The Sun. — 1863-06-10 (London, England)

JOHNSTONE—that General being notoriously engaged in gathering reinforcements together at Canton or thereabouts with a view (if he can only contrive to do it in time) to raise the siege of Vicksburg !  Last night the " Security from Violence Bill" was read a second time in the. House of Lords. Lord CARNARVON moved the second reading. This noble lord has before distinguished himself on the subject of prison discipline, and through his exertions has brought the case before the public very fully. He explained the purport of his measure as very simple and very short. He proceeded briefly to answer the objections which he knew many persons entertained to the proposal. In the first place, it was said that to award a particular punishment for a particular offence was special legislation. Now, he argued that it might be desirable to put a number of offences in one category, but that it was seldom practicable. On the contrary, said his lordship, it has been very much the genius of English legislation to deal with each particular case and suggest the most suitable remedy. It was a universally acknowledged fact that crime had increased during the last few years, especially had offences augmented in attacks on the person which were known as " garotting." Last autumn this crime was committed to a frightfulextent, and though some said there was exaggeration in these statements, yet the great number of convictions proved that there was good ground for alarm. It was true that there was a large decrease now, but that might be mainly attributable to the summer season, which did not offer such facilities for the commission of the offence. Finally, Lord CARNARVON said that he objected to what might be termed "panic legislation." But it was precisely to prevent that undesirable result that he wished their lordships now to dispose of the affair. There was great force in this suggestion of Lord CARNARTON'S, for if nothing is done this session, in all probability there will be a renewal of the disgraceful scenes of last autumn, and then there will be so much indignation felt in some quarters, and so much terror exhibited ire others, that it will end in a panic requiring the Legislature at last to interfere. In pursuance of the nature of this offence his lordship said that it was well known that the perpetrators of the crime of " garotting " were generally those who had often before been convicted, and he added these appropriate remarks on the perversion of justice that has so often taken place of late years. "And where such violence has been used as is calculated to result in murder we must rot draw too nice a distinction if an intent to murder has been frustrated by some Providential interposition or some fortunate accident. I must say that Parliament has to thank itself in a great degree for this state of things. Unfortunately it has been for some years the study of Parliament to mitigate every rigour of the law, to cut down punishments, to abate the severity of sentences, and even when they are pronounced, to modify them very considerably. I think this course of legislation has contributed materially to give rise to a special case; and as we have such a case to deal with we ought not to hesitate to apply a special remedy." 1 This was a well-deserved reproof to those who are scandalised at the idea of exercising severity towards prisoners, but who at the same time persist in frustrating the objects of all old established forms of punishment. They deprecate the introduction of new measures, while they virtually annul the effect of the old ones. In support of the proposal for the infliction of corporal punishment Lord CARNARVON alluded to the efficacy of the system in putting a stop to the attempts at violence on the person of her