Star. — London, England, 1820-06-02 00:00:00

oppression—(Hear, hear)—but, as to this numerical argument, this argument in which the feelings of our ancestors, who would have gloried in the number of fugitives which our laws and manners had attracted, were reversed and made reasons for oppression. Was the Noble Lord aware what the average number of Aliens in this country during the last thirty years had been? Not less than 23,000 or 24,000. It was, then, the accidental presence of two or three thou sand foreigners beyond the average in one half-year, to be diminished again after the passing of this Bill, that was to justify the measure--(Hear, hear). — His Learned and Honourable Friend (the Solicitor- General) had said, that the power of expelling Alien friends must belong to the supreme power of a State. He (Sir James Mackintosh) most fully admitted that the power of expelling fOreigners must belong to the supreme power of every State, savage or civilized— Nay, he would go farther, and admit that it was im possible to conceive a sovereign power which had not the power of banishing its own subjects—(Hear).— Yet the Honourable and Learned Gentleman had not thought it beneath his high character to bring for ward such an assertion as apposite. The lion. and Learned Gentleman had quoted from Sir W. Black stone, the only part of the valuable work of that • learned person, into the two or three lines of which falsehood and absurdity were crowded. Sir W. Black stone in that passage began with quoting Puffendorf as an Authority as to the prerogative of the Crown of England, and the Solicitor-General was not ashamed to take this so often exposed and exploded passage. But in this passage the Hon. Gentleman had forgotten to State, that Blackstone asserted, not only that the King had apower to send aliens out of the kingdom, but to send them back to their respective countries— (flear, hear!).—Was there a general right of this ' kind ? Was there 'any authority, or pretext of an authority, for stating that there was any right, not only to eject them from our own country, but to pro long the exercise of sovereignty ever them when they were out of this country; to send them. back to any country, however distant, and to throw them back into the jaws of the persecutors from whom they had sought refuge? The Honourable and Learned Gen tleman had talked also of the great authorities of the present day. These great authorities, however, were :ill parties to the system of the Alien Laws, and they certainly had rested on so rotten a foundation, in part, at least, that a great part of their superstruc me fell to the ground. The only precedents which could be found by these great authorities were in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and they were dug out of the Paper-office so late as 1816. The hill had gone through the Commons, and was urged in the House of Lords with great eloquence ; but towards the end of its stages, those great authorities fuund it neces•ary to set their ngetus at wulk, and these precedents were found. They were two Proclamations issued in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, commanding Scotsmen, who were then aliens (A laugh), to quit the Realm. If Scotsmen were still in the same condition, the House might be content to accept the Bill, in consi deration of the persons on whom it was to be exer cised.; but that at least could not now be done, and whatever mea s ures they might take as to Aliens, they were compelled to endure the presence of Scots meat—(4 laugh). Two years aftet 1818, these Pro clamations were quoted in that /louse, and he (Sir J. Mackintosh) had given what he conceived a suffi cient answer. But there was one more decisive. There was a certain Statute of the 7th Henry VII. authorising the Crown to expel Scotsmen by Pro clamation (Hear, hear), and imposing on those who disobeyed the Proclamation for forty days, forfeiture of their goods, a penalty which would not be thought a heavy one in the case of Scotsmen (A laugh), though it might be, after they had sojourned some time in England ! This Statute was repealed on the accession of James I. with all the Statutes hostile to Scotland. In the reign of tlizabeth it was in full force and ob servance, so that those Proclamations, instead of being a proof that the Crown could exercise such a power without the authority of an &t of Pal iianient, were a proof of directly the contrary fact—(Heer, hear). This doctrine, then, of the power of the Crown caer Aliens, which was now brought forward amidst the light and liberality of the 19th century, was not breathed under the most despotic of the Tudors, and the subservient lawyers and statesmen of Henry VII. had not ventured to assert what the lawyers and statesmen of George VI. now asserted—(Heer, hear). It was sometimes made a matter of complaint that we did not look with sufficient reverence to our ances tors ; he wished modem politicians would not force them so often to look back to their acts with regret. In this Act, even of the time of Henry VII. was con tained not only a recognition that the Crown pos sessed no such power, but forty days were allowed to the foreigners to leave the kingdom—( Hear, hear). What would be said now in favour of the summary power of the present Bill, by which a woman was dragged from her bed, by which foreigners were for bidden to land, when even the Statesmen of Henry VII. allowed so long a time ? He conceived no an swer could possibly be given to the citation of this Statute. The proclamations were issued, the Scots men who remained in defiance of the proclamation were punishable under that Statute, but not other wise, so that there has not an idea that the King at common law had the right to issue the proclamation, or that it was a common law offence to disobey it— (Hear, hear). It was stated, that the reason for the present law was, that the King's Proclamation might not be disobeyed. What was this, then, but an ad mission that we were to become more jealous than the most jealous of English Kings?