The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-10-04

v.
That tribunal, W 6ich In other times, and even
here, has been the refuge of patriots is now a
mockery, delusion. and snare. The jury be-
longs invariably to the middle classes, who are
humbugged bv the arlstocrats, into the idea
that every change would lnjure them, and
that every advocate Of change designs to
hound on mob to the destruction OF
order, peace, and property. The true interest
OF the jurors Is utterly unknown to themselves,
and they are the unconscious suicides OF all their
interests, for the sake of the grinding ollgarchy
under which they barely exist, instead of claiming
for themselves, and their sons and daughters, the
The interest OF all classes IN England IS against
the ruling powers, except themselves The people
and their tyrants, if they understood each other,
would instantly be opposed, but the middle ass,
in utter ignorance, Is fooshly content to hold out
their own necks TO The cham, and TO he the low
and hirellng agency of ind discriminate destruction
to every philanthropst II is actually criminal and
punishable by the great extremes described, to
say anything decisive, however obstruse and phi
losophical, on the superiority our own form of
government. Worse, even, than that, it is equally
penal to be present on such an occasion, or to re-
peat orally or otherwise, wishes expressed by the
British ssges and patriots of past times, in the
glorious floods of Oratory and song. Milton and
Locke, Fox, Burke. Pitt Canning, Macintosh.
R%omlly and even Wilberforce and Clarkson, and
by us to deserve the immortal rewards Of good and
faithful servants, e in the shrouds of felons. To
them, the love OF liberty and the shouts OF Joy over
tered TO save their hearts from bursting; and they
have llumlDed all lands, except that alone OF their
nativity. To it, they have turned to curses come
home to roOst. Any one, or all, of that glowing
constellation, could be convicted at the bar of the
Old Bailey, next assizes; and could be sent, with
the consent OF the people and press of England, to
the ig,.omlnousscatioldo on which Sydney suffered
a corresponding tate.
But am to prove that the law itself has under
gone no change. Incredible that will be to
your readers, it not more than the continued
cruelty of its administration. Therefore. If show
that the law remains, you must believe that it will
be unsparingly enforced upon every rebel, no mat
ter how venal his offence. 1t suppo sed that the
Crown and Government Security Act of last Anrl
mitgates the law of treason in this realm. That
is not so. The law stands as in the reign of Ed
ward Ill, except the nominal amendment suggest
ed IN the reign Of Geo. III. The mistake about
It's character arose from false statement of the
Attorney General, made during the passage of the
act OF last session, in answer to question in Par
House, that, by the proposed actment the law of
treason was meliorated and with that assurance
the radicals We're content, for their opposition was
very insignificant. Now, the bill itself expressly
provides, that 'nothng contained 1t shall affect
the act of 25 Edw. III; SO that act is paramount
and the law OF treason is not in reality moderated
atall. On the contrary, If you scrutinize it, you
will see the hand or ratker hoof of Old Cepty him
self in the provisions. 1t Is DESIGNED to provide
for the past-February STATE of things. Since the
new birth of the French, there has been some
ct. ctr IN England; and, at all events, while
the government Of the country has been get
ting more and more cruel in its alarm, the
people for the moment, and until demorallzed
by the press, were disposed to be Glenn
feared that even British jury of the blindfolded
middle class might acqult, ii the indictment were
Tor treason, and the punishment hanging, quarter
Ing, &cc DC. Therefore, with that craft which is
the colleague OF cruelty, the oigarchs enacted
such law would forthe moment enable them to
catch and dispose of every patriot, etiectually
II he were put to death; e., by transportation.
And It was sagely enacted, llih VIC, chap IL,
If the government pleased, they might select an
other mode of suppression which should never
fail. So that, while every thing one can possib ly
do say upon the vital subject of reform Is trea-
son, it Is also felony. How capltally these dew
ces work. When the public mind requires it, in
dc,ments will be for the latter crime at other
time the former CONVICTIONS can sometimes on
ly be had for felony, and it is important that the
government should always succeed, and that II
should never be troubled with any spirit discon-
tented enough to be dangerous. The old prece
dents all apply to the construction of the act,
and rears the aspect of charity for human fraty.
but il is the old enemy of man, wearing for the
nonce only different livery. Look while pull
of its disguise. If any person shall, within the
realm or without, compass, imagine, invent, de-
wise intend TO deprive or depose' the king or
| levy on him, in order to bring about a change
| OF his measures or counsels, or f.rce or intlm-
| idate either house OF parliament, or to move or
or any of the Qeeen's dom Mons, and shall declare
| such compassngs, imaginations, &c, by any
printing or writing, orby open and advised speak
ing, orby any overt act or deed, he shall be deem
ed guilty of felony and shall be liable to be trans
ported for life, or for any other term not less than
| seven years This law includes all principles in
the second well as the first degree and Access
SORES before as well as after the fact Isnat this
| a text tor the American commentary of " llbe ry
without restraint, conspicuously uttered by high
officer of the republic, with al! that moral force
which attends our slightest whisper of opinion
! throughout the world
| Enough has been said of the worse than Draco-
MAN code of English penal laws; might further
| deyelope those 4of treasOn sedtion, conspiracy,
| libel, and other enactments, which utterly divest
the men of England of independence and respect
ability. Even religion has its outrageous penal
ties of every DESCRIPTION for unbehevers and free
! thinkers. And poverty Ia an integral and high
crime, for which an lrishman was recently trans
ported tor seven years, by panel OF Galway
squlres Any man, whatever, may be thrust into
Bedlem itself, on the mere certificate of insanity
given by any two medical practitioners. And his
chances OF coming out could only be estimated by
the lifelong prisoner of the old Bastle. Happy
| land And an American Minister can be found
to give the people the imperous stab before spoken
of in these letters, and the added insult that they
that no crevice can be detected in English society
| by the most vigllant eye. This tremendous pres
sure, une xampled under the sun, which does the
Office Of cement for the social and political edfce
| OF Great Britain. MARCUS.
LONDON, Sept. Is, 1913.
The Chart,sts-Ftargus 'Corwor-Whigs and
T@res-Enghd AID american Newspapcrs-
Degenerncy of Engiishmen.
| In the enumeration of the trophies of strength
displayed by the British government, l did not
speak very prominently of the chartlst arrests,
prosecutions and convictions. Hundreds of men
belonging to the working classes have been seized
and punished for asserting in homely language,
not unmixed with violence. the fundamental rights
Of man; and it is steadily made matter of re-
proach by persons here, and, I regret to say, In
America, that the chartIsts are seeking to escape
| from deepotism TO the liberty which is enjoyed in