The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-08-13 00:00:00

fRE STOITRBRrDGE 013 SERVER.

-and although he would be tint to vote for the defence of our
owls possessions, he objected to the cotintry being exposed to
the risk of becoming concerned in • European war. Ile
moved the adjournment of the House.
After remarks from Mr. W. Lawson, Mr. P. A. Taylor, and
Mr. P. Bylands,
Mr. Bruce condemned the course taken In bringing on the
debate in the absence of the Prime Minister, the Under-
secretary for Foreign tff sire, and of almost the whole of the
Opposition. Ile believed that the tee sty which hod been
entered into was calculated to printer,' the honour of this
country and the indepenth nee of Belgium; and he declined
to enter further into the debate as a 101 l opportunity would
be given tel re the prorogation.
In answer to Mr. Lea,
Mr Bruce said that it was the Intention of the s; warn-
merit to propose that the Mouse should meet at half-past
twelve to morrow In order to give an opportunity for discuss-
ing the subject if necessary.
ihe Ileum then adjourned.

In the Ermine of Lords, August 10, Eat Granville gave a
further raplanatlon of the Treaty with France and Prussia
ae to the utu rallty of Belgium, otter which their lottlehipe
adjourned,

THE PIZOIZOl:rATION.

At two o'cleck the Lords Commissioners, the Lord Chan
ceder, the Marquis of Normanby, Lord Kimberley, Lord
Ile Ides, and Lord Sydney, entered the House, and requested
the attendance of the Commons to hear the
read

obediEnee to this sunimnns the Speaker, Mr Oladsto,s
and many memben f the [louse of Commons, appe wed at the
bnr, wlieu Ro al Assent was given to the Appropriation
Bide, and some other bills.
. .

flaall;a4a-ae7jl.orlhen read
11Elt MAJESTY'S MESSAGE.

My LDRDN AND GENTELMEN,
The date of public buiinei. enables me to release you from
your attendance in Parliament.

I continue to receive from all foreign Powers assurances of
ab,l friendship; but I have witnesied with grief
and pain, on domestic as well EU public grounds, the recent
outbreak of war between two powerful nations, both of them
allied with this country.
My best exertions have been used to avert this great
calamity.

I shall now direct a constant and anxious attention to the
strict observance of the duties and the maintenance of the
rights of neutrality.
I have ch.-Melly assented to the measure, matured by your
wisdom, to enlarge the power of the executive, not only for
tile discharge of international duties, but for the prevention
of acts which, in times of wsr, might be injurious to the in. of the country.

- - -
I shall mako every fitting endeavour to check the operation
of causes which might lead towards enlarging the one of the
present conflict, and to contribute, if opportunity should be
afforded me, to the restoration of an early anti honourable
peace.

I have tendered to the two belligerent Powers
treaties identical in form to give additional security
t 3 Belgium against the hazards of • war waged
Upon her frontier.. This treaty has been signed by
Count Bernst, tf, on the part kd the North i emelt Confedera-
tion, and the French ambassador hue alienated that it, has
authority to sign the correepomitng instrument, as anon ree
his full powers arrive Other Powers, which were parties to
the Treaty of 183 P, have been invited to accede, if they
should think fit, no this engagement.
The shocking murders recently p3rpetrared in Greece pro-
duced a painful impression thrunghout Europe, and have
drawn attention to serious evils existing in that country. My
unremitting etf,rts will be directed to securing the complete
and searchmg character of the inquiry which has been in-
stituted.