—(Bear, hear).— lie would now retort a challenge on the challengers. If the King had the power by proclamation to expel Aliens from the country in time of peace, the disobe dience of that proclamation would necessarily be, at common law, indictable. Where, he asked, in five 'hundred years, from the fiat Volume of the Year Books to the present time, was there an instance of any indictment for such an offence ?—(Hear, hear). This was the touchstone of the assumed power, and by this criterion it would be found wanting. He denied that the supreme power of this State was in the King alone, but in the King, Lords, and Commons,— In them was the general exercise of the Sovereign power; the Kin g . only preserved such branches of — it as by immemorial usage had been proved to be vested in him. This was a proposition which he was almost ashamed of stating, for it was only as much as saying, that we lived under a free Government.— Under a limited Monarchy. The Solicitor-General, however, had said, that it was left to the King to conduct all matters with respect to foreigners. This was wrongly stated. It was left to the King to ma nage all the relations of the country with foreign States. But individual foreigners, while in this coun try, had a definite right. They were entitled to Trial by Jury. The law, till this cursed system of Alien Acts was introduced, regulated the conduct of the country towards foreigners. Alien friends were tem porarily subjects of the King; they owed temporary allegiance, and were entitled to temporary protection. Here, then, the analogy failed the Honourable and Learned Gentleman, between the declaration of peace and war and the expulsion of Alien friends. There was no analogy whatever in the case : it was a mere play on the word " foreign," introduced into two pro positions, in which it bore totally different meanings. As to those Aliens who had come into this country during the war Alien Acts, who were thus said to have a clear foresight of the laws to which they were subjecting themselves, he wished to ask whether any one in 1814 would not have considered as a libel upon the country, a prophecy that these laws should have been, continued in time of peace ? They had been declared to be laws justified by extreme danger, and intended to cease with that danger. The Learned Gentleman had borrowed from an eloquent speech of a Right Hon. Friend of his, in 1818, an eulogium on the liberality and generosity of the nation towards foreigners. He (Sir J. Mackintosh) was happy to say that the new-fashioned principles of the Govern ment had not tainted the generosity of the People— that they were liberal and hospitable in spite of the bad example which had been set them ! It had bees said that the people were more wise than some Outs of our laws—they certainly now shewed themselves to pssess more liberality than the policy of their rulers, and more the spirit of the humanity of the age than was found in the measures of Parliament !—(Hear). How little value soever the Solicitor-General might set on the character of this country among the other nations of Europe, or how much he might deride their distrust of our policy, repugnance to this mea sure was undoubtedly universal among the disin terested nations of Europe, and distrust of our policy existed and was spreading to a mischievous extent. It conclusion, the Hon. and Learned Gentleman as serted, that he had never in the whole course of his life given a vote with more of the approbation of his own conscience, than he should now give his vote against the proposition of the Noble Lord in this the very first stage of a Bill, which, he agreed with his Hon. Friend, if now passed, would be continued for ever ; for he put it to the House, whether, if they con sented to the Bill as now proposed, it would not be continued from time to time, until the arrival of that peg icd of general and profound peace which ex isted only in the dreams of some poet, and which had been wed ridiculed by a German philosophea, who placed the motto " Pax perpetua" in a church-yard, to indicate that that was the only spot where eternal peace could ever be realised !