THE GREAT SCENE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2510, 6 April 1881, Page 2

THE GREAT SCENE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The following full report of the proceedings in the House of Commons on February 3, relating to the suspension of 34 Irish members, is taken from the “ Times”:—■

Mr Parnell—l beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Mr Michael Davittwas arrested at 1 o’clock to-day. (Cheers.) Sir W. Harcourt—Yes, sir. (Loud and prolonged cheering.) After consultation with my colleagues, the Law officers of the Crown and the Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant, I have come to the decision that the conduct of Michael Davitt has been incompatible with the ticket-of-leave by which a convict enjoying the conditional favour of the Crown is permitted to be at large. (Renewed cheers and cries of “ Shame ” from the Irish members on the Opposition side below the gangway.) Mr Parnell—l beg to ask the Home Secretary which are the conditions Michael Davitt has violated ?

Sir W. Horcourt gave no reply to this question, and, after a brief pause, the Horne Rule members shouted out “ Answer, answer.” Mr Gladstone then rose amid loud cheers and said—l rise, sir, in conformity with the notice I yesterday gave to the House, for the purpose of calling its attention to a subject of considerable novelty—of the extremest novelty. Mr Dillon here rose to address the House amid loud cries of “ Order ” and “Chair.” When they had somewhat subsided,

The Speaker said —The right hon, gentleman is in possession of the House. (Loud cheers.) Mr Dillon, however, again rose in his place. There were loud cries of “ Chair,” and

The Speaker said —I call on the hon. member to resume his seat. (Cheers.)

Mr A. M. Sullivan—But the hon. member rises to a point of order. (Cries of “ Chair.”) Mr Dillon, who had remained standing, said—Mr Speaker, I rise to demand my privilege. (Eenewed cries of “ Chair ” and “ Order.’*) The Speaker, addressing the hon. member, said—ln the terras of the Standing Order I name you, Mr Dillon, as wilfully disregarding the authority of the Chair. Mr Gladstone rose amid loud cries of “ Shame ” from the Home Eule members and said —You have named Mr Dillon as wilfully disregarding the authority of the Chair, aud I, therefore, beg to move, in conformity with the standing order, “ That Mr Dillon be suspended from the service of the House during the remainder of this day’s sitting.” (Loud cheers.) The Speaker having formally put the question to the House, Mr A. M. Sullivan exclaimed in a loud voice without rising from his seat —Mr Dillon rose to a point of order. I object to the division being taken.

The House divided, and there voted —Dor the motion, 395 ; against it, 33. Majority, 362. The Speaker then said—ln accordance with the resolution just passed by the House Mr Dillon will withdraw.

Mr Dillon —I beg most respectfully to (Loud cries of " Order, order !” and “ Chair, chair !”) The Speaker—Under the present circumstances it is quite out of the question that the hon. gentleman should be allowed to address the House, and I must call upon him to withdraw. Mr Dillon—l most respectfully decline, Sir, to withdraw. (Loud cheers from the Home Rule members.) The Speaker—To carry out the order of the House, I call upon the Sergeant to remove Mr Dillon.

Mr A. M. Sullivan—On a point of order, Mr Speaker, I wish to say—(Loud cries of “ Order, order ! ” and “ Chair chair.”) The hon member for Meath still persisted in his attempt to address the House, but the loud cries of “Order” and “ Name ” continued for some moments, prevented his words from being distinctly heard. Raising his voice above the uproar, he said —In the case of the member for Northampton (Hr Bradlaugh) a debate took place on this motion. (Renewed cries of “ Order” and confusion.) The Sergeant-at-Arms, attended by his assistants, now advanced from the bar to the bench on which Mr Dillon sat, and removed the hon member from the House amid loud cries of “ bhame ” from the Home Rulers, mingled with cheers, Mr A. M. Sullivan then continued— Mr Speaker, I respectfully submit that within the rules followed last year in the case of the hon member for Northampton —(An hon member : “ Ah, but he was an Englishman,” and interruption.) There is no doubt, sir, that you were strictly within the rules in putting the motion that Mr Dillon withdraw ; but you declared last year from the chair that, without specific motion from the House arming you with the necessary power to carry out the resolution of the House, you could not act ; and when the hon member for Northampton refused to withdraw, the Prime Minister or some one else got up and gave you by motion of the House, which was debated, the authority without which you declared you could not act. I therefore, sir, respectfully submit that the conduct now pursued is a violation of precedent, a violation of liberty, an act of illegality. I say on my own respon-

