The Express.
London, England, 1861-07-19 00:00:00

?HZ DUKE OF MODENA.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—Sir. I have
to ask the favour of the house to pant me their attention
for a few moments while I make an explanation of a state-
ment contained in • speech which I delivered some time
ege, not so much on my own account as because it con-
cerns the feeliuge and character of a person eminent in na-
tio', and who also has been unfortunate. I mean the Duke
of Modena, who is now expelled from his dominions. There
was a debate in this home in the month of March
last in which much was said on the subject of
the conduct of the Italian governments, and it
has only been within the last tea days that I received
• representation from the IWarquie of Normsnby that he was
prepared to contradict, and wished me to withdraw,soertain
Marge—ma• of sees& —which he regarded as the principal
me, that had been made by me against the administration
of the Duke of Modem. Sir, the sibilant* of that charge
se I intended to give it, was Win--thus while the Duke of
Modem refuted the Mesa el ex post facto =Westlake
of the criminal law to who might have profited by
them he had a ex post facto esgravatioes of
the penalties awarded by the orbrami law to those
who bad incurred them. The can I is particular
was, that when the laws of Modena fair the appliestion
of capital punishment to persons mar twisty years et sr
obared with homicide, the Duke of Modem hissed an edict
altering that law is the case of a
reertriteems named Gm
malt Now, in what I stated with to Otensji, I did
not intend to enemy to the home that puma was
executed—(" bear, hear," from la George Bowyer)--be-
muse I have no knowledge on the subjoin. What I intended
to convey was that lie wee braced withha the mope of the
law which awarded capital shmeme ; but I had no know-
lair es the queens' whether he was executed or act.
(" Am, liar,* from Or G. Bowyer.) What I wish to Mae
to the hoses at preeent—end that is say implaestion—is
that I believe that parson was not executed. (best
from Sr G. Bowyer.) Far so far as the evidence in my pos-
session goes, it is to the effect that this yeses perms—for
so he was described—was sentenced to the galleys for life.
I Amid be extremely sorry if I amid a word that could be
c,onsemed to mesa that this young tom was executed, be-
came I entirely admit that the most /*moos accuracy ought
to be observed in matters of this kind ; and in the statement
I then made I did no more than quote from evidence which
is its published documents, and which were accessible to
every member of the house. (Hear, hear.) fair, with
to the ILuquis al Normanb, he also expressed
oriVre that I would withdraw what! regard as tie prin-
cipal of the charges, vie., that capital punishment was made
=le by the Duke of Modena to young pumas
with homicide by ex post Leto law. I am may
it is not to my power to withdraw that amp, for
although I certainly think I mica the peetieular deeemeat
from which I gained a strew constructioe than it moor
eerily or naturally bore, yet the evideme in support el that
charge is fully abundant, and la to be found in two pages el
the documents frets Mali I quoted. (Hear, been) Is
November, 1857, the Doke of Modem issued a deasseelea
!Shin in his espial sr dominions, I her* which, • siote
of siege, which, is hem m geatlea knew, semen the ems
1117.17-1111LUILI—Sir, I rise to mar. I uedersteed that
the Might Ma. gentleman rase S. make ems Managua with
r • previous mpannan in • week white be made
i;Chems.. There is se quake beam the house, and
the lam gentlemen is new pain tote matters which
may lead le dissimies; sad it will be ninth more
assemient if he will tab Meantime of thls eppertimity of
=Mies that he will go into the matter tomorrow, and
can eater into any statement he likes.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—I may say
QM I leek this course after consulting authority. lam
set awn to eater into any iuguineat whatever, but simply
asks to nets facts whisk am explanatory of what had
fallen hem am ea a previous esessies.
Mr. DIBILt ELI wish to may that fie right Ms. gen-
amen's explmattos refers to doestaaants winch he say. are
in everybody's possession. These are sot in my powwow°,
and I usderstand that they are set acemothle ; therefore it
is very bassaveenent to found an argumentative statement
epee ileauraseta which are act is oar postman. There
are may ether points to which I take esseption ; asfor in-
, Manes, tke right hoe. palemaa referred to an edict, sad
that might lead to mieble controversy. I can assure
the right hon. gentleman that it Is with pain I interpose,
bat I think the bane will feel that when explanations are
made it is desirable this the imestion should he fairly en.
teed into. (Hear, hear.)_
The SPEAKER mil lbe Chassellor of the Exchequer
W referred to him, and he dated that if it was a simple
matter of explametios as to what had fallen from him the
course which be proposed would be the most convenient ;
but if the home Maude& and that it might lead to discus-
sion, that would alter the matter.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, under
the circumstances, be would complete his statement to-
morrow.