MR. SULLIVANasked Mr. Attorney General, Whether originals or copies of any of the documents referred to in the Motion of the honourable Member for Kildare on Friday the 5th March instant, relating to John Mitchel, are in the possession of the Government, or within their immediate reach; and, if any of them are, which are they, and is there any objection to lay them upon the Table of the House?
THE ATTORNEY GENERALSir, the Motion of the hon. Member for Kildare (Mr. Meldon), referred to in the Question of the hon. Member for Louth, was for the production of Papers relating to the case of John Mitchel, and was negatived on the 5th of March instant by a large majority after debate and at a time when upwards of 200 Members were present in the House. The hon. Member for Louth, in the Question which he has just put to me, in substance asks me whether I am willing to give him copies of the same Papers as were moved for by the hon. Member for Kildare, or of such of them as are within the reach of the Government; but it appears to me that were I 1801 to do so, I should be taking upon myself to act in direct opposition to the decision of the House as expressed on the Motion of the hon. Member for Kildare. I must, therefore, in reply to the Question of the hon. Member for Louth, state that I do not think it would be consistent with my duty to give copies of the Papers referred to in his Question.