The Sun.
London, England, 1857-02-10 00:00:00

before the committees by persons well qualified to speak on
the subject. Judges and others were of opinion that tran-
sportation was in a high degree a deterring punishment ;
on the other hand, chaplains and governors of gaols, and
persons who knew the habits of the criminal community,
were strongly of opinisa that transportation as a deterring
punishment was fast losing its force. So far hack as 1832,
when Col. Pavies's committee sat, there was au intimation
that transportation was beginning to lose its terrors, as de-
terring from crime, acrd that something else must be looked
to. Sir W. Molesworth's committee expressed that opinion
much more strongly. Remembering that within the last 20
years no loss than half a million of persons bad gone as vo-
luntary emigrants to the shores of Australia, he could not
believe that in that class of persons, from whom those emi-
grants had proceeded, there could exist the same dread of
transportation that had existed 20 years ago, when it was
hardly possible, either by persuasion or bribes, to induce
any portion of our agricultural population to leave the coun-
try. Still, it could not be questioned that, as a means of
disposing of a large class of our criminal population, of re-
forming them, and giving them a far more favourable chance
of improvement than they could have at home, trans-
portation, as an adjunct of a system of secondary punish-
ment, was most valuable, and ought, by every means in
our power, so far as was consistent with our duty to our
colonies, to be preserved. The Government had considerel
the question during the recess with all the attentism which
its importance deserved, and had come to the conclusion
that, while they continued the system, they could not re-
commend that convicts should bo transported to any part
of the British dominions, except that already open to
their reception—the colony of Western Australia. There
had been a great deal of discussion out of doors on the sub-
ject, and members thus approached the question with their
minds far better informed than they would otherwise have
done. The correspondence that had taken place between
men of great knowledge and experience as to the expedi-
ency of transporting convicts to certain places showed that
however, at first sight, those places might appear adapted
to the purpose, there were great objections to them. In
speaking of Western Australia as the only place, he did not
mean that the Government would preclude themselves
from taking advantages of openings that might arise in any
other part of the world. But at that moment they were
not warranted in holding out the prospect that any other
colony would receive convicts. The places recommended
in the Lords' report were Vancouver's Island, the Gulf of
Carpentaria, and Western Australia. The first was placed
very near to California and the United States of America ;
there was a large proportion of Indians on the island itself
and close to its shores; and considering its immense dis-
tance from this country, and the great expense of transport-
ing convicts there, it would be most unwise in the Govern-
ment to propose to found a convict establishment there.
With regard to the Gulf of Carpentaria, no doubt the house
would be disposed to maintain inviolate the pledge given
to our Australian colonies—not to inflict convicts upon them
without their free consent, and would maintain that pledge
not only in the'letter, but in the spirit. They would not
only net send convicts to the colonies themselves, but not to
any place which would give easy access to those colonies.
From imperfect information we possessed about the Gulf of
Carpentaria, he was far from satisfied that the climate was
fitted for a convict settlement--the very last accounts from
that place spoke most unfavourably of the climate. There
was another objection still stronger. The house would not
be disposed to place convicts in any situation where they
could filter towards neighbouring colonies. The sheep-
walks in Moreton Bay were extensive ; already they were
within 600 miles of Carpentaria; consequently there would
be a probability of the convict population of the latter
place finding their way to the colony of New South Wales,
to which we were pledged not to send them. As to the
Falkland Islands, Capt. Sullivan told the committee of the
House of Lords that they were admirably adapted for a
convict settlement with one drawback—after the convicts
were liberated there was no probability of private em-
ployers taking them into their service to any extent. That
was absolutely fatal to the Falkland Islands as a convict
settlement; and he strongly protested against the principle
en which some persons recommended the Falkland Islands
as a convict settlement—that the convicts would somehow
or other fitter away, and net be heard of any more. That
might be true of a more handful, but any considerable
number of convicts would become an absolute pest to the
whole neighbourhood, and the adjacent colonies would not
endure it for a moment. This was evident from what occur-
red at Bermuda. Occasionally convicts were pardoned
there, and ha I as good a right to go where they liked as
any member of that house. Some had attempted to go to
the United States ; and the States had immediately passed
the most stringent laws, to the effect that if a vessel
arrived at any port of the United States with a single
pardoned convict on beard, that vessel should be sub-
ject to the heaviest penalties, should be sent back again,
and not allowed to break bulk. This bad actually
taken place in New York. He mentioned this to show
that it was not such an easy thing to establish convict
settlements, and let the convicts go when they were par-
doned, as some persona supposed. The state of feeling in
the world on those subjects were much altered, and the
moans of communication in the world verb very much
altered. (Hear, hear.) Even our own colonies had passed
laws to the same effect. The colony of Victoria had passed
a law of a very stringent, and in some respects a very ex-
ceptionable character, which prevented pardoned men
from other colonies from coming to that colony. The
United States had done the same thing with regard to Bar.
