clear to a demonstration, from the subsequent statute of the
same King in explanation of it--the preamble of which, referring
to the former Act, does expressly speak of treasons committed
out of this realm, _and other the King's dominions_; and that
the circumstance of the adoption of the former Act by the Irish
Parliament was a clear proof that it was not considered as an
Act which could bind Ireland; and I could not help wishing that
the noble Lord would withdraw his motion, for the reason stated
by the noble Lord (Lord Nugent), that we could not repeal an
Irish Act; and that without so doing, the repeal of the English
statute (even if it did give any jurisdiction) would be
nugatory. Besides this, there was another reason. The framers of
this Bill had certainly never supposed that it could go to
remove at once every difficulty which might arise, and to settle
at once every point which might require to be settled when, as
in the present case, a great stream was turned into a new
channel. Our idea went to the unequivocal and permanent
establishment of those points which were in the contemplation of
Government last year, to those things to which Parliament then
intended to pledge, and to which I had ever been of opinion they
had inviolably pledged the faith of the nation. That by so
doing, we conceived we should establish a foundation of
confidence, upon which all less important points might be
adjusted with mutual temper, harmony and affection; that Ireland
could certainly entertain no doubt that the same principles
which had guided us in the great and extensive considerations
would continue to actuate our conduct in those of less concern
and more confined regulation; (that in the present case, if the
English Act was a grievance to Ireland, so also would the Irish
be to England.)[1] At the same time, however, I begged that it
might be clearly understood that this clause was not objected to
on the ground of its being a new claim on the part of Ireland.
Ireland had last year, in the Addresses of her Parliament,
claimed to be a distinct and independent kingdom. If, therefore,
this Act affected her independence--and in that light it was
objected to--so far it certainly was not in any respect a new
claim. To supreme legislation and supreme judicature, all
criminal jurisdiction