The Express.
London, England, 1848-04-18 00:00:00

.*d nature of the house was as nothing
B—the appeal which Lord 'mix 111:SgELL made last
:alit to their impatience of labour. His lordship pro-
"pled that if they were good boys and passed his bill
airily, their Easter holidays should commence two
lei earlier. The goodwill with which the majority
~,• the house set itself to work to comply with the
-Tritst, shows how thoroughly Lord JOIIN under-
pads them.
On the two last occasions on which the bill has
boa before the house, the liberal members have con-
bed their efforts to attempts to minimise its evil
mies. In this, looking. to the composition of the
bly, we think they judged wisely. They had
,0 chance of defeating the objectionable provisions of
*measure, and therefore it was judicious to limit
st mach as possible the range of its activity and its
*ration. It is something to have gained an oppor-
;Deity of renewing the struggle against it after the
hpse of two years, and in the meantime to have
istened the period within which informers can lay
Om accusation, or men in authority act upon it.
wade, however, we frankly pay our tribute of
*asks to the liberal members for the tact and energy
di& they have displayed, we are bound to renew
0: protest against that part of the measure which
Ades to "open and advised speaking." That pici-
ijon elevates spoken words from the category of
orations or proofs of a seditious or treasonable
/gra into the category of substantive offences. It
ita&rs a man liable to punishment for an offence
Ai* if falsely laid to his charge he cannot dis-
gee. If two false witnesses swear that a man was
*sent armed, and taking active part in an t•meitle,
ion are many ways of discrediting them. He may
Fire an alibi, he may prove that he L a.,1 no arms,
api
.so.forth. It two fatso witnesses accuse s. man t:1
luillang a priatea incendiary appeal, he may prove
i t the auth^;eship is not his. But if two false wit-
tee:s accuse a man of having used certain words in
saioken address, the utmost his witnesses caa prove
a that they did not hear, or do not remember
a have heard, him use the words. It is
a the extreme liability of hearers to misapprehend
ipken words—in the extreme liability of speakers
al* a phrase implying more than they mean—that
*danger of allowing spoken language of itself to
patitute a substantive offence consists. No limitation
i the time within which an accusation must be
traaot, and a warrant issued, can purge this inherent
sae in the provision.
There is another and broader objection to the
Nan and Government Security Bill. It perpetuates
* old and deceptive classification of crimes which
*hitherto prevailed iu the penal law of England.
It classifies crimes not according to the nature and
„tied or tendency of the acts committed, but
geording to the mode in which they are punished.
film' and misdemeanor do not denote certain
Isee of culpable actions having respectively fen-
** in common, but certain classes of actions
akly and irreconcilably differing in their cha-
raters, which have certain penalties attached to
urts in common. Such a classification necessarily
:cinders unlearned men, confuses the moral judg-
Yet of the public, and weakens the sanction of the
. .11r. The crime which the supporters of the bill
• at to be struck at is the crime of exciting the tar-
nlent and destructive passions, of demoralising men
Itesching them by precept and example to rely
en b:ine (owe and cruelty in preference to reason,
snasion, and legal means. But the bill declares
it such conduct shall only be esteemed criminal
nit pursued for political ends ; thus leaving upon
2 ruler and less-informed minds a vague preposses-
On that the offence is comparatively venial wheu
i:s.tell against private property and persons.

