The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-24 00:00:00

ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

On Tuesday evening, a crowded and respectable meet-
ing was held in the Athenaeum, Manchester, to hear an
address from Mr. A. H. Dymond, the secretary of the
Society for the Abolition of Capital Punishments, and to
adopt resolutions in support of the society's efforts. Mr.
Massey occupied the chair.
The Chairman read letters of apology from Mr. James
Heywood, M.P., regretting that in consequence of a pre-
vious engagement he could not he present, and stating
that his votes in the House of Commons were uniformly
given in favour of the abolition of the punishment of
death ; from Mr. George Hadfield, M.P., who said he
could not accept the invitation to attend, as he had to be
in London; and from a gentleman on behalf of Mr. J.
Cheetham, M.P. The chairman concluded by calling on

Mr. Robert Rumney to move the first resolution, which
he did as follows :—" That this meeting, being convinced
that capital punishments are opposed to sound policy,
and injurious to public morality, pledges itself to use
every means to effect their abolition.', In moving this
resolution Mr. Rumney argued that public executions had
a demoralising effect on that class of society from which,
for the most part, criminals sprung, and concluded by
saying, that if a proper agitation were got up, they would
see an end put to the present system, which would be all
the better for public morality and for criminals them-
selves.
Mr. P. B. Allen seconded the resolution.

Mr. Dymond then came forward to support the resolu-
tion. He addressed himself, in the first place, to those
who hold that punishments, and especially capital pun-
ishments, are enjoined, are arbitrarily enjoined, by the
Gospel and the Old Testament, and who contend that
the words of God have laid upon us a certain duty,
which, nolens volens, we ought to carry out. They had
only to revert to the history of our own land, and more
especially of Scotland, 150 years ago, and they would find
that the text " I suffer not the witch to live," was used
as a justification for burning and torturing miserable old
women by so eminent a man as Sir Matthew Hale. The
9th chapter and 6th verse of Genesis—" Whoso sheddeth
man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed "—was the
one relied on for capital punishments ; but the correct-
ness of this rendering of the passage had been again and
again called in question. Many of the most ancient ver-
sions did not contain the words "by man." In the Septua-
gint, that version which our Lord himself read, those words
did not occur ; and, if they came to later times, they would
not find it in Wycliffo's version. A writer in the Eclectic
Review called to mind that the words did not appear in any
version until the fifth century. There was this peculiarity
in that particular verse, that, whilst the verses which pre-
cede it, and succeed it, are in the first person, this passage
was in the third person. The Rev. Mr. Eaton and the Rev.
Henry Christmas, clergymen of the Church of England,
had declared this passage to be nothing more, at the most,
than a prophetic denunciation against the shedding of blood,
whilst the former said he believed it to be nothing mote
than an inspired commentary of Moses. refore the Mosaic
dispensation there was the Adamic dispensation, and under it
Cain was not punished with death. The Mosaic dispensa-
tion was purely one of atonement, and was typioal of the
new law. If they came to the earlier ages of the church,
they would find that Christian prefects resigned their offices
rather than be concerned in putting a fellow-creature
to death. In the third or fourth century, they found
a Christian bishop, St. Austin, he believed, condemning
the practice. Some of his presbyters had been
treacherously murdered by persons who differed
from them in religious belief. This was an
offence of a grave character, not only as a political
Grime, but as one against the church. They might sup-
pose that St. Austin, if he revered that text, would have
claimed that the murderers should be put to death, but
what were his words to the judge ? These 1—" I know that
the state has power in these things. I know the magistrate
is not to bear the sword in vain ; but I, that am a Christian,
beseech you, the judge, and I that am a bishop command
you, the Christian, not that these men should be put to
death, but that the fame of the church, and the character of
Christianity, should not be stained by the sacrifice of these
men's blood." It was a practical question for the people
of Liverpool, who had the awful abomination of public
executions inflicted on them. The lecturer, at considerable
length, then proceeded to deal with the question in its
various aspects as a measure of retributive justice, and as a
deterrent to, crime.

A gentleinan at the end of the room, whose name did not
transpire, spoke in favour of having executions in private.
He contended that all the demoralising influences proceeded
from gratifying the morbid desire of the criminal for popu-
larity,
Another gentleman said that they had heard of such
things as judicial murders, and they would be as much judi-
cial murders in private as in public. The man hanged was
as much murdered as his victim, (No, no ; that's all fudge.)
Yes : the witnesses who gave evidence, the jurors who gave
the verdict, the judge who pronounced, and Jack Ketch who
put the rope round Lie neck of the criminal, were all guilty
of murder. (No, no ; and hissv.)
M. Petzler said that as regarded Russia, capital punish-
ments were introduced by the late Emperor Nicholas, and
that all despotic governments were in favour of capital
punishments.
➢tr. Ambrose spoke at some length to show that it was
our duty to imitate the Almighty as much as we could, and
that when he did not hesitate to indict the most awful of all
punishments, we were justified in inflicting, where necessary,
the punishment of death.

