Colonel Percevalthen moved for a Return of the names of the Chief Constables submitted to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland for promotion under the new Bill by the Inspector-general, distinguishing the names of those promoted, if any. He made this motion, because he considered that the understanding implied, if not expressed, by Ministers in the discussion of the Constabulary Bill last year, had been violated. The noble Lord opposite had implied, that the patronage and appointments under the Bill, should be vested in Colonel Shaw Kennedy. The declaration was hailed with cheers from both sides of the House, and, thus understood, it was permitted to pass without contradiction. The hon. and gallant Colonel referred to the speech of the noble Lord, to show that the appointments were to be nominally in the Lord-Lieutenant, but actually in the Inspector-general, in the same manner as it was exercised here in this metropolis. From the speech of the noble Lord, it was certainly to be inferred that the patronage was to be exclusively in the Inspector-General; but it since appeared, that so far from such being the fact, the appointments were with the Executive Government. The right hon. Member for Tam-worth, who took part in the debate on the Constabulary Bill last Session, understood the noble Lord in the same sense that he (Colonel Perceval) did, and with that understanding withdrew his objection. Many of the later appointments in the constabulary force had an appearance of partizanship, which would not be the case if Colonel Shaw Kennedy had had, as he ought to have had, the entire nomination.
§ Sir R. Batesonseconded the proposition. The case of Mr. Gore Jones was, in itself, sufficient to warrant the motion before the House.
§ Viscount Morpethwas unfortunately 421 placed in a position which rendered it impossible for him to assent to any of the propositions made that night by the hon. and gallant Member opposite. Instead of being at the trouble of having these returns printed, he would save time and printing-paper, by stating, that nine of the appointments were made after the manner described in the hon. and gallant Member's motion. Instead of the Inspector-general submitting the persons to be promoted to the Lord-Lieutenant, it was the Lord-Lieutenant who submitted them to the Inspector-general, and no person was appointed who had not undergone the examination of the latter. He denied, that the Constabulary Bill was passed on the faith of an understanding that the patronage was to be transferred from the Lord-Lieutenant to the Inspector-general. Neither he, nor any one on his side of the House hinted at, or assented to, such a transfer of patronage. On the contrary, it was clearly stated, that the appointment was to be with the Government. He never had made such an admission to the right hon. Member for Tamworth as that alluded to by the hon. and gallant Member opposite; and so far from any such thing being understood as arising out of the debate on the Irish Constabulary Bill, Lord Londonderry, in the other House, when discussing that measure, said that the Bill, if passed, would enable the Lord-Lieutenant to return to Ireland with a great increase of patronage. He would not go into the case of Mr. Gore Jones further than to say that, though his removal from a particular station was thought advisable, it did not appear to Government that his conduct required so grave a censure, or so severe a punishment, as dismissal.
§ Mr. Shawregretted that the right hon. Member for Tamworth was not in his place, for though the noble Lord, the Home Secretary, had not absolutely said, that the patronage would be vested in the inspector-general, both he (Mr. Shaw) and his right hon. Friend (Sir R. Peel) understood that such was to be the case. They understood that the discipline of the whole force was virtually to be vested in Colonel Shaw Kennedy.
§ Mr. Bellewconsidered that the police force had greatly improved under the present Government. They were not now viewed by the people of Ireland in the same light as they were formerly. People 422 were beginning to view them as protectors, not as partisans. It was true they had not as yet become popular, for there were many persons in the force who possessed as strong feelings on political matters as the hon. and gallant Colonel himself; but if the present Ministry continued in power for two years longer they would be favourably viewed by all parties in Ireland. With respect to the impartiality with which promotion took place in this force the small proportionate number of Roman Catholics sufficiently testified it, and there was no charge with respect to misconduct which was not at once met with the utmost alacrity on the part of the Government. The police force and the national system of education were the peculiar objects of hostility. Under former Governments the police were used in such employments as were calculated to render them highly unpopular. They were compelled to do the duty of tithe proctors and bailiffs. By the course which the present Government adopted they were freed from this odium.
§ Lord John Russellsaid, that the right hon. Member for the University of Dublin certainly misunderstood him in what he had said when the Irish Constabulary Bill was under discussion. He never had said, and never intended to say, that the patronage of the police force should be vested in Colonel Shaw Kennedy, and not in the Lord-Lieutenant. He understood when the measure was first proposed there was a strong objection to it, lest the person who was to be placed at its head might entertain any strong political bias. To obviate this objection, he wrote to Colonel Shaw Kennedy, to ascertain whether that gentleman would accept the appointment; and having obtained his consent, he then stated to the House that Colonel Shaw Kennedy, would be appointed Inspector-general, and have the direction and disposition of the force. This was all he had said, and the statement appeared to have given general satisfaction.
§ Sir R. Batesonwould solemnly assure the House that he understood the whole patronage was to be vested in Colonel Shaw Kennedy.
Colonel Percevalread an extract from the speech of Sir Robert Peel, to show that the right hon. Baronet understood the propositions of Government in the same manner that he did, and the cheers of the whole House when the right hon. Baronet spoke the passage showed that they as- 423 sented to his meaning. The passage left it distinctly to be understood that though the patronage would be nominally in the Lord-Lieutenant it would virtually rest in Colonel Shaw Kennedy. That was the general expectation; indeed, he might almost say it was the compromise upon which the Bill passed. For himself he would say that many of the appointments to this force savoured of partisanship.
§ Motion negatived.