The profeeted Church of England a the church was not the sole claimant on the support of the public for religious and other objects; but there was no reason why the system, which had on the whole worked so well for the Ligoted hypocrito promotion of education, should not be extended to supply the and a reclamentable deficiency to which he had referred, or why a considerable sum should not be granted by the State to help those who were willing to help themselves in building churches and other places of worship. lator. The DISCLOSURES IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS RE- IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT. To the Editor of the Morning Advertiser. SIR,--The publication of a report to the House of Commons upon the subject of imprisonment for debt, discloses facts which reflect disgrace upon the British nation. By this report we learn, that in various parts of the country, a number of unfortunate individuals, for no other crime than that of being in debt, have been incarcerated for periods varying from twelve weeks to thirty-three years! Incredible as this statement may appear, I can refer for confirmation to a contemporary of Wednesday last. Among the cases enumerated are the following: An old man, aged 70, has been imprisoned in Chester county Bastiles ne- gaol for the last five years, for a debt of £41 4s. 6d., and costs cessary for to the amount of £17 14s. 8d. the perpe tration of terrible iniquity. Two others, aged 77 and 75, have been confined for the respective sums of £27 and £80. In Devon county gaol, a person whose initials are given as V. B., and who owes £75, has been in prison for the last thirtythree years! J. H., aged 94, has been incarcerated twelve months, at the suit of his own son. In Monmouth county gaol is imprisoned a person aged 86, and who owes £180, plus £100 costs, besides contempt of court. These, it is true, are only a very few cases; yet they are a fair specimen of the whole. They prove, however, that the most infamous tyranny is perpetrated in this country under the name of justice; and against that tyranny it behoves every Englishman most loudly to protest. the Insol The law which gives a hard-hearted creditor the power to Commis consign a poor honest debtor to the dismal cells of a loathsome sioners of prisou dungeon, is a despotic, barbarous, and most inhuman vency law, and a perfect disgrace to the vaunted civilization of the Court, alias nineteenth century. Upwards of a hundred years ago, this unjust statute was vehemently denounced by Dr. Johnson, and the denunciation is as applicable at the present day as it was at that time. Englishmen are much given to boasting about the freedom of their country-that "slaves cannot breathe in England"-that "Britons never shall be slaves," and so forth; yet here are glaring instances of tyranny of which a civilized nation ought to feel truly ashamed. Many of the States of America have erased this infamous law from their statute-books, and for this act they deserve commendation. Let our legislators follow the noble example, and repeal this iniquitous law. It is productive of no good, but of infinite evil. By imprisoning a poor, hardworking, honest tradesman, for debts which he may be unable to pay, his family are generally brought to want-frequently, indeed, to irretrievable ruin. Besides, an ineffaceable stigma is forever cast upon his name. If our legislators are not devoid of every sense of justice-if they are not oblivious to every feeling of pity-if they are not deaf to every cry of suffering humanity, let them repeal this unchristian law. I am Sir, your obedient servant, inquisition. Phillips, and Serj. F. S. Murphy. Liberty and justice in England a mockery. 24th March, 1856. N. R. Y. THE BALLOT IS USEFUL ONLY FOR INWARD THE INDIAN AND QUEEN'S ARMIES. WITHOUT Caring too nicely to inquire whether a club is a private establishment or a public institution, whose affairs may be properly canvassed by the press, we may mention as a fact, in which at least a public principle is involved, that on the 11th Officers in service are and 12th instant, at two ballots taken at the Senior United Service Club, every Company's officer proposed for election was blackballed. Six field officers of the Indian army were on those days rejected—not one was admitted to the club. The subject has been much discussed in military circles during the past fortnight, and very strong opinions have been expressed regarding it, not only by Company's officers, but by many in the service of the Queen. It is rumoured, we know not with what truth, that the active promoters of the opposition are the officers of her Majesty's navy. It may be remembered that in July, the Queen's 1854, out of eleven Company's officers proposed seven were outwardly rejected-among the seven being one who has since, without inwardly fresh service, been appointed an aide-de-camp to the Queen. At cowardly the ballots of 1855, however, not one Company's officer was rejected. The candidates of the present year, therefore, believing that the opposition had ceased, were at little pains to muster their friends. their friends. The result of this feeling of delusive security has been the rejection of the entire batch. All this is to be greatly deplored. Perseverance in such a course must lead in time to the disorganization of the club. The retaliatory process, though by no means to be counselled, is one not easily to be abstained from under such circumstances, and, whatever might be the result, the blame would lie at the doors of those who struck the first blow.