The Sun. — 1849-10-16 (London, England)

PUBLIC JOURNALS FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY. CHRONICLE.—MarshaI Haynau has much t. answer for—not only to Austria and the house o Hapsburg, but to Europe, whose peace may be fatal]; disturbed, and to the whole civilized world, whit may be indefinitely flung back, by his reckless am wanton disregard of the plainest dictates and corn monest impulses of humanity. When the nee French Republic first rose on the ruins of monarch.) it was naturally regarded with distrust; but ther. was one of its early acts wl.ich conciliated almos universal sympathy. We allude, of course, to th( abolition of the punishment of death for politica offences. We are not discussing the prudence or pro priety of following the example of the French in this or any other country. We could name offences of the most atrocious stamp—involving murder and rapine in their most appalling forms—which would come under the strict and literal definition of political. But surely it is most indiscreet—to use the mildest forte of expression—immediately after so remarkable manifestation of democratic clemency, to associate the cause of order and legitimacy with images of vindictiveness. Let us admit that the late insurrection 'es Hungary was attended by circumstances which demanded and justified severity, and that some of the ringleaders, by the aggravated character of their treason, deserved death. Surely the most sedulous precautions should have been taken, by all the Impe rial officers, both civil and military, to establish, beyond the possibility of a cavil, that justice was to be combined with mercy, and that no unnecessary degradation would form part of the punishments inflicted in the name of the Emperor. We say it with deep regret, but it does appear to us, after making every allowance for dramatic exaggeration in threports, both that the number of executions ordered by Haynau very far exceed the utneest conceivable demands of the emergency, and that the miserable fate of Count Louis Batthyany will excite a thrill of horror, and an irrepressible feeling of indignant sympathy in every quarter of the globe. " Count Louis Batthyany," says the Ost-Deutsche Post, "bad voluntarily surrendered to Prince Windischgratz He was one of the members of the deputation from Pesth that waited upon the Imperial Commander-in Chief, to effect, if possible, a peaceable solution of the struggle against Austria. Since then he remained a prisoner, and his name was scarcely ever mentioned. Suddenly it is upon every lip, and the report is spread that Batthyany is sentenced to die upon the gallows. The effect produced by the report was visible in the countenances of all, and many looked anxiously forward to the morning fixed for the execution; for although the energetic measures of the state of siege set any great demonstration at defiance, still something unusual was expected, either an act of mercy or an act of despair. The morning came, and the dawn broke upon an assembled multitude of many thousands round a gallows erected on the Holz Platz. A rumour suddenly spread through the crowd that Batthyany had attempted suicide in prison. It proved true ; but either the hand of the unhappy man or his energy failed him., Though he gave himsel. various wounds he did not deprive himself of life ; he, however, escaped the rope. Twelve hours later, at nightfall, he was led out and shot. As yet it is a mystery what influence procured the substitution of powder and lead for the rope. Common report says that the wounds in the Count's neck prevented the rope being used. Batthyany, however, walked, it seems, with a firm step to the place of execution, and before he fell, shouted in a clear voice 'Elfen a haza 1' or, long live my country ! A fearful silence pervaded the multitude at this solemn moment. Some ladies, apparently of the highest classes, endeavoured to steep their handkerchiefs is the blood of the dead man, but were driven back by the guards." Ample details will be found in another column, and we may take an early opportunity of returning to the subject; but we could not refrain from at once expressing our deep regret, unfeigned horror, and extreme alarm at such occurrences, which, we entertain a strong hope, will be disavowed.