The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-30 00:00:00

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here had been only six murders. The Noble Lord
Commented at length on these and other facts, sad resumed
his seat after moving the following resolution :—" That
the efficacy of Criminal Laws depends less upon the
severity of punishment than the certainty of infliction;
and that laws which cannot be carried into execution with-
out shocking the feelings of society, and sinking abhorrence
of the crime in sympathy for the offender, are contrary to
reason, inconsistent with morality, and Opposed to the inte-
rests of justice-objections which moi,t forcibly apply to
statutes enacting the punishment of death."
Daniel O'Connell, Esq.,-11.P., entered the meting as the
Noble Lord was speaking, and was received with cheers,
which were renewed for several minutes.
Mr. J. BRIGHT, M.P., addressed the meeting in an elo-
quent and energetic speech. He said the peculiarity of that
discussion was, that no political feeling or religious rancour
need be stirred; for every man had that in him which na-
turally led him to abhor the punishment for itself.
Their great object in this movement was to ascertain
whether in a great community the people could so conduct
themselves that life and property would be secure without a
punishment which took away from their number by death.
On this point he referred to the past experience of London,
when it was not one-sixth of its present size, and yet six
human beings were put out of existence at least every week.
In 1832 or 1833 there had been a great reduction of the
crimes capitally punished ; and be asked whether, since then,
they had found life or property less secure? The Hon. Gen-
tleman argued the question, not from Scripture but human
nature—those principles which lie at the foundation of cha-
racter; and concluded with expressing his strong belief that
it would be abolished within five years.

The Rev. Dr. MoRTIMER, head master of the City of Lon-
don School, supported the resolution, which was put from the
Chair, and carried without one dissenting voice.
DANIEL O'Cormatu., M.P., moved the second resolution,
and supported it by several interesting facts from his own
knowledge, while engaged in professional life.
Mr. SAMUEL GURNEY seconded the resolution, which'*,
was put to the meeting and carried unanimously.,
" That in the opinion of this meeting, no fallible tri-
bunal should be entrusted with the power of inflicting an
dirreemvnoacatiobnle
and
dnisehxmeceunton
tiTohfaitnnaccewfunit imnsetnan, cesconiiofetedtheucoponn-
what appeared at the time the clearest evidence, prbves the
fallibility of the best constituted courts, and the necessity .
of adopting some punisment, which may be recalled in the "
event of subsequent proof of the innocence of the supposed
omlvf ticriminal,cuehrrecme, nawdi
nnhaiieshelpless place
epGipo
owl oedfse avi
powerless to
leave
restore,
amevi punishment ngtt
lhahnou
thus
which he
opetakesn,
sandiclosing
consigns g
sat
hhwtooear ytae gates
nti
ing
the time for repentance which lie would still extend. "
Mr. W. J. Fox, in an eloquent speech, moved—" That
the following petition to her Most Gracious Majesty the
Queen be en;traunst(rithtabtr
.presentation to the Right Hon. Sir
IlL'etitilons be presented to both
mAnLyexnslioEnß
Robert Peel
Houses of Parliaosent b,'1•1111,07.
rbe) respectfully
Td l .
as Ewart,seconded
E sq , requested
tbb3a,that
lotro.ptrGhee.seicni?). the
Hon. Lord Denman
to the Lords,
, and carried
by the meeting.
It was moved by the Rev. Mr. CHRISTMAS, and supported
by. Mr. WRIGHTSON and Mr. H. VINCENT—. That a society
be now formed, to be called • The Society for the Abolition of
Capital Punishments,' and that the following fcrm the Com-
mittee of said society, with power to add to their number."
A vote of thanks to Mr. Ewart, M.P., for his conduct
in the chair, was passed unanimously, and the meeting
separated.