§ Mr. Grotesaid, that as Chairman of the Committee of Privileges, now sitting, he had been requested to submit a Motion for the addition of one Member to the present number of the body. It would be recollected, that when the hon. and learned member for Dublin (Mr. O'Connell) moved for the appointment of the Committee, he not only abstained from inserting his own name in the list, although it had been the almost invariable practice that the mover should take the Chair; but, from peculiar feelings of delicacy, he had omitted all who were in any way, whether publicly or privately, connected with the hon. member for Tipperary (Mr. Sheil). Immediately they entered upon their inquiry, the Committee arrived at a strong conviction that they should not be able to prosecute it to their own satisfaction, or with a certainty of doing complete justice to the hon. member for Tipperary, unless some Member were added to the Committee in whom that hon. Member could implicitly confide, and by whose advice he was willing at all times to be guided. It was, therefore, proposed that the name of Mr. O'Connell should be added to the list of the Committee. He had only further to state, that this Motion emanated from the unanimous wish of the Committee, and that the hon. member for Tipperary had neither suggested nor encouraged it.
§ Lord John Russellwished the Motion to be made to-morrow. In itself it seemed a very extraordinary proposition, after 250 what had already passed upon the subject, and after the formation of the Committee without the hon. and learned member for Dublin, that it should now be proposed to insert his name, without giving any similar advantage to the other side. He did not say, that he was prepared to oppose the Motion, but he trusted that a day's notice would be given to afford time for consideration.
§ Mr. Grotewas quite ready to defer the Motion till to-morrow. He begged again to say, that it proceeded from the unanimous wish of the Committee, and from no other quarter.
§ Mr. Feargus O'Connorhoped that the proceedings of the Committee would be stayed until the point was decided. The question was one of a most ridiculous nature to be submitted to the solemn adjudication of a Committee.
§ The Speakerreminded the hon. Member that it would not be necessary to put any restraint upon the Committee. The hon. member for London had stated, that it was the unanimous opinion of the Committee that justice could not be done, and the inquiry duly prosecuted, unless the additional Member were appointed. Therefore, whether the present question were or were not postponed, reliance might safely be placed in the Committee either as to the course or speed of its proceedings.
§ Mr. Warburtonobserved, that the Member proposed to be added was to act somewhat in the capacity of nominee. If the question had not been formally put, there was not a single dissentient voice to the proposition that the present Motion should be made. It was the anxious desire of the Committee that the hon. member for Tipperary should have some friend present during the examination of the witnesses upon whom he could rely, and he trusted that the House would not object to the appointment of the hon. and learned member for Dublin.
Mr. O'Connellmight be permitted just to say, that the Committee had done him the honour to send for him to be present at their proceedings; but that when he came into the room, he had stated his extreme unwillingness to remain there in the doubtful capacity of adviser, when he had no right to take part in the proceedings as a member of the Committee. He had, therefore, totally declined attending, until the House had decided the point now in question.
§ Sir Robert Peelsaid, that the opinion that the hon. Member should belong to the Committee, was unanimous. The charge personally affected a Member of the House, and it was considered very important that he should have somebody present who was possessed of his entire confidence. He had thought that the individual who moved for the Committee, would have been a member of it, and would have acted in that capacity, and not merely as amicus curiœ. It was necessary that the witnesses should be cross-examined, and it would very much paralyse the abilities, and mar the efforts of any man who undertook this task, if, not being a member of the Committee, he was obliged to put his questions in writing, or at least through the medium of a third person. He hoped that no resistance would be made to deciding upon the Motion now.
§ Lord John Russellwas anxious chiefly for a little time for consideration, and certainly did not mean to oppose any obstacle to the choice of the hon. member for Dublin. It was not to be forgotten, however, that the public character and private honour of the member for Hull were likewise involved. It would be hardly fair that the hon. and learned member for Dublin should have the opportunity of putting all his questions with the ability he was known to possess, in favour of his friend, and that no other Member should be present for the same purpose on behalf of the member for Hull.
§ Sir Robert Peelentered into the feelings of the noble Lord, but begged to remark that the hon. member for Hull was not a party accused.
§ The Question—"That Mr. O'Connell be a member of the Committee," was agreed to.