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Northern Star (1837-1852), 18th March 1848, Edition 2 of 3, Page 7, L rf ,rl- - . W. THE NORTHERN STAR. ^ 7 ...

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      L Rf ,Rl- - . W. The Northern Star. ^ 7 ...

      L , rl- - . W . THE NORTHERN STAR . ^ 7 _ \ l *** — - — -Z- " ' ' —~ ¦ " '" - - — . _ — ¦ "" ~* ' ~ ~ ——— ¦* — — ¦ ——— ¦ ¦ ¦ " ¦ wm- * M-mimn * tzmm >* r . * -vrwiTn * triM *!! XXwrr *

      Rffoumiai Ana Joensu, -

      rffoumiai ana joensu , -

      Belgium. - -, Nv And " Unjustifiable, If...

      BELGIUM . - -, nv and " unjustifiable , if not illegal expnl-Hn- ¦ ¦ hrx-from the Belgian territory , has ? - » to severe strictures on the government , ;^ - , ( Camber <> f Representatives and the ' / !'; iof Brimls " . The iMosiTEua Bklok , : ^ ^ Attempts to explai n a * ay the facts , but iff , i ; : c 5 matters worse , inasmuch asitacknow-• 3 . l * i * when thataentlernan and hia lady ( who J ? . ; . ; fr of the governor of Pomeranis ) were . ^^ threthe pro cnrmr du roi , that functionary : > - 3 j ijn no offence had been committed of f ; . ^' er ' . MiM take cognisance ; and , mon-over , the

      : V- " v .- * . / ni elf on , the next day ordered them t > be f . ' jjberty immediately . Notwithstanding all ? ^ j government ordered both to be expelled in !^^ t ~ i . !! mmary and arbitrary manner ' . from , the ' ?^ Z fi nd although the Mositetjr is totally silent # ' . j V'jeet , the order wis obeyed to the letter . : ; - \{ 0 > itetjr acknowledges , too , that Madame ; L ffh'i is a hisihly intellectual , accomplishtd /' . - [ jijT , was detained all n ? s ; ht In ihe c & mmon ' ^ 'fthst she w as at first placed in the reom set Q - a '; l the disorderly female characters arrested ' ' > ' ? the nieht , and that subsequently she was "' -ht into a roosi where she had lor her

      com' : * " jarins ; the night a woman who was ary '\ t 0 T ., assault . I may add , from an authentic ''Wth " ' " hoth Dr Mars and his wife were grossly " ivd bv aienls of the authorities . They were ' -red i ° Belgian frontiers , and driven out of ' ' ^ nn'oni under the paltry pretence that their :- t ' rxsV . -re not regular . * : ' 1 ' . ^ S ne disturbances took place on the 13 th ' '' . t' t \ crow 1 attacked the convent of tbe > ' ' ' ffj 1 . iV . e * police interfered , and obliged the popu-? - i :. ^ . ' ^ « . Bat nest morning the crowd np-• ' "l aSn " on the Grand Place , and a psrtion dis-? S 4 to YronclvUr . n es . a neighbouring locality , * he Jesuits have also a convent . A strong l ^ hmerit of cuirassiers has left Ghent in pursuit of ^ . ™ T-A . numerous meeting has taten place -Ttov-n at the Society de Gmllamne 1 ell , and £ ? £ * to petition the Government for scon-^ ble redaction of the expenses of the Belgian £ ? . I hLnnliqut , the army , and all the great U-ch-3 o f public service . Some spoke in favour of ^• o ms union with France , but this last question ' 11 ; ™ d undecided . A petition for securing the r obiecis of the meeting was agreed to .

      i PRUSSIA .. THE FRIGHrSKEC KIXGS . -A - CT rNUMITED LI 3 KBTT OP T 2 E PBESS BT fBK ' •^ Cg — rS ^ -TEST OF THE STATES OT HUNGARY TO THE ^ i '» 30 S i F ACSTKti . T ^ rj . —The King Sas granted unlimited liberty ¦*" k press 'hrou ^ hout his dominions . Instructions f -i * e provi sional governments were forsarded yes-J- -ii v ; and the royal decree on this important subwt ' wiil be made vublic so soon as it shall be C-tf H laat the instructions have reached their des-^ luaa .

      AUSTRIA . V- ? . vxi , March 6 . —The arrival of the mail from frjCiSrv 'his morning bas caused great excitement , fes ' s ' cofe ^ -house was crowded to excess . and a ^ stlem an was at once placed on one of the billiard ~ b !~ for the purpose of readins aloud the PbbsbtjbgiJiirrTE , which had just been received . Events in Tsijarv have taken a serious tarn , SO much SO . that £ » Archduke Stephen has arrived here to ask for ^ ic-tractions . suited to the estraerdinary and .---gxjected circumstances . "in ^ tjdrfss has been forwarded by the States of ? 3 r " sarv to the Emperor , of so unusual a character ^¦ a t the sensation it has created cannot be matter of TprW / Is . demar-ds the strict maintenance of the " . Tcier . t ' nuniarian Constitution , aad the appoint--enr of a s eparate ministry , the msmDa 1 , 3 °£ which izll bt responsible to tbe people of Hungary . 7-3 r , cv ; s ofthe rectnt events in Paris , ' says a letter

      -J 3 PresDurg , of ihe 2 nd , ' have caused the greatest ex-^; scfat and con-terns aon h ere . Austrian bank notes ce everywhere refused . The savings banks aad public : S : es ire literally stormed by masses ofpeople drmsnd-; C 0 : B for their notes . Cemmeree seems as if i * had := maimed by a thunderbolt . People say that the rate is bankrupt . The affairs of Italy are then to be cs :- ^ sed in a military point of view—that ig to say , the ; : ;« :: on is to fcehrousht forward , if , sad unSer what iTCTstances , Hungarian troops are to be employed nt of tha country .

      To elucidate this last sentence it must ba rc-memfersd that it has ever been the policy of Austria to gad Uunsariin troops to Italy , and Italian troops : r Hungary , to keep down the people . If , however , - - ate to credit the last accounts from Lombardy , in Zinj instances the Hungarians have shown a readiiks \ o fraternise with the Italians- The following letter , dated the 3 rd instant , wiit suffice to show that is present movement in Hungary ia one o f a rrost nricus nature , and likely greatly to complicate the embarrassments of Austria

      ;—? i £ 53 tjeg March S . —My exptetations nave been fnl « £ ! to . VTs aie aow only one st « p from a revolution . ihe secret situs ? of the Chambers yesterday did not ircak up till a kte hour at night , Ia the public sitting d ic-day Ludwig Sossath rose and proposed that a testation should be sent forthwith to Tienaa , to the Sir . deaanding the immediate establishment of a resj : n 5 ifc ! e Hnnjariaa ministry , consisting exclusively of Hsr ^ sriaus , entirely distinct from Austr : aiigoverniBeat , a also the immediate aheUtioa of the onerous taxes , szi a total reform in the laws of the country carried out

      cner the auspices of the Diet . This motion of the Opposition leader was nnani-Eoasiy adopted . The scene in the chamber is de-^ ribed as being of a most extraordinary nature . iiKsnth spr . ke for an hour aad a half without interrnpiion , except from the boisterous appkUSe Of MS fearers . He launched into a violent attack , not rsly against the Austrian government , but against fie Court in general . An address was immediately drawn op to he presented to the Emperor .

      Tnis raovement in Hungary is one of serious iraportat the present moment , and willia all probability be followed by a similar movement in Bohemia . Tae Ob 5 Sb . vatetjr Bklqs contains a letter fr < ttn Vienna , which states that the King of Prussia arrived there on the 5 th . He came , says tbe letter , fer the purpose of coming to some arrangement with Asitria on the attitude which Germany should astune relative to France .

