The Sun.
London, England, 1866-10-23 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESD,i}, (C 7. 23, 1866.

Some little time ago the management of our con-
victs was one of the most prominent topics of public
and private discussion. The exploits of the garot-
ters, which made London streets and squares for-
midable on November nights, induced the tax payers
of the metropolis, at all events, to inquire whether
these gentlefolks, when secured, were treated with
sufficient stringency. The result of the public co-
gitations was anything but favourable to the garot-
ting fraternity whether in town or country, but
during the discussion comparisons were very fre-
quently made. between the Irish and the English
systems. Both sides of the question had their ad-
vocates and their critics, but on one point at least
there appeared to be little room for any difference of
opinion, and that was the ability and energy of the
gentleman who presided over the convict establish-
ment in Ireland. Sir WALTEn CROFTON'S name is
well known in connection with the successful orga-
nisation of the Irish system, but some considerable
share of the merit must in fairness be allowed to his
earnest subordinates, Captains KNIG UT and WHITTY.
The
practical ability and extensive experience of
these gentlemen enabled them to render most valu-
able services i
getting in reducing theories to practice, and in
the valuable system into thorough working
order. It is now nearly twenty years since Captain
11r limy was chosen by the Board of English
Directors as the .ars
t ngovernor of Portland Prison,
at which, as is well k
n public works system
is followed. It was naturally the
work of no light cha-
racter to act such an establishmente
in order, and to
bring its new-fashioned workmen under something
like system. The whole burden of the management
fell upon Captain WitirrY,
but he was fully equalf
to the task, and accomplished it mostmieceull
;-;;liservently, as one of the Directors on the Eng-
Board, he afforded great assistance to sir
cfo.;lica <hen, and had the supervision of more than
5,000 convicts, but apparently preferring the Irish
system, he transferred his services to the sister
country as director, and has for some years occu-
pied the position vacated by Sir WALTER CROFTON
of head of the convict system in Ireland. There,
as in England, it was formerly usual for the
Board of Directors to consist of three gentlemen,
one of whom, as chairman, had of course the de-
cisive vote. For some unexplained reason this
salutary plan has been abandoned, and latterly there
has been only two directors of equal standing—a
division of authority which could not possibly work

well, seeing that a difference of opinion must be a
difference without hope of settlement, and any dis-
puted matter could only be settled as a matter of
personal courtesy without the decision of a
third party, who would probably be a better
judge as to the public merits of the case.
Still worse was it for some time after Sir WALTER
CROFTON'S retirement, for Captain WHITTY was
left to fulfil his laborious duties unaided. A di-
vided authority at least insures a division of labour,
but the overwork consequent upon all burden of
supervision being left on one man's shoulders was
very serious. The saving to the public has been
very short-sighted, since it has necessitated the loss
of a most efficient public servant from ill-health.
Captain WHITTY has found it necessary to retire
from the office, whose duties he has so ably and so
conscientiously discharged. This will be a very
great loss to the Irish Council system, and the Go-
vernment will not, we hope, overlook the long and
laborious services which Captain WHITTY has ren-
dered both in Ireland and this country. His work
has been brought less prominently before the public
than that of those who have been called upon to
build up systems or to construct theories, but every
one knows that it is a very different thing to look
at a plan on paper and to put it into practice by
some thousands of men. This arduous office
fell to the share of Captain WHITTY, and
the labour of controlling and supervising convicts
is, at best, exhausting and disheartening work.
The Royal Commissioners on Penal Servitude and
Transportation said, very justly, in referring to the
excessive share of work and responsibility which de-
volved upon Capt. WIIITTY, after Sir WALTER
CROFTON'S retirement, "It is bad economy not to
haye sufficient strength in a penal establishment to
admit of the effective discharge of their irksome
duties by the officers without an undue strain upon
their minds and bodies." The numbers of men en-
gaged under the superintendence of the Governors
and Directors would make their duties heavy were
they even men of common honesty and tolerably
amenable to discipline, but when we remember that
their ranks do not contain one man of decent cha-
racter, although they include ruffians of every de-
gree of ferocity and unscrupulousness, the task as-
sumes very different proportions. It is, as we have
said, a matter of great public regret that Captain

WurrTY should find it necessary to retire from his
duties, but he has worked long and heartily, having
the satisfaction of seeing his work prosper, and he
has now only to rest from his labours and to enjoy
the reward of his faithful service.

