The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-13 00:00:00

PUBLIC JUSTICE

Mr. NAPIER rose to move—" That in the opinion of the
House, as a measure of administrative reform, provision
should be made for an efficient and responsible depart-
ment of publicjustice, with a view to secure the skilful
preparation and proper structure of Parliamentary bills,
and promote the progressive amendment of the laws of
the United Kingdom." The state of our laws at present was
disgraceful to us as a civilised country. The Code Napoleon
was completed in 102 sittings ; and a later instance that
of the State of New York, whose code of laws was com-
prised in three quarto volumes. He contended with
Lord Bacon, that leaving on our statute books laws which
were at variance with the spirit of our own times, im-
peded, rather than advanced legislation, and was like
keeping the dead in the arms of the dying. In 1816
resolution to classify the statutes, passed the Lords, and
was also agreed to by this House. Since that
Greattim
4,585 statutes had been added to our books.
exertions had been made by Lord airougham• and

other eminent law reformers since then to effect some re-
form in this direction; arid Sir Robert Peel had in his
reform of the criminal code, left behind him perhaps his
greatest work. The hon. and learned gentleman con-
cluded by moving his resolution.
Mr. COLLIER seconded the motion. It was very gone,
rally admitted that the present law of England was most
unsatisfactory, and utterly inadequate to the exigencies of
the country, and though the evil was great he thought
that with the examples of the Justinian code, the code of
• Napoleon, and the recent modifications arranged at New
York, they ought not to despair of providing a remedy.
There was a minister of war, minister of works, and a
minister of health, and a minister of finance, and he did
not see why there should not be a minister of justice, who
should introduce from time to time budgets of law reform.
Mr. BAINES said that the House and the country would
accord to the right hon. and learned gentleman their gra.
titude for drawing attention to a subject which occupied
considerable attention at the present moment, and for
which it was generally admitted that legislation was ne-
cessary. The only question that remained was " What
should be the precise remedy for the evils in our present
legislative system?" Upon this subject the right hon.
member had said nothing, but had merely made a vague
and indistinct proposal. The statute law commission
was about to have submitted to it a plan which would
touch upon all the objects alluded to by Mr. Napier, and
lie hoped that, as there was every probability of that
plan being in a short time submitted to the Crown, the
right hon. gentleman would not press his motion.
Mr. LooKE RING urged the necessity for the consoli-
dating the statute law, and supported the resolution.
Mr. Wrcasm remarked that though it was impossible
to codify the laws of Great Britain, the subject might be
considered and simply fixed. Several governments had
neglected this important question; and believing that the
only way to effect the desired improvement would be by
the establishment of a new department, he would sup-
port the motion by Mr. Napier.
Sir G. GREY hoped the right hon. and learned gentle-
man would not ask the House to pledge itself to any
course till after they had seen ti
Law Commission on the plan
regard to the provision contained in the resolution, in.
thought that the House would be extremely jealous of
giving such independent powers to a new department.
He hoped the house would take the discussion upon the
measure which Mr. Napier proposed to introduce upon
its earliest stage, and so prevent delay upon a question
that had been fully considered.
Lord J. RUSSELL thought the House was greatly
indebted to the right hon. gentleman, who had introduced
this question of undoubted grievance. While disputing
that the measure was open to the objection urged by the
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, of being vague and
indistinct, he thought it would be well to wait ;till theY
saw the plan which was now under the consideration
of the Statute Law Commission. He thought that a
department was wanting, which should have the subject
of Law Reform under its consideration, and should have
certain days allowed by the Government, on which to
bring forward its measures. With regard to the two
propositions, viz., that of leaving the question with a
Minister of Justice, or that of submitting all matters
connected with Law Reform, to a body of lawyers ap-
pointed for the purpose, he preferred the former, as the most
philosophical, the most distinct, and the best calculated
for the performance of the important duty of amending
the Statute Book, and attending to the construction and
alteration of Laws.
Mr. MArdszs opposed, and Mr. EWART and MR. WIL-
KINSON supported the resolution.
LORD'. PALMERSTON was not prepared to say,
that the appointment of a Minister of Justice
might not be beneficial to the country; but he
did not think it would be expedient to take
such a step until the functions proposed to be' assigned
to the new officer had been well considered. It was im-
possible to continue absolute power which the right hon.
gentleman would give to the minister of justice with the
constitution of a deliberative assembly like the House of
Commons as that officer would sometimes, if he made a
proposition find himself in a'minority.
Mr. 111‘MAnors supported, and Mr. CRAWFORD and Mr.
R. PALMER opposed the motion.
Mr. NAPIER then replied, withdrawing the definite pro-
posal pointed out in the resolution and so much of it as
expressed the opinion of the House that legislation was
necessary was carried

übmitted to

HARBOUR OP REFUGE AT CARDIGAN BAT

Statute
With

Mr. LLOYD DAVIES moved for a select committee
to enquire into the advisability of constructing a harbour
of refuge in Cardigan Bay, and whether it may
not be advantageous also to employ convict labour in
the works. The hon. gentleman argued upon the neces-
sity for a harbour of refuge in the St. George's channel to
afford protection to commerce, and remarked that at
present there was a waste of convict labour to the extent
of £80,000;in the prisons of Pentonville, Parkhurst, and
Dartmouth, which might be employed in the works.
Sir C. WOOD did not think there had been a sufficient
case made out for the construction of a harbour of refuge
at Cardigan Bay. A harbour of refuge did exist at Holy-
head, and that spot was selected by a committee as the
most convenient for the purpose on the coast of Wales.
After some remarks from Air. WI NNE _ and Mr.
PHILLIPS,

The HOuse divided, when the numbers were—

For the motion,

Against it,

Majority,

BEATS IN PARLIAMENT.

