HC Deb 08 February 1881 vol 258 cc347-8
MR. M'COAN

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will lay upon the Table of the House Copies of the Ticket-of-leave on which Mr. Michael Davitt was liberated in 1877; of the Order to Sir James Ingham on which the Warrant for his re-arrest in Dublin on the 2nd instant was issued; and of the said Warrant itself; if he will state to the House what, if any, violation of the conditions of the said ticket-of-Ieavo formed the ground of Mr. Davitt's re-committal to prison; and, whether it is contrary to all precedent to cancel such tickets-of-leave unless their conditions have been violated?

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

Sir, in answer to the first part of this Question with reference to these documents, I do not think there would be any advantage, and certainly it would not be according to custom, to lay them on the Table of the House. At the same time, if the hon. Member wishes to see them, he can do so, or I will let him have copies of them if he desires it. The ticket-of-leave granted to Michael Davitt was made out in the form prescribed under the statute by the Act of 1873. The other documents alluded to are drawn up in ordinary form, there being no special circumstance about them. With reference to the second part of the Question, I have to say that it is the unquestionable right of the Crown to revoke the licence of a convict, such as this one, if there should seem to be good reason for so doing. That right certainly should not be exercised arbitrarily, or without grave and sufficient reasons; and, in the opinion of the Government, there was, and is, most grave and sufficient cause for revoking the licence of Michael Davitt. I do not think it would be for the public interest that I should, at present, be called upon to state in detail the reasons which have led Her Majesty's Government to the decision that it was not right that Davitt should any longer remain at large.

MR. M'COAN

The right hon. and learned Gentleman has not answered the third part of my Question, which, I may remark, has been altered since I gave Notice of it, in such a manner as to alter the sense.

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

I included the answer to it in the one I have given.

MR. GRAY

I wish to ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman, Whether any of the political prisoners liberated at the same time and under the same circumstances as Mr. Davitt—[Cries of "Order!"]—whether any others are still at large; and, whether it is the intention of the right hon. Gentleman to arrest them?

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

I would ask the hon. Gentleman to give Notice of that Question, as it is one which ought to be considered before it is answered.