      GERMANY . Bohemia . —^> e learn from Prague , under date . of the 3 th instant , that some disturbances had occurred there , which resulted in an address from the City Gddbc 31 to the Emperor , making the same demands is hirp latel y bsea preferred to raosfc of ihe German Sovereigns . Siciioakdt . —Manifestations of discontent Lad been made at Stnttgardt , on the 7 th of this month , p comeqaence ofthe nomination of a new Cabinet , ia which M . de Lendens was to hold the appointment cf Minister of the Interior . Tranquillity bad , however , been restored by a promise from the King that iewould make some alteration in his intended arran-ipments . Hesss CasseIm—The people of Hesse Cassel still continue dissatisfied , notwithstanding the concession cf their demands by the Elector .

      SiiosT .--The King hag proclaimed freedom of tie press and the abolition of the censorship . This fact v ; as made known at Leipzig on the 8 th " , to the creat joy ofthe public and the journals of that town . There is no doubt that when the chambers meet all the reforms demanded by the people will be granted . ^ TTriKAs , —The Jiberty of the press bas been proclaimed . " Atjgsbvjrg . —There had been disturbances at Augsburs- 'The peasantry fBauern ) were in commotian in the di-ttrlcts around Nornberg en the 9 th . On that day a depu >& ihn . SOD stwus , entered ihe town to represent their grievances to the local authorities . 'This class has , more than any other in Bavaria , suffered from the petty tyranny of the subordinate ma-Sbtracy . WrarEiiBERQ . —Serious disturbances have broken cat on the frontiers of Baden and Wirtember » . i

      BgESLir ; . —The municipal authorities hare resolved to forward a deputation to Berlin , in order to obtain an aodience of the King and wVa voce ( mtmdlkh ) to express the wishes ofthe people . The head oargomaster is appointed the head ofthe deputation . The garrison in Magdeburg has been nearly doubled , iadthejnhabitants have the option either of having the additional soldiers billeted on them , or of paying * certain sum to be dispensed from such ' ange ! fiats . ' Addresses continue to pour in from all the tonus . The re / rain of all et them is ' no alliance frith Russia . ' Caelshche —9 d the 10 th inst . tro bills were laid before the Chambers at Carlsruhe , for the purpose of sbolishing all feudal rig hts , and one for indemnifying tie parties concerned- The peasantry have broken Cut in insurrection in the vicinity of Wertheim , and

      ixi various parts of Hesse Darmstadt . Troops have teen marched from Manheim to the disturbed districts . in Hanau , affairs have taken a serious turn , thanks to the obstinacy of the Elector of He-K-Cassel . -tie inhabitants are in open insurrection . On the SJght of the 10 th inst . the gates of the town , which is K lsbrated for its numerous goldsmiths' shops , were timcaded , alter the troops had either voluntarily frithdrawD , or bad been expelled . i UiiiBCRQ . —This town is in a state of great fermen-•¦ ition . The Senate has voted freedom of the press . ¦ jat ice concession comes too late , and formidable ^ monstrations are being made to compel much skater concessions . Meanwhile cosiness is at a ( s -and still , and confidence is superceded by gloom , a = s « ty , and dread .

      Tie movement continues in every state , great « ad small , in Germany , and when the individual cecsn ris of each will have been granted , they wiU * cd into one common demand . —a German Parwaen .,

      Bavaria, I The King Has Redeemed The Wor...

      BAVARIA , I The King has redeemed the word of Prince Charles of Bavaria by the following proclamation : — BOTAI . FSOCLAJfATION . I have determined to convoke tha States of my kingdom around me , * n the IG ' -h of the present month . The wishes of my people always found an echo in my heart . Projects of law will be immediately brought under the consideration of the assembly of the states : amongst others :- — The constitutional responsibility of ministt-rs . Entire liberty ofthe press . Eleetoral reform . Trial by jury . Provisions for decayed servants of the State . Emancipation of the Jews . I shall also ordaia the immidia ' e draft of a nenr code of laws , that the army do immediately take the oath of allegiance to the constitution ; and from this moment censorship is abolished .

      Bavaria will recognise in these decrees the unchan 5 cd opinions of the house of Wittelsbach . A great moment has arrived for the development of States . M « st strionsin the position of Germany . My whole life is a prouf thatmj thoughts and acts have been for the weal of the ( Jermau cause . The great aim of my endeavour shall be to strengtht-a the unity of Germany hj salutary measures , to ensure a due representation of the German nation at the Diet , and to that end to iffect a speedy revision > -f ths present constitution of the Diet in proportion lo the just expectations of Germany . Bavaria ' s king prides himself on beinn a German , Bivaria ! your confidence is honoured and will not hs

      abused ! Rally round the throne . United to your sovereign , represented hy . yonr constitutional organs , let us consider what is best for the welfare of our country . Everything for my people . Everything for Germany . Ludwiq . iljUKiMAS , Crown Prince . LoiTrci * , Prince of Bavaria . Adalbebt . Prince of Bavaria . Karl , Prince of Bataria . And countersigned by Prince Wallerstein , and all the oinieters , Munich , March 6 th , 1848 .

      Munich . —Lola Monies . —This lady has again been playin ? one of her bold tricks . She came unespectediy to Munich , on the evening of the 9 th . The news spread like wildfire , and various were the stories afloat as to the time and manner of her arrival . The truth soon became known however , — Lola had been for a moment at Munich , dressed in man ' s ciotbes , but had been arrested by the gensdarmerie by order of thekjn < r , and carried away from tbe town .

      POLAND . Intelligence from Poland states , that the Russian forces are constantly receiving fresh accessions , and now amounted to 60 , 000 men . Prince Paskewitch ia expected dailyfr-m Si Pfitersbur ^ h .

      UNITED STATES . The news is of a satisfactory and important nature , inasmuch as it informs us that a treaty of peace with Mexico , which the Mexican Congress would ratify , had been received at Washington , and it was conjectured that it would prove satisfactory to the American government . It is reported tkat Santa Anna had given his adhesion to the treaty . . The Honourable John Quincy Adams was seized with paralysis in the House of Representatives on Monday last , and carried out insensible—the House adjourning instantly—and on Wednesday evening , 23 rd nit ., he died in the Slat year of his age ; having retained full possession of his faculties np to the moment ofthe last fatal attack . Mr Adams was born in 1767 .

      MEXICO . General Lane reached Mexico from Oreziba , on ths W ( h instant . It is said that both the state and capital of Oajaca , whither Santa Anna sought an asylum when so hotly pursued by General Lane , had refused any aid to the fugitive ex-President . Lui Teaa had been pardoned bj General Scott . The American Stab ofthe 11 th ult ., published in the city of Mexico , contains the official announcement that the treaty ol peace was ratified on the part of the Mexican Congress by receiving the signature of Si ^ nor Rossa , Minister of Foreign Affairs en the 10 th ult ., which date it bears . A meeting of the deputies and senators who were in the city was held , but only twenty-fonr were present , and a majority of them in favour of peace and the treaty .

      The Mexican papers confirm the articles of the treaty in the matter of the cession of all of New Mexico , Texas , and Upper California , on their part , and the payment of fifteen millions bonus and five millions for onr citsens' claims against Mexico by the United States . Yssesgeia . —There have been some terrible scenes enacted at Catracas . The Veneiuelan Congress met on the 24 th ult ., was overwhelmed by the populace , set on , it is said , by the President , and several bt the members massacred . It was expected that a revolution would immediately break oat throughout the Republic .

      Brighton.—A General Meeting Of Chartists...

