§ Mr. O'Connorpresented a Petition from the members of the King's County Political Union against the Grand-Jury System in Ireland, and praying for an Amendment in the system.
Mr. O'Connellhad been requested to support this petition. He considered the Jury Laws now in contemplation were a mere mockery. Last year they might have been of use, but now, when three or five young ensigns were to have all the power thrown into their own hands, of what avail would any amendment be in the Jury Laws? The thing was a mockery on the country altogether. If such an atrocious and abominable measure were carried through that House, of what use was it to amend the Jury Laws? He would not, in such a case, like to be in the situation of English Members when they again went before their constituents. If they could sit in their seats while such an abominable and atrocious measure was going through the House, they would well deserve the fate they were likely to meet with on that occasion, for a spirit had grown up amongst the people in direct contradiction to the way in which Members were now acting. The present was, at all events, a most premature period, at which even to talk of a Jury Bill for Ireland, when Trial by Jury itself was about to be abolished in that country.
§ Mr. Aglionbysaid, that it was with the deepest regret, that he listened, night after night, to those attacks on English Members by the hon. and learned member for Dublin. The interests of Ireland were as dear to English Members as they were to the hon. and learned Member himself. He begged to tell that hon. and learned Gentleman, that when the measure, to which he had alluded, came before the House, he would attend to it both at large and in detail; and, notwithstanding the taunts thrown out by the hon. and learned Member, he would do his duty upon it, and he believed, in so speaking for himself, he spoke for nine-tenths of the English Members.
§ Petition to lie on the Table.