Reflections on the Case of Ireland and the Treason Felony Act 1848
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REGULATING RADICAL POLITICAL DISSENT: REFLECTIONS ON THE CASE OF IRELAND AND THE TREASON FELONY ACT 1848 Sophie Cacciaguidi-Fahy A thesis in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy SCHOOL OF LAW FACULTY OF LAW UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES AUGUST 2015 vi viii vii Contents ORIGINALITY STATEMENT ................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.iii ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... ix ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................... xi INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1 CHAPTER 1. THE RESEARCH ISSUE .......................................................................... 8 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 8 1.1 The aim of the thesis ............................................................................................... 8 1.2 Justification / Rationale for the research ................................................................. 9 1.3 Some notes on terms and concepts ........................................................................ 14 1.3.1 The challenge of drawing “valid” insights – Reflections on the Treason Felony Act................................................................................................................ 18 1.3.2 A ‘lot of this and a lot of that’ ........................................................................ 20 1.4 Outline of the thesis ............................................................................................... 28 CHAPTER 2. THE HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL CONTEXT OF THE TREASON FELONY ACT ................................................................................................................ 31 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 31 2.1 The origins of radical dissent in Ireland ................................................................ 32 2.2 Revolution and republicanism: Seeking a new constitutional order ..................... 36 2.3 1848, A year of revolutions ................................................................................... 41 2.4 1848, Turmoil in the British Isles .......................................................................... 51 Concluding observations ............................................................................................. 56 CHAPTER 3. LEGAL AND IDEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE TREASON FELONY ACT AND OUTLINE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SCHEME ......................... 58 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 58 3.1 The origins of treason law ..................................................................................... 59 3.1.1 Imagining, compassing the King’s death ........................................................ 61 3.1.2 Levying war .................................................................................................... 62 3.2 Pre-Cabinet consultations and the key architects of the Bill ................................. 64 3.3 Bounded liberty: Whig-liberal ideology and constitutionalism ............................ 68 3.4. (Popular) Constitutionalism as a vehicle for radical reforms ............................... 75 ii 3.5 The architecture of the preparatory Bill ................................................................ 77 Concluding observations ............................................................................................. 80 CHAPTER 4. FRAMING THE DEBATES: THE JURISPRUDENCE OF LIBERTY V THE JURISPRUDENCE OF SOVEREIGNTY ............................................................. 82 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 82 4.1 Interpreting nineteenth century constitutional debates – An enduring discourse.. 83 4.2. A question of constitutionalism: The rule of law tradition and the authority of parliament .................................................................................................................... 87 4.2.1 From rule of law to rule of government .......................................................... 87 4.2.2 The constitution – Lawyerly use of ‘forensic history’ in defence of liberty .. 90 4.3 The treason felony debates – An appeal to ‘principles’ ........................................ 98 4.3.1 The concept of the rule of law in the debates ................................................. 99 4.4 The treason felony debates – An appeal to utilitarianism ................................... 105 4.5 Summary of the salient arguments in the debates ............................................... 109 Concluding observations ........................................................................................... 113 CHAPTER 5. THE MAKING OF THE TREASON FELONY ACT 1848 – THE GOVERNMENT’S ARGUMENTS ............................................................................. 115 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 115 5.1 Making the case for the Treason Felony Act – Legitimacy and legality ............ 115 5.1.1 Time-honoured principles ............................................................................. 116 5.1.1.1 Legislative authority ............................................................................. 117 5.1.1.2 But power with limits ............................................................................ 121 5.1.1.3 Procedural legality ................................................................................ 123 5.1.2 Utility and the state’s legitimacy .................................................................. 125 Concluding observations ........................................................................................... 134 CHAPTER 6. THE MAKING OF THE TREASON FELONY ACT 1848 – THE CRITICS’ CONCERNS ................................................................................................ 137 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 137 6.1 Invoking ancient constitutionalism ..................................................................... 138 6.2 ‘A grave inroad on constitutional traditions’ ...................................................... 141 6.2.1. A question of traditions and principles ........................................................ 141 6.2.2 Procedural justice .......................................................................................... 147 6.2.3 Undermining the constitutional framework .................................................. 150 iii 6.2.3.1 Independence and impartiality of the courts ......................................... 150 6.2.3.1.1 The system of packing juries ......................................................... 151 6.2.3.1.2 Excessive discretion ....................................................................... 154 6.2.3.2 Executive (and legislative) omnipotence .............................................. 158 6.3 Failing the (utilitarian) test of delivering justice ................................................. 162 6.3.1 Addressing the root causes of radical dissent ............................................... 163 6.3.2 The utility of dissent ..................................................................................... 166 6.3.3 The unintended effects of the Act ................................................................. 167 Concluding observations ........................................................................................... 169 CHAPTER 7. THE TREASON FELONY ACT 1848 – THE IMPACT OF THE ACT ON LIBERTY AND THE COURT’S RESPONSE ..................................................... 170 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 170 7.1 A brief overview of the Irish legal system .......................................................... 171 7.2 The State Trials 1848-1849 ................................................................................. 176 7.3 The Court of Queen’s Bench 1848 ...................................................................... 182 7.4 The impact of the Act on liberty – Claiming rights and seeking limitations on power ......................................................................................................................... 187 7.4.1 Rule of law: Liberty preserving/enhancing function .................................... 189 7.4.1.1 Due process: Seeking long standing rights ........................................... 190 7.4.1.2 Excessive discretion: Seeking limitations on executive power............. 192 7.4.1.3 Morality, legal sensibility: Seeking limitations on parliamentary power ........................................................................................................................... 195 7.5 The court’s response ............................................................................................ 198 7.5.1 Rule of law: Systems maintenance function ................................................. 200