GENTLEMEN oF THE I.IOUSE or COMMONS,
I thank you for the liberal provision which was made by
you for the ordinary service of the year, and for the addi-
tional enmities of men and money which you have voted In
view of the altered state of things on the Continent of
Europe.
The condition of the revenue gives ground for the hope
that it may be able to meet the new charge which has been
created, without reversing the proper balance of income and
expenditure.
My LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

In regard to domestic legislation, I may fitly congratulate
you on the close of a session, marked by an assiduous devo-
tion to labours of the utmost national importance.
—•

The temporary act for the repression of agrarian crime
and the maintenance of order in Ireland, has up to the pre-
sent time, answered the purposes for which It was passed.
From the act for regulating the occupall, n and ownership
of land, I anticipate the gradual establishment both of har-
monious relations between owners and occupiers of land, and
of general confidence in the provisions and administrations
of the law, and in the just and benevolent intentions of the
Legislature.
In consequence of the efforts which have been made In
matters of capital moment, to remove from the Statute Book
whatever might scent Int quitable to Ireland, I trust that the
discharge of the first duty of Government in providing for
the oecurity of life and property will become more easy; and
I shall rely with confidence upon the loyalty and affection of
my Irish smiled.
_

It has given me pleasure to concer with you in the rouge
of the Important law pr,viding for national education in
England. I perceive in it a new guarentee for the moral
and social wellbeing of the nation, and for its prosperity
and power.
The Naturalisation Act, and the Act for the Extradition
of Criminals, will tend to confirm our friendly relations with
foreign Powers.
The act which regulates enlistment for a shortened term of
service in the rank of the army will, I trust, tend to increase
the efficiency of the force, to promote the welfare of the
soldier, and to provide for the nation a reserve of men well
trained to urns, and ready, in any cue of emergency, to re-
turn to the standards.

I bid you farewell for the recess, with the earnest
prayer that, when you are again summoned to your
duties, I may be enabled to rejoice with you in
the re-establiatiment of peace on the Continent of Europe.

Parliament W all then formally prorogued until the .27th of
October next

In the House of Commons, a abort (Hermiston took pines
relative to Til E NEW TREATY BETWEEN GREAT BEI-
TAIN, FR %NUE, AND PRUSSIA, when
Mr. Gladstone having again explained that Ma treaty of
1339 was expressly recognised in the new Instrument, said
that the Government had no retool, to complain of the man-
ner in which. ape ak,ng generally, the new treaty had been
received by the House. 'I he only member who strongly ob-
jected to it was the hon, member for Waterford, who looked
upon it as the result of secret diplomacy. As he wins sup-
porter of public diplomacy he would remind him of an in-
stance which occurred three weeks ago when the Dan de
Gramma publicly declared the course which the French
Government intended to adopt. and of the result, which
followed. The hon. member had said that If Balgium
were occupied by a hostile Power the safety of this
country would not be worth 24 hours' purchase. With all
his heart and soul he protested agalnst a sentiment so ignoble
chasm—Mr. Osborne here made a remark, which wet Inau-
dible In the gallery). Ile was not prepared to take his mea-
sure of the position of this country, of its strength, safety, or
danger, from the lips of even Napoleon himself. The interest
of this country in maintaining the neut rangy and independence
of Belgium wee the sinr.e as thatof every great power ill Europe.
It was contrary to the welfare of Europe that any particular
p,wer should be aggrandised by the annexation of Belgium.
The effect of this treaty would be that every effort made
by England on behalf of Belgium would go forth to the
world as a separate and distinct eltnt. There was one
motive for preserving its Independence which he placed
ab.om all others. Beldum was a country of four or live mil-
lion inhabitants, truth much of an historic past, with a sen-
timent of nationality, and a love of independence. Throu,h
all the minim of the age Belgium had set an example of good
and stable government, associated with the widest pos-
sible extension of the liberties of the people. The
Power' who witnessed its ahem Con for the aggran-
disement of another country would hear the knell of
public law and public right In Europe ( .beers. The Go-
vernment relied upon the good faith of the other contract-
ing Powers to this treaty, and If there were any danger
of their combining against it, so much the more danger
had there been before this public engagement had been
made. Ile admitted that the treaty, and the manner of its
Introduction to the House were singular, hut peculiar circum-
stances, such as those under which the Government had had
to act, required a departure from general rules. lie had
nothing to add to what he had already said with reference to
Austria and Russia. The reception accorded by those Powers
to the treaty had been generally favourable. In conclusion, he
hoped that the country would be of opinion that the policy
which the Government had pursued was not unworthy of
their responalbilii les (cheers .
The Speaker and membera of the Rome proceeded to the
House of Lords, in accordance with • summons conveyed by
the Usher of the Black Rod. On his return the right. hon.
gentleman, etasoling at the table, announced that Parliament
had been prorogued, and read the Queen's Speech.
The Howe then separated.

