—Lord Ashleysaid that, with a view of saving the time of the House, he would take the liberty of putting a question to the noble Lord, the Secretary for the Colonies. He wished to know whether a rumour which prevailed was correct, that Mr. Pare had ceased to hold the office of superintendent registrar of the town of Birmingham.
§ Lord John Russellsaid that Mr. Pare had tendered his resignation of the office of superintendent registrar of Birmingham. That resignation had been accepted, and Mr. Pare had ceased to hold the office.
§ Lord Ashleysaid, that Mr. Pare having ceased to hold the office, he would not at present bring forward the motion of which he had given notice. He must be allowed to say, however, that if Mr. Pare were guilty, the Government ought to have passed sentence on his conduct, and if he were not guilty they ought to have supported him. He should take the liberty of bringing the whole subject under the notice of the House at an early period.
§ Mr. Warburtonrose, but
§ The Speakerbegged to remind the hon. Gentleman that there was no question before the House.
§ Mr. WarburtonThen I move the adjournment of the House. The hon. Member said, that the noble Lord was not contented with asking a question and receiving an answer, but proceeded to make an observation with regard to Mr. Pare. He (Mr. Warburton) should therefore now state what had come to his knowledge of the character of Mr. Pare. A petition had been presented by Mr. Pare respecting his conduct, which had been the subject of observation in another place. The character of an individual was at stake, and if this opportunity were not taken of justifying Mr. Pare, as far as his conduct admitted of justification, the opportunity would be lost. It would go forth to the world that he had resigned his situation, and that no observation had been made upon the mode in which the circumstance had taken place ["Order, order."] He would stand on his right to make this observation ["Order" and "cheers."]
§ The SpeakerThe hon. Member has moved the adjournment of the House. I apprehend that making that motion does not entitle him to go into observations on another subject.
Mr. S. O'Brienbelieved that this was the first time the House had shown an indisposition to hear the defence of an individual who had been openly assailed in the House.
§ Lord Ashleycould assure the hon. Member for Bridport, that he had not said a word against Mr. Pare. He had merely said, hypothetically, that if Mr. Pare was guilty, the noble Lord should have dismissed him; and if not guilty, the noble Lord should have brought the whole force of the Government to support him.
§ Mr. Warburtonsaid the noble Lord had given notice of a motion upon the conduct of Mr. Pare. It was then announced that Mr. Pare had resigned, and no observation having been made upon that by the noble Lord, it would be left in doubt whether Mr. Pare was guilty or not. It would be the consummation of injustice to refuse to hear his defence. If he gave a notice on the subject, he could not tell when he might have an opportunity of bringing it before the House. In the meantime Mr. Pare's conduct would be subject to all the reflections that might be made. The hon. Member was proceeding, when
§ Sir George Clerkrose to order, and said it was totally contrary to the practice of the House to move an adjournment, and then proceed to make observations upon some other subject.
§ Mr. Warburtonwould not press the subject upon an unwilling House, but would call the attention of the House to the petition of Mr. Pare to-morrow.
§ Lord John Russellcould not help observing that the whole irregularity of this discussion was owing to the course taken by the noble Lord. If the noble Lord had contented himself with asking the question, there would have been no irregularity. But the noble Lord first rose at an irregular time, and then, not contented with getting an answer, he made an observation, that if Mr. Pare was guilty, he ought to have been dismissed, and if not, to be defended. Upon that arose the whole question. He did not take notice of the observation at the time, thinking it might lead to some discussion; but he denied that the noble Lord had a right to make any inference as to Mr. Pare being guilty or not guilty of any particular crime.— Subject dropped.