Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-08-12
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Fross the London JfSses J'.S 70
Mr.. Roebuck has for time P-.'ed assumed 10 h'"'
se the function. of the chor. Greek tragedy when
the chorus is most energetic He praises he oames he
acqut he condemns; invokes the vengeance OF the
Ernnys against th. successful cuprits who fof time
have succssdsa In evading human justice. He Is In
word the Of the house LAST night, Tor eI-
ample he engaged in the task of denouncing Mr.
James Sadeir Their be no doubt that Mr. James Sad
ieir person totally unfit be member of the House
OF Commons of any decent society II any faith can
be placed Judicial proceedings, this person has been the
associate his brother in the preparation Of series OF
historic frauds The brother indeed has evaded the pen
allies Of the law by rushing into the presence OF his Ma
ker for the crimes which he has committed here
below lie shrank from the responsibility of his acts he
dared face the misery of the whom he had re-
duccd beggary and ruin; perhaps state the
fairly when that he dreaded the penalty which
attached his crimes The general execraton the open
trial. the public condemnation, sanctioned by the appto-
ve OF ALL and the long years OF penal servude, were
something much for his and 81 lac had recourse
TO suicide, the lesser evil With him human justice i
longer concerned. The penalty OF death Is the high
est penalty known to the law, and he has inhie-
ted It upon himself The case OF Mr. James Sal
leir l.. however. different lie the willing
dupc the cmpter Had John SAdeir never lived James
Sajleir might have passed through life an obscure
and respectable The world however Is not concerned
In settling the degrees of crime as between the two
brothers All know is that James Sidleir has fled
from Justice, and that he is accused of conspiring With
John Sadcir cheat and deiaud the public by of
false rcprcsen tajions that the Tppeary Bank sol
institution when hopelessly bankrupt About
three weeks ago warrant was issued against him \
ago hill of indictment against him presented To the
grand jury of the county of Tpperary, and found to
be a bill. Upon this true bill the Judge of Assze
issued warrant for his apprehension on Saturday last but
in the interval Mr. James Sadeir had absconded Such
circumstances of the under which Mr.
Roebuck brought forward last night his that Me-
James Sdeir should expelled from the House oil Com
nous We regret add that the House to have
justified arriving the conclusion that yet the
nouon premature The objections are purely formal,
but is that have right TO bring out pre-
vous knowledge to bear upon the question than jury
has base his decision upon any facts other than
those which be disclosed in the course of tral
the House OF Commons had right 10y Law and custom
20 take a more extended view of the case and with
gard of its members to come to decision up
general considerations, the would be differ
Mr. James Sadler no doubt, under such circum-
stances would have ceased to be member OF the British
House of Commons last night.
1t will be by reference to our Parliamentary report
of this day that the lawyers fairly the better OF Mt
Ro-buck. Mr.. WORTHY objected he based his motion up
documents which, however worthy Of credit, not
Yeti the hands of members The expulsion OF peecant
senator is serious step not only as Tar as regards
himself, but still regards the constituency which
he represents is but reasonable that strong grounds
shold be shown and time gwen for consideration
the House upon serious There j.
saying to what eItremtes such precedent might |
lead Suppose the OF a strong Government, Of
strong Opposition and that precedent could be shown
for the expulsion OF member without inquiry con-de
ration and it Is obvious that any Troublesome opponent
might quickly receive his quietuS. Mr.. j. d. Fitzgerald
IN the OF MS address House, remarked
there had been exactly in point since the Revoiu
ton In instance OF dubious authority member had
been expelled, not for fraud but Tor contempt but in is
there had been select committee. The Attorney
General admitted that IA conviction ouawry would
be- good ground for disqualification; but in the OF
NJ James Sader there absolutely proceeding to
show To which the delinquent had been party himself
Finally, Lord Pamertun, whose province it is, when
rybody else has spoken, intervene from the Treasury
Bench declared his opinion that the House should
hot proceed without some formal ground such the
viction of the culpr his confession least the
port of committee
:, the previous question carried; and, under
existing arrangements, this, doubt, mus; he
accepted proper decision The scandal, however,
i that arrangements in such should be what
aud that the House Of Commons, the dignhcd
and powerful assembly in the world should be
into sanctuary for thieves. We reminded OF the OLD
times in which the neghbourhood OF the Old Palace
Westminster actually possessed the privilege OF harbour
ing such persons James Sadleir The only difference
between past and present times j. that in bygone days his
true policy would have been TO make straight Tor the Al
bry whereas present i highly Advisable him
10 darken that holy ground with his shadow But Why
should the senatorial quality protect from response
blity of any kind We but reverug 10 an old argu
ment when that only who has viOlaed
the criminal law but any who is civy liable Tor debt
i unfit to be member OF the House of Common. Tn
less ouF Legislators 10 set the example OF violating
the very laws which they have made and which
obey not only should they not he protected, but the
cton of offended justice should be swiiter and ei
eeive against them than against any other class of the
Queens subjects
IL may be said with fairness that any Fugitive from |
Justice should facio be held toi have forfeited his
seat Doubts however, might arise upon this point One
lawyer might tell u tat license of many DAYS should
be conceded to the ugtve-Anoher would be more ir
cined TO mercy, and might extend the period Upon one
point however there can be doubt Let the mem.
beers OF the House Of Commons in all civil in all cmi
nal matters he placed exactly the footing their
ielowsubjects Let it tibet IL then be competent the
House TO order that on given night member against
whom any accusation is formally brought shall attend ia
his place, and that the consequence of non.aeudlnce
shall he expulsion, and the evil will be cured To
whom under such an arrangement would injustice be
donef Not 10 the member for the fact of III. At.
tendance frees him from the summary penalty On sub
seqeni proceeding swiudlcr forger bankrupt or
nsoiven he be placed in position which would JUS
ty hi@ expulsion; but the House would be content 70
await the event OF the proceedings Nor would iustice
bc done To the prosecutor in criminal matters nor to the
plaintiff IN civil cause; for thus the offender or defrn.
dant wouldbe brought into the net Of justice