MR. GLADSTONE, in moving that the Orders of the Day be postponed until after the Notice of Motion for leave to bring in O'Sullivan's? Disability Bill, said: I will only say I am sure it will be the general conviction of the House that, when an exceptional measure of this kind is about to be proposed, it should be brought before the House at the earliest possible moment after the announcement of the intention of the Government, with a view to the proceedings being brought to an issue with as much expedition as possible, in order that full justice may be done to the individual concerned. I therefore hope that those Gentlemen who have Notices on the Paper will not grudge the time occupied in introducing this Bill.
§ MR. BAGWELLsaid, the measure about to be proposed was one of the greatest consequence. He would say nothing as to the merits of the case. No one in that House would suppose he held any opinions in common with the Mayor of Cork; but this was a grave constitutional question, and he wished to ask the First Minister of the Crown what time would be given to the House to consider it—whether the subject would be fully debated, or whether it 186 was to be carried through in the same way as Bills relative to Imperial policy, such as the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act (Ireland), had been passed?
MR. GLADSTONEMy right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney General for Ireland will state the intentions of the Government on this subject. Our view is—without attempting to shut out the further judgment of the House, if grounds are made out for a longer time—that if permission is given to introduce the Bill it will be read a first time today: it will then be sent by the post this evening to the person immediately interested: it will be in the hands of Members to-morrow morning, and also in the hands of the Mayor of Cork. We think that on Tuesday next, perhaps, it will be convenient to have a Morning Sitting for the purpose of the second reading. That arrangement would give ample time to the Mayor of Cork to make an application praying to be heard by counsel at the Bar of the House, if he so desired it. That is the best judgment the Government can form of the course to be pursued in the matter; but, of course, that will not preclude us from considering any other steps that further consideration may suggest.
§ MR. BAGWELLsaid, he was perfectly satisfied.
§
Motion agreed to.
Ordered, That the Orders of the Day be postponed till after the Notice of Motion for leave to bring in O'Sullivan's Disability Bill.—(Mr. Gladstone.)