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Northern Star (1837-1852), 18th March 1848, Edition 3 of 3, Page 7, THE TEieHTENEB KI50S. GEiST OT UKLMHED U...

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      ' Mat-Ch 1v184p. ¦ M., The Northern Star...

      ' Mat-ch 1 V 184 P . ¦ m ., THE NORTHERN STAR . ¦ , ¦ _, " _^„ . ' _. _^ _.... y _* - _- ; _¦ ; , ;; , ; . ' . _' : " [ a __ m ' _~~~™ ¦— - — ¦ ' ¦ i i ' ¦ — ¦ i— i . .. _. _. _ . _.., ¦ : _^—— . _—r——^ -1—_ ... - - ¦ - iii .. I ¦¦— ... a— ,- ,-rwwrmtnni urn i nn _iiiinnifia imii iii ' iinn iniiii ri" i in nil i _iirM _» _MiijaJBB'f * _fr' _" _'W 4 _Ji'U _^ _''Alll ' rV _1 UW

      Drsiemfal Ans ^Amm

      _drsiemfal _ans _^ _amm

      S Belgium. Tie Violent And Unjustifiable...

      _s BELGIUM . Tie violent and unjustifiable , if not illegal expuls ion of Dr Marx trom the Belgian territory , has riven rise to severe strictures on the government , loth m Chamber of Representatives and the toffD council of Brussels . The Moktteub Bblsh , 0 f this day , attempts to explain awsy the / acts , bnt it only makes matters worse , inasmuch as it acknowledges th 3 t when that gentleman and his Jady ( who | s tie sister of th * governor of _Pomerania ) __ were _jjjong ht before the procureur du rot , that functionary _declared that no offence had been committed of _tfbieb he could take cognisance ; and , moreover , the Sunt construction , the next day ordered them to be Vgt at libertv immediately . Notwithstanding all

      this , the government ordered both to be expelled m _jjjBluost summary and arbitrary manner 'from the country , and although the _Mosiietjr is totally silent on that _i-ubjeet _, the order was obeyed to the letter . The Momieub acknowledges , too , that Madame Marx , who is a highly intellectual , accomplished voung ' lady , was detained all night iu the eemmon caol - that she was at first placed in the room set a part for all the disorderly female characters arrested during the night , and that subsequently she was brought into & room where she had lor her compjnion during the night a woman who was arrested for an assault . " I may add , from an authentic

      _ssnrce , that bothDr Marx and his wife were grossly insulted by the stents of the authorities . They were conveye d to the Belgian frontiers , and driven out of * _ha kingdom under the paltry pretence that their _pgasports were not regular . _IJhj-xt . —Some disturbances took place on the 13 th st Ghent . A crowd attacked the convent of tha Jesuits ; the police interfered , and obliged the populace to disperse . But next morning the crowd appeared again on the Grand Place , and a _psrtion dis perKu to _Yronehiennes , a neighbouring locality , where the Jesuits have also a convent . A strong detachment of cuirassiers has left Ghent in pursuit of

      the populace . _» _-,. _*» . _t Asiwerp —A numerous meeting has taken place at this town , at the Society de Guillaume Tell , and it was decided to petition the Government for a considerable reduction of the expenses of the Belgian corps _diplomatique , the army , and all tbe great branches of publio service .. Some spoke in favour of a customs union with France , but this last question remained undecided . A petition for securing the other objects ofthe meeting was agreed to . PRUSSIA .

      The Teiehteneb Ki50s. Geist Ot Uklmhed U...

      THE _TEieHTENEB _KI 50 S . GEiST OT UKLMHED _UBSUTT OP THE PRESS BT TUB SISS . —P 20 _TKST _0- ? TEE STATES OP HUNGARY TO THS IHPZBOS OP AUSTRIA . _"Beelet . —The K _"? ng has granted unlimited liberty of the press throughout his dominions , lnstruetions to the provisional governments were for _warded yesterday ; and the royal decree on this important snbjeefc will be made public so soon as it shall be known that the instructions have reached their des tination .

      AUSTRIA . _TressA , March 6 . —The arrival of the mail from Hungary this morning has caused great [ excitement . Danm's _coEee-houss was crowded to excess , and a gentleman was at onee placed on one of the billiard tables for the purpose of reading alondthe Psessdbs Gazette , whieh had just been received . Events in Hungary have taken a serious turn , so much so , that the Archduke Stephen has arrived here to ask for new instructions , suited to the extraordinary and unexpected circumstances . An address _hasbeen forwarded by ihe States of Hungary to the Emperor , of so _nnusual a character th 2 t the sensation it has created cannot be matter of surprise . It _demasds the strict maintenance of the aneient Hungarian Constitution , asd the appointment of a separate ministry , the members of which shall be responsible to the people of Hungary .

      The news of the recent events in PariB , says a letter from Presburg , of tbe Snd , ' haTe caused the greatest excitement and consternation here . Austrian bank notes ere everywhere refused . The savings bants aad public oSces are literally stormed oy masses of people demanding coin for their notes . Cemmerce seems as if it had been maimed by a thunderbolt . People say that the state is bankrupt . The affairs of Italy are then to be discussed in a military point of view—tbat is to say , the question is to fee brought forward , if , aad uu _3 er -what arromstances , Hungarian troops are to be employed cat of the country .

      To elucidate this last sentence it must be remembered that it has ever been the policy of Austria to send Hungarian troops to Italy , and Italian troops to Hungary , to keep down the people . If , however , we are to credit the last accounts from Lombardy , in many instances the Hungarians bare shown a readiness to fraternise with the Italians . The following letter , dated the 3 rd instant , will suffice to _showtbat the present movement in Hungary is one of a ntost serious nature , and likely greatly to complicate the embarrassments of Austria : —

      _Psessceg _, Mareh 3 . —Hy expectations have been fulfilled . We are now only one sUp from a revolution . The secret sittisg of the Chambers yesterday did not break up till a late _hsur at night . Ia the public sitting cf to-day Ludwig Kossuth rose and proposed that a depatstion shonld be sent forthwith to _Yienaa , to the ' Sing , demanding the immediate establishment ofa responsible Hungarian ministry , consisting exclusively of _Hungarians , entirely distinct from _Austrian government , 65 also the immediate _abe'ition of the onerous taxes , and a total reform in the laws of the country carried' out under the auspices of the Diet .

      This motion of the Opposition leader was unanimously adopted . The seene in the chamber is described as being ofa most extraordinary nature . Kossuth spoke for an hour and a half without interruption , except from the boisterous applause of his hearers . He launched into a violent attack , not only against the Austrian government , but agaiBst the Court in general _. An address was immediately drawn np to be presented to the Emperor . This movement in Hungary is one of serious import at the present moment , and will in all probability be followed by a similar movement in Bohemia . The _Obssryateub Beige contains a letter from Vienna , whieh states that the King of Prussia arrived there on the 5 th . He came , says the letter , for the purpese ef coming to some arrangement with Austria on the attitude which Germany should assume relative to France .

