The Miner and Workman's Advocate. — 1864-05-07 (London, England)

CAPITAL PIINISIIMENT.—Mr. EWART moved for a Select Committee to inquire into the expediency of maintaining the punishment of death. The hon. gPatlemau at some length argued against capital fpunishment as futile, unnecessary, and—as carried out in this country—demoralising and degrading, instead of holding out salutary and deterring warning Mr. DENMAW seconded the motion Lord H. LENNOX commented unfavourably upon the manner in which the Secretary of State fel the Home Department had exercised the royal prerogative in the case of Wright, Townley, and Jessie Al 'Lachlan He was himself in favour of capital punishment, but aftet these contradictory cases it was impossible to resist the demand for an inquiry; and he would therefore move, ai an amendment, that a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the operation of the laws relating to capita: punishment Mr. MITFORD seconded the amendment. Mr. NEITE thought the inquiry ought to take a widet scope, and suggested that it would be better to have a Royal Commission...... Sir G. GREY said that of late years the penalty of death had practically been attached only to the crime of murder, and he could only say the Government was of opinion that the question was not a Et one to refer to a Select Committee, for it was one that could only be decided after a most deliberate and solemn consideration by the House itself. It was a question affecting the most important interests of society, and the House would never consent to be bound by the opinion of fifteen gentlemen sittingupstiiirs, however eminent and weighty their authority might be. For his own part he believed it was expedient to retain capital punishment for murder. They would remove one of the chief safeguards of human life, and increase the number of murders, if they did away with the deterring effect and apprehension which capital punishment exercised. If Mr. Ewart and Lord H. Lennox would withdraw the motion and the amendment,. he would accept the suggestion of Mr. Neate for a Royal Commission ,to inquire into the manner in which the sentences of capital punishment were carried out, and especially as to the manner in which the royal prerogative is now exercised, on the sole responsibility of tho Home Secretary. Whilst he could not agree to a Select Committee to inquire into the expediency of capital punishment, he thought that the other Dart of the question might be most advantageousl, investigated Mr. BRIGHT' denounced capital punishment, observing that this country had always been, and still was, the most barbarous of all civilised and Christian nations in its mode of capital punishment After some observations from Mr. Newdegate, Mr. Roebuck; and Sis J. Walsh in opposition to the motion, and in support el it by Mr. Gilpin and Mr. Lockie, the motion, and also an amendment by Lord Lennox, were withdrawn, and Mr. Neate's proposal for an address to -the Crown for a Roya; Commission to inquire into the provisions and position 01 the law under which the punishment of death was noss inflicted in the United Kingdom, and the manner in which the sentence is carried out, was agreed to.