GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND. (Hansard, 12 April 1839)

§ Sir R. Peel

said, he had prepared a draught of the amendment that he intended to move to the motion which the noble Lord opposite, the Secretary for the Home Department, had intimated his intention of submitting to the House on Monday next. It would be recollected, that in the early part of the week he (Sir R. Peel) had said, that on this day, or if possible earlier, he should, in order to prevent the House being taken by surprise, give notice of the amendment which he purposed moving to the motion on the subject of Ireland which stood for Monday. His intended amendment contained some reference to proceedings which had recently taken place before the other House of Parliament, and he was aware, that in point of form he could not deliver in a notice which referred to any proceedings of the Lords without the appointment of a committee to search the Lords' journals. He took for granted, that at a later period of that night the noble Lord would allow him to move for such committee; in the meanwhile he should, for the convenience of the House, read the notice of amendment which he intended to place upon the book. The right hon. Baronet read as follows:— Resolved—That, on the 13th day of March last, a Motion was made in this House for the production of various documents connected with the state of Ireland in respect to crime and outrage, including communications made to the Irish Government relating to offences connected with ribandism, and all memorials, resolutions, and addresses, forwarded to the Irish Government by magistrates, or other official persons, in respect of crimes and outrages committed in Ireland, and the answers thereto. That the period included within the returns so called for, extends from the commencement of the year 1835 to the present time; and that the motion made for the pro- 1322 duction of them was assented to by this House, no opposition to it having been offered on the part of Her Majesty's Government. That, on the 21st day of March last, the House of Lords appointed a Select Committee 'to inquire into the state of Ireland since the year 1835, in respect to crime and outrage, which have rendered life and property insecure in that part of the empire.' That, in consequence of the appointment of such Committee by the House of Lords, it has been proposed that this House should resolve, 'That it is the opinion of this House, that it is expedient to persevere in those principles which have guided the executive Government of Ireland of late years, and which have tended to the effectual administration of the law, and the general improvement of that part of the United Kingdom.' Resolved, That it appears to this House that the appointment of a Committee of Inquiry by the House of Lords, under the circumstances and for the purpose above-mentioned, does not justify Her Majesty's Ministers in calling upon this House without previous inquiry, or even the production of the information which this House has required, to make a declaration of opinion with respect to one branch of the public policy of the executive Government, still less a declaration of opinion which is neither explicit as to the principles which it professes to approve, nor definite as to the period to which it refers; and that it is not fitting that this House should adopt a proceeding which has the appearance of calling in question the undoubted right of the House of Lords to inquire into the state of Ireland in respect to crime and outrage, more especially when the exercise of that right by the House of Lords does not interfere with any previous proceeding or resolution of the House of Commons, nor with the progress of any legislative measure assented to by the House of Commons, or at present under its consideration.