Star.
London, England, 1830-07-19 00:00:00

PROTEST AGAINST THE FORGERIES BILL.

The following is Lord Holland's protest against the passing of
the law of Forgeries Bill :
Dissentient—Fint,-13ecanse the Bill, as amended in the Com-
mittee, annexes, or continues, the punishment of death ih many
cases of forgery ; which crime, however Injurious to society, is an
offence of human institution. It an only be detcribed as a spolia-
tion of property, unattended with violence ; and the common feel.
ings of mankind, the Maxims of religion and philosophy, the math°.
rity of the most eminent men, and the practise of the most civilised
nations, as well as of our ancient law, me generally averse to panbilt-
ing by death any crime In the perpettation of which no violence Is
used or intended.
Second,—Because no proof has beeen adduced, and there is no
ground for 'suspecting, that the crime of forgery has grown to be
"enormous,_ frequent, and dangerous," which are the circunietances
required by Sir Matthew Hale to justify a lawgiver in arc a
punishment, and even death, "beyond the demerit of x
offenee
itself, simply considered."
Third,—Because, although emetics ma have become less he-
' quent of late years, in consequence of the tesompeioe of cosh pay.
menta, or from other causes, such recent diminution of that species of
guilt cannot be reasonably attributed to the terror of a punishment
which has subsisted and been in force fir neatly a centaty, which et
present, In Sewn ciset out of sight, le not inflicted, and which, when
sternly and rigorously enforced, failed to produce any such diming-
tton ; we were, therefore, unwilling too hastily to infer the efficacy
Of severity Trani any weak or aceidental dimintition of the offence;
and we were confirmed in tritklaildtrirour anent from :Sayan& pre-
cipitate reasoning, by ftheddim that foegeties have calm been, and
still continue to be, more frequent in this country thin they were
before the punishment of death was annexed to that crime.
Fourth,—llecause sundry laws, inflicting capital punishments en
70
a variety of crimes, hive, daring the Let years, Idea abrogated'
In civilised stints, and in no title initiate loth ft aqtruertileit`the
'hovel of the terror of Death bee beet *NNW -by eurieerested
frequency of the crime. The taws hates y been invigorated
by such wholesome relaxation and has confirmed the
great axioms Which speculative philosophies and peaddahoetiliste
have ion since inculcated—namely, thitleilleillestilikeidele seedy
hinder the commission of a crime, bat prevent•lie delesieb ; and
that the certainty of a sentence, comparatively aildostiliples wick-
edness more e;;-• unity than the dread of a pletidatent which.
the common feelings bf mankind deem dhpueiteilleetle to 'the
Offence, and therefote sdrdple to concur with the elellemedty do
inflicting.
lind'Fifthßecadse, if Insilco otjeles ilie'seeedity if groper-
doning thefunishment loihe meeell lurked* of as diem, .peu-
'deuce 110, leas requires Ant The Viditipledee,likely to be produced by
sileh piorthihritent, shoat not 4brindignation genetrilly es-
eittdrby thepetpetradowe'the MON; antlidearthe peusitylitedhl
'be-regulated Vibe kete'of *pubic* 'Odom st-the thee, and in the
country where such •law la enacted, orallowod to continue; but,'in
this hatpin, Of "trateits, 'the "nutintrotis petitions 'of
the PO*, ttfe'~derneesiteifilmsw4filidshillthi, sok

wps
wa
'6( '+, -.looctoolt to * "bit 'of •tbe-eige,, mmfiven
the ju gment of the public, sad revoking") the feelings or thei
community.
(ft%) • 110111aND. ?
(Foe the 3d sod Wt miaow.)
DURHAM.

July 11.