Page images
PDF
EPUB

grievances with which they mutually charged each other. On this occasion, however, they were agreed for once in their lives: a job, like an if, possesses wonderful virtues as a peace-maker, and they brought forward a presentment to make a ditch and drain between their farms, so deep that no cattle could go through it, and so high that each should only be able to see the crown of his adversary's hat, without getting a view of the features which might rouse a new feeling of animosity. The chairman of the sessions, who was one of the local magistrates, remonstrated with these men, telling them that it was impossible by any means so to strain the law as to bring their presentment under the head of public works, and telling them that their own good sense ought to lead them to see this, and not to make the attempt by putting it to the vote of the cess-payers. After much argument, one of the farmers replied, that he never would have brought forward the presentment except for "his honour;" "for you know, sir, the last time we were before you at the petty sessions, you said we waar a public nuisance, and so we thought it would be a public benefit to keep us rid (clear) of one another." This may seem a joke, as it was confined to ignorant men, and could only have cost the barony a few pounds; but the matter is past a jest when we see whole counties endeavouring to perpetrate similar or more flagrant jobs, and in matters involving many thousands of pounds, and provincial, we might almost say, national interests.

Our readers are aware that a line of railway is now open between Dublin and Drogheda, and that an act has been passed to continue it to Belfast; this, called the coast line, was preferred by Parliament to the inland line, which was supported by some of the proprietors of the county of Meath, and which it was proposed to make" to Navan direct." This railroad, from Dublin to Navan, has been tried and rejected by the highest tribunals in the land; it was rejected in favour of the coast line in 1836 by the Board of Trade, and subsequently twice by the House of Commons: in the last Session of Parliament it was thrown out by the Lords, and a bill passed enabling a company to make a line from Navan to Drogheda, which is some round for passengers to Dublin, but which opens the county Meath to the nearest sea-port, and so gives the graziers and farmers a great advantage in sending their stock and produce to Liverpool, where they find their chief market.

About a month before the appearance of Mr. Labouchere's letter, consenting to allow draining to be considered a work under this act, the country gentlemen of the county Meath met at the town of Kells, to consider the best method of employing the poor

without making a permanent charge on the county for useless works. They agreed to go to the Sessions, which were fixed for the next day at Navan, and move and second resolutions to the effect that it is inexpedient to lay out more money on unproductive works than is absolutely necessary for present relief, but that instead of doing so it is desirable to petition the Lord Lieutenant to advance money to make the new railways which have obtained their Acts, and also for the purposes of draining, subsoiling, and agricultural improvement. With these sentiments in their brains, and these resolutions in their pockets, the gentlemen reached the Court-house at Navan: the building and the town were filled with men in frieze coats, some crying out for employment, some assembled from curiosity, and some chiefly from the desire of mischief. An old and highly respectable magistrate occupied the chair, and on the motion of one of the former opponents of the Drogheda railway, Mr. Ford (Mr. O'Connell's solicitor on the great trial for sedition in 1843 and 1844) was appointed secretary. Mr. ——, one of the gentlemen who had agreed to propose one of the resolutions arranged the day before at Kells, had risen to address the meeting, when Mr. Ford, who was standing below the chairman, said, “A very high compliment has been paid me in appointing me secretary to the meeting; allow me therefore to express my thankfulness for the favour which I have just received." Mr. Ford then

spoke for two hours; in the first five minutes he returned all the thanks he wished to give, but the rest of the time was occupied by a popular harangue, detailing chiefly the advantages which the Irish nation were to derive from the failure of the crop; "they had always been badly fed-now was the time to improve their condition--potatoes had afforded but poor diet at the best of times, but now they were gone, the people must be fed, and the land must provide them with bread and meat." Of course the orator had plenty of encouragement to proceed with so flattering a subject at last, as a means to this end, of giving high wages and full employment, he proposed that the Sessions should present for a new road from Dublin to Navan, that they should level all hills, and fill up all hollows.-He never expected, he said, that this should be a road for traffic, but, as the Act gives summary powers of getting possession, the work might begin at once, and he could assure the people, that a railway company would take this road when it was thus prepared as a table, and so a direct communication would be secured with Dublin for Navan, Kells, and the towns beyond. Instead of proposing counter-resolutions, as agreed upon at Kells, Mr. —— and Mr. ** proposed and seconded a resolution highly approving of Mr. Ford's plan. Mr. ** misquoted