      GERMANY . _Bgeeitia . —We learn from Prague , under date of ihe Sth instant , that some disturbances had occurred there , which resulted in an address from the City Council to the Emperor , making the same demands a 3 have lately been preferred to most of the German Sovereigns . _S-rcrrGAKDr . —Manifestations of discontent had been made at Stuttgardt , on the 7 th of tbis month , in consequence ofthe nomiration of a new Cabinet , in which M . de _Lendens was to hold the appointment of Minister ofthe Interior . Tranquillity had , however , been restored by a promise from the King that he would make some alteration in his intended arrangements . Hisse Cassbl . — The people of Hesse Cassel still continue dissatisfied , notwithstanding the concession of their demands bythe Elector .

      Saxokt .. —The King has proclaimed freedom of the press and the abolition of the censorship . This fact was raade known at Leipzig on the 8 th , to the great joy of the 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 . _Wetkas , —The liberty of ths press has been proclaimed . _Augsbuss . —There had been disturbances at Augsburg . The peasantry ( Rauern ) were in commotion in the districts areund _Knrnberg en the 9 th . On tbat day a deputation , 300 strong , entered the 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 magistracy . _WiE-n-iiBEKS . —Serious disturbances have broken out on the frontiers of Baden and Wirtemberg .

      Bkeslac . — The municipal authorities have re-Krlved to forward a deputation to Berlin , in order to Obtain an audience of the King and viva voce ( mundlich ) to express the wishes of the people . The head burgomaster is appointed the head ofthe deputation . The _oamsonin Magdeburg has been nearly doubled , and tk & inhabitants have ths option either of having the additional soldiers billeted on them , or of paying a certain sum to be dispensed from such ' angel _Tisits . ' Addresses continue to pour in from all' the towns . The refrain of all of them is ' no _allianca vita Russia . '

      Cabishuhe . —9 b the 10 th inst . t _* e bills were laid before the Chambers at CarlBrnhe , for tho purpose of abolishing all feudal rights , and one for indemnifying the parties concerned . The peasantry have broken eat in insurrection in the vicinity of Wertheim , and ia various parts of Hesse Darmstadt . Troops have been marched from Manheim to tbe disturbed districts , In _Hanau _, affairs have taken a serious turn , thanks to the _obstinaeyof the Elector of _Hesse-Cassel . The inhabitants are in open insurrection . Oh the Eight of the 10 th inst . the gates of the town , which is celebrated for its numerous goldgraiths' gh ° pg , were barricaded , after the troops had either voluntarily withdrawn , or bad been expelled .

      Hamburg . —This town is in a state of great fermentation . The Senate has voted freedom of the press , but the concession comes too late , and formidable demonstrations are being made to compel much greater concessions . Meanwhile business is at a stand still , and confidence is superseded by gloom , & nxieiy , and dread . The movement continues in every state , great sad Email , in Germany , and when the individual demands of each will have been granted , tbey _ vnu fend into one common demand—a German Far-Sament

      Bavaria. The King Haa Redeemed The-Word ...

      BAVARIA . The King haa redeemed the-word ef Prince Charles of Bavaria by th _9 following proclamation : —

      BOTAL PEOCLAHATION . I have determined to convoke the States of my kingdom around me , » b the ICth of the present month . The withes of my people always feund an echo _' in my heart _. Projects of law will ha immediatel y brought under tho consideration of the assembl y of the states : amongst others : — The constitutional responsibility of ministers , Entire liberty of the press . Eleetoral reform . Trial by jury . Provisions for decayed servants of the State . Emancipation ofthe Jews . I shall alto ordain the immediate draft of a new code of laws ; tbat the army do immediately take the oath of allegiance to the constitution ; and from this moment censorship is abolished .

      Bavaria will _reeognisein these decrees the unchanged oplnioBS of the house of Wittelsbaeh . A great moment has arrived for the development of States , llest serious is the position of Germany . My whole life is a proof thatmy thoughts and acts have been for the weal of the German cause . The great aim of my andeavour _shaU be to strengthen the unity of Germany by salutary measures , to _ensurs a due representation of the German nation at the Diet , and to tbat end to effect a speedy revision of the present constitution of the Oiet in proportion to the just expectations of Germany . Bavaria ' s king prideB himself on beinj * a * 3 eraaa , Bavaria ! your confidence is honoured and will not bs abused t

      Rally ronnd the throne . United to your sovereign , represented by your constitutional orgaBS , let us consider what is best for the welfare of our country . Everything for my people . Everything for Germany . _Irowia . _MisiHitTAN , Crown Prince . LuiTroiB , Prince of Bavaria . Adalbmt , Prince of Bavaria . Kabi , Prince of Bavaria . And countersigned by Prince _Wallerstein , and all the ministers . Munich . March 6 th . 181 B .

      Munich . —Lola Mostss- —This lady has sgsm been playing one of her bold tricks . She came unexpectedly to Munich , on the "evening of tho 9 th . The news spread like wildfire , and various were tha stories afloat as to the time and manner of her arrival . The truth soon became known however , — Lola had been for a moment at Munioh , dressed in man ' s _eiothes , but had heen arrested by the gensdarmerie by order of thekingi , and carried away from the town .

      POLAND . Intelligence from Poland states , that tha Russian forces are constantly receiving fresh accessions , and now amounted to 60 , 080 men . Prince Paskemtch is expected daily from St Petersburg !) .

      UNITED STATES . - The news is ofa 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 that Santa Anna hsd given bis adhesion to the treaty . The Honourable John Quincy _Adaras was seised with paralysis in the House of Representatives on Monday last , and carried ont insensible—the House adjourning instantly—and on Wednesday evening , 23 rd nit ., he died in the 81 st year of hia age ; having retained full possession of his faculties up to the moment ofthe last fatal attack . Mr Adams was born in 1767 .

      MEXICO . General Lane reached Mexico from ONBiba , on the 10 th instant . It is said that both the state and capital of Oajaca , whither Santa Anna sought an asylum when eo hotly pursued by General Lane , had refused any aid to the fugitive ex-President . Lug Vega had been pardoned by General Seott . The American Stax of the 11 th ult ., published in the city of Mexico , contains the official announcement that the treaty oi peace was ratified on the part of the Mexican Congress by receiving tha signature of Signor Rossa , Minister of Foreign Affairs en the 10 th ult ., which date it bears . A meeting of the deputies ahd senators who were in the city was held , but only twenty-four 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 our citzens' claims against Mexico by the United States . YBrn-zrjsLA . —There have bsen some terrible scenes enacted at Cairacas . The Venezuelan Congress met on the 24 th ult ., was overwhelmed by the populace , set on , it is said , by the President , and several of the members massacred . It was expected that a revolution wonld immediately break out throughout the Republic .

      Brighton-.—A General Meeting Of Chartist...

      Brighton-. —A general meeting of Chartists and Land members was held on Tuesday , March 7 th . Mr Thomas Harvey in the chair . Mr John Page moved , and Mr Mitehell seconded : — 'That the sum of three shillings be sent to the Executive _Commit-, tee of the National Charter Association as their monthly quota ; * which was unanimously earried . 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 Pari 3 to congratulate the sovereign people of France on their late glorious triumphs-The meeting seemed to be _delighted at the step our London friends had taken , and expressed their desire for an annual congreBS 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 Hotber , Henry Bourne , Thomas Harvey , John Page , Thomas Purser , James Williams , * 3 nd Henry Mitchell , and no doubt many others will join on our next meeting night . A vote ef thanks having been givm to the chairman , the meeting dissolved .