sibilily that we have come back to the period of the Third Empire. I trust the House will pause in what it is now doing in proceeding to have ray friend dragged from his seat. The Speaker—l will at once answer the hon. member on the point of order which he has raised. The hon. member ssys that the hon. member for Northampton was removed from the House, and that it was done by a special order of the House. That is perfectly true. I was unable to acton my own authority on that question because there was no order of tlic House. But there is now an order of the House that Mr Dillon should be suspended, and !■ am bound to carry out the order of the House. (Cheers.) With regard to the other point, it is immaterial whether Mr Dillon rose to a point of order or not. He was entirely defying the authority of the Chair by bis conduct. It is a well understood rule that when the Speaker rises every member is bound to resume his seat. (Cheers.) It was in consequence of that defiance of the the authority of the chair that he was suspended. (Loud cheers.) Mr Gladstone rose and said—The point of order is now disposed of—when Mr Sullivan rose amid loud cries of “ Chair, chair.”

The Speaker—l must now call upon the right hon gentleman— The O’Donogliue—l rise to move the adjournment of the House. (Loud cries of “ Order order !” “ Chair chair !”) The Speaker—The right hon gentle man is in possession, and is entitled to proceed without interruption, Mr Parnel—l beg to move that the right hon gentleman be no further heard. ■ (Loud Home Rule cheers ; indescribable confusion.) The Speaker—with the permission of the House, the right hon gentleman is in possession of the House. Mr Parnell —I insist upon my motion being put. (Loud Home Rule cheers ; cries of “ Name, name.”) The Speaker—The course which is now being taken is in the nature of wilful and persistent obstruction, and I shall therefore put in force the Standing Order, and I now call upon the right hon gentleman to proceed. Mr Gladstone rose amid loud cheering—l now propose, sir, to recommence the sentence which was interrupted when I was beginning my speech. The duty which I have to perform is a matter undoubtedly of vast importance, and is a matter which unhappily at every point is bristling with difficulties. Mr Parnell—l beg to insist as a member of this House upon my right to move that the right hon. gentleman the prime Minister be no further heard.

The Speaker—l regard this conduct as wilful and deliberate obstruction. (Cries of “ Name, name.’’) I name you, Mr Parnell, as disregarding the authority of the Chair. (Loud cheers.) Mr Gladstone—The Speaker having named the hon. member for the city of Cork in pursuance of the Standing Order of February, ]BBO, it becomes my duty to move that Mr Parnell be suspended from the service of the House during the remainder of this day’s sitting. The Speaker then put the motion to the House.

The House proceeded to divide. The Home Pule members continued in their places. When the House was cleared with the exception of the Home Pule members, the Government whips presented themselves at the table, and Lord P. Grosvenor said—l beg to report, Mr Speaker, that I am unable to clear the House for a division in consequence of some members declining to move.

Mr A. M. Sullivan said the Home Pule members continued in their places as a protest against the illegality of the proceedings. (Hear). The Speaker said the votes of those who had not thought proper to withdraw would not be counted.

The numbers were —Ajes, 405 ; noes, 7 : Majority, 398. The Speaker—l have to report to the House that several hon. members of this House who challenged the decision of the Chair did not remove from their places according to custom and take part in the division, and that, consequently, their votes will not be recorded.

Mr Gladstone—Sir, I rise on a point of order, (Loud cries of “ Order," amid which the right hon. gentlemen resumed his seat.) The Speaker->-In pursuance of the said resolution, Mr Parnell will now withdraw. (Cheers.) Mr Parnell —I respectfully decline Mr Speaker, to withdraw, as I consider that the course that has been adopted is of an arbitrary character, and is opposed to the privileges of members of this House. (Home Pule cheers.) ' The Sergeant-at-Arms then made a communication to Mr Parnell.

Mr Parnell —Sir, I respectfully refuse to witdraw unless I am compelled to do so by superior force. (Loud Home Pule cheers.) The Sergeant-at-Arms, attended b,y three of the door-keepers of the House, then placed his hand upon the shoulder of Mr Parnell, who at once rose and walked to the floor of the House, when he turned and, bowing respectfully to the Speaker, left the House amid the loud cheers and shouts of the Home Rule party, who rose to a man and waved their hats above their heads.

