HUME ON THE IRISH SUPPRESSION OF DISTURBANCE ACT HUME (Joseph, 1777-1855, Radical Statesman)

Important Autograph Letter Signed to the Mr Copleton saying that he will “present the Petition from the Maidstone Political Union against the Irish Disturbance Bill... by the model now adopted in the house, will not be for some days - perhaps not before the Bill shall have passed - I regret to state that the Bill was read a first time this morning and carried by an overwhelming majority of 468 to 90 who opposed it. I am obliged to add that I never could have believed that my House of Commons could have agreed to place in the power of the Lord Lieutenant the liberties of Ireland, as the Bill if passed into a law, will establish British tyranny of the worst kind and removed every Civil right that we have hitherto considered... essential to us as freemen. Even the Consolation of two persons meeting to petition parliament to complain of their wrongs, will also be denied the Irish people unless the Lord Lieutenant who wields the power shall grant permission. The measure is, I think, as a whole, too atrocious not to be acted upon, but the principle of departure from all the land marks of our Civil Institutions & rights, is so abominable that I cannot look on the Measure which will take away the Civil rights of 7 million of our fellows subjects but is one of great danger to our own liberties. With a House of Commons so determined to extinguish the semblance of freedom in Ireland, I cannot hold out to you any hopes that your Petition will have any influence & I therefore, on consideration, submit to you whether it is worth your while to trouble yourselves with petitioning the 468 who decided on admitting the Bill, as I shall contend, without proof of any necessity for superceding the existing civil Institutions & laws...”, 4 sides 8vo., Bryanston Square, 6th March

The Suppression of Disturbances Act of 1833 was a bill that aimed to suppress local disturbances and dangerous associations in Ireland. It was the first of a series of measures known as the Coercion Acts, which were applied to Ireland under the Union.

Item Date:  1833

Stock No:  42828      £375

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