      _Kilbaecdas . —The _Frekch Republic—A large public meeting was held on Wednesday evening , the 11 th inst ., in the Chartist Church , to congratulate the people of France on their glorious and triumphant achievement ofthe revolution , and the establishment of a Republic . And to hail with feelings of delight , the recognition ofthe rights of labour by the provisional government .. Mr . Robert Caldwell in the chair . The manifesto from M . de Lamartine to tbe French diplomatists was read , amid great applause . The following resolutions were unanimously agreed to : —Moved by John Wilkie , 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 thera in the overthrow of a despotic and tyrannical government—and hail witb _( _eeUngs of delight , sympathy , and of hope , the advent ofthe emancipation ofthe human mind , by the liberty of thought—emancipation of the individual sonl by freedom of inquiry and belief—suppression of all privileges—equality 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 _sne and universal—the people king—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 —power strong in justice—government raised to the dignity of virtue—such is the philosophy which murst 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 ifsnch principles , 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 toiling millions , would entirely and for ever be unknown . We , therefore , bail with delight , the recognition by the provisional government of France , ofthe rights of labour , and an attempt on their part to organise it on the

      _aasis of eternal justice . Moved by John Davie , and seconded by "William Speir : — 'That a report of this _meeting be sent for insertion , to the Nobthebh Star , Edinburgh Express , _Renfbewshthb Post and Reporueb newspapers , and that a copy ofthe Nosiherx Stab be forwarded to one of the members of the provisional government of France . ' It was then proposed by Jame 3 M'Eenney : — ' That thismeeting show its love of liberty , by giving three hearty cheers for the Republic ofFrance , and the Charter of Britain . ' Whieh was responded to with heartfelt accla mations . When , after voting thanks to the chairman for his able and efficient service ? , tbe meeting dissolved , wbich was most enthusiastic , * _snd argues well for the future , _ . „

      Cheltenham —At a meeting held at Berry s Temperance Hotel , Mr Perry in the chair , it was resolved that the following _persoBS be appointed aa the General Council for this locality , for conducting the business ef the Chartist Association . - —namely , Messrs Ford , Stafford , Perry , Frames , Bragger ; Mr Glemsster , sub-secretary ; Mr _Shamer , sub-treasurer ; and it was further decided that the members aHd friends ofthe Association Bhould meet for deliberation at Berry ' s Tempershca Hotel , on Tuesday evening next , at eight o'clock . The reception gives to the Chartist deputation by the French provisional government was read to the Chartists assembled , and met with the most unequivocal applause . ' Three cheers were given for the French Republic , ana three cheers for the Charter and tha Land followed , and the meeting separated .

      Fissraetw $Aritaik£!E

      _fissraetw _$ aritaiK _£ ! E

      Monday, Mabch 13. House Op Lords. —The E...

      MONDAY , Mabch 13 . HOUSE OP LORDS . —The Earl of LncAN drew the attention of the houso to the existing mode of rating lessors in Ireland , which led to a briuf cenverBation , in which Ihe Earl of St Germans , Lord Sranley _, the Marquis of _Lansdowne , and others , took a part . The house adjourned at _balf-past seven . HOUSE OF COMMOKS , — _Expdisiok op _Esotun ¦ WoBKFEorLE ? EOM Fb & hce Mr _STArrosD ashed ths Secretary of State for the Home Department if be has received any further information witb reference to the workmen who hsd bsen expelled from Franco f

      Sir 6 . Gas * had received information from the Mayor of Portsmouth that the workpeople who had arrived there vrere in a very destitute condition , and that a communication had been transmitted to the authorities at Rouen , with reference to the unpaid wages , clothing , and other property wbich they had left behind , in or . _ler that information might be transmitted through tbe Foreign-office to Paris , with a view of obtaining compensation to the injured _psrties from the provisional government . A considerable number of workpeople were still eipected to arrive at Portsmouth from Havre , and he might also state tbat he had a letter from tho Lord Major of Lnndon , informing him that a nnmberof persons in a destitute state had arrived from Franco in the city of London . The Late Distubances . —Mr Gladstone wished to know _whether it wa « true that the coal . _whippersef the Thames had applied to ths government to be enrolled as special constables .

      Mr Laboejchebb had great satisfaction iu sta ting that 3 , 500 ceal . vrhippers had . unanimeuEly _voluntetred their services to protect the pubUc peace . Sir 0 , Gbbt . Baid the recent base attempts at disturbances , bad elicited both in London and tbe large towns of EDgland and Scotland tha most resolute determination on the psrt of the great body ef _inhabitanls to g ive their aid in suppressing them . Manchester offered 10 , 008 special constables , Glasgow 30 , 000 , end Liverpool was alio prepared , if necessary , with a similar force . Ihcome Tax . —Hr _MacGbeoob resumed the adjourned debate upon the income tss , in doing which he defended himself from the attack made upon him on Friday evening bv Hr Disraeli , and intimated that his objections to continuing the tas for a further period of three years , rested on two grounds—the inequality and unpopularity of the , ' tax , and tbe impossibility of its answering , under existing- circumstances , the purpose of the "Exchequer

      Hr Alderman Sidnet intimated his intention of voting for Mr Hume ' s amendment , satisfied as he . was tbat wero perfect economy observed in tho management of our finances , tbe income tax would not Tie necessary for a longer period than one year . Tbo tBS was unequal , and its _inequality justly gave rise to opposition to it amongst tbe middle classes of society . Mr Sanders , Mr Buck , MrE . B . Roche , and MrMowatt supported Mr Hume ' s amendment , that the tax be renewed far one year instead of three . Mr Headlem , Mr Rice , Mr _Lennard , Lord _Drumlaarlg , Mr Henley , and Mr Hudson , spoke in favour of tbe original resolution .

      Hr Jasksok « eid ba considered the question one of such vital _importanca to tho well-being of the country , to its onward progress , peace , and tranquillity , aa to juBtify any member in _expressing his opinions by voice as well as by vote . He was anxious to explain why , being aa advocate of direct taxation , and a supporter Of the present government , he wbb prepared that night to give bis vote in favour of tbe amendment . First , as to the _government . He bad entered tbe house anxious , as a Liberal , to give her Majesty's advisers his support ; but ao bad had been tbeir financial policy , tbat he waalmost ashamed to be numbered one of tbeir adherents . They were not merely standing still , tbey were _showing a disposition to retrogade . What was the budget the ; had before them ! The government scarcely appeared

      to know whether to levy a direct tax or to revert to the old 8 j stem of the country . Tbey had failed in making out any case for Imposing the tax in its present unequal form , They had failed in making any bold _proposal of their ewn . . Like the preceding _government , tbis administration appeared too aristocratic and exclusive in its character—it drew its opinions from a clique—it bad do share iu the sympathies , as it did not meet tbe wants , the wishes , and the desires of the people , "Why did tbey shrink from proposing an extension of tbe probate and legacy duty ? They imposed thousands of pounds of taxation on moveable " property ,-whilst on landed proparty they did aot impoBe a fartbing . ( Oh , oh . ) "Who denied it ! ( Cheers . ) They had brought the _countrj to a financial crisis , and why not come down , a Liberal and