      Brighton . —A general meeting of Chartists and Land membera was held on Tuesday . March 7 th . 2 Ur Thomas Harvey in the chair . Mr John Page moved , and Mr Mitchell seconded : — ' That the sum of three shillings be sent to the Executive Committee of the National Charter Association aa their monthly quota ; * which was unanimously carried . The subject of joining the Fraternal Democrats of London having been introduced on a former occasion , Mr Simcock rose to renew the discussion of the same , which he did in an able and pithy address , and was followed by Messrs Flower , Giles , Page , and others , who very ably proved to the meeting the necessity for the fraternisation of nations , and a perfect understanding of their relative positions . Mr Page

      having read that , announced that Messrs Harney , M'Grath , and Ernest Jones , had been appointed delegates to Paris to congratulate the sovereign people of Prance on their lata glorious triumphs . The meeting seemed to be delighted at the step our London friends had taken , and expressed their desire for an annual congress of nations . The following persons then handed in their annual subscriptions , with a desire to join tho London Fraternal Democratic Association;—George Giles , William Flower , George Simcock ; Henry Bother , Henry Bourne , Thomas Harvey , John Page , Thomas Purssr , James Williams , « nd Henry Mitchell , and no doabt many others will join on onr next meeting night . A vote of thanks having been givtn to the chairman , the meeting dissolved .

      Kilbarchak . —The French Republic—A large public meeting was held on Wednesday evening , the 11 th inst ., in the Chartist Church , to congratnlate the people of France on their glorious and triumphant achievement of the revolution , and the establishment of a Republic . And to hail with feelings of delight , , the recognition ofthe rishts of labour by tha provisional government . Mr Robert Caldwell in the chair . The manifesto from M . de Lamartine to the French diplomatists was read , amid great applause . The following resolutions were unanimously agreed to : —Moved fay John Wjlkie , and seconded by A . Houston , and supported by each with energetic , powerful , and soul-stirring addresses : — * That we , the inhabitants of Kilbarchan . in public meeting

      assembled , most cordially congratulate the French people on the triumphant achievement of the revolution , rejoice with them in the overthrow of a despotic and tyrannical government—and hail with ieelings of delight , sympathy , and of hope , the advent of tbe emancipation of the human mind , by the liberty of thought—emancipation of the individual soul by freedom of inquiry and belief—suppression of all privileges—eguality of the right's of man—the national family without primogeniture among its children—the sovereignty of each citizen guaranteed by the elective franchise — representation one and universal—the people Ring—truth and justice reigning—politics , on abstaining from conquest , and founded on peace—religion of humanity—fraternity

      of nations—coming of mankind to the age of reason —pOTier Strong in j ustice—government raised to the dignity of virtue—such is the philosophy which must give sense and soul to all institutions . ' Moved by Robert Craig , and seconded by James Andrew , and supported by both , by well-digested , convincing , and argumentative reasoning : — That if such principle ? , as those embodied in the former resolution , were adopted by the governments , such scenes of misery and destitution , as ' are suffered at the present time in our own country , by the useful toilinp millions , would entirely and for ever be unknown . We , therefore , bail with delig ht , the recognition by the provisional government of France , of the rights of labour , and an attempt on their part to organise it on the

      basis of eternal justice . ' Moved by John Davie , and seconded by William Speir : — 'That a report of this meeting be sent for insertion , to the Nobthbbh Star , Edisbueoh Exfxess , REKFfiEnrsHiKE Post and Refobmeb newspapers , and that a copy ofthe Nor . ihebn Stab be forwarded to one of the members of the provisional government of France . ' 1 % was then proposed by James M'Kenney : — 'That this meeting show its love of liberty , by giving three hearty cheers for the Republic of France , and the Charter of Britain . ' Which was responded to with heartfelt acclamations . When , after voting thanks to the chairman for his able and efficient services , the meeting dissolved , which was most enthusiastic , and argues well for the future .

      Cheltenham —At a meeting held at Berry b Temperance Hotel , Mr Perry in the chair , it was resolved that the following persons be appointed as the General Council for this locality , for conducting the business ef tbe Chartist Association : —namely , Messrs Ford , Stafford . -Perry , Frames , Bragger ; Mr Glemsster , sub-secretary ; Mr Shemer , sub-treasurer ; and it was further decided that tbe members ^ and friends of [ the Association should meet for deliberation _ at Berry ' s Temperance Hotel , on Tuesday evening next , at eight o ' clock . The reception g ives to the Chartist deputation by the French provisional government waaread to the Chartists assembled , and met with the most unequivocal applause . Tmree cheers were given for the French Republic , and three cheers for the Charter and the Land followed * and the meeting separated .

      §Ramai-$Jariumiifc!&

      § ramai- $ jariumiifc !&

      Monday, March 13. House Of Lords,—The Ea...

      MONDAY , March 13 . HOUSE OF LORDS , —The Earl of Lucan drew tiie attention of the houso to tbe existing mofJe of rntiup lessors in Ireland , which led to a brii-f conversation , in which the Earl of St Germans , Lord Sianiey , the Marquis of Lansdowne , and others , took a part . The house aojonrned at half past seven , HOUSE OF COMMONS . —Expulsion of EngM'B WoBKPEori . E FBOM Fb & nce—Mr Staffobd asked tfco Secretary of State for the Homo Department if be hsfl received any further information with reference to the workmen who had been expelled from France 1

      SirG . GftET bad received information from the Major of Portsmouth that the workpeople who liad arrived there were in a very destitute condition , and that a comreunicaHon had been transmitted to the authorities at Rouen , with reference to the unpaid wngc-s , clothing , and other property which they had left behind , in orHT that information mi ght be transmitted through the Foreign-office to Paris , with a view of obtaining compensation to the irjured panics from the provisior . & l government . A . considerable number of workpeople were still eipected to arrive at Portetnoaih from Havre , una ho might also state that he had a letter from the Lord Major of IVmdi n , informing him that a number of persons in a destitute state had arrived from France in the city of London . The Late Distobancks . —Mr Glaus-tone wished to know Hhetherit « a * true that the coal-whippers of tbe Thames had applied to the government to be enrolled as special constables .

      Mr Labouchibe had grrat satisfaction In a ' -atlng that 2 , 500 ceal-whippers had unanimous-ly volunteircd their serriccs to protect the public peace . Sir 6 . Geet said the recent base attempts at disturbances , had elicited both in Lo « don and the large ' towns of England and Scotland the most rtsoluto determination on the part of the great body cf inhabitants to give their aid in suppressing them . Manchester offtred 10 , 000 special constables , Glasgow 20 , 000 , and Liverpool was al ? o prepared , if necessary , with a similar force . Iscohe Tax . —Mr MacGeegor resumed the adjnurned debate upon the income tax , in doing which he defended himself from the attach made upon him on Friday evening by Mr Disraeli , and intimated that his oijeciions to continuing the tax { or a further period of three years , rested on two gr .-undj—the inrquality and unpopularitj of the " tax , and the impossibility of its answering , under existing circumstances , the purpose of tbe Eicbrquvr .

