The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-09 00:00:00

that it was not intended to proceed with the petition
against the return of Mr. Bagshaw for Harwich.
On the the motion of an Hon. MEMBER, the mem-
bers of the committee were ordered to be discharged.
SOUTH SEA AND OTHER ANNUITIES (PRO-
VISION FOR PAYMENT, &c.) BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
TRANSPIDRTA.TION 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 one feeling—that of
resentment, and the object of punishment was simply ven-
geance, every kind of suffering which human ingenuity
could inflict 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 exdrcise 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 Go;ernment, 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 convicts, 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. WALMESLEY and Mr.
A. PELLATT, as to certain works in which convicts might
be beneficially employed.
Sir J. PAKINGTON, though approving of the pro-
posal
blameothef ffor
bGovernmentringing
fo r
wa
as
rad wa hole
subject, thought theyeh im pwoerrte.
ance and difficulty, and upon which there was a differ-
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
peraos:oloinied, and that ample accommodation was pro-
vided in this country for prisoners, in order that it might
not beci.inmplernenlEaenitcdisary to get rid of them before their
expressed his
time expired.
Mr. MACA RTNEY mentioned certain inconveniences
tode
t,h_aeliducdodwenarcdalyrrysyinstgemou.t of the plan would oc-
casion
cou?debletinit4rYodu
EY warmly supported the bill, and
disapproval of transportation as a hateful,
He looked upon it ebelieveddn under
d that aetx
existing
wasg
circumstances.t h e best bil
l
asTmheodifying rather than as abolish-
ing
which existed i same objection against tran-
sportationnot prevail in other colonies,
parts of Australia did
transportation.
transports,which nshootutldhebe
worst,
adoi.ater
we cotnossidenered that the
but tashe best of convicts.
send to colonies
In several depots for =wide Ir lead , they were kept
practicea
s