THE ABOLITION OF THE IRISH PARLIAMENT.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3841, 21 April 1881, Page 1

THE ABOLITION OF THE IRISH PARLIAMENT.

When the proposal for abqliibinjj-, the Irish Parliament was made by the English Government in the Irish House it was rigorously and energetically opposed by ' Mr Ponßonby, who mored an amendment to the motion. From the beginning it was apparent the division would be a rery close one. Two members, Messrs Trench and Fox, were believed to hare bee» in communication with Lord Caatlereagh, the English Minister, and some pecple^ suspecting they had been corrupted, watched the couple very closely during , the debate. Trench rose, and denounced the Ministerial measure in the strongest language, and those who knew him best were convinced he had not obtained the price he bad asked. This appeared a stunning blow to Mr Cooke, the Government whipper-in, who, looking very crestfallen, sidled up to Lord Castlareagh, and held a whispered conversation for some minutes, with thaj; unscrupulous statesmen. Both narrowly, scanned, the numbers on each sides, and calculated accordingly. They seemed about equal. One or two rotes would turn the soale.. It therefore depended upon the integrity and indepen-. dence of two or three men whether Ireland should lose or retain her national parliament; When the conversation was over. Cook nodded to Trench in so significant a manner that all understood his terms, bad been accepted. Oastlereigh's tool then seated himself by his* side, and in the course of a few minutes Trench rose to apologize for having indiscreetly and . unguardedly declared he would support the amendment, and that Laving thought better of the subject, he was i convinced he was wrong, and would vote for the English Government's proposals. Luke Fox was a nominee of Lord Ely, who received £46,000 for his three Irish boroughs. He had promised to vote against the union, but at the last moment be got himself locked out at the division, and afterwards i t was; found he had accepted a Government appointment. The debate ended with 106 voting for the abolition of the Irish parliament, 105 against. So the vote of Trench turned the scale, and bribery of the most shameless and scandalous kind triumphed, and a nation's liberty was placed at the disposal of an unscrupulous Minister by the barefaced treachery of a black-hearted traitor. He was created, Lord Ashton, and other favors were awarded him by those who must in reality. have scorned, despised, aud loathed such a reptile.