      Mr Alderman Sidhev intimated his intention of voting for Mr Hume ' s amendment , satisfied as » he was that were perfect economy ohierved in the managemmt of our finances , the income tax would not be necessary for a longer period than one y < ar . The tsx was unequal , and its inequality justly gave rise to opposition to it amongst the middle classes of society . Mr Sanders , Mr Buck , MrE . B . Roche , and MrMowatt supported Mr Hume ' s amendment , that the tax be renewed for one year instead of thrte . Mr Hi-adlan > , Mr Rice , Mr Leonard , Lord Drumlaarig , MrHi-nlcy . nnrt Mr Hudson , spoke in favour of the original resolution . Mr Jackson said he considered the question one o ) such vital importance to tha well-being of the country , to its onward progress , peace , and tranquillity , aa to

      justify any member ia expressing his opinions try VOltl as well as by vote . He was anxious to explain why , being an advocate of direct taxation , and a supporter of the present government , he was prepared that n ' ght to give his vote in favour of tiie ^ amendment . First , as to the governmeLt . He had entered the huuse anxious , as a Liberal , to give her , Majesty ' s advisers his support ; but so bad had been their financial policy , that he waalmoBt ashnmed to be numbered one of their adherents , They were not merely staudine still , tbey were showinc a disposition to retrogade . -What was the budget'hey had before them ! The government scarcely appeared to know whether to levy a direct tax or to revert to ilu old system of the country . They had failed in rankin ? out any case f-. r imposing the tax in its presmt unequal

      form . They had failed in making any bold proposal of their ewn . Like the preceding government , this administration appeared too aristocratic Burl exclusive in its character—it drew its opinions from a clique—it had p . share in the sympathies , as it did not meet the wants , the wishes , and the d < aires of the people . Why did thej ihriok from propos ing an extension of the proba'e and legacy du ? y ! Thiy imposed ihoasanda of pound * of taxation oa moveable property , whilst on landed proparty they did sot impose a fartl . ing . ( Oh , oh . ) Who denied it f ( Cheers . ) They had rrouftht the country to a financial crisis , and why not come down , a Liberal and middle-class government as tluy professed teemselves , and propose some » uch measure aa that he referred to * There were , moreover , thousands of the public money

      locked up in tbe shape of crown lands and for * st lond % Why did they not raise funds to meet the exigency ofthe time from that source ? These different measures would have supplied every deficiency , aad would have shown the people that the government were desirous to takf into consideration the requirements of the country . The trade and commerce ol the nation were in a state of paralysis—ihere was no doubt about it . ( Ironies ) cheers and a laugh . ) Oh ! he laughed at the idea of members opposite , that these circumstances wereattrihu . table to free trade . If tbey had had an earthquake last year , members opposite would probably have attributed it to free trade . ( Cbeera . ) But be returned to the government . Ho owned that he felt aimseUso tare at their financial policy , that he was entirely ashamed-of them . They did notattempt—they were pnftctly unable —to justify the expenditure of the country . Th « y did not even promise to retrench for the future . They held out no hope that at any time they would do so . On the

      contrary , they absolutely asked for an augmentation . If they had merely asked for tbe same expenditure as before he should not b-ive complained . They had , no doubt , been greatly pressed out ol doors ; they had probaWj been driven to do many things which v < ere unnecessary . He made every allowance for them on that account . But was not a great part of the present excessive expenditure swing to their negligence and supioeoess ? Let tbem look at the expenditure of the Csff ce vtar- . VThat other ministers would have come down to that bouse with such an item charged in the budget , like an item for whitewashing the Treasury ! ( A laugh , ) Sogrcniij was he disgusted with tbeir want of boldness , that he cared little what became of tbem . Having no invention of their own , why did they not go to the member for Taoiworth for a plan ; or follow the esample of ihi-Dutcb iu 1624 , and send out an advertisement offering a reward for a new tax which should not press upon the country ? ( Cheers , )

      Mr Cobden observed that , although there tv £ fl no one in the house to whom the temptation might be greater than to himself to speak on the sulject of free trade , br wotild refrain on that occasion from deviating into a dig cussien irrelevant to the question before tbe bouse , and he would tell them , once lor all , that however frequently gentlemen opp . tBite eoight repeat tbeir * purpose less mil-IngB' against free trade , he would not enter into the ! merits of that system until their purposees railing * were put into a tangible form by having them embodit d in some measure for tbe re-establishment of the oppo uite RJBtem , He would warn them , that for the sake of trade , and or the people of this country , it would be necessary for them to extend our commercial transactions , by inviting into this , country the products

      of fureign countries , which could only be d-me by Still farther redactions ef indirect taxation . Yes , said tbe boa , member , you will find it necessary , ia order to encouragefree trade , to make up your . mind . " ts a constant diminution of the burdens of ihe country , of which it | is justly said that there i . ' no other nation in which so much is paid in indirect taxation upon articles of general and universal con sumption . Why , we are now talking of fire millions and a half of income tax , whilst the customs duties amount to no less than twenty millions and upward * annually ,. I have taken an opportunity of making an estimate of what the working classes pay in indirect taxation . We are talking now of 7 d . iu the pound in come tax ; let us see what ia tbe amount of the poor man's income tax . ( Hear , hear . ) Fur every 20 s . which

      the working man pays for tea , h « pays 10 a . du'y . ( H--ar , hear . ) For every 20 s , spent in sugar , he pays 6 s , duty . For every 20 s , spent in coffee , 8 s . duty . For 20 s . worth of soap ,. 5 s . duty , For every 20 s . worth of beer . is . duty . For 20 s . worth of tobacco , 10 s . duty . For 20 a worth of epirite , Us . duly , ( Hear , hear ? . ) NOW ffheit it is boras ia mind that - the working classes tab , by far the larger proportion of . these articles as artichs of necessity and comfort , it will bs apparent that tbest taxes upon them ara enormous . We are talking of 7 u \ in the pound ; but they pay on some of the articles the ; consume 14 s . or lGs . in tbe pound . When a man of thousands a year spends his . income , a great proportion t-i it foes in furniture , carriages , aorseg , picture * , antother articles , on whieh little or no duties are payable but when trade is bad in Lancashire and Yorkshire then it is that the Chancellor of the Exchequer comes

      down here with complaints that bis customs duties ar . falling off , by reason of the nou-consumption of tbest poor men's luxuries . ( Cheers . ) Then , I aay both or the score of trade to find employment for your p-oplt and on thescore ol justice towards the people , you mus make up your minda either largely to diminish your expenditure , or to persist in a bj stem of direct taxation , to counterbalance the repeal of the indirect duties , 1 want , therefore , to make the income tax a just tax , in order to make it a permanent tax . ( Hear , hear . ) To enable tbem to do this , it would be essential that thej should act endanger direct taxation . It was because he wished to maintain and perpetuate direct taxation that ha supported the amendment . He wished to make the income tax a just tax , that he might make it a permanent tax . The onl y question before tbem was , could

      they make the income tax a just tax ! To show that it could be made so , the honourable gentleman adverted to some ofthe grosser and more obvious inequalities involved In the tax , as at pres « nt constituted . It beinn unjust , had the gomnment manifested any disposition to remedy its injustice ! None whatever . Let them now appoint a committee to Inquire into the whole subject , and it would not be long ere a plan was devised whereby the income tax would be adjusted upon a satisfactory basis . He denied that the success of the amendment would , in the slighest o + gree , endanger the public credit . There would be no defalcation in thfa revenue 6 . tween this , and February . Parliament would then re . assemble , and continue , even in its present shape , the income tax still looser if nec . ssary . T big judgment , it would not be necessary to do so , as long before that tima tfcs goveramgnj woaUl have contrived a mode of

      Monday, March 13. House Of Lords,—The Ea...

