§ MR. BERNAL OSBORNEwished to put a question to the noble Lord at the head of the Government as to his intention to propose the renewal of the Irish Arms Act. A great many Irish Members were detained in town in consequence of the notice which had been given on this subject; and he hoped, therefore, that the noble Lord would now state his reasons for proposing the renewal of the Act, and whether it was the intention of the Government to retain the registration and branding clauses?
§ MR. LABOUCHEREsaid, it was more convenient that he, rather than his noble Friend (Lord J. Russell), should answer the questions of the hon. Gentleman. It was a somewhat unusual course to ask the Government to state their reasons for proposing a measure which was not actually under discussion; but he was obliged to the hon. Member for affording him an opportunity of making a short statement on this subject. He could assure his hon. Friend that the step the Government had determined to take with reference to the measure to which he had alluded, had not been resolved on without mature consideration. He had not altered any opinion he had ever held with regard to the Arms Act. He considered that many of its provisions were most objectionable; and the working of the measure had not tended to change the unfavourable opinion he had originally entertained of it. He must state, however, to his hon. Friend and the House, what was the position of the Government with regard to this measure. They had come to the conclusion that it was impossible altogether to dispense with it; they were satisfied that they would not be justified in leaving Ireland without some of the provisions contained in that measure; and he believed that this feeling was en- 374 tertained by a great majority of those Irish Gentlemen who were really acquainted with the condition of Ireland. The Government had to consider whether they should endeavour to alter the present Arms Act—to take from it those provisions which they thought objectionable, leaving those which they considered necessary and useful. With that object the measure was carefully considered; but it was found that the provisions of the Act were so much complicated and mixed up, that it would have been utterly impossible, without a very long period of consideration and deliberation, to adapt the measure to their views. The Government had, therefore, to consider what course they should pursue; and they come to the conclusion that the best course was to ask the House to intrust to them the power granted by the existing Arms Act, to be exercised on their responsibility, and to be continued only for a limited period, promising that early in the next Session they would bring forward such a measure as, after due deliberation, they might feel justified in recommending. He begged to call the attention of the House to a circumstance which would indicate what were the views of the Government on this subject. The measure proposed by the Government was a continuance Bill; but was not a continuance Bill of the usual kind for one year. The Government had introduced an express provision into the Bill that it should expire on the 1st of May next year, thereby giving a pledge to the House that they would at as early a period as possible bring the subject under the consideration of the Legislature. He had directed his attention to the branding and registration clauses; but, after consultation with others, and after due inquiry, his impression was that it was advisable to pass the measure in its present form, without attempting any of those piecemeal alterations which he considered very dangerous with regard to a Bill of this nature. He could only say, that in the measure he had most reluctantly introduced on this subject, he had at least given a pledge of the sincerity of his desire to bring forward the whole question early next Session, with a view to the revision and amendment of the law.