Caicraft arrived at-the gaol on Saturday night, and
the prisoner was apprised of his presence. He said he
should like to see him at once, but as Calcraft did not
then go to see him the prisoner said "Weil, if he is not
civil when pinioning me I shall give him one in the
mouth." He slept well on Saturday night, and
on Sunday morning was asked to attend the
last divine service he would have an oppor-
tunity of al tending. He, however, refused, and as
on the Sunday after his condemnation he made •
disturbance in the church, when special prayers were
desired for the cofidemtied mail, he was not urged to
attend. Throughout Sunday he was coarse and flip.
pant in his conversation, had an interview with Cal-
craft, ate his meals heartily, and retiring to rest at
nine o'clock soon went soundly to sleep. He awoke
at half-past three on Monday morning, and again re-
peated a story that he had previously told to the
ministers, that be was innocent of the murders, and
that the murdered man's clothes were given to him by
two men while he wc.s passing the cottage. He ate his
breakfast heartily, and spent the remainder of the
morning in joking.

At t1;-ree Minute's to eight the bell began to toll, and
he was brought from his cell by two warders. Caluraft
met him in the corridor, and the prisoner at once sub.
mitted to be pinioned. Calcraft found s liftle diffi-
culty with one of the buckles. " You will see beVer if
I turn round to the light,' said the prisoner, and he at
once turned round. The procession was then formed,
accompanied by Mr. Sheriff T> tidal], Mr. Ceely,
surgeon, Superintendent Jervis, the warders, and the
chaplain reading a part of the burial tervice. When
the culprit came in tight of the gallows it seemed
to absorb his whole curiosity, and after surveying
it for a moment he attempted to go up two
steps at a time, but at the request of the warders
;he walked up in a more orderly manner. Cal.
craft then placed him on the drop, tut the rope
round his neck, anti the white cap over his face. The
culprit asked to be allowed to make • statement. Cal-
craft permitted him. The prisoner, whose back was
towards the people, then turned round, and Calcraft
lifted the cap above his mouth. The culprit then
said, "My friends, I ant going to die for the murder of
Charles—What's his tame ? I forget. Oh! Charles
Marshall ; but I am innocent." He then turned round
again, and put his feet close together to be pinioned.
Calcraft at once strapped them, immediately walked
off, and drew the bolt. The prisoner fell two and a
half feet. The holy seemed to fall heavily ; death
was almost instantaneous, and only one moment's con.
vtilsion marked his end. After an hour the body was
cut down and an inquest held.

Remarking upon the rase of this hardened murderer,
the Pall Mall G vette Faye :

We commend the case of John Owen, the Denham mur-
derer, to the consideration of those who advocate the total
abolition of c apiLd punishment; and we invite them, after
carefully reading the account!. given in the newspapers of his
last hours, to say what punishment it would be possible to
substitute in the case of criminals like this. In theory—that
Is. In the theory of those whose attention we are inviting—
every man Is capable f being reformed, and the end of all
punishment is reformati..n. Lo dred at, however, as a hard
practical matter, and in the livht of common experience,
doe. any one believe that John Owen was capable of reform.
tlon 1 Every act of his life—from the hideous and uttparal.
leled crime for which he suffered doss,, mall the minor details
of his conduct, his brutal Jesting about the hangman, his
fierce repulsion of the chaplain, the ghastly flippancy of his
feigning to forget his victim'. name 011 the scaffold—every
act of his life showed that he was and would ever be a mere
wild beast from whom society would never be safe till he
was rendered powerless to harm. In the presence of such
car. as this all corrective theories disappear, sad mankind
is brought face to face with the supreme law of self-preser-
vation which Justifies us in abolishing John Owen as we
would abolish a dangerous besot or reptile.