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

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here had been only six irders. The Noble Lord
commented at length-tm these and other facts, and 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 most forcibly apply to
statutes enacting the punishment of death."
Daniel O'Connell, Esq., M.P., entered the meeting 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 fur 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 bad been a great reduction of the
crimes capitally punished; and lie 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. Di. 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'CONNELL, 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
irrevocable punishment. That awful instances of the con-
demnation and execution of innocent men, convicted upon
what appeared at the time the clearest evidence, proves the,
eye siunbspelqacueenutf paropouf
fallibility of the best constituted courts, and the necessity
of adopting some punisment, which may be recalled in the
hintchl of
criminal,ennadn aisheplpowlesesrleFfesnotmo„ rbeing;estor e , t
ha nue! consigns to
closing
the
punishment
htmh the
nt innocence
which
takes
e the
s a
w supposed
tthat
at
W
a g pa re-
matureta
of mercy which God
the time He would leave still open, and shortening
for repentance which still, "
Mr. W. J. Fox, inwould extend.
an eloquent speech, moved—" That
the following petition to het Most Gracious Majesty the
Queen be entrusted for
aimsaerntation to Right Hon. Sir
Robert Peel; and that
I'letillc;n,Pl be presented to both
Houses of Parliament. That
t Hon. Lord Denman
be respectfully requested to present the
petition to the Lords,
and W. Ewart, Esq.,Commons."
This to the
This was seconded by Mr. G. W. ALIizANDER.-arolcarriect
by the meeting.
It was moved by the Rev. Mr. Clintsmus, and supported
by Mr. WRIGHTSON and Mr. a VINCENT-Z." That a society
be now formed, to be called ' The Society for the Abolition of
Capital Punishments,' and that the following form 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.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS.

,From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29.
The following Petitions Tor Railways were reported, and the Rills
ordered to be 'brought in by the undernamed Hon. Members :
Northern and Southern Connecting—Colonel T. Wood, Mr. Broad-
wood, and Mr. Baldwin.
St. Alban's, Ilatficld, and Hertford—Mr. Ward and Mr. Harcourt.'
Bristol and Rirmingham (Ashchurch;
.Tewkesbdry, and Malvern
Line) —Mr. Hudson find Mr. Phillpotts.
SECOND READINGS OF RAILWAY •BILLS.
MONDAY, MAY 4. • •
Eastern Counties (Stations Enlargement). •
Eastern Counties and Thames Junction Branches.
North Gravesend.

Eastern Comities (Tottenham and Farringdon- street)
Taw Vale Extension.

---------
REPORT FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON GROUP (9)
OF RAILWAY BILLS.
GLASGOW HA_RBOUR GRAND JUNCTION RAILWAY BILL.
Lord Wors'ey reported from the Select Committee on Group
(9) of Railway Bills, that in the case of the Glasgow Harbour Grand
Junction. Railway Bill, to whom several petitions against the said
Bills were referred, that they had heard counsel in support of several
of the said p tittonS, 'and had also heard counsel in favour of the Bill,
and had examined the allegations of the preamble of the Bill, but
that the same had not been proved to their satisfaction.
REPORT FROM THE SELECT COMMI :-TEE ON GROUP
,(9)
OF 'RAILWAYS.
GLASGOW H ARBOUR MINERAL RAILWAY BILL.
Lord Worsley reported from the Select Committee on Group (9) of' Railway Bills,, that in the case of the Glasgow Harbour Mineral
Railway Bill, to whom several petitions against the said Bill were
referred, they had heard counsel In support of the said petitions, and
had also heard counsel in favour of the Bill, and had examined into
the Allegations of the preamble of the Bill, but that the same had not
been proved to their satisfaction.
REPORT FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON GROUP (6)
OF RAILWAYS.
PERTH AND CRIEFF, RAILWAY BILL.
Sir John Cam llobhouse reported from the Select committee en
Group (6) of Railway Bills, to whom several petitions against the
Bills comprised in the said group were referred, that in the case
of the Perth and Crieff Direct Railway Bill they had heard counsel
in support of some of th:, said petitions, and bad also heard counsel in
favour of the Bill, and that they had examined the allegations con-
tained in the preamble of the Zid. but the same had not been proved
to the satisfaction of the Committee.