      middle . _clasa government as they professed tfeempelveB , and propose some such measure bs that ha referred tol There were , moreover , thousands of the public money locked up in tbe shape of crown lands and forest lands Why did they not raise funds to meet the exigency ofthe time from that source ? These different measures would have supplied every deficiency , and would have shown ths people that the government were desirous to take into consideration the requirements of tbe country . The trade and commerce of the-nation were in a state of paralysis—there wbb no doubt about it . ( Ironical cheers and a laugh . ) Oh ! hs Iaugbed at the idea of members opposite , _tbatthesecircumstances were attributable to free trade . If they bad had an earthquake last year , _aembers opposite would probably bate attributed

      it to free trade ; ( Cheers . ) But he returned to the government . He Owned that he felt himself so sorest their financial policy , that he was entirely ashamed of them . They did notattempt—they were perfectly unable —to justify the expenditure of the country , Thoy did not even promise to retrench for the future . They held ont no hope that at any time tbey would do so . On tbe contrary , they absolutely asked for an augmentation . If they had merely asked for the same expenditure as before he should not have complained . They had , no doubt , been greatly pressed out of doors ; they had probably been driven to do many things which were unnecessary . He made every allowance for them on tbat account . But

      was not a great part ef the present excessive expenditure owing to their negligence and _supineness ? Let tbem look at tbe expenditure ofthe _Cafrre war : Wbat other ministers wonld have come down to that house with such an item charged in tbe budget , like an item for whitewashing the Treasury ! ( A laugh , ) So greatly was he disgUBted with their want of boldness , that he cared little wbat became of them . Having no invention of their own , why did they not go to the member for _Taraworth for a plsn ; or follow the example of the Dutch in 1624 , and send out an advertisement offering a reward for a new tax which should ret press upon the country ? ( Cheers . )

      Mr Cobden observed that , although there wes no one in the house to whom the temptation mi ght be greater than to himself to speak on the _suljcct of free trade , he would refrain on that occasion from deviating into a discussion irrelevant to the question before the house , and he would tell them , once for all , that however _frequently gentlemen opposite might repeat their ' purpose less railings' against free trade , be wonld not enter into the merits of that system until [ their pnrposees railings were put into a tangible form by having them embodied in some measure for the re-establishment of the opposite sjstem . He wonld warn them , that , for the sake of trade , and of the people of this country , it would be necessary for them to extend our commercial transactions , by inviting into this country the products

      of foreign countries , which could only be done by still further reductions ef indirect taxation . Yes , said the 'hon , member , you will find it necessary , in order to encourage free trade , to make up your minds te a constant diminution of the burdens of tho country , of which it 'is justly said that tbere it no other nation in which so much is paid in Indirect taxation upon articles of _gcBtral and universal consumption . Why , we are now talking of five millions and a half of income tax , whilst the _cuBtoms duties amount to no lets than ¦ twenty millions and upwards 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 . in the pound in . come tax ; let us see what is tht amount of the poor

      man ' s income tax . ( Hear , hear . ) For every 20 s . which the working man pays for tea , he pays 10 s . duly . ( Hear , hear . ) For every 20 s . spent in sugar , he pays Gs . duty . . For every 20 s . spent in coffee , 83 . duty . For 20 s . worth ot soap , 5 s . duty , For every 20 b . worth of beer , 4 s . duty . For 20 s . worth of tebaeco , 10 s . duty . For 90 s . worth of spirits , 14 s . duty , ( Hear , hear . ) How when it is borne in mind that the working classes take by tar the larger proportion of these articles as _articles of necessity and comfort , it will be apparent that tbese taxes upon them _arsfnormons . We are talking of 7 < h in the pound ; hut they pay on some of tbe articles they consume 14 s . or 16 s . in tbe pound . When a man of thousands a year spends his income , a great proportion of It _? oes In furniture , carriage * ' horses , p ' _oturep , anfl

      other articles , on whieh little or no dutieB are payable , but when trade is bad in Lancashire and _YorkBbiie , then it is tbat the Chancellor of theExohequer comes down here with complaints tbat hh customs duties are falling off , by reason of tbe Boa . consumptfoa of these poor men ' s luxuries , ( Cheers . ) Then , I say both on the score of trade to find employment for your people and on tbe score of _juBtice towards the people , _youmos ' make up your _minda either largely to diminish your expenditure , or to persist ia a system 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 tbat _tbej should aot eHdanger direct taxation . Itwas because be wished to maintain and perpetuate direct - taxation that hs supported the amendment . He wished to make

      the income tax a just tax , that ha might make it a permanent tax . The only question before tbem . was , could they make the income tax a just tax ? To show that it could be made to , the honourable gentleman adverted to some ofthe gro « Eer and more obvious Inequalities involved in the t » x , as at present constituted . It bslDg unjust , bad tha government manifested any disposition to remedy its _injustiee ? None whatever . Let tbem now appoint a committee to inquire into the whole subject , and it wonld not be long ere a plan was devised whereby tbe income tar would be adjusted upon a satisfactory basis . He denied that the success of the amendment would , ' in the sllghest degree , endanger the public credit . There would be no defalcation in the revenue between tbis and February , Parliament would then reaisemble , and continue , even in iti present shape , the Income tax still longer If necessary . In his judgment , it would not be necessary to do so , as long before ' that time ihe _goversment would have contrived a mode of

      Monday, Mabch 13. House Op Lords. —The E...

      making the tax more acceptable to all classes . There would be no defalcation to for as the manufacturing classes could prevent it . They would wear their _lasfcoaU _befora the public creditor should suffer . But it was now high time to apply the pruning knife to the expenditure . Referring to France , Mr Cobden said , something has _been said by almost every _speaker who desl , _es to main _, tain this tar In its present objectionable form , about the events which have recently occurred in a neighbour _, ing country . I . however , draw a different conclusion from those events from that which has betn drawn from them and rested upon by hon . gentlemen who have referred to them as an argument against this motion . I soe in those events reasons wh y the government ef this country shonld not _dsptnd npon a numerical majority of the hoase- ( hear , iear )— but wh y they should endea . rour to ascertain the real sentiments of tho country . ( Cheers . ) We had a division the other day on the mo . ' Hon of tho hon . member for Cockermouth . There was a majority of 175 against him ; but look at tho _dirision

      Hat and say if public opinion out of doors was not with the minority . ( Hear , hear , ) So it wjll be to-night if the minority are with the motion of my hon . friend the member for Montrose . Do not depend upon } our whi _ppers . ln and suppose that , having obtained a _majoriiy , you have done all that is necessary . Take warning from what has happened elsewhere . You are spending large sums in fortification and armament ; but the danger ia net from without— it ib frora within . ( Hear , hear . ) You need not fear the people will resort to violence . We shall have no tumult here , as they havo had in a neighbouring country . There is no necessity for it . Thero is no cause for tumult in this country . Hire we have those rights and privileges of meeting and _dlscuealon _, the _absence of which occasioned the revolution in France . The danger here is from this house not acting in accordance with public opinion out of doors —( hear , hear)—and refusing to legislate on those principles of justice and fair dealing to the community , which alone c _« H secure tho institutions of this or any other country . . ( . Hear , hear . )