Scripture, and said "Blessed are the poor, for their's is the kingdom of heaven." He called Mr. Ford his honourable friend, said that his eloquence had wrought a complete change in his opinion, and that now he was quite ready to support the fictitious road as a table for a new railway. One solitary individual ventured openly to dissent from Mr. Ford's proposal; he spoke shortly, but warned the meeting against attempting what was impossible. The chairman then asked, was there any one to second the counter resolution? and Mr. ***, who held a resolution from the day before, was called upon. On this Mr. *** stood up and tore his resolution to pieces, scattered the fragments on the heads of the crowd below him, and declared, with a great deal of theatrical action, that he would not second any resolution against the proposition of Mr. Ford or the welfare of the labourer. The amendment fell to the ground for want of a seconder, and the presentment for the new railway was carried by acclamation! What would our English capitalists think of such proceedings? A proposition involving vast and conflicting interests is tried before the Board of Trade and both Houses of Parliament, and every time rejected; yet at an extraordinary presentment Sessions, a few magistrates and cess-payers, led by a noted agitator, and deafened by the shouts of a hungry mob, shall have the power to overthrow four solemn decisions of the highest tribunals in the united kingdom, and tax the barony with an expense as yet only undertaken by large joint-stock companies, and guaranteed by the payment of one-tenth of the capital. We have heard of driving a coach and four through an Act of Parliament; but we believe King Hudson himself never contemplated such a method of driving a locomotive engine through all established precedents and rules, and taking forcible possession of the prerogative of the three legislative powers of the British Empire.

Of course the Lord Lieutenant did his duty in this case: it was so plain, that we scarcely know whether it is not almost an insult to say that he did it well. A deputation called at the Castle, and he received them most courteously, entered into all their feelings as to the usefulness of railways and the propriety of finding work for the poor, promised to forward the memorial to London, but said at the same time that he could not hold out the slightest hopes of success.

A Western newspaper of recent date thus describes the Sessions at Castlebar:

"At Castlebar, on Monday, the magistrates were employed passing presentments all day, and in fact all night. The reign of democracy, or rather

ruffianism, was triumphant. Neither rank nor respectability was regarded. The overbearing mob, hounded on by those who ought to know better, exercised the power they acquired. Whatever their reverences said, should be so; the cess-payers were threatened and bullied by the shouts of the populace; and the opportunity was taken to insult the highest in the land. The result of the meeting was, that £75,350 was passed for this barony to support the people for nine months-a sum twice the yearly income of the whole barony. When, how, or by what means, do the cess-payers mean to pay this? We say never. The county we pronounce to be bankrupt-the landlords ruined-which is the consummation most sincerely desired by the present rulers of the people."

Let us now turn to Munster, the most disorderly portion of Ireland. We extract a specimen of extraordinary presentment Sessions in Ireland, and fix upon Macroom, in the barony of West Muskerry, and the county of Cork. The date is October 13th, 1846:

66

BARONY OF WEST MUSKERRY.

"The extraordinary presentment sessions for this barony was held on Tuesday in the Court-house of Macroom. Captain Wallis was moved to the chair.

"The crowd which crushed into the building made it almost insufferable to remain there, while occasionally the giving way of a form or partition caused anxiety for the safety of those in its neighbourhood. Captain Broderick, of Conciliation Hall, made himself particularly prominent in getting presentments granted. The proceedings were conducted in a manner that rendered it totally impossible to give a faithful report. No discussion ensued that ten at least were not speaking at the same moment, while those in the body of the court were shouting with all their strength.

"The Secretary read the instructions of the Lord Lieutenant in reference to carrying out drainage and subsoiling under the Labour Rate Act. Before entering on the making of presentments for drainage and subsoiling, it would be necessary, he said, to determine upon the amount of destitution, and what would be requisite to assess to meet the destitution.

"Mr. Fitzgerald-Will other sessions be called to allow applications for drainage?

[ocr errors]

Secretary--I'm sorry to think we will have to go round again.

