§ EARL FITZWILLIAMpresented a petition from the Grand Jury of the county of Tipperary against the rate in aid. The persons who signed would prefer an income tax in Ireland to a rate in aid.
§ LORD MONTEAGLEthought it was satisfactory to see, on the part of petitioners—north, south, east, and west—that there was manifestly no indisposition to contribute for the relief of existing distress; but their objection was to the proposed mode of taxation. He wished to take the opportunity of making one remark—though, perhaps, it was not regularly connected with the petition—with respect to a proposition that had been thrown out in another place for the improvement of Ireland. For the first time since the Union there was put forward a large and extended measure, which was calculated to improve the condition of that country. He could not but hail it as a matter of great hope for the country with which he was connected, that there should be found somebody who would undertake to bring the case forward, and discuss the question of Ireland, not with a view to prop up a system defective in itself, and which had been found wanting on the occasion when its services were most required, but to discuss the case of Ireland for the purpose of seeing what remedy it would be expedient to apply to that case. 136 He viewed the period at which this proposition was put forward as a very great era, and he considered the proposition itself as an important event in the times in which they lived. He trusted that that proposition would receive due consideration, with a view to meeting the peculiar circumstances of the people of Ireland.
§ EARL FITZWILLIAMbegged, in consequence of what had fallen from his noble Friend, to say a few words. He entirely concurred in the observations he had made in relation to a proposition of which, though not regularly before them, they had obtained some information. As far as he understood the proposition, the object of the right hon. Baronet who brought the question before the other House of Parliament was, to deal with the population of Ireland in three different modes—that is to say, he would encourage their employment by private employers; he would employ another portion of them in public works; and he would either assist or provide, on the part of the State, for the emigration of others. Those three points had since passed through his (Earl Fitzwilliam's) mind, and he had endeavoured to take them into his consideration. The proposition had come before the public from high authority, and if he had not detailed a very minute plan, he had at least sketched out for the consideration of the public the most useful proposition that ever had been yet made for the improvement of Ireland. He trusted that, coming from that high quarter, it would obtain more consideration than a similar plan had obtained when suggested by an isolated individual like himself (Lord Fitzwilliam). He would not be satisfied in his own mind if he did not express how much he felt to that Gentleman for having made that proposition. He did so with more satisfaction because with that right hon. Gentleman he had not the slightest connexion or communication.