The Earl of Glengallgave notice, that on Monday next, he should move a resolution respecting the falsification in the returns laid before the House from the Poor-law Commissioners in Ireland. He would lay his resolution on the Table of the House. It went to the extent of saying, that a contempt of this House had been committed.
The Marquis of Normanbysaid, that, as the resolution of the noble Earl mentioned the name of one Gentleman connected with the Poor-law office in Ireland, 1245 he thought it would be convenient to the future consideration of the question if he stated to the House the position in which that gentleman stood to her Majesty's Government. At the conclusion of the examination, the facts elicited had very naturally engaged the most serious attention of the Government. A great constitutional privilege was involved—in fact, the security of all parliamentary control was involved in the implicit faith which was to be placed in all returns to both Houses of Parliament. It was not a question of degree. The principle was the same whatever might be the subject matter; and that being the case, and it being acknowledged that the documents returned to the House led to a conclusion different to that which the original documents would have produced if they had been laid on the Table, her Majesty's Government had come to the conclusion, whatever circumstances of extenuation might be offered, that the party who made these alterations ought not to remain longer in her Majesty's service. He was bound, in justice, to say, that before any communication was made by the Government to Mr. Stanley, he had tendered his resignation, stating that, feeling he had exposed himself to the censure of the House, he could only consider that he was so situated as to render it impossible for him to continue in his office with any benefit to the public service. But it must be remembered, that there was a great pressure of business in the office at the time; and he was bound to add, that Mr. Stanley's character in every other respect stood unimpeached. The noble Earl would recollect that it had been proved in evidence, that Mr. Stanley was a very nervous man, and that he was in a state of ill health. In fact, it was proved that he could not remain a day longer in town for the purposes of the inquiry without a very serious effect upon his health. Under these circumstances, he would put it to the noble Earl to say, whether it would be necessary to call Mr. Stanley to the bar.
§ The subject dropped.