The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-10 00:00:00

TINUANCE BILL.

On the motion of the LORD CHANCELLOR,
The Commons' amendment to this bill were agreed
to after a remark from the Earl of DONOIIGIIMORE, who
objected to the alteration made in the second clause.
The Poor Relief Act Continuance Bill was read a
second time, as was also the Duties on Horses let for
Hire Bill.
The amendments to the General Board of Health (No.
3) Bill were reported and agreed to.
NAVAL COAST VOLUNTEERS BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
S BILL.
This
wentEE R throwAT
LIBERATED
p AFRICANommit te e.
REDEMPTION
BILL.
This billLssed
A NpapTAXthroughcommittee.
NEWSPAPER
readWS PAa
thirdEß timeSTh andl\iP passed. BILL.
CONSOLIDATED ANNUITIES BILLS.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
P
This bill
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA BILL.
The report on this bill was brought up and agreed to
BELFAST MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES BILL.
ThisßE Gbillls\TvßasArneadoaFthpirndltvyime and passed.
BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
BLI N
ACT CARRIAGES
AMENDMENT
M END M ET N BILL.
CRIME AND OUTRAGE (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed. L.
BILL.
This bill went through committee.
PASSENGERSDU
This bill was read a second time.
TURNPIKE ACT AMENDMEN
BILL. T (IRELAND)
This bill passed through committee • and
The house adjourned at half '
-past 10 o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS--(YESTERDAY.)
TRANSPORTATION BILL.
The house then went committee on this bill,
On clause 1,
Lord PALMERSTON said there was no subject
more difficult and important than the question of punish-
ment. In au earlier state of society crime produced in,.
the minds of the community but ono fading"—mat of

resentment, and the object of punishment was simply ven-
geance, every kind of suffering which human ingenuity
r
uldinflict being awarded to criminals ; but as civilisation
increased, and minor feelings prevailed in legislation and
practice, the punishment of death was confined to
offences of the most serious and flagrant character, and
secondary punishment was adopted in the greater num-
ber of cases. The question of secondary punishments
had always been one of extreme difficulty. It ought to
be penal on the offender, and ought to deter, by example,
others committing similar crimes, but, at the same
time, there should be combined with it the principle of
reformation. Hitherto, we had been enabled to dispose
of criminals subjected to secondary punishment, by
transporting them to our extensive colonies after first
undergoing a certain period of imprisonment at home.
We were now, however, under the necessity of altering
that system. The colonies to which persons were trans-
ported had now become thriving and wealthy communities,
whose feelings led them to revolt against those places
being made the receptacle for criminals, who were
deemed unfit to remain in the mother country. Whether
they were right or not it was not for him to say, but as
we had conceded to the colonies self-government, we
must submit to its consequence, and their refusal to re-
ceive criminals would of itself compel us to alter the
system. Independently of that, a great event had hap-
pened in those colonies, which necessarily led to the '
re-consideration of the existing system. 'When it turned
out that those lands were places where wealth abounded,
beyond, perhaps, the imagination of man, and where
the exercise of a small amount of manual labour was
likely to create a splendid fortune, it was quite clear they
could not continue transportation to them any longer, be-
cause it would be henceforth be looked upon as an actual
reward instead of a punishment. The Government, there-
fore, took the subject into their consideration, and they
had determined to discontinue transportation, except to
Western Australia. Then rose the question as to what
should be done with the great bulk of criminals who
were for the future not to be transported. It
was proposed by the Government to give them at the
expiration of a certain period, a ticket of leave not to go
abroad, but to remain here, and though, then, set at
liberty, they would be liable to be called upon if their
conduct was not such as to warrant their remaining in
that condition. The great subject of reformation had not
been lost sight of. The Government did not think
that was by any means a hopeless object on consultation
with the parties who had charge of this department,
they found there would be means for giving these
persons employment at wages on the public works
separate from convicas, thus placing them in this
country in a similar situation to that which they had
occupied in the colonies. In this way he thought
they would smooth the passage from the condition
of a convict to that of a free and honest labourer.
This plan of the Government would not entail any
additional cost on counties, because they would feel it
their duty to provide all the necessary accommodation
at the public expense. The bill had not resulted from
any will or particular views of the Government, but was
forced on them by the course of events, and he thought
it was a mode of meeting the altered circumstances
which was the least open to objection. In conclusion,
he stated it would effect a considerable saving of the
public money, as compared with transportation.
Mr. WALPO LE generally agreed in what had fallen
from the right hon. gentleman, and suggested some
minor amendments in the bill. The plan he had sketched
out, would not merely abolish that which had been an
infliction on the colonies, but if vigorously and prudently
carried out, would materially lead to the reformation of
offenders.

