The Express.
London, England, 1864-05-11 00:00:00

SENTENCES OF DEATH HILL

The Earl of ELLENSOROOGEL is mowing the sewed
reeding of this bill. said it wee provided therein that the
Secretary of State should have the advantage of com
municattng with the Lard Chancellor for the time
being, and as the Lord Chancellor might not be par-
ticularly conversant with criminal law, it was desirable
that the first orimieal judge, the Chief Justice
of the Court of gusto's Bowl; should be added. And as it
was the act of the government, be proposed to add the First
Lord of the Treeswy and the President of the flowteiL He
thought also that, under oomaional circumstances, the deli-
beration on such nutters should take place ie the presence
of the sovereign. The preteoce of the sovereign gave that
greet*, which Fight to attend the deliberations of those
who decided oc the life or death of • subject. It was so
formerly, and be was satisfied it should be so agate.
Ben GRANVILLE said the government had entirely
approved of the suggestion of the House of Commeas
for the appointment of • 000111111160 e. They were not
prepared to take upon themselves the responsibility of in-
troducing a bill on the subject until they bad the great ad-
vantage of being guided by the inquiry and recommends.
tions of such & commission. Under these circumstanoto hs
.

appealed to the noble earl to withdraw his bill.
Earl GREY was glad that hi noble friend, oe behalf of
the government, had asked the noble earl not
to peer the bill, because his objections to it were far
stronger than even those expressed by his noble friend.
If the judge and jury were eatisfied. the Secretary of State
was bound to accept their verdict for ever, and he confessed
if be ever had the honour of holding that high office he
should positively decline, for himself, looking into the
evidence and forming an °rinks as to whether the verdict
was right or wrong. There was only one case in which that
rale ought to be departed from. It was when circumstances
came to light after the trial, and in 000sequenos of the
trial, which were not before the judge and cry, and which
might throw a suspicion on some of the evi or
away circumstances which led the jury to =
the prisoner's guilt. When such circumstances came to
light afterwards it was fit they should be investigated ;
hut in applying that rule the utmost caution was neces-
sary. He was quite persuaded that the responsibility
would be more effective and complete if it rented on the
Secretary of State as it now did than if it rested on •
committee of the Privy oounciL He thought the law was
right as it now stood, and that all the alienation' it required
was with regard to its administration. (Hear, bear.)
The Duke of ARGYLL believed that the maim fault
was not the administration of the law, but the state of the
. .

la; Taadtinleas parliament proceeded to the ameodroseit ef
that law, somewhat on the principle indicated by hie noble
and learned friend on the weolndr., capita punishment
would sot survive in this country many years longer.
Lord REDESDALE thought that the introduction into
our law of the principle adopted in some other ootuttries, of
allowing the jury to pronounce an opinion se to the domed
crime committed, in regard to extenuating oitewiseterows,
would be attended most fatal eonsequesoce. (Hear.)
The Earl of EL b ROUGH thee withdrew his ball.

The erOlt12011friTi;;;;Cil;; I.7(lB,),Taaod-
meet Bill wee nod assooad time.

and ila a[ Exchanie Aire
=
Bill and the Cwilem and Inland Revenue Bill
through committee.
The Naval and Victualling Slone Bill wee reed a third
time and pared.

SCOTTISH EPISCOPALIAN CLERGY.

Upon the motion at the Duke at BUOCLEUCH, a bill to
remove the disabilities seder which Scottish episcopaliaa
deep laboured la England was reed a &nit time.
Their lordships &boomed at five mutates past 6 o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—Trienny, MAT 10.
The SPLIM took the chair eta o'clock.
NEW MEMBER..

Mr. WArcnt took thoestba end Ws mat for Stockport, is
the room of Mr. Kenhow, iimemed.