      making the tax more acceptable to all cla .-sts , Therewould be no defalcation so fur as the manufacturing classes could prevent it . They would wear their last ' coata before tbe public creditor should suffer . But it was now hit : h time to apply the pruning bDife to the espeniiiture . Referring to France . Mr Cobden said , something ha « been saiA by almost every spenk < rwbodesl . es to maintain t his tax in its ptesent objectionable form , about the events which have recentl y oicurrc d in a . ne-Ubbour . ing country . I , however , draw a different conclusion from those events from that which has be-n drawn from thuu and rested upon by hon . gentlemen wh » have re . f ' erred to ihtui as an argument ngoinat this motion . 1 sae in those events reasons why tbo govt nimentef this country should not depend upon a numerical majority of

      the house—( hear , hear )_ but wfcy they should endeavour to ascertain the real sentiments of the country . ( Cheers , ) We had a division the other day on the motion of the hon . member for Cockermoutb . There was a majority of 175 against him ; hut look at the division list and say if | -ub ! ic opinion out of doors was not with the minority . ( Hear , hear ) So it will be to-n ' t ^ ht if the minority are with the motion of my hon . friend the member for Montrose . Do not depend upon jour whippers-in ; and suppose that , having obtained a majority , you he-vts ( Joue nil that is necessary . Take wavuing from what has happened elai t » hi re . You are spending large sums is fortification and armament ; but the danger i «

      net from without—it is from » ithin . ( Hear , hear . ) Ton need not fear the people will r « sort to violence * . We .. hall have no tumult here , as they have had in a neighbouring country . There is no necessity for it . There is no cause for tumult in this country . H . re we have those rights and privilenea of meeting aud discussion , tho ahaer . ee of which occasioned the revolution in France . The danger here is from this house not acting in ficcord ance with public opiniou out of doors— ( hear , hear)—Hnd refusing to leginlate on those principles of justice and fair dealing to the community , which alone cub secure the institutions of this or any other country , ( Hear , hear . )

      Lntd J . Kubsell observed that ho had heard the most opposite and tho strangest reasons urged for-the support of the { amendment , which embodied no principle , but whieh was a mere amendment for tbe purposes of tnbarraisment . But for Mr Hume's straightforward con duct , 1 fl would characterise his aim ndment as a very uncandid Contrivance . The noble lord then briefly adverted to the arguments used by scvot ol honourable gentlemen against the proposition of the government , nft > r rehit-h be observed that the question in itself was exceedingly sin pie . When the tax was first Imposed , nnd when it was renewed , it was quite true that it was only taken for tvmporary periods ; but no promise wns ever niven > hat its renewal would not be again demanded under any circumttnnc s whatever ; and what were the

      eircunif tances which now rendered it necessary to ask - < . r its continuance ! Thiy were , in his opinion , such as to induce parliament to consent to the renewal of the tax for the period for which it had been granted on former eccasions . As to tho inequalities of the ttix , whilst there were some which might be revised , there were others , of a still more grievous character , to whi h the attempt to adjust the tox on any o-. her basis would give rise . The circumstances of tbe times were such as precluded all reduction . We ( said his lordship ) , proposed the estimates at a time when everything appeared tranquil , bat even then I said that I little believed in the power of political prophecy , Lo"king to past V-mes w .-ahull find that neither the masterly understanding of Mr Pitt , nor tbe nseurate and ingenious mind of Mr Fox ,

      nor the philosophical observation of Mr Burko . enabled any one of those gentlinv n to foresee what would be the issue of the extraordinary events which passed before their eyes from 1790 to 1792 Such being the caso , 1 nould not at any time attempt to propheiy what might be the political events of any one year , and least of nil at tho present moment . ( Loud cries of ' Hear . ') Sifc weeks ago there were persons who ssid that France was so i onstiiuted , and her property was so divided , that some time or other it wou ' . d form itself into a republic . Other political observers eaid that upnn the demise of the king some great change would take place in the monarchy . But no man liviag expected that that monarchy which kerned so firm should so soon vanish and disappear like mist , leaving not even a remnant behind , ( Hear , hear . )

      In these events I hope that we are able to pee a confirmed paace , but ro man can pretend to say what time may fering about , and I , for one , will not consent to reduce tbe estimates of the army and navy in the present state of affairs . ( Cheers . ) I say again , in order that I may not he misrepresented , asl tbinkthatlhavo already been , that I make that declaration nith every possible wish to see tbe peace of Europe and of the world preserved , and that I see nothing immediately before us calculated to endanger that peace . But I think It is the sartof wisa and prudent men while everything is in un . certainty not to affect security , and while there is darkness around us not to pretend that we are walking in tbe broad day . ( Cheers , ) For these reasons , therefore , I can neither agree to the proposition of the noble lord to

      > ake the income t ? x for one year only in order to have a permanent tax upon corn and raw cotton , n « r to that of the hon . member for Montrose , that we may prepare the way for a great reduction in our naval and military forces . Allusion tad been made to the colonies in the former stages of the debate . As to thtm , ho hoped honourable itentlemen would not hastily makeup their minds . Ho had always regarded tho colonies as part of the strength of the empire . If that were so , he would not willingly , from any notions of economy and retrenchment , consent CO re 'ttCO fhst strength . If It tvms the wish ot England to descend in tho scale of nations , she could abridge her colonial dependencies bui he would not bo the instruments of her degradation , ( Cheers ) As to the revision of taxation , there were undoubtedly faults in our

      fiscal systerr ' , which he would be happy to co-operate in removing ; but he could not undertake in any set time , far less ia the course ofthe year , fo do any thing- very material in the wav of reduction . Lord John , in conclu . sion , thus adverted to his great home 'difficulty ' Ireland . We have lately had snother evil to contend against ia tbe same part ef the kingdom , against tbe practice of assassination , against those murderous consp racies which were ragiog through the country , overbearing all law aud order . That evil bus been met partly by a law of a mild character , and partly by thevigorous administration of tbe LoreJ-IiieuteDant . ( Loud cheers , ) I believe that under that administration judges and juries have admirably performed tbeir duty , and that there ? has been no failure either in obtaining evidence against

      or the conviction of the roiscrennts who have been guilty ¦> f those horrible acts . So far the government have been suceessfnl in meeting that great eill . One honourable gentleman has said to-night , and has almost given it is bis reason for voting for tho nropositlon of the honourable membirfor Montrose , that the Lord . Lieu » ennnt of Ireland was gagging tho people , and not allowing to them the free expression of opinion . ( Loud laughter . } I should have thought that if any one had looked at the Iri ~ b newspaper ' s lately , he must have seen that so far t ' rom gauging the people , ? ofar from preventing tho free txpression of tho publle voice , that Iteljkve treason was uuvor so openly professed , or with such audacity , as at the present leomen ^ , ( Loud cries of Hear ,-hear . ' ) But , sir , if it shall please this house nat to agree with the ho . nourable member for Montrose tc-nlght ; if poiver is to remain in our hands ; if my right bon . friend the secretaryfor the Home Departm .-nt flbd the Lord-Lieutfitlflnt

      are still to wield the powers of the law in Ireland ; I trust that we shall be able to meet these expressions ef sedition —( loud cheers)—this determination to join any enemy , whoever he may bo , that may be oppooed to the sovereign of this country . ( Continued cheers . ) I trust that we shall b' > a > le to put down this conspiracy , and to maintain for the welfare of the people of Ireland that supremacy Oflaw and order , without which they cannot hoi . e to improve in industry , in civilisation , in morals , or in religion . ( Loud cheers . ) Such nt least will be our a ttempt , We are not insensible to the difficulties of the situation in which we stand , nor unaware o { the perils which may surround us on every side ; but if we have the confidence of this bouse we may hope to meet and to surmount them . ( Cheers . ) If not honoured with that confidence we can only hope that the admim ' stra . inn of affairs may be placed in ether hands , better calculated to carry on those affairs for the welfare and prosperity of her Majesty nnd her people .