In hero of Trafalgar-square is aga'n in the
id. Government having prohibited the chartist
excision to the houses of parliament, Mr.
:IMES COCHRANE has announced his intention to
air a procession to Downing-street, confident that
do will be prohibited, and thus hoping to get
radii for dash and boldness, without running any
4. This monkey-like grimace would have been
-sly unworthy of notice, but that this incendiary
able has set to work in a way that renders it
melte a crowd will assemble, though he assuredly
rot be there to head it.
I circular addressed to the inmates of the unions
▪ workhouses in and around the metropolis,
gag "Charles Ccchrane," and dated "Poor
hes Guardian Society, Leicester-square," has been
say post to parties in the workhouses. In the
Ise envelope with each of these circulars is a slip
raper, having printed on one side, "No Bastilles !"
die other, " Please to take care of this to put in
lir bat for the grand deputation on Easter Monday,
oril 24, at one o'clock, at Whitehall." In the cir-
ar it is said, " As inmates of establishments where-
arestriction of liberty exists, I neither wish !tor
,spct you to take part in this demonstration of
opinion ; but I confidently trust you will urge
Cyoar friends more fortunately circumstanced than
traelves out of workhouse to devote one or two
.ain on this important occasion to aid me in my
rims but glorious undertaking." The readers are
!to infer that the procession will pass about one
on M- next from Leicester-square to
Whitehall.
common sense it is obvious that no
be got up in this hugger-mugger man-
the
issuer of the circular has little inten-
t present at one. But circulated as it has I
the inmates of the workhouses in the
and the neighbouring districts, it has most
lied the most improvident, discontented,
among them. Their excitement may,
.ely has been, communicated to the same
doors. And it is highly probable that Mon-
e, not an orderly procession with a definite
'ood aim, but a purposeless crowd ga-
` Whitehall, embracing all the discon-
Alen and all the dishonest haunters of
d about London. Their very want of a
uld render this crowd more liable to be
)3, the dishonest portion to acts of petty
hich may lead to worse ; and all this while
itch (firebrand would really be too dig-
het for Mr. CHARLES COCHRANE) which
the mischief will be non-apparent. Nay,
that trusting to the circumstance of his
ig printed, not written, and to the absence
inters name from the circular, Mr. Ceas.
may, when questioned, deny all participa-
the circulars bearing the post-mark,
Leicester-square."
tlees, adopted this method of bringing
, together from an idea that the police
proclamation prohibiting a procession
formally announced. He has,
cd in this .ingenious policy by
him for denying his handy-
, mischief he done, and the
sought after. And, while thus
own impunity, he has put it
to prevent his rabble from

be confined to the very soft-
eatminster, who voted for Mr.
election, we confess we Mould
An they have richly deserved.
. waste a vote, conferred upon
purpose of returning a member to
DON JEAN DE LA VEGA,
that frivolity is no gua-
By voting for such a
in them lay, cast an air
electing of a member of par-
'he same time imparted a facti-
ibble, who had both the will
on foot, though little ability

..s been so industriously die-
,es, blends with the most exagge-
broadest hints. To the poorest
is is told, that "our unions and
overcrowded, that the inmates lie
than Altos or pigs, and hun-
, sleep; l might on the cold
streets." nd in the same hue
reminded, that " there are men in
assessed of from fiftyto four hundred
, Pounds a year," who "each possess so many
a large nmsions.and castlest(now in their pride,
noted and for show), which would give
~sable accommodation to from eight to ten
44`c1 Persons." Mr. CHARLES COCHRANE tells
,Ile stung the poor of England that they are
1a bastiles; he proposes no amendment on
,„_
'114g.1303r-law save the abolition of those so-
, 4/tiles—which would only be to deprive
Vs.,
of the shelter they at present possess; and
1:-"nemungly to the mansions of the rich as
t4‘td
1 ample lodging for the poor.

'-sek on Monday next fi
.I,itning-street, by NVhitehal
To any man of common ec
• on can be got up in t
a, and that the issuer of th
zofbeing present at one.
et among the inmates of
'-n,opolis and the neighbou
excittd the most in
e..reckless among them.
4most likely has been, ci
tsoat of doors. And it is 1
IT may see, not an orderly
:2. understood aim, but
Zta around Whitehall, en
red destitution and all tb
'hin and about London
7)ise would render this
-pted by the dishonest
• which may lead to
'seifer•match (firebrand
an epithet for Mr. Clt
kindled the mischief wi
feeeible that trusting to
being printed, not wi
my printer's name fror
INE may, when ques
in issuing the circular:
'AIe-street, Leicester-sqi
Rehas, doubtless, adopter
tivin.bands together fro
. issue a proclamation
• has not been form
y, been confirmed in
futility it will afford hir
h Mould any serious in
• who set it on foot soul
' :og to secure his own
sf hot own power to
hang.
C,3ld the annoyance be
worthies in Westmi
omits at the last elcctii
it no more than th
ern who could waste
for the grave purpose
legislature, upon a D
to be taught thr
; of harmlessness.
• they, as far as i
%rule on the electing
t; but they at the sal
;iolPortance to a fribblc
?met to set mischief or
`wk it himself.
circular which has 1
• in workhouses, ble
lesertioss the broader
Pozs the lie is toll
• are so overcrowo
'together worse that
compelled to slee
in the streets."
they Re reminded, 1
IlltdrY possessed of.f