      Lord J . Russeil observed that he had heard tbe most opposite and the strangest reasons urged for the support of the _^ amendment , which embodied no principle , but which waB a mere amendment for tbe purposes of tunbarraisment . But for Mr Hume ' s straightforward conduct , ho would characterise bin amendment as a rery uncandid centrivance . The noble lord then britily ad . verted to tbe arguments UBed by several honourable _genthmen against tbe proposition of the government , aftn which he observed that the question in itself was exceedingly simple . When the tax was first Imposed , and wben it waB renewed , it was quite true that it wbb only taken for temporary periods ; but no promise was ever given that its renewal wonld not be again demanded under any _clrcumstaocc a whatever ; and what were the _circumitances which now rendered it necessary to ask

      for its continuance ? They wero , in his opinion , _sueb as to induce parliament to consent to the renewal of the tax for tho period for which It had been granted on former eccations . As to tbe inequalities of the tsx , whilst there were some which mi ght be revised , there were others , of a still more grievous character , to wbi < h the attempt to adjust tho tsx on any other basis would nire rise . The circumstances of the times were such as precluded all reduction . We ( said his lordship ) , proposed tbo estimates at a timo ivheh everything appeared tranquil , but even then I said thnt I little believed in ihe power of political prophecy . Looking to past times we shall find tbat neither the masterly understanding of Mr Pitt , nor the accurate and ingenious mind of Mr Fox , nor the philosophical observation of Mr Burke , enabled any one of those gentlem , ' n to foresee what would bo the

      issue of the extraordinary events wbich passed before their eyes from 1790 to 3792 . Such being tho case , 1 would not at any time attempt to prophesy what might be the political events of any one year , and least of all at the preBent moment . ( Loud cries of 'Hear , ' ) Six weeks ago thore were _psrsono who said tbat France was so constituted , and her property was so divided , that some time or other it would form itself into a republic . Other political observers said that upon the demise of the king some great change would take place in tbe monarchy . But no man living expected tbat that monarch y whioh sensed so firm should so soon vanish snd disappear like mist , leaving not _« _ren n remnant behind , ( Hear , hear . ) In these events I hope that we are able to see a confirmed peace , but no man can pretend to say wbat time may bring about , and I , for ono will r . ot consent to

      reduce the estimates of tbe army aad nary in the preBent state of aff . iir ? . ( Cheers . ) I say again , in ordor that 1 may not be misrepresented , asl think that I have already been , that I make that declaration nith every possible wish to see the peuc _? ef Europe and of the world preserved- , and tbat I sec nothing immediately before us calculated to endanger that peace . But I think it is the part of wise and prudent men while everything is in uncertainty not to effect aecurity , and while there is darkness around us not to pretend tbat we are walking in tbebroadday , ( Cheers . ) For these reasons , therefore , I can neither agree to the proposition of the noble lord to take the income tsx for one year only in order to have a permnnent tax upon corn ond raw cotton , ner to that of the hon . member for Montrose , tbat we may prepare tba way for a great reduction in our naval and military forces .

      Allusion tad been made to the colonies in the former stages of tbe debate . As to tbem , he hoped honourable gentlemen would not hastily make up their minds . He bad 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 to reduce that strength . If it was the wiBh of England to descend in the scale of nations , she could abridgo her colonial dependencies , but he would not be the instruments of her degradation . ( Cheers ) As to tho revision of taxation , tbere were undoubtedly faults in our fiscal system , which he would be happy to co-operate in removing ; but he could not undertake in nny set time , far less in the courso of the year , to do _anything very material in the way of reduction . LoTd John , in conclu . aion , thus adverted to bis great home"' difficulty'

      Ireland . We havo lately had another evil to contend against in the same part ef the kingdom , against tbe practice of assassination , against those murderous conspiracies _n-bich were raging through the country , overbearing all law and order , Tbat evil bas been met partly by a law of a mild _chaTaeter _, and partly by _tbsvigorous administration of tbe Lord-Lieutenant . ( Loud cheers . ) I believe that Under that _administration judges and juries have admirably performad their duty , and that there has been no failure either in obtaining evidence against or the conviction of the miscreants who have been guilty of those horrible acts . So far tbe government bave been successful in meeting that great evil . One honourable gentleman has saU to-night , and hai almost given it ib his reason for voting for the preposition of the honourable _member for Montrose , tbat the Lord-Lieutenant of

      Ireland " was gagging the people , and not allowing to them ihe free expression of opinion . ( Loud ' laughter . ) I should have thought tbat if any one had looked at the Irish newspapers lately , he must have seen thut ao far from _gagging the people , so far frora preventing tho free _exprension of the public voice , that I believe treason wat never so openly professed , or with such audacity , aa at the present moment . ( Loud cries of ' . Hear , hear . ' ) But , sir , if it shall please this house not to agree with the honourable member for Montrose to-night ; if power is to remain in our hands ; if my right bon . friend the secretary for the Home Department and the Lord-Lieutenant are still to wield the powers of the law in Ireland ; I trust that we shall ba able to meet these expressions ef sedition —( loud cheers)—this determination to join anj

      enemy , whoevor he may be , that mBy be opposed to the sovereign of this coun try . ( Continued cheers . ) I . trust that we shall b _* able to put down this conspiracy , and to maintain for the welfare of tbe people oflreland that supremacy bflaw and order , without which they cannot hops to improvo in industry , in civilisation , in morals , or In religion . ( Loud cheers . ) Such at least will be our attempt . We are not _insonsible to tho difficulties of tho . situation in which we stand , nor unaware of the perils which may surround us on every side ; but if we have tho confidenee of this house we may hope to meet and to surmount them . ( Cheers . ) If not honoured with that confidence we can only bopo that the _adminlstratv « n o £ affairs may be placed in ether hands , better calculated to oarry on those f _. _ffairs for the welfare and prosperity of her Majesty nnd her people .

      Mr _Waklzy rose and attempted to address . the houBe , but the . _inceBsant cries of ' divide' prevented his _obtoin-( ng . a hearing . At last the hon . member was under-¦ food to move that tbe chairman _shouldteport progress . The Chakcelloe of the Exchequer entreated the house to give the hon . member a hearing , as great public inconvenienco might reBult if the division were postponed beyond tbat evening , Mr Wsklet resumed—He trusted tbat as no member for a metropolitan borough had as yet Bpoken on the question the housB would not refuse him its attention for a few _metaents . The noble lord at the head of the _gavefaraent had intimated to the house in distinct terms that if the motion of the hon . member for Mont rose were carried the government would resign . He ( Mr Wakley ) had always looked upon suoh intimations

      as most unconstitutional . ( Oh , oh . ) Thenoblelord knew very well that there were _ciany hon , members of that house to whom it would not be very convenient to meet their constituents at the present moment , and therefore he made sure of their votes if his threat ihould ; . _ba believed . ( Hear , hear . ) If ho disagreed with the noble lord now , tbe noble lord must not blame him , seeing that he had been convinced by the noble lord ' s arguments in 1842 and 1815 . ( Hear , hear . ) The hon , member having quoted some passages from Han eard , proceeded to say , that although he opposed the government on tbe question of the' income tax , he did not disapprove of their Irish policy , They certainly wer _>> not gagging the Iriob people . All he asked was , that the same license should be extended to the people of thi ' country . The noble lord had received immense cheering

      from tbe opposite side of tbe housa ; but the noble lord's government would not . stand long if he acted so as to please the Tory , or as . be ( Mr _YTnhley ) called H _. tho really destructive party . ( 'Oft , ' from tha opposition . ) Thenoblelord might depend upon it they were only laughing at him . ( Hear , bear . ) One of the ablest amongst them bad called the government a weak govern ment — a bad government—one which had committed the most extraordinary mistakes in monetary matters _, and bad , in ererything else , shown tbe greatest incapa city . But if that bon . gentleman wero _anaioustoflq the government do their duty be should give them a short term , not _threO years , over . whioh to idle awaj their time . The incomo tax had , not now the recommendation it had in tho right hon , baronet ' s time ; it ' was ho substitute for _tazes removed , er burdens taken off the people , Bat at present that house was not

