The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-04 00:00:00

01 Wiling

LONDON, FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1847.

RICHARD COBDEN will speedily return to England
—to England which he has liberated from the thral-
dom of monopoly—to England, where his eloquence
and his patriotism have been so gloriously manifested
in the great victory achieved over the ignorance and
selfishness of generations. Since his departure from
us in the first blush of his commercial triumph, our
distinguished countryman has received the congratu-
lations of the continental and peninsular multitude,
of enterprising merchants, and of enlightened princes.
Unattended and untrumpetted, save by the voice of
his pacific fame, this simple cotton printer of England
has received such an ovation during his passage
throughout Europe as uncrowned head never received
before—spontaneously. In the chivalrous land of
the Cm he has been welcomed with acclamation, in the
kingdom which gave birth to BAYARD, in the home of the
Roman conquerors, on the shores of the Atlantic and
the Mediterranean, he has been feasted and ap-
plauded. From the lips of King LOUIS PHILIPPE, of
the Sovereign of the two Sicilies, of the Monarch of
Sardinia, and of POPE PIES IX., Mr. COBDEN has
heard the expressions of royal approval of the prin-
ciples of free trade. In Bordeaux, in Paris, in Cadiz,
in Madrid, in Genoa, in Naples, in Rome, in Florence,
in Turin, and elsewhere, the prominent orator of the
renowned League has received the felicitations of
those who are most competent to pronounce an
opinion upon the most rational system of exchanging
the productions of nature and the fabrications of in-
genuity. After this triumphal journey,' after having
participated in the solemn funereal ceremonies
attendant upon the deceased Liberator of Ireland,
RICHARD COBDEN will return homewards, we ear-
nestly trust with a renovated constitution.
Let us welcome our illustrious fellow-citizen in a
manner befitting ourselves as men conscious of the
advantages resulting from an emancipated commerce,
and in a manner due to himself as a distinguished
public benefactor. An admirable opportunity is af-
forded just now by the announcement of the com-
mittee of the Cobden Testimonial that the proper
time appears to have arrived for the closing of the
contributions. With that announcement the sum
already accumulated is declared to have reached
a magnificent total of 80,4831. 13s. Bd. Considering
the financial pressure which has so long cramped the
operation of the money market, and materially inter-
fered with individual interests, we do conceive
that we are justified in calling this a mag-
nificent expression of national sympathy and
gratitude. Previously we have recommended that
the difference should, if possible, be realised, and that
the fund, having already exceeded eighty thousand
pounds sterling, should, by a vigorous movement
on the part of the committee, and a generous co-
operation on the part of the community, be carried
to the complete amount of

ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS.

To say that such a requisition would be unreason-
able -were preposterous. The blessings bestowed upon
the contemporary million, and upon all future gene-
rations, through the instrumentality of RICHARD COB-
DEN —through the oratorical masterpieces by which
he elicited the eulogiums of the Prime Minister—
and especially through the gratuitous toil by which
he destroyed his :domestic comforts and undermined
his 'bodily health—are utterly incalculable. Our
recommendation then is most moderate and most
rational. The sum still required to complete the
golden plum which we would see presented by the
natic‘n to its patriotic chieftain is surely of compara-
tive !insignificance, namely, 19,5161. 6s. 4d. Cannot
this :be obtained with sufficient rapidity to anticipate
the closing of the Testimonial Fund ? Why, a
half] envy subscription from every enfranchised free-
tract? r would do it in a fortnight ; or a sixpence ad-
ditional from those who have already forwarded their
donattions would carry the gift to the desired
maxi mum. We offer our suggestion with all earnest-
ness ; let there be but a quick response in copper
piece s, and the hundred thousand pounds will, within
three weeks, be in the possession of the committee.
On the return of RICHARD COBDEN to England,
them fore, the National Testimonial might be presented
to hi m at some appropriate monster demonstration,
say :in the vicinity of his old successes, at the
Their tre Royal Drury-lane. Banquets have
been given to RICHARD COBDEN by congenial fo-
reign ers ; let us afford him a similar welcome on his
restoi nation to us, let us gladden his heart with the
souno; I of English cheers, and tender him a fitting
testis i ionial for his national and patriotic services—a
testis] ionial of
ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS.

T; ,•te Secretary of State for the Home Department,
in m c ,wing last night the committal of the Prisons
Bill :and the Custody of Offenders Bill, explained the
Miniu;terial policy and intentions with respect to the
more, serious cases of secondary punishments in a
speect h of singular clearness and ability, which de-
serves ily elicited the approbation of the House. For
man:" years past the Legislature has adopted a more
mitigated code for the repression of crime. Very
man: y cases, formerly visited with the ex-
treme penalty of the law, now only subject the
offend er to the loss of liberty, either by a prolonged
term of imprisonment, or what is known to the law
as tr t nsportation, whether for life or a term of years.
In m 4 my of these cases the widest discretion is neces-
saril27 entrusted to the presiding judge, who will
have it in his power either to expatriate the
crimi.2 nal from his native land for the re-
mainc ler of his life, or to dismiss him with the
inflict ion of a nominal fine, or a brief detention
in custody. Capital punishment has been practically
abolis; ied, save in cases of wilful and aggravated
murds r ; all offences, therefore, against property, and
all agi Linst the person not involving the death of the
aggris ved party, are treated as secondary crimes, and
visited only with xpermaary punishments. It be-
comet, , therefore, a matter of the deepest interest to
the people generally, who have cordially assented to
the
.p 1 esent more humane state of the law, that the
seco ui lary punishments should be placed on a sound
and v 1 rholesome footing, so as at the same time to re-
press- crime, by creating a salutary dread of its in-
evita, b le consequences; and, secondly, to afford the most
reasc z able prospects for the reformation of the cul-
prit, : aid his restoration to society on some future
occe,sii a wiser and a better man. To the attain-
men t of these points, the discipline to which
he -s1 aall be subjected, the place and man-
ner of his confinement should be directed.
It is due to those who yield a prompt and ready
ob( 3(lience to the law, that they should be protected
in tThe full enjoyment of their rights and privileges,
tilt A no morbid feelings of sensibility for those con-
ed of crimes and misdemeanours should encourage
otl if3rs to commit similar offences. It is not for the
sal i e of vengeance that the majesty of the law
is vindicated, but that a warning and ex-
an de might be held out to all. This primary
obj ct being attained, it is incumbent upon us, as
a b umane and Christian people, to win back
our erring brethren from the paths of vice, to
tel h them their duty as members of society, to in-
d' ac( them, if possible, to earn their dailyby bread the
e. re: cise of their honest oniest industry, and to remove them
f :cm every tempt
temptation by which they may be induced
d .e.moralization. similar ° to
.er errors—into a state of
t, ) relapse into
that from which they have
Jean for a time reclaimed
ila te
Thed
to in niste rial
those plan just devele pe 1n
naz
ars well cal-
great objct: rc.lakes the
onvict go through a variety of probatio
gradually yresitaates,
attain
o
it i each of which the severity is
-And his situation rendered more tolerable. His pro'
gress from one of those stages to another wilt be
mainly dependent on himself on the Rvidencoa