      Mr Wakley rose and attempted to address the house , but tbe incessant ones of ' . divide' prevented his obtninin # a hearing . At last the hon , member was understood to . move that tbe chairman should report progress . Tho"CniKCBMOB of the BscHgougB entreated the home lo give the hou , member a hearing , aa great pub . lie inconvenience might result if the division were postponed beyond that evening , Mr Wakiey resumed—Ho trusted that as no member for a metropolitan borough had as yet spoken on tbe question tfee house would not refuse him itg attention for r . few moments . The noble lord at tho head of the <^ vern roent had intimated to ihe house in distinct 'erms that if the motion of the hon , member for Mont ros « were carried tho government would resign . He

      ( Mr VTakley ) had always looked upon such intimations as most unconstitutional . ( Oh , oh . ) The fiohle lord knew very well that there were many ton . members of hat house to whom it w ould not he very convenient to tieet their constituents at the present moment , and herefore he made sure of their votes if bis threat should he btlieved . ( Hear , h * ar . ) If he disagreed with the noble lord now , the noble lord most not blame him , seeing that he had been convinced by the noble lord ' s arguments in 1842 and 1815 . ( Hear , hear . ) The lion , member having quoted some passages from Hansard , proceeded to say , that although he oppossd the gp . vernment on the question ofthe income to ^ he did not disapprove ot their Irish policy . They certainly were not ( tagging tbe Irish people . All he asked waa , that the same license should he extended to tho people of thi' - country . The noble lord had received immense cheering

      from the opposite s > de of the house ; but the noble lord ' s government would not stand long if he acted so as to please the Tory , eras he ( Mr Wakley ) called it , the really destructive party . ( 'Ob , ' from the opposition . ) The noble lord might depend upon it they were only laughing at him . ( Hear , hear . ) One of the ablest amongst them had called the government a weak govern ment — a bad government—one which bad committed the most extraordinary mistakes in monetary matters , and ba d , in . everything else , shown the greatest lncopa city . Bufr . ii'that hon . gentleman were anxious to se : the government do their duty he should give them a short tc * m ; not throe yaasa , over which to idle away their timoi The income tax had not naw therecommenration it had in the right hon , baronet ' s Um ?; it was . no-Bubstitnte for taxes removed , or burdens taken off ! he , saople . But at present that house was not

      Monday, March 13. House Of Lords,—The Ea...

      taking a riu-ht course with regard to the masses . An Impression prevailed out of doors that tkey were indifferent to the sufferings of the working people . ( Ob , oh . ) Hid they tax themselves in the same proportion as they taxed the working people ? ( Hear , hear . ) Look at the tax on beer . Why it was nonsen & e to talk of free tra ! o in a country where the far . mer waa not allowed to manufacture his own roalt under a duty of 83 . in every 20 s . He believed that were it not for the duty the working man could get his beer for three halfpence a qu . irt . ( Hear , hear ) The noble lord should help tho working people , who had helped him in former struggles . All ho asked for them was justice , but that he b . lieved they would not get until they wore more fully ripresented in that houso . ( Hear .

      tear , and cries of ' Qu' -stion . ') He thought that tl . is income tax should not be conceded for three yei ; rs until its objectionable provisions were inodffi-d . Thff treat ment which a late member of that house , Mr Fulden , of Oldham , had rrciived from the income tax commissioners was well known , ( lis firm was assessed as for profits amounting to £ 12 , 000 per annum , but though on oath Mr Fieldcn had sworn that for ihreo years they bad not realis-d any profit , the goods were seiz-d and sold for the duty , and he had never Veen cnabltd to obtaiu from the patties who had made tho seiiuro any acsount of th' - sum the s » le had realised . If such had been the treatment which a member of that bouse experienced , what must be that shown towards mm in humbler circumslaneex ? ( Loud cries of'Divide . ' ) Not a single member of the government had assigned any reason why the tax should be continued longer than onu year ; and he contended that the government , observing the course of

      oveniB , ought to take tho expend ' nure of the country I into their consideration . The salaries of all tho ^ officers of steto ought to be reduced , and he invited the noble lord at the bead of the government to take as on example a neighbouring nation—one of tbe first countries in Europt—which wag about to send an ambassador here with a stipend of £ 400 per annum . ( Itrnewed cries of 'Divide , ' and considerable interruption . ) He ( Mr Wakley ) had no doubt that be was interrupted by some of the juvenile tranches of tho aristocracy , who were only just out or their leading atriogp , and yet by some strange means had obtained seats , and bad tbn power of making asinine noises in that bouto . ( Laughter , and cries of ' Oh ! ' ) He would not trespass further , a > ha shf'tili ) have many future opportunities of speaking some truths ogtilDBt a tax which was most unequal and unjust in its operation , nnd which the people were resolved should aot be sustained .

      Mr MiiHTfl said he hod listened with great , attention to th <\ speech of Lord J . Ru « si-H in the hopes that be would give him some excuse for voting with the government em the present occasion ; but he was round to say that the noble lord had not furnished him with the slightest reason that it wns absolutely neresrary that it should be imposed for tbe term of three ytars . The noble lord had said , if it was not granted , he and the government would go out . As far as he ( Mr Mub ' z ) was concerned , they might go out ( a lau ^ h ) , with all respect for the noble lord and the right hon . baronet the member for Tamworth , he thought there were other men besides them who could conduct the affairs of this country . It would be a lamentable thing to think otherwise .

      Col , SiBinoBr , amidst loud crh s of' divide , ' expressed his determination to support the motion of tho he-n . member for Montrose ( Mr Hume ) , ar . d on a future occasion in favour of the proposition intended to be made . that Ireland should take her share in the burden of the income tix . x Q . Thompson addreesfd tho house amidst the loudest manifestations of impatience and cries for a division , The bon . member , on behalf of hil constituents , protested against the continuance ofthe income tax , ami still more against its continuance in its present unjust and unequal form . It would increase the discontent and dissatisfaction which already ejistert eut of doors . He should vote ' with the hon . member for Montrose , and he trusted that tho division would show that a large body of tbe members of that houso sympathised with the views and wishes of the people . ( Loud eriesof 'Divide' )

      Mr C . Peabson arose amidst loud cries of ' divide . ' lie represented n constituency of 4 . 800 persons , aad if tha house would listen to htm quietly for four mtnUtOS and eight-tenths he undertook to finish bj that time . ( Hear , hear . ) The subject was nearly exhausted . They bad wandered from Dan to Beersheba , and had exhausted all thetopics , ( Laughter . ) He had presented a petition against the income tax signed by a more nume . reus and respectable assemblage than had ever yet been collected nt the Horns tavern . ( Laughter . ) The petitioners expressed thf . 'r opinion that the income tax was unnecessary , unjust , oppressive , and iniquitous , and on those grounds tbey had requested him to oppose it . He would do soin every stage of its progress . He would only snpport the motion of the hon . member for Montrose , because he considered that the iiifliotion of the tax for one year was better than three . Tbe committee then divided , wbtn the numbers

      were—For the original motion ... S 63 For tbe amendment ,,, ,,, 338 Majority 225 The House adjourned at a quarter to one o ' clock . TUESDAY . Maech li . HOUSE OF LORDS—Tbe A-ioit of Railway Accounts Bill pasred through committee , and the Fassen gers Bill was read a second time . Lord Sxaniet inti . mating that any objections he hnd to the details he should oifer when the hill n ' . 's committed . HOUSE OF COMMONS —Mr J . S . WoaitET , from the Harwich Election Co : r . rnittr . i ' , r < ported that John Attwood , Esq ., had u t bui 11 du ' y el- ctefl , and that bribery by his ai'ents I : ; i ; iii-tii proved at the said election . A new writ tv . ts Mii-s- tjut ntly inovitd , but after some discussion n * to Vu : unconstitutional practices which had prevailed it Harwich , th" motion was withdrawn

