The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-05-15 00:00:00

direction where it may be _required. Nr wonder,-
then, that we see great interest taken in RAgg-ed

Schools, Juvenile liefOrrnatories, and plan, ,o'
the mitigation of our penal code. Bills and
debates in Parliament are again the orchr of the
day. How are we to deal with our criminal
class, is a question of great practical difficulty:
Shall we confine them to workshops' at home,-
alternated with periods of solitary confinement and
instruction ? Shall they be put to public works ?
Shall they be sent out of the country—and, if so,
where ? Shall a system of marks of good
behaviour be adopted, and the culprit have hope
that, by good conduct, he may shorten the term
and alleviate the weight of punishment? It
would imply great self confidence in any to
pronounce decisively, where so many good and
able men conscientiously differ. wrr
But restricting our remarks on the present
occasion to the last topic, it appears to us, that
experience is against the ticket-of-leave plan.
It is not difficult to simulate amendment, to put
on the appearance of reformation, and the, tern-
tation to_ it is obviously very strong. It is only
needful to put a restraint on one's propensities
for a time, to assume the semblance of propriety,
so as to win the good opinion of the chaplain,
and the thing is done. Regular attendance and
demure looks at the religious services have often
imposed on the good natured parson always on
the outlook for converts and subjects of divine
grace. ,
If the system is to be continued, the favoura-
ble opinion of the clergyman should not be the

whole thing or the chief thing needed in order to
obtain this boon. Several terrible instances have
occurred in this country of late where ticket-of-
leave men having been permitted to return to
society, have, after a short time, signalised their
return by the commission of new crimes—in
some cases more aggravated than those of which
they were -originally convicted. The suspected
criminal finds it difficult or impossible to obtain
honest employment; he becomes, a marked man ;
the foot of the policeman dogs him, and the
_policeman's eye is upon him ; and the ticket-of-
leave man, not finding rest for the sole of his
foot, is driven to his. former courses. This does
not appear to promise much result in the way of
reformation. To remove the effect of course we
must remove the cause; to alter the result which
we call clime, we must act upon the cause that
we call character. Most seem to agree that the
means of honest employment are to be sought
for the parties in question._ InstruCtion has to be
provided. Removal fromformer scenes of temp-
tation would be aiding. The culprit has to be
taken away from the associates and tempters of
his misdeeds. His better feelings must be
addressed—his self,reliance and self-respect
called forth. He must have a sphere of exertion
and of hope opened to him. If something of all

this can be done, the culprit may be changed
after a time into a new man and a useful memb?r
of society. But to effect these objects, removal
to an entirely new sphere in another land seems
to offer the best chance. Transportation—or, if
a softer term is preferred, deportation—to a new
country, combines the greatest number of the
requisites for Criminal Reform.
The man is effectually removed from former

haunts of temptation, and from companions in
evil; he is forced to be alone with himself; he
has a field of labour and ambition opened to him ;
he drops his evil repute, and, as it were, starts
afresh in life. If he really wishes to reform, the
opportunity is now offered. He can recover him-
self, and can even make some atonement for the
evil he has inflicted on society. Keep a man at
home, and he remains a suspected, tainted man ;
his self-respect is beaten down; he is reminded
at every step of his offence. Let him be trans-
planted to a new country, and a new world is
opened to him, and, as it were, a new life.
He leaves behind him the mementoes of weak-
ness and disgrace; be can form new associates
and associations ; but, above all, a field of hope
and exertion is opened to him. The reasons for
deportation greatly preponderate over the ticket-
of-leave system. Our chief difficulty now, it seems,
is, where we are to send our convicts. When
Southern Australia lately remonstrated, and
resisted our method of saturating them with felons,
'our Government had the grace and wisdom to
yield. The colonies were in the right, and they stick
to their position sturdily, as Britons ought. But
if our countrymen over the water deserve praise
for their courage and persevervance, some credit
also is due to our governors for their wisdom in
knowing how and when to yield.

From what is said in Parliament we under-
stand that only a portion of West Australia
is open to us. Every thoughtful person must
feel the practical difficulties of this
.question—
how to deal with our culprit population, both
juvenile and adult. One result will be, to drive
us all on the better effort, to prevent crime
altogether, rather than be satisfied with punish-
ing it afterwards. All good citizens must help
to act out the old adage—" Prevention-is better
than Cure."

HANGING may be nothing when you are used
to it once—eels might- in process of time delight
in being skinned alive. The inhabitants of
Liverpool do not relish either operation, nor do
they desire any more experiments to be made upon
them in that way. For ten mortal years the3t,
have been kept in a state of the most agonizing
suspense by some few interested Pike jobbers,
who succeeded in rivetting their iniquitious
chains about their necks, and thus depriving
them of the means of resistance, while their
oppressors proceeded at their leisure to fleece
them of their hide and tallow. In vain did the
unfortunate sufferers complain, remonstrate,
struggle, and gnash their teeth at their cruel and
relentless persecutors—confiding in the strength
of their bonds. These latter smiled at the im-
potent rage, or equally impotent wailing of their
victims, until they had enriched themselves to
their heart's content. The solace held out, was
patience—patience, said the mercenary Pikeists,