§ Viscount Dungannonmoved for "a return of any communications received by her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Home Department from the 33 various local authorities in England and Wales relative to the assembling together and arming of certain persons denominating themselves Chartists." The noble Lord said, the subject was one of great importance, and had excited much alarm in the country. He, therefore, hoped that it would not be thought unreasonable that the papers to which he had referred should be moved for.
§ Lord J. Russellsaid, it must be obvious to the House that it would be impossible for him to comply with this request, as the papers moved for were confidential communications with the authorities in the country.
§ Colonel Sibthorpsupported the motion and said, that from the unwillingness of the noble Lord to grant the papers, it might well be supposed that there was something behind the curtain. If the noble Lord would not accede to the motion, he ought at least to make a statement to the House on the subject to which it referred.
§ Mr. Wakleyhoped, that the noble Lord would make a statement to the House on the subject of so many persons arming themselves in different parts of the country. At the same time, however, he agreed with the noble Lord that it was impossible for him, consistently with his public duty, to lay before the House the papers which were called for, and which must be regarded as confidential communications received by the home authorities. The accounts which had been given of the arming of the people were, he had no doubt, grossly exaggerated, for he could not believe that any persons could be so misled as to arm against the public peace, but he certainly thought the noble Lord should state to the House the true accounts he had received on the subject.
§ Lord J. Russellsaid, with regard to the statements of which both the hon. and gallant Member opposite and the hon. Member for Finsbury had spoken, he had none to make to the House, except that there certainly had been some attempts made by very frenzied and reckless persons in particular parts of the country during the Whitsun week. He had, however, only to day, seen the commander of the northern district, and he was glad to hear that Gentleman say that he was better satisfied with the condition of that district than he had been some time before.
§ Viscount Dungannonsaid, that it was his wish to obtain information that might be satisfactory both to the House and the country, and he had hoped to have heard from the noble Lord something more definite than the statement he had just made. He certainly was glad to find that the present aspect of the country was not so alarming as had been apprehended; but at the same time he knew this, that in the immediate neighbourhood of some part of his property there did exist very considerable alarm not very long since, and that had it not been for the Yeomanry corps, who were then on duty, very serious results might have occurred. He would not, however, after what he had heard, press his motion.
§ Motion withdrawn.