text:  If the Irish farmers set their faces against the commission of crime instead of tacitly if not openly affording protection to the greatest delinquents it is clear that the amount of the county cess _the only tax the tenant pays_ might be greatly diminished; the constabulary force might be under more favourable circumstances reduced from nine thousand men (its present strength) to half that number; and if the people abstained from houghing the cattle or burning the houses of those who are obnoxious to them the county rates would not amount to more than one-third of the sum at present levied