Mr Gladstone—l think it right, sir, to take the quickest possible notice of the communication which has just been made by yourself from the Chair. You have acquainted us with the fact that during the late division certain hon members who had challenged the judgment of the House (Home Rule cheers) declined to withdraw from the House and take part in the division. If that proceeding should be repeated, I respectfully hope that you will support the House—(loud cheers) —and will find means of preventing your orders from being treated with contempt. (Loud and prolonged cheering.) The right hon gentleman was about to resume his speech, when

Mr Finigan rose and said—Sir, I rise to move that the Prime Minister be no longer heard, and I do so, sir—(loud cries of “ Order.”) The Speaker—You have been guilty of disrespect to the authority of the Chair, and I therefore name you Mr Finigan. (Loud Cheers.) Mr Gladstone—You, Mr Speaker, having named Mr Finigan as having been guilty of disrespect to the authority of the Chair, I beg to move that Mr Finigan be suspended from the service of the House during the remainder of this sitting. (Loud cheers.) The Speaker having put the question declared that the “ Ayes ” had it. The decision of the Speaker being challenged, the House was then cleared for a division, and after an interval of 5 minutes,

Lord R. Grosvenor advanced to the table and said—Mr Speaker, I beg to report that, the House having been cleared for a division, there are several gentlemen who 1 decline to take part in such division. (Cheers from the Irish members.) Mr A, M. Sullivan—We contest the legality of this proceeding. (Cheers.) The Speaker—As I understand that several hon.' members decline to take part in the division, I now call upon them to do so, and in the event of their persisting in their determination I shall be compelled to declare that in so acting they are disregarding the authority of the Chair. The members to whom reference was made retained their seats, and the numbers were subsequently announced as follows :—Ayes, 405 ; noes, 3. Majority, 403. Lord R. Grosvenor —I have to report that the following gentlemen, members of this House, refused to leave this House when it was about to be cleared for a division :—Mr Barry, Mr Biggar, Mr Byrne, Mr Corbett, Mr Daly-, Mr Dawson, Mr Gill, Mr Finigan, Mr E. Gray, Mealy, Mr Labor, Mr Leainy,. Mr Leahy, Mr M’Cartliy, Mr' M’Coan, Mr Marum, Mr Mctgc, Mr Nelson, Mr A. O’Connor, Mr T. P. O’Connor, the O’Donogbue, the O’Gormon Mahon, Mr O’Sullivan, Mr O’Connor Power, Mr Redmond, Mr Sexton, Mr Smithwick, Mr A. M. Sullivan, Mr T. D. Sullivan. The Speaker—ln pursuance of the said resolution, I have to call upon Mr Finigan to withdraw. Mr Finigan —Mr Speaker, I most respectfully decline to withdraw, unless expelled by force. (Home Rule cheers.) The Speaker—l am bound, in pursuance of the said order, to call upon the Sergeant to remove Mr Finigan. (Cheers.) The Sergeant-at-Arms, who was accompanied by the principal doorkeeper, proceeded to the seat occupied by Mr Finigan, and having placed bis hand on the hon member’s arm, appeared to invite him to withdraw. The hon member declined to do so, and the Sergeant thereupon signalled for five messengers who stood below the bar. On their approach Mr Finigan rose and withdrew, accompanied by the Sergeant, amid the cheers of the Horae Rule members.

The Speaker—l have to inform the House that during the division several members declined to leave the House and take part in the division. (The Speaker here read the names as above.) I name those members as having disregarded the authority of the chair. (Cheers.) Mr Gladstone—Mr Speaker, in pursuance of the order of this House of February, 1880, it becomes my duty to make a motion for the suspension of the following members (naming them). I have to move that they be suspended from the service of the House during the remainder of the sitting, Mr Balfour rose to a point or order, and inquired of the Speaker whether the House should divide with regard to all the gentlemen named at once. (Cries of “ Order.”) The Speaker—lt is a question, not of order, but of convenience.