The Prusso-Saxon Treaty of Peace has at last
been signed, and, according to accounts received
from Dresden, the signature took place at Berlin
on Sunday. The terms of it are not yet before us,
and some curiosity will naturally be excited as to
its nature. To judge from the length of time the
discussion concerning it has occupied, wo may rea-
sonably entertain an idea that Saxony has gained
some advantage over the other States which suffered
so considerably in power and independence at the
time of the cessation of the war with
Austria. The Plebiscite, in Venetia, has
taken place amid the greatest excitement and
enthusiasm. Out of 30,000 electors at Venice,
26,180 took part in the suffrage, almost all of
whom voted affirmatively. Prussia's evil influence
is already beginning to be felt pretty strongly in the
Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein, where a Royal
decree has been issued ordering the conscription
from the Ist of January, in " conformity with the
regulations of the Prussian military system." This
is always the end of all their parade made about
respect for national rights and the maintenance
of native usage and customs ; all these
States and Principalities that are annexed be-
come, in course of time, merged into the constitu-
tion of the ruling country, and thus a huge Prussia
will be spread far and wide if Count BISMARCK'S
magnificent visions are realised and his Cabinet is
permitted to continue its career with impunity.
The Emperor NAPOLEON'S arrival in Paris has

infused more life into political circles. We now
hear that the meeting of the French Legislature will
not take place before the ordinary period assigned

for its assembling. It is to be regretted that
the stAject of interference with Belgium still
occupies the attention of the Pays, which is a
semi-official paper, and already they have produced
an uneasy feeling in Belgium. Although there was
no lack of cordiality on the part of the French re-
presentatives at the grand display at Brussels last
week, still there is nothing to be surprised at in the
circumstance that some notice should be taken of
these attacks. We hope that it may all turn out to
be illusory, and at all events, on the part of the
authorities, that there will be nothing done or said
which can possibly be construed into any intention,
direct or indirect, to assail the liberties or interfere
with the privileges of Belgium.
M

The accounts which we continue to receive from
the -United States are far from encouraging. The
storm of political passion has risen to a height which
alarms the thoughtful observer, and so bitter is the
antagonism between parties that it is allowed to
influence the affairs of everyday life. Even in mat-
ters of trade and business Conservatives and Radi-
cals will not, if possible, associate with each other,
or have any dealings in common. In society they
will not mingle, and the position of affairs in
the Northern States is, in fact, a state of
civil warfare without the actual weapons ;
and this, it must be remembered, is the case be-
fore the Presidential contest has even begun, and
while the acts of the corning Congress are yet in
the future. There is little reason to hope that
the opening of the Session will produce a better
feeling, for the indications which we have already
received show the Radical programme to be more
violent and unscrupulous than ever. The principal
part of their plan is to impeach the PRESIDENT, and
appoint a temporary President from the House of
Representatives to fill his office while his trial is in
progress. This temporary President is to be no other
than General BUTLER, provided heiseleetedbe easy
House of Representatives. It would not
to picture the condition of affairs insuchof
a whatcon-
con-
tingency, but we may learn something
there is to fear. It is idle to suppose that the whole
body of educated Americans would quietly submit
to such intolerable tyranny, but should the Radicals
push on their advantage what a terrible conflict will
ensue ! There are not wanting warning voices in
the press, as on the platform, and we must hope
the men who are as yet free to act will heed them.
The i'Vetv York Ilior/c/ says, after referring to the
recent riots and disturbances, " not Democrats
alone, not Republicans alone, bat men of all parties
alike, should heed these mutterings of revolution.
Let the Present course of things be unchecked, and
the
result is inevitable. Radicalism, as now
metingdevelop-
ornawhose
nothingelse but civil war." The Louis-
ville ju
the Federal Covernediniteonrt,dusrpineagktsheinwarthsetoosdambye
terms, and warns " the Northern fanatics that
unless madness has seized upon their hearts
and brains they will not insist on pushing
the dissensions between the PRESIDENT and the
Congress to the fighting point." It is this point
which they are rapidly coming to, and which the
virulence of both parties renders only too easily ac_