!nude. If we sent convicts there we must keep them there,
for other places would not have them. In none of the places
mentioned would the government be justified in recom-
mending the eat iblishment of a convict settlement. There
remained Western Australia, at the present moment the
only British settlement open for the reception of convicts,
which we had never yet been able to use to the degree that
was originally intended, and which the free inhabitants of
the colony were anxious it should be used. It would be a
very mistaken policy to go and incur great expense in
other parts of the world, at all events until we had ex-
hausted the means which this colony was willing and able
to afford. It presented setae very peculiar advantages as a
place of reception for convicts. The soil, though very fer-
tile, was more adapted for sheep pasture than for agricul-
ture. The sheepwalks were not so extensive there as in
other parts of Australia, and the population were conse-
quently more kept together. This was a great means of
preventing the escape of convicts ; there was hardly an in-
stance of an escape since it had been a convict colony. It
had also this advantage—a very great one with reference to
the other colonies of Australia. There was hardly any
communication by sea from Western Autralia to the other
colonies. There was very little coasting trade ; the trade,
such as it was, was almost entirely with British India and
with England. There were considerable resources that
might be developed by the convicts sent there ; ,but, gene-
rally speaking, Western Australia did not furnish much
to the other colonies ; and the navigation was extremely
long and dangerous round the cape at the south-western
eorner of Australia. A very great timber trade was spring
ing up there. The Admiralty had just concluded a con-
tract for timber from Western Australia ; and he trusted
that this trade might induce the investment of capital
there, and be the means of employing men. Still, it was
only to a certain extent, and for a limited time, that they
could look to the introduction of convicts into that colony.
It would require the greatest caution, vigilance, and cir-
cumspection on the part of the Government if Western
Australia was to continue to receive convicts. It would
be the duty of the Government to do everything in their
power to surmount the difficulties that existed. One of
the principal was the necessity of taking care to keep up
something like an equality between the sexes. His atten-
tion hafl been anxiously directed to that subject; he was
in communication with the Emigration Commissioners,
and hoped to be able to find a remedy for that which had
hitherto been a serious evil in our convict colonies. One
measure which he had felt it his duty to take, in accord-
ance with the recommendation of the Lords' committee,
was to give facilities to convicts to send for their wins
and children, also to send out destitute young women of
good character to the colony. It would also be necessary
to encourage, as far as they could, the emigration to that
colony of free emigrant., between whom and the convicts
it was or the utmost importance that the duo proportion
should be kept up. Under these circumstances they might
hope that the colony would prosper. It was indeed far
from brine in a decaying condition. In 1319 the popula-
tion was 5,564—a1l free, no convicts having been then sent
there. In 1855 the population had doubled :it was 10,630,
and a convict population of 2,175. In 1849tlerevenue
was 9,56 i/. ; in 1655, 34,451/. The exports, in 1849 i
28,551/ ; in 1855, 105,3a01. The imports were,, were
in 1849,
26,1501. ; in 1855, 46,3011. The house would perceive
beive
that this colony, under judicious management,
might
the means of relieving us of our convict population for
some time to come. It had doubtless been an expensive
colony ; but all penal colonies were
necessarily so ; and
the house must make up its mind to that if it wished
transportation to be carried out with effect. But it
had not been so expensive as penal colonies in former
days. Transportation to this commenced in
colony
i expense
there • and the whole of sending: and maintain-
ing them there had been 4C6,0031 Looking back to the
settlement of New South Wakes, he found that in the first
12 years only 4,561 male convicts were sent out, at an ex.
pense of above a million of money, or more than double the
cost of the convicts sent to Western Australia, which was
not so extravagant as some gentlemen had been led to sup-
pose. And if we were to have transportation anywhere, to
any penal settlement, we must make up our minds to pay
for it. Ho mug express his satisfaction at the fair and
candid spirit in which the proposal of tee Government had
been met by .the house. As far as principles were con-
cerned, there•did not seem to be any great diversity of
sentiment. Above all, he rejoiced, that while members
were anxious to find a remedy for any evils in the penal
code of this country, they were not unmindful of their per-
manent obligation to the British colonies, and were deter-
mined to do nothing, either in letter or spirit, to violate
those pledges which they had repeatedly given, not to in-
terfere with the expressed wishes of the colonies on this
subject, not to send convicts to any colony which was not
willing to receive them, and even not to place convicts in
Britth co situat;on where they could give just offence to any
lony. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. BENTINCK did not think the method proposed
the best way of dealing with the subject. He would esta-
blish penal settlements nearer home, and utilise the labour
of the convicts.
Mr. M. MILNES congratulated the right hon. baronet
which both on his bill and on his speech, in he had intro-
duced it ; all ho regretted was, that they had not both been
made public long since, in which
case much nonsense,
panic, and discomfort might have
been prevented. He
trusted that another ten years would not be suffered to
elapse before the legislature adopted reformatory measures
for adult criminals.
Mr. J. G. PHILLIrted REwas opposed to the system of
transportation, and g
that it was wholly ineffectual Captain Macconochie, to show
as a reformatory process'; but
produced vices and crimes that was degrading to humanity.
He objected to giving power to the police to watch over
the actions of peoplewho were not in custody, and against
whom no accusation was made, as opposed to the feelings
of the country,
Mr. NE WDEGA.TE thought the country had good
ground for the alarm they entertained, and he thanked the
press for its exertion in pressing the subject on the public
attention
Mr. LIDDELL
suggested that arrangements might pos-
sibly be made for employing convict labour at Demerara,
very where labour of a -superior character could be found,
but where Vie difficulty of obtaining labour to cultivate
the land had eccasionedmany valuable estates to be thrown
out of cultivation. Much had been said about the treat-
ment of criminals but in many places they were treated as
well, or better, than our soldiers. He admired as much a
any one the b-nevolence of those men who gave up their
time and means to better the position of criminals—he re-
spected them for so doing, but he repected the public more,
and he thought that in many cases misunderstood clemency
and misapplied liberality were
fatal not only to the gene-'
rag welfare, but even to
self.
Sir G. GREY replied. In reference to the cases to
which Sir J. Pakington referred, he wished to state that
he had at all times resisted the many applications which
had been made to him to extend the, sty,,stein of tickets of
Joey,: to theed who u,re.;:— ..el,l ..o. A . ten •1 i..-zlituao.
With regard to Ft case whichh,ad been instanced in which
a man sentenced to 15 wonth b imprisonment had been set