The Speaker put the question, that the members whose names he read be suspended from the sendee of the House for the remainder of the sitting. The House divided. When the House was cleared, Lord R. Grosvenor reported that there were certain members who would not leave the House in order to take part in the division. The clerk at the table ascertained that the names were the same as before. Mr A. M. Sullivan—We contest the of the whole proceeding. Mr O’Connor Power—lt is grossly illegal. The numbers were—Ayes 410 ; noes, 6—Majority, 404. Lord R. Grosvenor, addressing the Speaker said—l have to report that the hon member for King’s County refused to leave the House when it was cleared for a division.

The Speaker—ln accordance with the resolution of the House I have now to call on Mr Barry to withdraw. Mr Barry—l respectfully decline to withdraw unless removed by force. The Speaker then directed the Ser-geant-at-Arras to remove Mr Barry. The Sergeant-at-Arms, attended by three messengers, having placed his hand on Mr Barry’s shoulder the hon. member withdrew.

The Speaker—ln accordance with the resolution of the House, I have now to call on Mr Biggar to withdraw. (A laugh.) Mr Biggar—Mr Speaker, I beg leave to decline. (A laugh.) The Sergeant-at-Arms removed Mr Biggar amid some laughter, Mr Byrne on being required to withdraw, said Mr Speaker, I very respectfully decline to withdraw. He was removed by the Sergeant-at-Arms.

Messrs Corbett, Daly, Dawson, Gill, Healy, Gray, Lalor, Leamy, Leahy, McCarthy, Marum, and Metge were nest separately ordered to withdraw, and removed by the Sergeant-at-Arms. Mr Nelson, on being directed to withdraw, said—Mr Speaker, I respectfully decline to retire unless removed by force. On the approach of the Sergeant-at-Arms, the hon. member threw himself back in his chair as if to resist, but on being touched on the arm ‘ immediately withdrew, amid some laughter. Mr A. O’Connor, on being directed to withdraw, said—With great respect, I protest against this proceeding, as a violation of my rights as a member of the House, and I decline to withdraw unless compelled. The hon. member was then removed.

Mr T. P. Connoi’, being next called on, said —Mr Speaker, I protest against all these proceedings as unjust and tyrannical, and, I am afraid, leading to bad consequences, and I decline to leave the House unless compelled by superior force, The hon member was then removed.

On being called upon to withdraw. The O’Donoghue said—Mr Speaker, as I am not conscious of having done anything to disqualify me from sitting here as the representative of the electors of Tralee, I respectfully decline to withdraw unless removed. The hon member was then removed.

On being called upon to retire. The O’Gormon Mahon said—Mr Speaker, it is 50 years ago since I was sent here by the same constituency (Clare) whicli I have the honour to represent now, and upon their part and upon the part of the “ county of emancipation ” 1 decline to stir from this House unless removed by superior force. The hon member was then removed.

Mr O’Sul I ivan, having been called upon, said—Tins will not be the first time that I have been illegally arrested by British authoriiy, but it will not deter me from raising my voice on all

occasions against what is unjust an 1 unfair, and, therefore, I will not leave the House unless compelled. The hon member was then removed. Mr O’Connor Power, on being called upon, said—l will withdraw only in obedience to the law of force which you have established in place of legality in this assembly. The hon member was then removed. Mr Eedmond, on being directed to retire, said—As I regal’d the whole of these proceedings as unmitigated despotism, I beg respectfully te decline to withdraw.

The hon, member was then removed. Mr Sexton, who was next called upon to withdraw, said —I denounce these proceedings as unconstitutional and tyrannical, and I shall not desist from title assertion of my right as an elected representative of the people unless compelled to do so by superior force. The hon member w’as then removed.

Mr Smithwick, declining to withdraw w r as next removed by the Sergeant-at-Arms.

Mr A. M. Sullivan, on being called upon to retire, said —Mr Speaker, you have overthrown the ancient liberties of the House, and have established a despotism. I decline to withdraw. The hon. member was removed by the Scrgeant-at-Arms. Mr T. D. Sullivan, on being called upon to retire, said —As I regard these proceedings as an outrage on the rights of members of Parliament, I respectfully decline to withdraw, except under compulsion.

The Sergeant-at-Arms then removed the hon. member.

Messrs Molloy, O’Kelly, Callan, O’Donnell, E. Power, and O’Shaughnessy were subsequently named b3 r the speaker, and on the motion of Mr Gladstone, were removed under compulsion.