      Window Vftimsc ucbinothe late Riots—Sir W CLAY wisher ! to put a question to the Attorney . General . During tl : p . rioting which teok place last week some 0 / the pirsrua preaent at tho ? e disturbances inflicted considerable it jury on prop'rty in many parts of the metropolis . A great number of shop windows were broken , and these being mostly of plate glass a very large pecuniary damage resulted . He wisbed to know whether tbe parties suffering this damage bad any . claim for compensation * on tha country , coanty , er any other party , and If so , by what process , ( Hear . ) The Attobhei-Oesebal : In conscquence of thecourtesy of my hon . friend in giving me notice of his intention to put this question , I am enabled to answer it , and to aay , from tbe examination I have mads , what is the state of the law in the case . The house is aware that ,

      previous to the comparatively recent act introduced by the right hon , baronet the member for Tamworth ( Sir It . Foel ) , 0 remedy wasgiv-n for damages of this kind against the hundred under various statutes ; but by tbe 7 & 90 . 4 , C . 27 , the statute of Win . 'on , the Kiot Act , tbe Black Act , and the other statutes relating to reme . dies against thehundred were repealed , and other provisions were introduced by tho act 7 & 8 freo . IT , cap , SI , The first section of this statute gives a remedy against the hundred where tho house , shop , or other building is feloniously demolished , pulled down , ordes troyed wholly or in part : but to come within 'he definition of that section tbe offence must be complete , according to the act 7 and 8 Geo , IV ,, cap , 30 , which makes it a felony wantonly and with force to demolish or begin to demolish tha buildings therein specified . But iu the case which my hon , friend puts there is no actual demolishing nor anything to satisfy

      the WOrda , 'begin to demolish , ' And where tbe iojury is only partial tbo hundred would not be liable unless the act was done under circumstances which would satisfy a jury that the demolition would have been complete if the rioters bad not been interiupted . Upon this subjeet there are many decisions . One or two will illustrate the position . In a case where rioters broke the windows and shutters of a house to compel tfce propiie . tor to illuminate , that was held not to be within the act ; ' Held v . Clark , 7 Term Reports , p . 49 . ' So also in another , where 'he mob voluntarily retired after doing similar mischief , Lord Ellenborough d-rected tbe jury to find for the defendants ; 'L , King v . Chamber * ( 4 Campbell , 307 . ) ' In each case tho intention of the rioters is a question for tbe jury , and in no case is the hundred liable unless the demolition is complete , or the intention to demolish satisfactorily established . ( Hear . )

      POMEQAL , PeCSSIA , FRANCE , AND ESOtAliB Lord PaI / MBRSToN stated ( in reply to Ur Hume , ) that there Was BO Objection to famish 3 return of tbe expense attendant upon our late interposition in Lisbon ; and ( in reply to Mr Hindley . ) that the Prussian government had informed her Majesty's government that it was determined to pursue tho same course of policy—namely , not to interfere in the internal affairs of France- ( hear , hear)—and to abstain from saying or doing anything which might ba construed into a desire to interfere . ( Cheers . ) Punishment or Death . —Mr Ewabt rose to move for leave to bring in a bill for ihe total repeal ef the pu . nuhuunt of death , The conviction of the Inexpediency of that punishm ' 'nt nowbaasfizeit tho public mind more strongly than ever , and tho time ? iad at length arrirt d

      when the government and the legislature of the country were expected to ahollsh a practice which was revolting In Itself , and whose consequences , he contended , had anything but a moral effect . The hon . gentleman referred » o the scene which lately took place at an execution at ClODHirl , where the culprit was launched into eternity amidst tho execrn'ions of the people , directed not againit tbe criminal , but against the executioner and the system . Surely such scenes as that were not likely to produce any moral effect upon the public mind . The hon . gentleman then read several extracts from the report of the committee appointed last session on the motion of Lord Brougham , showing that the chaplain ef Rending Raol , Mr Phillips , the criminal lawyer , the judge cf the City Court , 0 stipendary magistrate in Liver .

      pool , Mr Justice Coleridge , Mr Justice Perrin , and Chief Baron Richards , of the Irish bench , and others whos « opinions were entitled to similar weight , were in f avour of abolishing tha puniehmentof death , and believed that public executions tended to degrade and demoralise rather than elevate tho moral condition of the people . He also referred to the successful abolition eithepunish . ment In Russia , in Tuscany , in the duchy of Baden , in Rome , and lastly he referred to tht not of the present provisional government of France , in abolishing capital punishment for political offences , and provisionall y abolishing it for all other offences . He hoped the house vt Ouitl consent to the introduction of the bill . Mr Lenhabo having seconded the motion , Sir Or , Grey eaid he Bhouldtake the same course ha

      Monday, March 13. House Of Lords,—The Ea...

      parsucJ la ^ t jiat , of opposing the introduction ot ths 19 bill bicnijss they were as c-mpet . nt now to form an in opinion On tl ) 0 subject as if the bill were introduced . 1 . Had the hon . gentleman proposed to limit the number rv of offences for which capital punishment remained ha ia would not ohjec ! to tho introduction of his bill , but as ts the boil gentleman proposed the total abolition of tha 18 punishment f \ . r all offences , no matter how greet their fr magnitude , he ( Sir Q . Grey ) did not see that ar . y object it could be attained by his sanction for the-bill to be laid d on the table . He objected to the hon . gentleman ' s prin . 1 . ciple . He believed that the punishment of death fur tho o greatest crimes—b « recant wilfiil and deliberate murder r —was nquisito lar Die protection of society , and li i human Hie . 'Che h ,. w . gaultmsm nOvocatoil the sacred- - ness of human life ; but could lie guarantee that if ca * * pitnl punishments ceased murders would not iicr ? asef S Because , otherwise , that sacreiiness w . uld be violated I

      to a greater degree . The punishment of death was now r virtually limited to cafes ef mur . ier . In some eases sen- - tonce ef death wua recorded without any intention oi t carrying it into effect , and it might be advisnb o to make 5 th « law consist , nt with the practice in that respect . . But that lias not rhe question . The question now was , , should they abolish the- punishment of death in every r case ? He thought they outtln not , and referred to the i readiness m ' th Which juries jnvaiiab ' j convicted ia i clearly proved cases of deliberate reorder to show that t there was no reluctance on the part of jurits to retain i that punishment as a protection to society . The inflo- euci of a public execution upon those who witnessed it ; was not a criterion ; lor , generally speal . ing . those who > viewed as a pastime the dying struggles ol the mahfao > tor could not be more affected by tho sittht than by the knowledge that such a puaishrotHt attached to tho com . . mission of certain crimes . Ho found that tho commit . .

      ments for attempts to murder for the five years ending ; 1831 , which were the five- years preceding the abolition i of capital puniDrinicnt , were 4150 ; in the fire > esrs fo ! - ¦ lowing they were 6 G 8 ; in the next five years , 937 : and I in the fivesubstqutnt years , 1089 ; while for rape they ' bad increased trom 252 for the first period , to 597 for tbo ) last period of five years , ehowiup plainly that the abolt * ¦ tion of capital punishment for these crimes had caused I their increase . With reppict to tbe crime e-f arson in i dwelling houses and on board ship , the capital punish- . ment bad b'en abolished in 1837 , and after that iters ) had been a temporary diminution in the tiumlter of tb 0 S 8 I offences ; but in the five years ending in 184 G , the num . . berhad increased to 581 as compared with 2 l 2 , tVienum « ber before abolition . In like manner with respect to I fbrgery , the number of committals for the five yeara i

      ending 1831 had been 312 ; for the five years ending 1838 , , 359 . In 1837 capital punishment for this t if nice had 1 been abolished , and tor tho fir . tt lour years ending 1841 , , after ato . ition , the committals had been 561 , and for tha » fivoyears ending 1846 , the number was 731 . With te > gard to burglary , capital punishment was abolished ia i 1837 , excipt in eases ot violence to the inxiates , and tha i number of committals for burglarjr , for the five years ending 183 G ( that was before abolition ) had been 1 . CC 0 ;; whil « for the five years ending 1846 , the number had in- . creased to 2 , 701 , As to murder , for whfcb capital panishmeHt ba-4 been retained , he was happy to say there had not been a corn spondiim increase , for tho returns , on the contrary , showed that the commitments for murder for the five years ending 1 BSG hnd been 655 , whjie for the five years ending 1846 they had been 641 .

