaps, have appeared something like a reason for all this, the locality being so near the city of Cork; but looking to the fact, that it was a meeting of men who were in a starving condition, of men, too, who had been last year in a state of famine, and who now met to complain to the House of their distress, he did think there had been a wanton exercise of the military power. He hoped and trusted, that the people of Ireland would yet he allowed to express their grievances without the fear of being bayoneted.
Mr. Humesaid, he had been requested by the chairman of the meeting to support the prayer of the petition, which he did most cordially. The hon. Gentleman then read an extract of the letter he had received from the secretary, stating, that Mr. Hod. nett had been arrested last Sunday by General Sir George Bingham. It appeared that he was met by Sir George and the troops on the road, and was hailed by the former in these terms. "This is the leader of the rebels, cut him down." Mr. Hod-nett was taken to a neighbouring manor, at which it was found convenient to issue a warrant against him for having attended anti-tithe meetings; this the Magistrate refused to do upon such grounds. He 1026 would fairly ask the House, whether they thought it possible that the peace of the country could be maintained under such a system? In his oppinion it could not and he thought that, if such proceedings as these were to be justified by the Government, it would be better that military law should at once be established. It was impossible to imagine that tranquillity could be preserved when the Government itself was the first to violate the laws. He was aware that great excitement prevailed in Ireland, but he thought the Government were hound to avoid any measure which could add to the ferment.
Petition to be printed.