After a few words from Sir J. WALMSLEY and Mr.
A. PELL&TT, as to certain works in which convicts might
be beneficially employed.
Sir J. PAKINGTON, though approving of the pro-
posal of the Government as a whole, thought they were
to blame for bringing forward a subject of such import-
ance and difficulty, and upon which there was a diffeY
ence of opinion among the highest authorities,
at a time and under circumstances which pre-
cluded the possibility of any satisfactory discussion
upon it. The plan was neither that of the late nor the
present Government ; but had been suggested by the
gradual course of events. He believed that it could be
carried out at much less cost to the country than the
system of transportation. He trusted the Go-
vernment would take care that the public were
not sufferers by the sudden change which was
proposed, and that ample accommodation was pro-
vided in this country for prisoners, in order that it might
not become necessary to get rid of them before their
time expired.
Mr. MACARTNEY mentioned certain inconveniences
to which the sudden carrying out of the plan would oc-
casion in Ireland.

Mr. ADDERLEY warmly supported the bill, and '
expressed his disapproval of transportation as a hateful,
detestable, and cowardly system.
Mr. F. SCULLY believed that this was the best bill
which could be introduced under existing circumstances.
He looked upon it as modifying rather than as abolish-
ing transportation. The same objection against tran-
sportation which existed in some parts of Australia did
not prevail in other colonies. He considered that the
practice which should be adopted was to send to colonies
as transports, not the worst, but the best of convicts.
In several depots for convicts in Ireland, they were kept
in a very idle and disorderly state, and he hoped that
some change would be made in those establishments ;
they might be employed in agricultural occupations or
on public works in Ireland, such, for instance as erecting
a harbour of refuge at Galway, which would be a great
benefit to that country.
Mr. PHILLIMORE considered the measure would
effect a great improvement in ourpenal legislation. In his
opinion, transportation had been completely inefficacious.
The obj ect of all punishment was first, example; secondly,
reformation ; and lastly, diminution of the public ex-
pense ; and in all these three points, it was impossible
for anything to have been more vicious than transporta-
tion. He earnestly hoped they were now ringing the
death-knell of the system, and that they would never
see a new penal colony again established.
Sir W. JOLLIFFE thought the question as to the
effect of the bill on our social system had been
altogether overlooked. Great inconvenience would
arise by so many of these liberated convicts being
thrown on society. It would force on them the neces-
sity of establishing some general system of police in the
country, and therefore tend to increase the amount of
our local burdens.
Mr. PHILLIPS supported the bill.
Mr. FLOYER said, as the principal depots for con-
victs were in the West of England, the inhabitants
there entertained considerable alarm lest they would be
set at liberty at the prison gates, and thus make a large
addition to the number of those seeking employment,
to the injury of other labour, and perhaps interfere with
the safety of property and the preservation of the peace in
that part of the kingdom. He hoped this matter would
receive the attention of the Government.
Lord PALMERSTON expressed his gratification at
finding a general acquiescence in the bill, and at receiv-
ing many valuable suggestions from hon. members, all
of which would receive the best consideration of the
Government. The detailed arrangements for the execution
of the measure would require much deliberation, but
as lie would have the assistance of some of the most able
officers, it, would be very much his own fault if lie did
not succeed in making some which would be satisfactory
to the public, and at the same time would carry out the
views of Parliament. (Hear, hear.)
Clause 1 was then agreed to, as were also the remain-
ing clauses.
After a short discussion, the house resumed.
The house adjourned at 4 o'clock.
The house resumed at six o'clock.
Mr. COBDEN presented a petition from natives of
India, praying for a reform in the Government of that
empire.