-Smith and Elder's Overland Mail. friends, but enemies to wards E. I. Company's officers, their supe riors both in honour and cou rage. Pious (!) the House of Com mons. PIOUSLY MANUFACTURED PETITIONS" go HOW PETITIONS ARE GOT UP. A LIST of petitions against opening the Muscum and other frands upon exhibitions on Sunday, which fills a space of upwards of 100 pages in the report published yesterday, is followed by a very extraordinary petition which, if the fact, as alleged, be true. would far to neutralize the effect of this immense mass of paper. It emanates from Mr. George Jones, of Bristol, builder, and states that certain signatures to the petition from that city against opening the Museum and galleries on Sundays have been obtained from infants of tender age and paupers. Mr. Jones prays the House to prevent such practices for the future. The total number of petitions, as yesterday announced, AN ARISTOCRATIC GOVERNMENT HATED BY THE PEOPLE. amounted to 4,286, and the signatures to 531,065, while the counter-petitions are 106 in number, and signed by 18,548 persons.-Times, 28th February, 1856, 503 THE REASON WHY THE AMERICANS OBJECT TO THE ENGLISH RIGHT TO SEARCH. THE SLAVE TRADE ON THE BRAZILIAN COAST. an Ameriby a Brazi can slaver lian vessel of war. AN American schooner called the Mary Smith attempted to Capture of land a cargo of 320 negroes which she had brought from the coast of Africa, but was taken prisoner by the Brazilian brig of war Olinda, and taken into Bahia. The commander and crew are all Americans, and were immediately after landing ironed and locked up in the gaol of Bahia. The schooner embarked 500 of the poor blacks from the coast; but they were so closely packed on board, totally naked, and so badly fed during the voyage, that 180 died and were thrown overboard, and of those landed at Bahia sixty-four died a few hours afterwards. The survivors were immediately fed and clothed, and will be well taken care of until their ultimate destination is resolved upon.-Illustrated News, 15th March, 1856, AN ARISTOCRATIC GOVERNMENT HATED BY THE PERNICIOUS INFLUENCES IN HIGH PLACES. To the Editor of the Morning Advertiser. SIR,-If ever the ruler of France turn against us it will be owing to the discontent-I fear I might add disaffection-which pervades the country, and because he would thence expect to find the people a ready convert to his schemes of ambition. When a country is filled with hatred of its rulers, when the masses feel that they toil to feed the corruption of those above them that their representatives have lost their influence, that the Ministers, instead of listening to their wrongs, treat their complaints with contempt-when they see that the end and object of Government, in Church and State, are not the welfare and religion of the people, but the aggrandizement and main cracy permitted to heinous offences unpunished. The Aristo- tenance of a few families and favourites-that crime among them passes unpunished, that neglect of duty and incapacity are perpetrato not only overlooked, but covered with rewards, as a means to shelter them from public indignation and disgrace-that the power of the country and the safety of our armies are imperilled for the sake of maintaining the position of a delinquent favourite -it can occasion but small surprise that rumours should abound of the disloyalty and contempt of surrounding nations; and that a Minister, who has not the daring to stake his all, on the removal of such abominations, should be suspected of treachery to the country he has not the courage honestly to serve. Ministers calculate upon a standing army to support arbitrary power. A Minister of Police the fore Countries suffering from the oppression of their rulers have always been a ready prey to the invader. Men are not like cats, content with mere locality; nor are they attached to any class or family of rulers. As Burke remarks, in his fifth volume, "For a man to love his country, his country must be loved." One tyranny differs from another only in degree, and liberty is grateful under any sun, no matter by what hand it is dispensed. People who have nothing to lose are never patriotic; as the natives of India, they pass like sheep from one despot to another, looking to change as the only source of improvement; and whether it were French, German, or Russian, a people like the English, long accustomed to be ruled by foreigners, would not much criticize, in their present temper, the change which brought with it good and responsible government. Our Ministers, looking down from high places, careless of the wishes of the people, calculate upon a standing army, the natural support of arbitrary power-where that is wanting, on a standing police power, radiating from one centre, and controlled by a single Minister. With the latter a blow is aimed at the municipal institutions of the country, the ancient and last waning safeguard of our liberties. Jealous of their superiority, and unable to imitate them in the conduct of their affairs, the Government seek to reduce them to their own level of mismanagement, by taking the direction of their affairs into their own hands. With a Minister of Police comes a system of espionage-our houses invaded by spies-the conclusion, despotism. No wonder runner of a that our Ministers should court the congenial support of despots; the wonder is, that the people should so long bear with them. I am, Sir, yours, &c., subversion by the people. May, 1856. M. L. |