The Miner and Workman's Advocate. — 1864-03-12 (London, England)

PENAL SERVITUDE ACTS AMENDMENT BILL—On the order for the second reading of this bill, Mr. ADDERLEY • moved to defer the second reading for six months. He had, he observed, a bill before the House for consolidating the law upon this subject, which could not be effected by amending this bill. The Acts of 1853 and 1857 were, he said, examples of slovenly legislation, and the present bill, which sought to modify the law established, did not get rid of its bad qualities. Penal punishment was useful 2.12 its own way, if it was made a real punishment, but he condemned the principle of holding out the hope of a re• mission of punishment, which made sentences uncertain. It was with diffidence, he added, that he opposed his opinion to that of Sir G. Grey; but his convictions upon this question were strong The amendment was seconded by Mr BEACH, who remarked that, under the present system, which caused a vast expenditure, there had been a great increase of crime: but he thought that the measure before the House was not adequate to the occasion Mr. G. HARDY, though he considered that the bill might be amended with great advantage, approved its principle, dissenting from the theory of Mr. Adderley, some of whose objections to the bill he -examined and discussed, especially the objection to remission of punishment. He justified the supervision of• criminals, liberated upon -licence under the provisions contained in the bill. He wished the minimum of punishment had been seven Nears instead of five, as proposed by the bill, and he rematked that some amendment was wanted in the sentences passed by judges for atrocious crimes. He thought that as We had. no punishment between death and penal servitude, in all cases of murder where the capital punishment was remitting the commuted sentence should be a civil death. The O'CoNon DON defended the system of remitted portions of sentences, the conditions of the remission being a punishment, and sometimes a severe one. He denied that the system introduced an dement of uncertainty, while it was the only safe mode of working upon the feelings of criminals. He also denied that there was anything un-English or of the nature of foreign espionage in the supervision of convicts liberated under the sys,tem; appealing to the effect of such supervision in Ireland, where it had worked well. Sir W. MILES, after remarking that this subject could not be satisfactorily discussed apart from the subjects of prison discipline, diet, hard labour, and-prison rules, cited opinions as to the effects of penal servitude with regard to the country at lam and on the prisoners themselves. As at present carried ° out, penal servitude, he said, had no terrors, and he mentioned particular cases in proof of this assertion Sir. G. GREY observed that as no serious opposition was offered to the second reading of the bill, most of the objections were such as might be considered in the Committee. As he had stated when he introduced the bill, it was framed in accordance with the recommendations of the Commission, and he went over its main provisions, replying to some of the objections urged in the course of the debate. He noticed the difference of opinion existing between Mr. Adderley, who moved the-rejection of the bill, and Mr. Beach, who seconded that motion,. as well as the cases referred to by Mr. W. Miles. With regard to the diet of prisoners, a committee had been appointed, who were carefully investigating the dietaries in prisons The discussion was continued by Mr. WATERHOUSE and Mr. MOOR, and the amendment being withdrawn, the bill was read a second time. MiscEr.r.ANEous.—The report of the Committee of Supply was brought up and agreed to The Enclosure Bill- passed the Connnittee On the order for going into Committee on the Government Annuities Bill, a discussion arose as to whether the Coinmittee should be postponed, which extended to the merits of the bill :Ultimately the debate was adjourned The remaining business was disposed'of, and the House adjourned at five minutes to one o'clock.  _