      Monday, Mabch 13. House Op Lords. —The E...

      taking a right course with regard to the masses . 'An impression prevailed out of doors that tfeey were indifferent to the _nufforings of t !; e working people . ( Ob , oh . ) Bid tbey tax themselves in the same proportion as they taxed the working people ? ( Hear , hear . ) Look at the tax on beer . Wb . v It was nonsense to talk of free tralein a country where the far . raer was not allowed to manufacture his own malt under a duty of 8 s , in every 20 s . He believed that were it cot for the duty the working man oould got his' beer for three halfpeuce a quart . ( Hear , hear . ) The noble lord should help tbe working people , who had helped him in former struggles . All he asked for them"waa

      justice , but tbat ho believed they would not get until they wore more fully represented in thnt house . ( Hear , V . ear , and cries of * Question , *) He thought tint this income tax should not bo conceded for three years until its objcctionablo provisions were modified . Tho treatment which a late member of that house , Mr _Fi « lden , of Oldham , badrecoivod from the income tax commissioners was well known , ilis firm was assessed as for profits amounting to £ 12 , 000 per aanuro , but though on oath Mr Fielden had sworn that for throe years they had not realised any profit , the goods were seized and sold for the duty , and he had never been enabled te obtain from the parties wbo had made the seizure aDy _acsount ofthe sum the sale had realised . If such bad been tbe treat .

      ment which a member of tost bouse _experiencoo , what mast be thst shown towards men in humbler circumstance 1 ) ? ( Loud cries of ' Dlvido . ' ) Not a single member of tbe government had assigned any reason why the tax should be continued longer than one year ; and ho contended that the government , observing the course of events , ought to take the expenditure of tho country into their consideration . The salaries of all the officers of state ought to bo reduced , and he invited tbe noble lord at the head of the government to take as an example a neighbouring nation-ono of the first _countries In Europe—which was about to send an ambassador here

      with a stipend of £ 406 per annum . ( Renewed cries of 'Divide , ' and considerable interruption . ) He ( Mr Wakley ) had no doubt that he was interrupted by some of the juvenile _branchaa of the ariBtocraey , who wero only just eut of their leading strings , and yet by some strange means had obtained seats , and bad tbe power of making asinine noises in that house . ( Laughter , and ories of' Oh ! _' ) He would not trespass furlher , aa he _shouldhave many future opportunities of speaking somo truths _ogMust a tax whieh was most unequal snd unjust in its operation , and whieh the people were resolved should pot ba sustained .

      Mr _Mdmtz said he had batoned with great attention to the speech of Lord J . _Bu'sell in tbe hopes tbat he would give him somo excuse for _voting witb tbe govern _, ment on the present occasion ; but he was bound to say that -the Doble lord had not furnished bim with tbe slightest reason tbat it was absolutely _neccsrdry that it should be imposed for tbe term of three years . - The noble lord had said , if it was not granted , he and the government would go out . As far as ho ( Mr Man ' z ) waa concerned , they might go out ( a laugb ) , witb all _recpect for the noble lord and tbe right hon , baronet the member for Tamwortb , be thought there were other men besides _thiini who could conduct tho affairs of tbis country . It would be a lamentable thing to think otherwise .

      Col . SiBTnoap , _amidBt loud crliB of'divide , ' expressed his determination to support tbe motion of tbo hon . member for Montrose ( Mr Hume ) , and on a future _occasion in favour of the proposition intended to be made , that Ireland Bhould take her ebare in the burden of tbo income tax . Mr 6 . Thompson addreBBtd the house amidst the loudest manifestations of impatienee and cries for a division . The bon , member , on behalf of hie constituents , _protested against the eontinuanco of tho income tax , and still more against its continuance In its present unjust and unequal form . It would increase the _SIbcobtent and dissatisfaction vihlch already existed eut of doors . He should vote with the bon . member for Montrose , and he trusted that the division would sborr tbat a large body of tho members of that house sympathised with thc views and wishes of tbe people . ( Loud criesof 'Divide . ' )

      Mr C . Pbakson arose amidst loud ories of ' divide . Ho represented a constituency of 4 , 800 persons , and if tho house would listen to him quietly for four minutes and eight-tentbs he undertook to finish by that time . ( Hear , hear . ) The subject was nearly exhausted . -They had wandered from Dan to Beersheba , and bad exhausted all the topics . ( Laughter . ) He had presented a petition against the income tax signed by a more numerous and respectable _aBsemblnge than hsd ever yet been collected at the Horns tavern . ( Laughter . ) The petitioners expressed their opinion that _tte income tax was unnecessary , unjust , oppressive , and iniquitous , nnd on those grounds they had requested him _tooppsse it . He would do _soin every _stego of its progress . He would only support the motion ot the hon . member for Montrose , because he eon » i (! erfd tbat the infliction of the tax for one year was better than three . The committee then divided , when the _numbere

      were—Fer tho original morion ... 863 For the amendment 138 Majority _—225 The House adjourned at a quarter to one o ' clock . _TVESDAt _. _NABCB li . HOUSE OF LORDS . —Tbe Audit of _Kailway Accounts Bill passed through committee , and the Passengers Bill was read a second time . Lord _Stanley Intimating that sny objections he had to the details' ho should otfer wben the bill was committed . HOUSE OF COMMONS—Mr J . S . _Wobtltsy _, from the Harwich Election Committee , reported that John Attwood , Esq ., had _hotbeen duty elected , nnd that bribery by his _agents had been proved at the said election . Anew writ was subs < qumt ) y moved , but after some discussion as to the unconstitutional practices which had prevailed at Harwich , ihp motion was withdrawn

      Window _Bbiaking _dutaihq tub late Riots —Sir W . Clay wished to put . a question to the Attorney-General . During the rioting which t < . © k place last week some of ths person * present at those disturbances inflicte-i considerable injury on proprrty in many parts of the metropolis . Agreatnumberof _nbop windows werehrofcen _, asd these being mostly of plate glass a very large pecuniary damage resulted . He wished to know whether the parties suffering this damage had any claim for compensation ° on the country , county , *> r any other parly , and if so by what process . ( Hear . ) The _Attobney-Geneb . _s . 1 ,: Inconsequence _^ the courtesy of my hon . friend in ( living me notice of his intention to put tbis question , I sm enabled to answer it , and to say , from tbe examination I have mads , wbat is the state of the law in . the case . The bouso is aware tbat , previous to the comparatively recent act introduced by the right hon . baronet the membtr for _Tamworth ( Sir

