The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-15 00:00:00

Abolition of Capital Punishment,

Yesterday afternoon a meeting was held in the Mayor's
Parlour at the Town Hall, Manchester, for the purpose of
forming an Association for the Abolition of Capital Pun;sh-
ment—the Mayor (Abel Heywood, Esq.) in the chair.
There were present Messrs. D. J.Watts, Dr. Pankhurst,
W. Stokes, A. ➢legson, Isaac Wright, P. B. Alley, J. J.
Allen, R. Griffiths, G. Harrison, T. Harrison, and J. Bryce.

The CHAIRMAN said that when the request was made to
him to grant the use of one of the rooms of the Town Hall
for the purpose of holding the meeting, he felt very little
difficulty in acceding to the request, because in the early
part of the year the Corporation had taken steps to bring
the question prominently before the public at, as to bring
the matter before Sir George Grey. He was present when
the deputation which was appointed waited on Sir George
Grey, and he in reply to them urged many objections to the
abolition of capital punishment. The deputation urged him
as strongly as they well could to introduce the matter in
some act of Parliament, but ho shook his head and smiled
at the suggestion. No communication had been received
since from Sir George Grey, and he therefore took it for
granted that it was not the intention of the Government to
take any steps in the matter. The proposition now was to
establish a Manchester Association for the Abolition of
Capital Punishment, and Mr, Stokes, one of the secretaries,
would be glad to state the reasons.
Mr. STOKES said they had not met for the purpose of
discussing the question, but from their presence it was
assumed that they were all agreed on the importance of the
abolition of capital punishment. There were some of them
who took the highest possible grounds in supporting the
movement, namely, the inviolability of human life ; others
supported it on the ground of general expediency; and
others supported it on the question of local expediency, in
consequence of the erection of the new assize courts. But
whether they took up the question on the higher, inter-
mediate, or lower ground, they were glad that they sup-
ported the proposed Association. It was plain that nothing
could be expected from the Government, and great move-
ments must be commenced from the bottom of society.
Dr. J. WATTS said he had to propose " That a society be
now formed, to be designated the Manchester Association
for the Abolition of Capital Punishment." The society
being formed, it would be necessary for it to go to work,
and perhaps the most effectual mode would be to get up a
large petition, and in connection with that to hold occasional
or sectional meetings throughout the borough. He was fur-
ther of opinion that no time should be lost in getting to
work to carry out the objects of the society. There was no
fact more settled than that exhibitions of capital punish-
ment created crime, and he was satisfied that if public exe-
cutions took place in Manchester, the Recorder would not
have the opportunity in future sessions of repeating the
remark he had made at the sessions which were now being
held—" That it was the lightest he had had ?or 21 years."
Punishment had only two objects—one being to reform the
offender, the other to deter from crime. They knew that
capital punishment did not deter offenders ; and instead of
deterring from crime it rather incited the commission of it ;
and it was very natural that it Should do so, because people
who had a tendency to commit crime and who went to see
a murder committed under legal sanction, has their morbid
feelings excited, and thus other spectacles were furnished
oa future occasions.

Dr. PANKIIURST seconded the resolution. He said it
could not but have been remarked that at the late execu-
tions at Liverpool, a kind of half and half public execution
was adopted, a screen being drawn in front of the drop.
The question there seemed to have been partly yielded, and
if the society was obliged with the other half its object
would be accomplished.

The motion was adopted.
Mr. G. HARRISON said he thought there were not many
people in Manchester who had thought much on the sub-
ject, but now as there was a possibility of the demoralising
spectacle of capital punishments being brought to their
own doors, there were many in Manchester who would wil-
lingly aid the socioty both by subscriptions and in other
ways. He then proposed the appointment of a committee
and officers.

Mr. P. B. ALLEN seconded the resolution, which was
adopted.
A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the pro-
ceedings.

The Loss of the Norwegian Steamer.---

Official Report.