      MrB OsBoaNE thought great merit was due to tho hon . m-mber for Dumfries for the great pains and abu lity ho had devoted to the subject j for though he ( Mr B . Osborne ) was not prepared fully to agree to the whole of the feheme proposed , still he thought it would be right to admit the bill , and in a future stage to consider whether the criminal la " w , in its execution , might not bt » made more humane than it now was . Above all things , ho thought it most d . sirable to get rid of the disgusting exhibitions and public executions , which , so far from deterring otters from the commission of crime , only rendered the people who witnessed them more cations and hardened . If capital punishment could not be abo lished , be thought it mi ght be carried into executioa within the prccinctsof the prison , before proper officers . On the whole , he should vote for the introductien of the

      bill . Mr Alderman Sidney thought the time had at rived Hum the mailer might be fairly tested , When string the office of sheriff ot London he bad witnessed the painful and demoralising scenes which publi ' c executions had presented , and it was big firm conviction that they wera productive of crime to a fearful extent . Tho governor Of Kewgate ( Mr Cop .-, ) had that day informed him that , during tbe fifteen years he had been governor , every criminal eiecuted during that time had admitted to him that they had been pretent ns spectators at pr . vious executions—all , with one . solitary exception . On all the grounds stated , he should vote for tbe motion , beiieviBg that if au experiment of abolition were made , even for a limited piriod , much good would result .

      Mr RoMlLliT remarked , that it was quite clear that the ohject of all parties was the protection of human life . It appeared to htm that the crime of wilful and deliberate murder stood on very different grounds from any other offence , aad if death was not the punishment it must of m cessity increase . Because an offender now committed a burglary , with violence to the inmates , he was liable to a punishment equal to imprisonment for life with bard labour , and if that punishment onl ) was al ' ott ( d to mur « der , he would have the inducement to commit that crime as tbe means if preventing his detectionhy the evidence of his victims . On these grounds he waa not prepared to go with the hon . member for Dumfries . He

      could not forbear a remark on the disgraceful 'Xbibitjon which took place at executions . ( Hear , he * r . ) It was desirable that executions should . not take place in public — tbe knowledge that conviction would be followed by death wns sufficient—the pub ic exhibition itself produced a most demoralising eff < cr . If , on senti r . ce being pronounced tke crinrnsl were taken back to prison , never more to appear in public , that would havo a much better effect ; and if , instead ot tolling a ball 03 at executions , at pre ? ent , aotica was given of wha' was going on , that would be all that was nicessary . Sufficient security might easily be provided for making public tbe fact that the criminal had expiated his guilt with bis life . ( Hear . htar . )

      Lord Ncoent said , he had listened with great atten " tion to tbe speech of tbe right hon . the Home Secretary , and ho thought he bad taken an imperfect view of the statistical argument of the hon . mover . From the Forlias law of the Romans down to the code of Duke Leopold , end in more recent times , it hod been shown that ctimes of violence had increased or decteased proliortionnily with the increase or decrease of violent punishments , With one exception , in our own country , the crimes for which the punisbnitnt of death had been abolished had decreased , That exception was criminal assaults on iemalee ; and tbe fact of its being an exception arose from there being more prosecutions and convictions since the capita ! punishment was done away ; previously to that tima the usual course being to JodicC

      only for the common assault . Tho same remark alto applied to tbe crime of cutting or wounding with intent te kill . It there had been an increase in this crime , it was a proof that capital punishment did not deter from its commission , ( Hear , hear . ) It was desirable that th « law , while stern in Us justice , should be mild \ ia its practice , inflicting as little punishment on the off * ne ' er 89 was consistent with its object . At the same tima those Who administered the law ought strictly to adhere to it : but , under the present system , bow < f ; en did the mercy of the judge interfere to arrest the bloody hand of the law « A stronger proof could not he advanced that Something was wrong in the law itself . The horror that attached to tho instrftmont hjr which the last penalty of the law waa enforced—the hangman—arose from tho

      fact that public humanity was outraged . ( Hear . ) Wfiy draw the cap over the criminal ' s face if there was not something of which to he ashamed 1 ( Hear , hear . ) The supporters of this motion could not be accused of sympathy with crime ; thtir olject wag to prevpnt an unoue sympathy with the murderer . The moment a criminal appeared on the scaffold bis crime was half forgotten . Their object was to recsove allfalsotympathy , and make the law cer ain and severe , ( Hear ) Recently he had heard of a penny thestrtt he ' wg established in the city of York , where tbe entertainment consisted in haneing the effigy of a recmt culprit , the real executioner officiating in propria persona , ( ' Hear , ' and laughter . ) But tho weightiest and most awful coneideraiion on the question

      was this—that an irrevocable punishment was incompatible with the-notion of a fallible tribunal , ( Hear , hear . ) This waa no fanciful speculation : it had been proved that , for a long series ot years . Oris inuacimt U 8 f 90 u had been hanged every three years . Sir F . Kelly , in 18-11 , had placed the average much higher ; he had showed that in fifty years forty-one persons had been executed whoso innoctnoe had since betn clearly e-tablished . ( Hear . ) Mr Baron Parke related on instance of five innocent persons biing saved by a mere accident . ( Hear , hear . ) Thecase of Jficbael Howard , of Limerick , was ona of those who had escaped an unjust punishment by mere accident . A great cry ef Innocent blood rose up against the existing law . ( Hear , hear . )

      Sir It , IfiQliia eaifl the right of roan to inflict capital punishment , might 6 e deduced from his ministerial office in reference to the law ol God . It whs asserted that tbe Christian dispensation had mitigated the Levities ) law , which said , ' Whoso sheds man s blood , by man shall Ms blood bo shed . ' He duiiesd that ( he law of the Old Testament had been abrogated . There was no mention in the Word of God of the r . formation of society being the reason for tho infliction of punishment . Re would be no party therefore to any law which would Deprive tho law of God of the sanction of the legislature , or rather he would not ba a party to any law which was Inconnisttnt with tho Word of God .

      Mr Heme said that crimes changed with changes of manners and characters . The hon . gentleman who had just spoken relied chiefly on the Word of God , but he ( Mr Hume ) denied that any text of Scripture could be quoted giving authority to one man to take away the life of another . ' I will have mercy and not sacrifice , ' were " the words ef God himself . He nl * o said , "Thou shalt not kill , ' a command nlilcli he believed referred to the taking of life as a punishment as welf as to we crime of murder . He had never seen an execution but once , and then twenty persons were hanged together for crimes which had been subsequently blotted b & JW statute book as pu 8 i «» aWe by death . ( Hear mfH ; fc lievedthatiu ail countries where life was "elfSfesp- " by the public authority it was held cheap by thef ^ ca ^ g ( Hpur . ) Wherever executions were frequent . « M £ ^^ - cgoasBination and murder bepamo matters ofcourj jfy pm ^ Mr Wood was in favour ef the retention of ^ pW | v pomishtuents in cases of murder , « f vM ij < M Jrl-i ciuy ™

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 18, 1848, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_18031848/page/7/