      It , Peel ) , a remedy wns givm for damages of thu kind against the hundred under _variousBtatntes ; but by the 7 & 8 G . 4 . c 27 , tbe statute of Winton , the Biot Act , the Black Act , and tho other statutes relating to remedies against thehundred were repealed , and other provisions were introduced by the act 7 & 8 Geo . 1 Y ., cap . 31 , The first section of this statute gives a remedy against tbe hundred where the house , shop , or other building is feloniously demolished , pulled down , or destroyed wholly or in part : but to come within the definition of that section the offence must be complete , according to tbe act 7 and 8 Geo . IT ,, cap . 30 , which makes it a felony wantonly and with force to demolish or begin to demolish the buildings therein specified . But in the caBe which my hon , friend puts there is no actual demolishing nor anything to satisfy the words , ' begin to demolish . ' And where the injury is only partial tba 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 had not been intenuptsd . Upon tbis subject tbere are many decisions . One or two will _illustrate the position . In a case wbere rioters broke the windows and shutters of a house to compel tl ? e proprietor to illuminate , that was held not to bo within tbe aot ; ' Reid v . Clork _, 7 _Ttrm Reports , p . _48 . ' So nhio in another , whero tho mob voluntarily retired after doing Birailar mischief . Lord Ellenborough _d- ' rected the jury to find for the defendants : * L . King « . Chambers ( 4 Campbell , 307 , ) ' In each caso the intention of the rioters is ' a question for tbe jury , and in no case is tbe hundred liable unless thc demolition is complete , or the intention to demolish satisfactorily established . ( Hear . )

      PoBTnoAL , Pbiissu , France , and England —Lord _pALMiasTON _st & tod ( in reply to Mr Hume , ) that there was no objection to furnish a return ef tha expense attendant upon our late interpo & itien in Lisbon ; and ( in reply to Mr Hindley _, ) that the Prussian government had informed her _Mujesty _' _j government tbat it was deter _, mined to pursue the same courso of policy—namely , not to interfero in the internal affairs of France- ( hear , hear ) and to abstain from saying or doing anything which might bo _ccnstiued into a desire ' to interfere . ( Cheers . ) Punishment of Death . —Mr _Evtabt rose to move for leave to bring in a bill for the total repeal ef the _pu . _nishmsnt of death . The conviction of the inexpediency of that _punUhmml now liu . il 8 _*^ 3 the public min d more _BtrongVy than ever , and the time had at length arrived

      when the government and the legislature of the country were expected to abolish a practice which was revolting in itself , and whose consequences , he contended , had anything but a moral effect . The hon , gentleman re . _ferred to the scene which lately took plaee at an execution at Clonmel , where the culprit woe launched into eternity amidst the execrations of tho people , directed not ogaintt the criminal , but _oguiuat the executioner and tho system . Surely such scenes os that were not likely to produce any moral effect upon the public mind , Tbe bon , gentleman then read several extracts from tho report of the committee appointed last session on the motion of Lord Brougham , showing that the chaplain ef Reading _saol , Mr Phillips , ths criminal lawjer , the judge _» f the City Court , a _stipendary magistrate in Liver .

      pool , Mr Justice Coleridge , Mr J _uatloe 1 _' errln , and Chief Baron Richards , of the Irish bench , nnd others whose opinions were ontltlod to similar weight , were iu favour of abolishing the punish meat of death , and believed that public executions tended to degrade and demoralise rather thnn elevate tho moral condition of the peoplr . He _nleo re / erred to the successful abolition ef tho punisb _. mont in _RuBsia , in Tuscany , in the duchy of Baden , iu Romo , and lastly ho referred to the act of the present provisional _gotomment of France , In abolishing capital punishment for _palltlcal offences , and provisionally abolishing It for all other offences . He hoped the house would consent to tho introduction of the bill . Mr Lbnhabp hating _seeondod the motion . 8 lr G . 6 bbt laid he Bhould take tho name oourae no

      Monday, Mabch 13. House Op Lords. —The E...

      pursued last year , of opposing the _iairoductiou of the bUJ because they were as _competent now to form au opinion on the subject aa if the bill wero _introduced . Had the hon . gen tleman proposed tb liniit the number of offences for which capital punishment remained ha would not object to tho introduction of his bill , but aa the hou , _geutleraaH proposed the _tataj abolition of the punishment for all offences , no matter how great _theis magnitude , he ( Sir G . Grey ) did not see that any object _coulcTbe attained by his sanction for the bill to be laid on the table . . He objected to tbe hon . geutlemau ' s principle . He believed that tho _puniibment of death for tba greatest crimes—be meant wilful and deliberate murder —was _requisite fer ihe protection of society , and Hi human life . The hon . gentleman advocated tho

      _sacredness of human life ; but could he guarantee that if ca * pital punishments ceased murders would not increase ? Because , otherwise , that sacrednesB _wruld be violated to a greater degree . Tbe punishment of death was now virtually limited to cases ef murder . In _somecasessentance ef death was recorded without any intention cd carrying it into effect , and it might be advisable tomako the law consistent with tbo practice in that respect . But that was not tho question . Tbe question now was , should they abolish thb punishment of death in every case ? He thought they ought not , and referred to the _roadineSB with which juries invarlab _' y convicted ia clearly proved cases of deliberate murder to show that there was no reluctance on the part of juries to retain tbat punishment as a protection to society . The

      influence ofa publio execution upon those wbo witnessed tt was not a criterion ; for , generally _speaUing , those who viewed as a _prtstime the dying struggles of the malefac » tor could not bo more affected b y tbe sight than by the knowledge that such a punishment attached to the com _» mission of certain crimes . He found that tha commitments for attempts ' to murder for the five years ending 1831 , wbich were the five jears preceding the abolition of capital punishment , were 400 ; . in the nre years fel lowing they were 6 G 8 ; in the next five years , 937 : and in the five subsequent years , 1089 ; whilo for rape they had increased from 232 for the first period , to 597 for tha last period of fivo years , _ahowing plainly that the aboli . tion ef capital punishment for these crimes bad caused

      their Increase . With respect to tbo crime cf arson in dwelling houses and on board ship , the capital punishment bad _bten abolished in 1837 , and after that there had been a temporary diminution in the number of thoso offences ; but in the five years endin g in 1816 , tho number bad increased to 581 as compared with 212 , the number before abolition . In like manner With reBpeet to forgory , the number of committals for tbe five _yearo ending 1831 bad been 313 ; for tbe five years ending _183 B 359 . In 1837 capital punishment for thia « , fTence _hafl been abolished , and for the fint four years ending 1841 after abolition , tbe committals bad been S 64 , and for Uw five years ending 3846 , the number was 731 . With regard to burglary , capital punishment was abolished is

      1887 , except in cases ot violence to the inmates , and the number of committals for burglary , for tbe five years ending 1836 ( tbat was before abolition ) had been 2 , 060 ; while for the five years ending 1846 , the number bad in . creased to 2 , 701 . As to murder , for _whisb capital punishment had heen retained , he was happy to say thera had not been a corresponding increase , for the returns , on the contrary , showed thatthe commitments for zanr . der for tha five years ending 18 S 6 had been 655 , white for the five years ending 1816 they bad been 611 , Mr B . Osbobnz thought groat merit was due to the hon . _member for Dumfries for the _jrreat pains and ability he had devoted to the subject ; for though he ( MrB .