Mr. THOMAS MircHELL moved for leave to introduce
bill to repeal the Act 22nd George 111.. disqualifying con-
tractors from being elected to a sitting, and voting as mem-
bers in the House of Commons.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER did not object to
the introduction of the measure.
Mr. J. G. PHILLIMORE opposed the motion.

For the bill,
Against it, .

Majority in favour of the bill,

JUSTICE'S QUALIFICATIONS

Mr. COLVILLE obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend
the laws relating to the qualification of Justices of the
Peace.
The Charitable Uses Bill was read a second time.
The report of the Committee of Supply was brought up
and agreed to.
The Joint Steck Banks (Scotland) Bill was read a second

The House adjourned at twenty minutes to twelve,

BALAKLAVA HARBOUR.—We learn from unquestionable
authority, that the facilities afforded to vessels discharg-
ing and taking in cargo at the port of Balaklava, are now
of the most perfect and satisfactory description. As an
instance, we may mention that the Bahiana, Captain
Green, a screw steamer of 1500 tons, which left Sweden
on the 6th December with a full cargo, arrived at
Balaklava in eighteen days, discharged the whole of her
cargo in six days. The character of this ship is estab-
lished by the fact, that she was only 42 days in the round,
calling in her return at Constantinople, Malta, Genoa,
Barcelona, and Gibraltar. Of another vessel also belong-
ing to the South American and General Steam Navigation
Company, the Imperador, the following testimonials has
been addressed by the authorities at the admiralty, to Mr.
MacGregor Laird, the agent for the company in London.—
"Admiralty, February 6, 1856. Sir,—l have to acquaint
you for: the information of the owners of the Imperador
steamer, that their lordships have received with much
satisfaction, a report from the commanding officers of the
troops conveyed in this ship from this country to the
East of the very creditable manner in which the master
has discharged his duties, and of the way in which the
service has been performed ; and it is requested that the
master may be informed of the same accordingly.—l am,
sir, your very obedient servant, E. Girroßn."

TIIE ALLEGED DOUBLE MURDER AT PENSHURST.—We
need hardly say that there was not the slightest truth in
this story and we are informed that the whole was con-
cocted for the purpose of hoaxing a credulous village
damsel who is much giving to novels and romances.—...
Maidstone Journal.

THE NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY COMPANY.-It ap.
pears that the dividend to be declared at the half-
yearly meeting of this company, for the half-year ending
the 31st of December last, will be as follows .—Ber-
wicks, at the rate of 44 per cent. per annum, with
£5,000 over ; York and North Midlands, at the rate of
31 per cent. per annum ; dividends will be paid on
Great Northern Preference Shares, and a balance of
£55,000 has to be carried to the permanent way.

WILFUL MURDER AT BEE STON. —An inquest was held
last week, before C. Swann, Esq., at the Commer-
cial Inn, Beeston, on the body of George Burton, frame-
work knitter, of that place. The evidence, which was
very voluminous, was to the effect that the deceased, who
was partially paralysed and unable to work, though he
could move about the house, was found by his wife
lying dead in bed on the 26th ultimo. One of his sons,
named George Burton, was also found lying insensible
at the foot of the bed. An old frying-pan was on the
floor, with some coke cinders in it. The cinders were not
burning, the fire having gone out. The account given of
the matter by the son, when he became conscious, was,
that after receiving his wages on the Saturday evening
he went to a public-house, when he returned home about _
ywheentgoutpin to
to
past seven. His mother and sisters bad
but lelthhisomethatay
on a visit, and nobody was in the housefather, whoel
was up stairs in one of the bedrooms.di
lictel
his
father and tumbled down insensible the
room, remaining in that condition until discovered by his
re
mother at half-past nine o'clock. Thomas Thornhill, a
lacemaker, deposed that he was in company with George
Burton the younger, at a public-house in Chilwell. They
talked about self-destruction. Burton said he wished to die,
and intended to kill himself. He pointed to the fire, and said he
should use that. He went and fetched coke, and asked the
maltster bow much of that coke there would be for a
shilling, and the maltster told him three strikes ; and
Burton said '• That's quite sufficient—that's all I wanted
to know, it's quite enough." After a very long inquiry,
the jury returned the following verdict That George
Burton the younger procured certain cokes to burn,
for the purpose of destroying his own life and the
life of the deceased (his father) by suffocation, and that
the said deceased was so wilfully murdered by the said
George Burton."