The Sun. — 1859-02-17 (London, England)

CHAS. PUGH, Chief Clerk. FREDERICK WHINNEY, 5, Serle-street, Lincoln'sinn, Official Manager. POOLE, JOHNSON, and KINCAID, 9, New-square, Lincoln's-inn, Solicitors.  controlled, the Governor-General is of opinion that such acts should be pardoned.  "12. The same rule does not apply to a case in which similar acts were committed in a quiet part of the country, but where the civil power had become indirectly weakened by the rebellion. The Governor-General does not think that in such a case the suit could be rejected; but the magistrates should do all in their power to bring about an accommodation without process of law.  " 13. The fourth question regards the property of those who, coming within the amnesty, may ,submit before the Ist of January, in cases in which the first steps towards confiscation shall already have been taken. "The Governor-General is of opinion that there can be no doubt that the person thus submitting himself, and not being in the excepted classes, will save his property. " 14. Where confiscation has taken place, the seventh paragraph of the enclosure of my letter, No. 4,444, dated the Bth ult., prescribes cases in which the sentence should be reconsidered. The Governor-General is of opinion that the proclamation does not entitle an owner to restitution after actual adjudication ; but his Excellency thinks that it will be in the spirit of the proclamation that, in the cases described in the paragraph just referred to, the sentence should be reconsidered. If the property has not only been confiscated, but awarded to others, or disposed of, reconsideration cannot take place. •  " 16. The fifth question relates to the fining of village communities for offences committed during the rebellion. Does the amnesty condone those offences ? "The Governor-General is of opinion that no fines should be imposed where the inhabitants have returned to their homes and peaceful pursuits ; and his Excellency is averse from imposing such fines even where murder of British subjects shall have been committed in a Village, the individual perpetrators being unknown. The GovernorGeneral considers that it is contrary to the spirit of the amnesty that the innocent should suffer for the guilty wherever this can be avoided ; and it could scarcely be assumed, in any case with which his lordship is acquainted, that all were guilty.  " 16. But the Governor-General thinks that it is quite just and reasonable that a village or town should be required to restore public buildings which were destroyed by the inhabitants, and that a fine should be levied from them for this purpose. This would be not so much a penal fine as a bare restitution; and it is more fair, in his lordship's opinion, that those buildings should be restored by thb particular community which bore the chief part in destroying them, and which now needs them again, than that the expense should fall upon the country at large. The GovernorGeneral has already authorised the levying of fines in such cases in Oudo.  " 17. The sixth question relates to mutineers or rebels in custody, or whose trials are pending. Is the amnesty to apply to them ? " This question is answered by paragraph 5 of the enclosure to my letter, No. 4,444, dated the 14th ult, according to which the benefit of the amnesty is extended to those who, not being of the excepted classes, are now in our hands, although this may not be due to any submission or surrender on their part. The only condition prescribed is that such persons shall consent to return, and shall, in fact, return to their homes and peaceful pursuits. " 18. In regard to rebels and mutineers already convicted and undergoing sentence, the Governor-General has no doubt that the amnesty does not extend to them ; but his lordship desires me to take this opportunity to express his conviction that, both in policy and in justice, a revision of many of the sentences under which men have been transported and imprisoned will be necessary. His Excellency thinks, however, that this measure should not be undertaken at the present time. For the moment we have enough to do to watch the results of the pardon given to those who are unconvicted, and of the disbandment of the disarmed regiments. Any considerable remission or relaxation of sentences legally passed should be reserved till the districts still disturbed have been reclaimed to ordor. • " I have, &c., "G. F. EDMONST ONE, " Secretary to the Government of India, with the Governor-General. (True copy.) "J. J. THORPE, Superintendent."