      Osborne ) Was not prepared fully to agree to the w ' _ootad ! the seheme proposed , still ho thought it would be right to admit the bill , and in a future stage to consider whether tbe criminal law , in its execution , might not be made morohumane than it bow wss . Above all things , he thought it most _dtsirable to getr _! 4 oi tbe disgusting exhibitions and public _extcutionB , which , so far from deterring others from the commission of crime , onlg rendered the peopio who witnessed them more _csllong and hardened . If capital _puDishnifnt could not be abo . lished , he thought it might be carried into _executioa within the precincts of the prison , before proper officers . On the whole , he should vote for the introductien of tho

      bill . Mr Alderman Sidney thought the time had arrived when the matter might be fairly tested . When sewing the offiee of sheriff of London he had witnessed the painful aud demoralising scenes , which public _executions had presented , and it was his firm conviction that they were productive of crime to a fearful extent . The governor of Newgate ( Mr Cope , ) had that day informed him that , during tbe fifteen years he bad been governor , every criminal executed during that time had admitted to him that they had been present as spectators at previous executions—all , with one solitary exception . On all ths grounds stated , be Bhould vote for tbo motion , believing that if an experiment of abolition were made , even for a limited period , much good would result .

      Mr Rohiz . lt remarked , that it was quite clear thatthe object of all parties was the protection of human life . I * appeared to him that the oriine of wilful and _deliberato murder stood on very different grounds from any other offence , aud if death was not . tho punishment it must of necessity increase . Becauso an offender now committed a burglary , with violence to the ismates , he was liable to a punishment equal to imprisonment for life with bard labour , and if that punishment onlj was allotted to East . der , he would have tho inducement to commit that crime as the means of preventing his detection by tho evidence of his victims . On these grounds he was not prepared to go with tbe hon , member for Dumfries . He

      could not forbear a remark on the disgraceful _t _xaibitiora which took place at executions . ( _Hesr _. hear . ) Itwas desirable that _executinns should not take place in public —the kDowledgo ibat conviction would be followed by death was sufficient—rhe public exhibition . itself produced a most demoralising effict . If , on senti roe be _^ _gpronounced tVe criminal were tnken back to prison , never more to appear in public , that would have a muoh better tffect ; nnd if , instead ot tolling a bell as _aterecutions , at present , _soticawas given of what was going on , that would bo all th » t ' was _mcessary . Sufficient security might easily ba providod for making public the fact that the criminal had expiated his guilt with his life . ( Hear , hear . )

      Lord Noobnt Baid , he had listened with great attention to the speech of tbe right hon . tbe Home Secretary * and he thought he bad taken an imperfect view of ths statistical argument of the hon . mover . From the Por . tian law of the Romans down to the code of Duke Leopold , end in more recent times , it had been showa thut crimes of violence had increased or decreased _proportionally with the increase or decrease of violent punishments , With one exception , in our own country , the crimes for wbich the punishment of death had been abolished had decrease ;! . Tbat exetption was criminal assaults on females ; and tbe fact of its being an exception arose from there beiog more prosecutions and convictions since the capital punishment was done away ; previously to that time the usual course being to indict

      only for the common , assault . The same remark also applied to tha crime of cutting or wounding wiih intent to kill . If there had been au increase in this crime , it was a proof that capital punishment did not deter from its commission , ( Hear , hoar , ) It was deBirable that thc law , while stern in its justice , should be mild in its practice , inflicting as little punishment on' the off . nder as was consistent with its object . At the same time those who administered thn law ought strictly to adhere to it : but , under the present system , how often did the mercy of . the judge _interfere to arrest tbe bloody hand of the law ? A stronger proof could not be advanced that something was wrong in the law Itself . The horror tbat attached to the instrument by which the last penalty of the law was enforced—the hanemsn—arose from tke

      fact that public humanity _wub outraged . ( Hear . ) Wby draw the cap over the criminal ' s face if there was not something of wbich to be ashamed ? ( Hear , hear . ) The supporters of tbis motion could not be accused of sympathy wiih crime ; their otject was to prevent an undue sympathy with tho murderer . The moment a criminal appeared on tho scaffold his crimo was huU forgotten . Their object was to remove all false sympathy , and make the law cer ain snd severe . ( Hear . ) Recently he had heard of a . peony thcatra being established in the city of Tork , where the entertainment consisted in hanging tha effigy of a recent culprit , tbe real executioner officiating i « propria persona , ( 'Hear , * and laughter . ) But tha weightiest and most awful consideration on the queBtion

      was this that an irrevocable punishment was incompa _. tible with the notion of a fallible tribunal , ( Hear , hear . ) Thia was no fanciful speculation : it had been proved that , for a long series of years , ono innocent person had been hanged every three years . Sir F . Kelly , in 1841 , _had p laced the average much higher ; he had showed that in fiftyyears forty-one persons had beea executed whose innocence had since been clearly _e-tabiished . ( Hear . ) Mr Baron Parko related on instance of five innocent persons btiDg saved by a mere accident . ( Hoar , hear . ) The case of Michael Hownrd , of Limerick , wp . s ono of thoso who had escaped an unjust puuish . ment by mere accident . A great cry of innocent blood iosq up _againstthe existing law . ( Hear , hear . )

      Sir R . Inqlib Baid tbe right of man to inflict capital punishment , might be deduced from his ' ministerial office in reference to the law of God . It waB _assrrted that the Christian dispensation had mitigatod the Levit'cal law , wbich said , ' Whoso sheds man ' s blood , by man shall his blood be shed . ' He denied that the law ofthe Old Testament had been abrogated . There was no mention in the Word ef God of the reformation of society being the reason for the infliction of punisbmeDt . He would be no party therefore to any law which Would Deprive tbe law of God of the sanction ofthe ' egielature , or rather he would not bo a party to any law which was inconsistent with the Word of God .

      Mr Hume said that crimes , cbangod with changes of manners and characters . The hon . gentleman _whohad just spoken relied chiefly on . the Word of God , but be ( Mr Hume ) denied that any text of Scripture could to quoted giving authority to ono man to . take away the lira of _. _nother . « i will have mercy aud not t _^ otiflce , were the words ef God himself . He also said , . 'Thou « halt not kill . ' a command which he believed referred to the taking of life as a ' punishment as well as to the crime of murder . He had never seen an execution but once , and then twenty persons were hanged together , for crimes which had been subsequently _blottod from tha statute book as punishable by death . ( Hear . ) He believed that iu ell countries where life , was _, held cheap hv the public authority , it was held cheap by the people ; ( Hear . ) Wherever executions _were frequent , reckless assassination and murder . became matters _ofcourss . Mr Wood was in favour of the retention _ofcajltS punishments In cases of murder .

  • 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/ns3_18031848/page/7/