revising the provisions of the Treaties in this respect, and placing them upon a more satisfactory basis more in accordance with the feelings of humanity, as to have suggested the question, whether even the clearest requirements of the Treaties, when they might involve the consequence of punishing the crime of piracy with death by cutting to pieces (a mode of capital punishment opposed to our feelings of humanity), ought to be complied with. It seems extraordinary that legislation of this kind should be now proposed, especially if we are right in believing that the latest advices from Pekin hold out no prospect of any mitigation, either of the letter or of the practical administration of Chinese law in this respect.
It would, no doubt, be altogether within the discretion of the Governor of Hong Kong to grant or refuse rendition of any pirates to the Chinese authorities; and we take it for granted that the Governor would, in no case, whatever, order any such "rendition" without first receiving a positive assurance that the barbarous mode of punishment above referred to should not be inflicted. His Excellency would...
Page 27
revising the provisions of the
this respect, and placing
Treaties in them ukon a
to
basis more
crime of pracy
which are
da
satisfactory
so this Country - Kurthermne, the of puracy being one of thor, punishable, accessing to Chinese law, by cutting to in prices, ( a mode of capital pernish_ opposed trour feelings of
ment so
the
humanity, astohave
suggested question, whether even the clearect requirements of the if reaties, rohen they might involve this consequence, ought to be complied with, ) it seems extraordinary, that legislation of the
on of this kind should be now proposed : especially if
are right in believing that.
we are
the...
27
the latest advices from Pekin hold out no prospect of any mitigation, either of the letter, or of the practical administration, of Chinese law, in this respect.
criminal
It would, no doubt, ember this Ordinance, be altogether within the discretion of the Governor of of Hong Kong to geant or to refuse renaction of any pirates to the
Chinese authorities; and we take
Governor
it for gearked, that the would, in no case, whatever, order
any
such "rendition" without
forst receiving a positive
surance,
that the barbarous mode of
punichment, above refered to, should not be inflicted. His
not
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