Mr. Dymond briefly replied, after which the resolution
was put, and declared to be all but unanimously carried.
Air. Alderman Harvey moved a resolution in favour of a
petition to parliament, from Manchester, in favour of the
abolition of capital punishment.
Mr. Councillor tildes seconded the motion, which was
supported by,
Mr. Thomas Wright, the prison philanthropist. He said
he would abolish capital punishment for all who commitred
murders through passion or jealousy, but not for those who
committed murders for plunder.

The resolution wns unanimously carried.
Votes of thanks to the lecturer and chairman were passed,
and the proceedings terminated.

A private of the 17th Lancers, named George 'Tickling,
cut nis throat at the cavalry barracks, Preston. Some
love affair was the cause.

Orders have been receive at Pembroke-yard from the
Admiralty to prepare a set of drawings of the Victor
Emmanuel (late Brunswick) for his Majesty the King of
Sardinia.

THE CONVICT BANIEERS.—It is said that Sir John Dean
Paul and Mr. Strahan, the convict bankers, are busily
employed in prison, the former tailoring, and the latter at
chairmaking.
A sergeant of the 46th regiment, says the Journal de
Constantinople, who had been engaged in a skirmish with
the Russians on the night of the 27th ult., found a sum of
about 12,0001 on the body of a Russian officer. He sent
this money to the marshal, in order that it might be
restored to the family of the deceased.
FINANCES OF VICTORIA.—The revenue returns of Vic-
toria for the year ending Sept. 30 have been published.
It appears that the total receipts from all sources were
3,384,9071. Deducting from this one-half the land fund,
say 470,0001, there would remain 2,914,0001 available for
the ordinary expenditure of 1855 For the year 1854 the
amount was only 2,640,000/.

QUEER DEcx.itom.—At Castle Eden, the other day, in
an assault case, the Rev. Mr. Park, in announcing the
decision (2f the bench, addressed the defendant in the fol-
lowing manner:—As the assault is not proved we will
dismiss the case on your paying the costs, but if you
refuse to do so, then we shall fine :you for the assault !
Darlington and Stockton Times.

HOW IS THE PROVOST'S HOUSE TO BE KNOWN ?
The Edinburgh Town Council, at their last meeting,
resolved, that in all time coming, an ornamental lamp
should be placed at the entrance of the house of the chief
magistrate, and that such lamp was to remain there only
so long as he was provost, and that, whenever he laid
down the reins of office his light was to be put out, and
the lamp removed to the house of his successor.

ARMY SURGEON'S PAY.—A warrant has been issued
from the Director-General's office, directing that the pay
of all acting assistant surgeons be raised from lOs a day
to lls 6d; and that the 401 granted by a former war-
rant to such officers at the expiration of two years be
cancelled. Also, that they will be entitled to receive the
additional pay if they do not pass a portion of such period
on foreign service, as defined in the first warrant.
VENERABLE JESTER.—On the 3rd, died at Constantino-
ple a certain mussahib (Imperial buffoon), named Said
Efendi, at , the age of 121 years and 7 months. He had
served four Sultans as jester, and notwithstanding his
advanced age, the venerable old gentleman was often
called up by the present Sovereign, and ordered to say
witty things and to perform antics, which latter he gene-
rally did with remarkable agility.

A WOMAN or MAnK.—We have seen assign'd, recently,
several reasons why, when persons could write, they never-
theless "made their marks." Here is another, which is
appropriately given in the Ladies' Own Journal :—Upon
the conclusion of a marriage in a village church, the
bridegroom signed the register with " his mark.' The
pretty young bride did the same; and then, turning to a
lady who had known her as the best scholar in the school,
whispered to her, while tears of honest love and admira-
tion stood in her bright eyes, "He's a dear fellow, Miss,
but cannot write yet. He s going to learn of me, and I
would not shame him for the world.'

THE LATE SIR W. MoLtswouTri. Lady Moleswortb,
replying to an address of condolence from the tenantry of
the late Sir William, observes, " Be assured that if any-
thing can alleviate the affliction of a bereaved wife, it
will be found in such a tribute to the memory of her hus-
band. My feeble pen can but inadequately express all I
feel—all that is due to him who is taken from us. But
another, who from his great talents and noble nature, is
no mean judge, has borne testimony to his sterling worth;
Lord Palmerston, in the letter he addressed to me on the
occasion of the sad blow befalling me, madei use of the
following words Fez singleness .of mind, honesty of
purpose, clearness of judgment,
faithfulness of conduct,
courage in difficulties, and equanimity in success, he never
was surpassed ; and deeply must any nation lament the
premature loss of such a man ; for: voids so created are
not easily replaced. Such words from such a man prove
how justly the kind friends I address have formed their
opinion."