The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-03-08

The Marquis Of Harrington said the only
consideration upon which the right bonora
| bic gentleman could argue was, on the one
hand, the consideration whether 1t was due
to the dignity Of the House that Mr.. Mitche
| In the particular position in which he haC
| been placed by his sentence and his subse
Gucut escape-whether it was due to the
| House that the same action should be taker
| in his case as was taken in The case Of ODon
oyan Rosa, ard on the other hand they were
| Influenced by the consideration as TO whether
the. House should consider the question
purely on legal grounds, and not import
any thing else into it.
The Solicitor. General for Ireland said the
most important and solemn and terrifyi ine
part Of the speech Of the honorable anC
learned member for Oxford was when be
| turned round to them and asked them
| whether they had considered what was tne
state of affairs as regar ded John mitchell:
| legal condition in Ireland. and whether they
had considered the propriety OF prosecatins
him for being at large. The Government
| had considered it, and they had come to the
conclusion that there were no proceedings
| which they could take at present against Mr.
Mitchell. AS bad been already explained,
lie Irish statute winch bore on the suhJecl
of person being at large before the terml
nation of his sentence was SO framed that IL
did not embrace the case Of an offender
who vas found at large in any part
of Her Majesty's dominions outside the Uni.
ted Kingdom. They could not proceed
| against him, because there bad not been force
used in the escape. The reason was sim.
| ple one, that which Was set out in the paper.
| So far as he knew. there had only been three
questions raised which seemed to throw a
doubt On the proposition in the paper. The
first was that of his honorable friend, the Ju.
pior member for Limerick. Any opinion
coming from the honorable ana learned
member for Limerick (Mr. ButD was entitled
TO respect, and the House would therefore
bear with him while he adverted TO the let'
ter brought before the attention OF Inc
House by the honorable member opposite
mir. 'ShaughnesSy). That letter endeaVorea
to sustain the proposition that, notwlth.
standing the escape from confinement, Mt.
J. Mitchell was purged from statutory olsa'
billics by remaining out Of the United hng'
dom during the term Of his sentence. 10
this proposition he raised the objection that
trans poration for treasOn.lelOny meant con-
tinement and not mere banishment beyond
the sea, and remaining there at large ior the
term Of his sentence. 1t was, therefore, lnl-
pos, Dle to hold that transportation meant
nothing more than mere punishment. Were
they to be asked not TO follow the precedent
on which the House always took the earliest
opportunitv to declare that a felou WHO
had not suffered his punishment should
not be permitted to take bis place
in that House: He would not COM
| ment on the conduct of Mir. Mitchell, but he
ycn,urcd TO quote from a speech OF LORD
palmpr>ton'S, delivered in 1886, when his
Lordshlp, referring 10 Smith OBren, sald
; her Majesty, taking advantage OF the peace
and loyalty OF the kingdom, had been pleased
| to perform an act of grac" and clcmcncy to all
persons sentenced for political offences, with
! the exception OF those unhappy men VINO
had broken all ties of honor and escaped
from their place Of punishment. [Cheers.l
Mr. Disracli: What is the simple issue be.
fore Us: 1t is this: we find that Il convicted
| irlon has been returned TO Parliament, and
we know that he is incapacitatcd from sitting
in Parliament by being a convicted telon.
John Mitchell was tried in 1S4S. and adjudg"d
! gully and sentenced TO fourteen years trans
portutlon. He broke his imprisonment-l
use the correct word-and he has not in any
way by the acknowledged legal and consti-
tu,onal modes recognized in this country,
either by the exercise OF the prerogatiqc of
the Crown or by his own fulfiIment of the
penalties awarded TO him, rehablitated him
self in the position he formerly occupied.
Hear hcar!'l Then we are told that
| it is very true that he has not
filled his penalty, but it has been
accounted for by the circumstance OF his
having given his parole not to quit the place.
He one day breaks his parole and wanGcrs
all over the world with mpunity, and we
are tCld that, therefore, we must call this
circumstance an equivalent to having fulfilled
The penalty. [Cnccr>.l Are we to accept
this proposition and announce here that a
man may take advantage OF his own wrong.
During the debate the opinion OF an absent
member has been given from L letter, TO the
cilcc; that trans sporiaiion for Il term Of Years
means nothing more than allowing an inalri
dual to " travel a: his pleasure. [L1ughtel
But transportation involves arrest. Every
LAWYER and every law-book will tcl YOU that
,r"Hear! hear!"l Transportation is no
mere exile. 1t is carried out under statutes
it involves the necessary discipline CT i'm
ptisunment, however extended may be th
bounds permitted by lericnt Governor
1"lear! hearPl The House of Common
ought 10 decide tbiS question ought to de
cdr with promptitudr. [Cheer>.] deepl.
rrgre, thai we are called upon to decide 1t
b,ll NE have 10 do our duly, and let Us do l
completely. [Appiausr] DO not let Us 81.
thal we realI, 60 not know what our Owl
privileges are; that we must have commit
| tie to examine into The matter Of privilege
we heard about the otner night, and that
! convicted ftlon may come 10 thiS table
although every member Of The House dlSap
proved Of his taalng bis scat, because nc on
I has the courage 10 ask the House OF Com
mons to declare its own law. lCheers.1
| The motion was carried without III
vision, and Il new writ WAS ordered TO be Is
sued for the county Of Tipperary.
IUyG Wing MARRIES 4 CoSNEcrICU:
LADY. Mr.. Iuug Wiug, of Canton, China
chi,j of tur Chinese Educational COmmlS