The resolution having been put, was carried by 133 to 13.
It was then moved that Mr. W.S. O'Brien be given up to the
Sergeant-at-Arms. Mr. Ward moved the postponement of the motion to
Thursday, the 30th of April; the Premier agreed, and it was accordingly
postponed. Smith O'Brien, remaining fixed in his determination, was on
that day taken into custody by Sir Wm. Gossett, the Sergeant-at-Arms,
and lodged in prison. After being twenty-five days there, Mr. Frederick
Shaw made a motion for his release, without, he said, having consulted
him, and in fact believing such motion to be contrary to his wishes. It
was made on the ground that he had been sufficiently punished by
twenty-five days' imprisonment. It was carried _nem con_, that he be
released, "on paying his fees."
Although several of the leading Irish Liberal members sustained Smith
O'Brien on this occasion, they did not approve of his persisting in his
refusal to serve on the Committee, as there was no principle vindicated
by his persistence or his imprisonment; his first refusal and the
discussion upon it having effected all that could be usefully done in
the case.
Whilst Smith O'Brien was yet in prison, the following case was submitted
to Mr.
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