The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-03-10
THE CASE OF THEMADIa1

The papers by the last steamer contain the
following important letter from Lsrd ]. Rus.
SELL to Sir HENRY BULwER.
LORD joins RUSSELL To SIR HENRY BrIwre.
'FoREIcs- -OFTicE, January IS, 1853.
SIR According to the last accounts received
from you, the Grand Duke Of Tuscany still
hesiiates on the subject of the Madiai.
But this is matter on which hesitation i'm.
plies capital punishment. Ii is the same thing
in effect to condemn a man to die by FIRE like
SavonaroIa, or TO put him to death by the slow
torture OF an unhealthy prison.
1t tseems to be imagined, indeed, by some Go.
vernments on the Continent, that if they avoid
the spectacle ofan execution on the seaffold,
they will escape the odium to themselves, and
the sympathy for their victims, which attends
upon the punishment OF death for offences oil
political or religious character.
But this is an error. 1t is now well under.
| stood that the wasting of the body, the sinking
OF the spirits, the weakening OF the mind, are
but additions to the capital punishment which
| long and close confinement too often involves.
II therefore, as has been lately reported, one
| OF OF the Madiai were to die in prison, the Grand
luke must expect that throughout Europe he
VIII De considered as having put a human be-
ing 10 death for being Protestant.
| H"iii be said, NO doubt, that the offence of
| francesca Madiai was not that of being Pro-
testant, Out that OF endeavoring to seduce 9TH
ers from the Roman Catholic faith that the
tuscan Government had the most merc,ful in
tentions, and meant to have shortened the pe.
Rod OF imprisonment allotted by law TO mis- of.
fence; that such offences cannot be permitted to
pass unpunshed.
All this, however, will avail very little.-
Throughout the civilized world this example
| ofrelgious persecution will excite abboyrence
Nor will it be the least Of the reproaches ad
dressed to the Government Of the Grand Duke
that The name of Leopold of Tuscany has beer
thus desecrated, and the example of a beneyo
lent Sovereign thus departed from. The peace
| ful, mild and Ingenious character of the Tus
can people makes this severity the less neces
ssry and the more Odious.
AS this is a matter affecting Tuscan sub
ject, it may be said that Her Mejesty's Govern
ment have no right to interfere. If this means
that interference by force OF arms would no
be justifable, | confess at once that nothin,
bur the most extreme case wsuld justify sue
| interference.
| But f it be meant that Her Majesty has no
the right to point out to a friendly Sovereg
the arguments which have prevailed in tn
most civilized nations against the use of tn
civil sword to punish religious opinions, er
tirely deny the truth of such an allegation.
You are, therefore. instructed to speak i
the most serious tone to the Minister Of Fol
eign Affairs, and to lay before him all the con
siderations stated in this despatch. You viii
do it in the most friendly tone, and take care {
assure the Government TO which you ar
| accredited that none are more sincere in thei
wishes for the independence and happiness @
| Tuscany than the Queen of Great Britain.
am, &C., J. RUSSELL"