The Sun. — 1846-09-03 (London, England)

BRAGAN ZAS—vve might for those indubitable reasons find cause for regretting the marriage of the young QUEEN with her cousin. But, considering all the evils which will be avoided and all the inestimable advantages which may be acquired by this connexion, we cannot even here find cause for paramount regrets or serious apprehensions. What noble opportunities will present themselves for the display of a timely beneficence on the part of the Spanish SOVEREIGN ! What opportunities for eliciting the loyalty and ensuring the affection of the Spanish population ! Pope Pius IX. has, by seizing such opportunities, and by corresponding with the exigencies of the time, kindled the enthusiasm of a previously disaffected populace, and excited the admiration of every honest heart in every corner of the globe. All this he has accomplished within the trifling interval of the few months which have now elapsed since his elevation to the Papal chair. As Cardinal MATTE] FERRET' his benevolence, and piety, and gentleness of disposition had already acquired the love and esteem of his associates and neighbours ; as Sovereign Pontiff he has thus rapidly obtained for himself a great and honourable celebrity. And all this simply by acceding to the demands of a liberal and enlightened generation, by evincing justice, and candour, and generosity in his administration of affairs. Such another opportunity for good things will be afforded to QUEEN IS ABELLA by her marriage with her cousin, the Infante Don FRAxcisco ; by availing herself of which opportunity her dominion over a vast and splendid empire might be peacefully consolidated, the well-being of her people might be immediately consulted, and the union of a divided race might prove the most brilliant and satisfactory consequence. Discretion, however, should of course temper leniency, otherwise wrong might result from an extravagant struggle for right. May the councillors of Queen IS ABELLA direct her judiciously at this important juncture of her history ! Such a golden moment may never occur again. An amnesty would be welcomed. Among other paramount circumstances let it not be forgotten that ESPARTERO still continues in banishment.  [An additional express, containing intelligence of the betrothal of the royal couple, has reached us since the above was written. We have now to congratulate ourselves upon the performance of the preliminary ceremony of that marriage, the mere promise of which appeared to us sufficient reason to rejoice.]  The sentence pronounced on HENRY will be perused with the greatest approbation by all, and will go far to prevent the recurrence of a similar attempt, which, considering the morbid passion for creating a sensation that exists amongst our continental neighbours, would be by no means unlikely, if the offender was treated, as a great criminal, and much interest excited in his fate. Contempt, however, is the prominent feeling towards him, and that, coupled with the degrading nature of his punishment, will have a most beneficial effect on persons of a similar class, who might be tempted to act in like manner. Many who would shrink from death at the hour of its approach, would not regard it with the same horror if its arrival was to be delayed for a season, and various forms and ceremonies gone through in the intervening time. As in HENRY'S case, the man who could not screw up his courage so far as to commit suicide, might yet commit an act which would eventually lead to his conviction and execution ; and the knowledge that the punishment for that act would be a protracted one, compelling him to a life of hard and unmitigated labour, would have much greater effect in deterring him from the commission than if it were the extreme one of death. The manner in which the would-be regicide received the announcement of his sentence sufficiently proves that he was surprised and disappointed at its nature. " On hearing it read by the Registrar of the Court," says the Journal des Debats, "he trembled convulsively, and a sudden paleness covered his features, in which intense anxiety was depicted. He appeared to be much shocked. I would have preferred death to infamy, said he. I expected something else." In fact, his hope was that he would be sentenced to death, and that from the mitigated character of his offence, compared with that of LE COMTE and the other miscreants who have sought an infamous notoriety for themselves, at the expense of the wise and benignant Monarch who now sways the sceptre of France, he would have obtained a remission of the extreme penalty, and been detained for life as a state prisoner, with comforts and luxuries, which he from his emLarrassed position would have been unable by other means to procure. He took every precaution to provide evidence to which he might have appealed in the event of the sentence of death being about to be carried into execution ; he carefully prepared a 1 written statement containing an exact recital of all the preparations he had made, to induce a belief that his attempt was serious; this he concealed in a copper tube, plugged at each side with wood, and buried a depth of eighteen inches in the cellar of the house where he resided. There appears little doubt that he calculated that this, which he considered an indisputable proof of the truth of his assertion that there were no projectiles in the pistols, would have saved his life if really in danger. And he now feels bitterly disappointed in finding that his condition, in place of being ameliorated by his act, is far worse:than it was before. His pride would not permit him to work as a journeyman at his trade, although he might have earned a comfortable provision by so doing, and he is compelled to a much severer description of labour, unrelieved by any mitigating circumstances.  The great object to be attained in according, punishment is the prevention of crime on future occasions. Our own beloved SOVEREIGN was exposed to similar attacks. The first offence of OXFORD was speedily followed by that of FRANCIS, and then of BEAN : the latter probably resembled HENRY most closely in his objects and motives. The example was catching; imitators followed in the track of the first criminals, until it was wisely decided that corporal punishment, flogging—the most infamous and disgraceful of all, should be inflicted on any future offender. We are happy to say that from thenceforward we have been spared the pain of recording any similar outrage. GOD knows we are no advocates for the lash. Our country has too long permitted its use in both the branches of the service. ,  It should only be used on criminals of the deepest depravity, of the most infamous class ; but we cordially approve of its use in such cases. We should have no objection to its application on such offenders as