"Mr. Fitzgerald said that the matter was so confused he wished to know whether, if he got a presentment for drainage, he could, if he subsequently thought it prudent, let the presentment drop.

"The Secretary saw no obstacle in his doing so.

"Mr. J. E. M'Carthy-Then, we should make other presentments to provide for the people, and not to leave it to whim-(shouting.)

[ocr errors]

Captain Gordon would recommend them to make baronial presentments sufficient to meet the destitution of the district.

"The Secretary wished particularly to call attention to the paragraphs in the instructions Nos. 1 and 2. They were

"1. The presentment-sessions will estimate the sum which it may be necessary to raise off the barony for the purpose of affording employment. "2.-They will also ascertain the proportion of such assessment which, according to the last poor-law valuation, may be chargeable upon each electoral division of an union, or portion of an electoral division (if the whole shall not be included) in the barony; and they will obtain for this purpose, from the clerk of each poor law union, a copy of such valuation.'

"Mr. M. H. Warren had made a calculation of the amount necessary to

feed the people for three months.

"Mr. J. E. M'Carthy-Three months won't do―(shouting.)

"Mr. M. H. Warren would recommend them to vote sufficient for three months, and no more- -(uproar.)

"Mr. J. E. M'Carthy-That would be doing nothing, considering the misery of the people-(shouting.)

"Mr. M. H. Warren-After the instructions of the Lord Lieutenant, it is right that we get breathing time-that we be enabled to see our way, and consider whether we can take advantage of the plan proposed for draining(yells of disapprobation.) If we have not works enough, we can call another sessions (great uproar.)

"Mr. J. E. M'Carthy said that it was likely it would take four weeks to set the people to work after they granted the presentments to-day, and if they only granted works for a limited period, see the time which would be lost in setting the machine to work again-(shouting.)

"Mr. M. H. Warren, amidst great uproar, exclaimed that he was as ready to uphold a starving population as any other man, but he did not see why they should swamp the barony in granting works which would occupy six months (uproar.)

"Mr. R. Warren said that if the works did not commence before four weeks, they might as well not meet at all-(yells.) They ought to force the government to press them on. A meeting took place in this town lately, and instead of food the government sent bayonets; but he rejoiced to say that the people were quiet, and the bayonets were unnecessary-(cheering.) Were the people to starve? Were they to be left without employment for four weeks-(yells terrific.) There were no provisions in the country, and to save the people the government should be forced to act-(yelling.) The sessions were now assembled, and works would be passed. This was Tuesday, and if possible the works ought to commence next Monday-(tremendous yelling.)

"A voice-Call on Captain Gordon-(yells.)

"Mr. R. Warren-I won't call on Captain Gordon-he is not the manthe government is the party to be called on, and if the government don't do it, on them be the consequences?-(loud shouting.) Don't let us have Tipperary boys here, or Youghall boys

"Father Kearney-Or Dungarvan boys.

"Mr. R. Warren-Let us force on the government to do its duty, and if it don't, let it blame itself for what may follow-(tremendous yelling.)

"Secretary-Really, Mr. Chairman, we have not met for this-our duty is business, and let us go to business-(great tumult.)

"Mr. Colthurst agreed with Mr. Massy Warren that they should grant presentments for a limited period, and if necessary he was willing they should meet again, and tax themselves even for twelve months-(hear, hear.)

"Father Kearney said that the maxim of moralists was that the safest side was best, and if this meeting considered that, it would arrive at a better conclusion than that come to by Mr. Massy Warren or Mr. Colthurst (shouting.) If it were imperative that all granted to day should be carried out, he would say it would be wise to act upon their suggestion, but as the Lord Lieutenant had a power of supervision, of acting with caution and discretion, in respect to the carrying out of the works, he would say that this session should put it beyond possibility that the people should starve-(loud shouts of exultation.)

"Dr. Baldwin-Six months will not be sufficient. You will have to pass over ten months before next harvest.

"Father Kearney-I'm in possession, sir-(shouts.) We must have a promise by your acts to-day that the people must not starve, and that the resources of the country be developed-(loud shouting.)

"Mr. M. H. Warren-By my plan long lines of road will be defeated, and that's the rub-(tremendous uproar.)

« PreviousContinue »