THE EARL OF KIMBERLEYMy Lords, I wish to take the opportunity, before the Public Business of the House commences, of stating that it is my intention on behalf of the Government to present on Thursday next a Bill founded upon the evidence taken before the Committee of the House of Commons on the state of Westmeath. The Bill will have for its object the repression, within certain local limits, of the crimes and outrages which, as shown by the evidence, are perpetrated by secret societies. I observe that a noble Friend of mine (the Marquess of Clanricarde) has given notice that he will move to-morrow for the communication to this House of the Report of the Committee of the other House. As, however, my noble Friend who leads the Government in this House (Earl Granville) has already stated that there is no objection to those Papers being communicated, and as the House will no doubt wish to have them as soon as possible, I hope that, without any discourtesy to the noble Marquess, I may to-night move for the Papers. I propose, if agreeable to your Lordships, to fix an early day after Thursday for the second reading of the Bill.
§ THE DUKE OF RICHMONDMay I ask the noble Earl when the Papers relating to the Westmeath Committee will be printed and in the hands of noble Lords? We ought to have them as soon as possible, before being asked to discuss a measure founded on them.
THE EARL OF KIMBERLEYsaid, it was because they ought to be presented as soon as possible, and in order to enable their Lordships to discuss the measure founded on them, that he had ventured to anticipate the Motion of the noble Marquess for their production. He would at once move that a Message be sent to the House of Commons, requesting them to communicate the evidence taken before the Westmeath Committee.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYI should be sorry to evince the slightest unwillingness to legislate in this matter; but I hope it will not become a precedent. I protest against the principle that one House should do the inquiry and that another should do legislation. It would have been more convenient, had the Government intended that this House should initiate legislation on the subject, they should have entrusted us with the inquiry. As a matter of convenience I will offer no objection to this Motion; but I hope it will not be made a precedent.
§ EARL GRANVILLEI hope it will be a precedent for the noble Marquess not to be always lecturing the Government for not initiating measures in this House.
§
Motion agreed to.
Message to the Commons for the Report of and Evidence taken before the Select Committee appointed to inquire into the state of Westmeath and certain parts adjoining of Meath and King's County, the nature, extent, and effect of a certain unlawful combination and confederacy existing therein, and the best means of suppressing the same.