The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-11

but be5aUse the practice and jurisprudence OF
the two countries on such question Is, pc
1eve, almost If not quite Identical After cure
ful perusal of the trials In Toronto am con-
vinCed that not the fainteet shadow oil an lmpu-
tation can, in the opinion of any reasonable per
son. rest upon the perfect fairness OF the proceed
ings or the Justice of the verdict. Not only was
there no curtailment Ofthat full measure otiberty
and means of defense which is so essential an
element in the criminai Jurisprudence ooth Oh
the United States and OF Great Britain, but
every privilege that could be conceded to
the prisoners appears to have been allowed.
The case of the Crown was temperately stated,
the whole Court concurred IN the delays Whlch
were asked and granted, and observe that even
the prisoner Lynch bore witness to the fairness
and impartiality with which his case was tried.
Her Maiestys Government are. requested to
grant an amnesty to these prisoners. Ihey
have carefully considered the question.
They cannot shut their eyes to the very
heinous character of the offenses. 1t was
no more nor less than wanton and laWless at
tack, with the avowed object of carrying fire and
sword into an inoffensive province. 1t has,
indeed, providentially proved to be as fruitless
in its result as il was wicked in its design, which
not only contemplated murder and rapine in
Car ada, but the possibility OF embroiling two
friendly nations in an unnatural war. Her
Majesty's Government is not insensble to the
resentment which the people of Canada must
feel. They have submitted, and submitted
cheerfully, to great sacrifice of their time
and their professional avocations. Property
has been destroyed trade interrupted, and
/ grieve 10 think valuable lives have
been lost. Nor, again, has the course
which the associates and sympathizers with
these unhappy criminals adopted, the language
which they are reported to lave held, and the
idle threats of retaliation that have been used
by them, rendered it easier either for the Cana
dian people or her Majesty's Government to
overlook the grave character of the ohense; but
taking into account the fact that nearly six
months have now elapsed, and that nothing has
occurred in the interval to detract from the
complete success which crowned the efforts
of her Majesty's troops and the Canadian
volunteers in suppressing the Fenian invasion,
and readily accepting the opinion OF yourself
and your advisers in favor of clemency, her
Maiesty's Government are disposed to hope that
the ends of justice aud wise policy may be
secured without recourse to the extreme penalty
of law. have, therefore, thought it my duty
to recommend to her Majesty to extend her
and Mcmahon, now lying under sentence OF
death, and to commute the sentence to twenty
years penal servitude or imprisonment, as the
law of Canada may warrant you in assigning.
1t is only TO be Ghoped that this act of
clemency on the part of her Majesty may not
be misunderstood, aud that this punishment, to
which the capital sentences have been COM
muted may be of sufficient severity to warn
others of the still grave consequences to which
they will inevitably render themselves liable by
a repetition of such insane and criminal pro
ceedings; but If, unhappilY, this hope should
be disappointed, all such persons must be pre-
pared to be visited with the extreme penalty o.
the law. ! have, etc., CARNARvoN.
The Montreal volunteers and Government
police who have been stationed at Sweetsburg
since the Fenian trials commenced in December
returned home to-day, the prisoners having
been removed to the provincial penitentiary a.
Kingston.