The MARQUESS of LONDONDERRY saidI wish to avail myself of the present opportunity of putting two or three questions to the noble Baron who has given notice of a Motion on Monday next relative to the late unfortunate transactions at Dolly's Brae. I wish to extract from the noble Baron near me some information as to the nature or objects of his Motion. I hope I am not infringing by unjustifiable curiosity beforehand the Parliamentary usages in this respect, and I am sure the noble Lord will not think me deficient in courtesy if I endeavour to know beforehand a little of the course he means to pursue. There are none of your Lordships who are 756 more deeply interested in the county where the unfortunate event took place than myself. Possibly, therefore, some indulgence may be extended to me if I venture to express that if no practical object or positive decision is intended to be taken by a recurrence to all those over-and-over again recorded facts—if nothing is to emanate from the Motion but statements and counter-statements, so long and so fully before the public—I too much fear that fanning the flame anew, which is now expiring, by your Lordships' discussion, must only be productive of evil. If the Motion were brought forward by any Peer not in the peculiar position of the noble Lord, I might not fear its consequences so much; but, as the head of a great party which he leads in this House and in the country, it will not be possible to persuade the Catholics of Down that the noble Lord is not in league with the noble Earl at the head of the Orange Society, and that this measure and discussion are renewed for their disadvantage, and fresh bitterness and revengeful feelings will arise. Besides, my Lords, I confess, unless it is a Motion to condemn the Irish Government for the dismissal of the Earl of Roden, or a positive vote of censure on any part of the proceedings, I cannot see the practical good that can result, but much pain and inconvenience, in having two personages in collision upon statements of facts before your Lordships, out of which nothing is to arise. Report informed me, it was to be asked if there was to be an unreserved disclosure between the two noble Lords. My Lords, much private explanation has taken place, but surely we are not called upon or bound to go into this. I certainly should contemplate such a proceeding with much regret. I have the highest respect for both noble Lords; with one I have the pride of being connected; with the other I esteem his high character, and it is from feeling for both that I should be sorry to see useless exposés and explanations, which, during a long period, have been through such a press as the Irish press high coloured and exaggerated. The noble Earl (the Earl of Roden) has had every demonstration that could satisfy personal vanity. The Lord Lieutenant, I conclude, has had Her Majesty's approbation for these proceedings. Their reciprocal conduct, therefore, stands without any necessity for public vindication. May I then not be permitted to doubt if this Motion upon the public tranquillity of Down may not be attended with 757 more harm than advantage? That hitherto peaceable and industrious county is in a state of dreadful excitement, by the Presbyterian ministers at the present moment exhorting the people not to pay rents, but to resist the laws; they are more rabid in their radical doctrines than the Catholic priests have ever been formerly. To make, at present, any further agitation of the Dolly's Brae merits or demerits would be productive of increasing party differences, and surely ought, if possible, to be avoided. Feeling these sentiments, I would entreat the noble Lord, unless he clearly sees a practical object in his Motion, not to incur the risk of greater animosities in my unhappy country.
LORD STANLEYsaid, he really felt somewhat embarrassed, for the noble Marquess had said that he would put two or three questions to him; and yet, though he had listened with the most patient attention to the speech of the noble Marquess, he had not heard either of the questions to which he was expected to give an answer. If the noble Marquess meant to ask him for the precise nature of his Motion, he would furnish him with the particulars of the papers for which he intended to move, of which he had given the noble President of the Council a list last night, and which he now formally laid on the table of the House. What connexion the noble Marquess might perceive between the proceedings at Dolly's Brae, and the reluctance of his tenants in the county of Down to pay their rents, he (Lord Stanley) had no knowledge. As to the receipt of the noble Marquess's rents, that was a matter not connected with the proceedings of their Lordships, and might arise from other causes than the agitation ensuing after the events at Dolly's Brae. If the noble Marquess was afraid of the excitement which the discussion of his Motion might occasion, he would dissipate his alarm by promising that he would not allude either to the noble Marquess himself, to his tenants, or to his rents, and that he would confine himself strictly to the great constitutional question which he should then endeavour to bring under the consideration of the House. If the noble Marquess really wanted to know the object of his Motion, he hoped that he would come down and listen to the statement which he should make on Monday night.
The MARQUESS of LONDONDERRYdenied that he had ever said that the agitation which was now going on in the 758 county of Down was owing to the transactions at Dolly's Brae. But, as the agitation on that subject had been followed by agitation on other subjects, and especially on the payment of rent, he considered it to be very unwise in the noble Baron to renew an agitation which had been the signal for raising all the agitation which followed.
§ House adjourned.