Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-08-26 00:00:00

year to year, anii thus convert a criminal investi-
gation into something like the interminab!e and
never ending chancery suits, for which both
Ireland and England have become famous.
The unfortunate victim is made the object of
perpetual prosecution, and left withont a single
friend in the world to aid or advise him in the
hour of difficUlty and danger. Personal liberty,
as well as life itself, is dear to every human
being, hence it is that the constitution hedges it
round on all sides with safeguards, lest undue
interference should be taken with it. In the
case of SPOLLEN this principle has been over-
ridden, and the accused is again put on his trial
for the second phase of the same offence. This
we hold to be too bad. SPOLLEN may be, nay
is, a bad man, and as such is not fit to associate
with his fellow countrymen and countrywomen.
It does not, however, follow, that we are to
disregard the principles of the Constitution, and
so torture and worry the man until insanity, or
some other dire calamity to which the human
flesh is heir to, sends him forth—a character
similar to that of CAlN—with a mark upon him,
wandering as a " fugitive and a vagabond," and
exclaiming—" My punishment is greater than I
can bear."

We object then to this second prosecution,
because, in the event of a conviction, it will
demonstrate that there was gross mismanage-
ment in the trial for murder, and will rouse
feelings of indignation that a murderer of such
magnitude should have escaped from the punish-
ment due to such a heinous misdeed. And, on
the other hand, should another verdict of
acquittal be returned, the tide of public sym-
pathy may be turned in favour of the accused,
and he wilt be regarded as a martyr of the
unfeeling vindictiveness of the Crown officials.
Either result is most undesirable, and would
directly or indirectly tend to pollute the fountains
of public justice. With all SPOLLEN'S faults,
and they are many and heinous, we think he
has been hardly dealt with, and that unless some
strange and startling revelations are made at
the second trial, the Crown prosecutors may
attain some fresh notoriety, but not add any-
thing to their reputation as lawyers, nor elevate
their character in the public estimation as
gentlemen of humanity and feeling. Until
the trial takes place we must defer further
observations.

ALREADY there are symptoms of the
approaching Municipal Elections. The various
wards are in motion, The antipikeists have
taken the field. They are determined that,
despite the contumacious conduct of the Water
Committee, and their total disregard and indiffer-
ence to the express desires of the ratepayers, their
voice shall be heard ; and that in the exercise of
their Municipal rights and privileges, they who
made will unmake, on the Ist of November
ensuing, a certain number of councillors, whose
advocacy of the Pike project has been unceasing,
and in open defiance of the expressed opinions of
their respective constituents. We are not among
that class which glories in, and studies how, they
can foment a contested election—Parliamentary
or Municipal. Generally speaking, contested
elections do more harm than good ; but there
are occasions when it becomes the bounden
duty of every elector of principle and independent
feeling, to unite heart and hand to defeat the
pretensions of aspiring candidates, whether it
be for a seat in the House of Commons, or in
our local Parliament—the Town Council. The
approaching Municipal Election is an occasion
of the kind, and we tak s early opportunity
of calling attention to the matter, so that all
necessary arrangements and preparations may
be made in due time, and every pro-Pike candi-
date compelled to beat a speedy retreat from
the field, and his place filled up by a gentleman
of sterling worth and independent principles,
but, above all, pledged to a removal of the Pike
nuisance. In justification of the course we now
suggest, and earnestly recommend, we plead as
follows

First—Because the people of Liverpool have
been inflicted with a social curse, by being
compelled to use, for dietetic purposes, the
contaminated, impure, and unhealthy water
from the Rivington hills. Second—Because
the use of this water is unnecessary, inasmuch
as there is not any lack of pure and wholesome
spring water in the red sandstone wells, if proper
appliances were used to procure the required
supplies. Third—Because the Water Com-
mittee, and a majority of the Town Council, as at
present constituted, have acted in open defiance to
the remonstrances of the Ratepayers, and treated
their Memorial with contempt and disregard,
preferring to perpetuate a scheme which was
concocted, matured, and carried out by a species
of Corporation juggling unequalled in the history
of municipalities. Fourth—Because for all
these reasons combined, the remodelling of
the Liverpool Town Council is essential to the
peace and welfare of the Borough.

These are among the chief reasons why we
advocate a contested election in every Ward
where a pro-Pike candidate may offer himself for
election. It is time that the Town Council be
taught that the Ratepayers are masters of the
Town-hall ; and that no man, no matter how
high his position, great his talents, or command-
ing his influence, shall be permitted to have a
seat in_ the Council Chamber, if his conduct
thtrein is antagonistic to the well-being of the
community, and the constituency who elects
him. A gentleman, when elected to rein•esent a
does not certain Ward in the Council Chamber,