—( The Learned Gentle man then sal down amidst the loud and general cheering of both sides of the House). Mr. LAMUTON rose to correct a mistatement of facts. He was not so well acquainted with the dates of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman's (the Solicitor-General's) life as to know whether he was in Parliament or not, in 1818; but he had tither grossly misunderstood, or been grossly misinformed, as to the course he had taken on General Gourgaud's Petition. He (Mr. Lambton) had asked for a Com mittee to inquire into the case, and pledged himself to prove the facts ; the Noble Lord refused the Com mittee, and he (Mr. Lambton), knowing how the House was constituted, had no further step to take. The facts, therefore, rested on the assertion of the Petitioner, and on the contradiction of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman ; and it remained for others to say to which most eight was due. As to the General seizing on pistols when he was assailed, it was per fectly t:ue ; and it was very natural that a person in his situation, attacked by men unknown to him, should have attempted to defend himself. He al lowed tat) that the General had been allowed to seal up hid papers, but the Solicitor-General had omitted to state that the seal was broken ; a fact which had been ascertained on the authority of the Consul at Harr:burgh. As to tile measure before the House, iie most decidedly opposed it, as making this coun try responsible to foreign Governments for the acts of foreigners amongst us, and he alluded to the case of a Gentleman who had been sent out of the coun try at the request of the Government of the Nether lands, respecting whose case he had moved fox papers, which had been refused. Lord CASTLEREAGH briefly replied to some statements which had been made. He stated, that no individual had been seat out of the kingdom at the request of the Government of the Netherlands—that foreign Governments had rather cause to blame our remissness, in suffering acts to be done here by fo reigners, of which they had cause to complain. He had never heard the suggestion, that the Alicia Law had injured us with foreign States, before that night. It was quite new to him. Sweden and the Nether lands had for -a time adopted some regulations re specting the passports of Englishmen, which did not apply to other foreigners; but those regulations had' not been owing to the Alien Bill, but to Cie appre hension those Governments entertained on account of the internal state of England. Mr. LAMBTON stated, that he had, in 1818, moved for the Papers respecting an Alien sent out of the country at the request of the Government of the Netherlands.—Upon a division the numbers were— Ayes i49—Noes 68--Majority 86. On re-admission to the Gallery, Lord CAbTLZILZACH was upon his legs, expressing his intention to move the first reading of the Bill on Monday; but en Mr. Tiessar's suggestion, that a Mo• tion of Lord AxesliasLo Massaro: es stood for that evening, the Noble Lord fixed his Motion for Tuesday. The Noble Lewd observed, that the object of this Bill was merely to continue the Act of the 58th of:George 111. leaving the Scottish Courts, in which the question was pending, to decide how far the rights acquired by foreigners, through the purchase of stock in the Bank of Scotland, conferred the privilege of naturalization. This Bill, then, did not propose to divest any foreigner of the right which he acquired through such purchase previous to that Act ; but it was its object to act prospectively with regard to all ►uch purchases. Sir JAMES MACKINTOSH said, that his objection to the former Statute was, that it proposed to act retrospectively as to the Bank of Scotland; but he did not oppose the proposition for such a law prospectively, because the measure alluded to ap peared to liimA eery inconvenient mode of conferring the privi lege of naturalization upon foreigners.--Loave was given to bring in the Bill. The other Orders of the Day were disposed of, and the Rouse adjourned at nail-past One o'Clock. THE EVENING STAR. LONDON. FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 1820. THE FUNDS. PRICE Of STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONI O'CLOCK I Bank Stock 22334 224% 3 per Cent. Reduced 69 63Y8 69 3 per Cent. Consols 60% Yg 3i per Cent. 77 1 / 2 -4 per Cent. 85Y8 86 1 / 4 86 5 per Cent. 104 1 % % Long Annuities 17 13-16 India Stock 220—Bonds 12s. 14s. pre. Exchequer Bills, 2s. 4s. 2s. pre. Commercial, 4s. ss. pre. Consols for opg. 7 0 54 5 per Cent. Scrip. 1 Ph 1 pre. Very littliptisines: has been done this morning. Consols for the Account commenced at 70!4, at which price they have continued dulling the morning. Five per Cents. 104 1 h %—New Scrip I'/4 1 h prem. No information was received respecting the Loan, but it is expected before the House closes. Nothing can be more irrational than to infer from the unexampled rapidity with which the Loan of Seven Millions was filled upon Wednesday, that the resources of the country are in a state of unexam pled plenitude; yet such is the very position for which we observe some of our contemporaries are, with comfortable stupidity, contending. The truth is, that the event presents one of the most lamentable proofs we can possibly have of the state of almost hopeless ruin, into which every source of real wealth in the country has unhappily fallen. In 1796, a Loan of Eighteen Millions was filled up in fifteen hours and twenty minutes—an event re marked on with wonder at the time; 1820, a Loan of seven millions (and had it been three times as much, the case would have been just the same) was filled up in as many seconds. Need we be at a loss for the cause? In 1796, we were' not quite so far down the hill as we are in 1820, and, like all descending bodies, our velocity has be come increased, the nearer we approach to the set ding point. Whence is it, we would beg to ask, that such an extraordinary competition among capitalists to sup ply the wants of Government, can ever possibly arise ? Is it because more profit is to be obtained from lending money to the State, than from em ploying it in any thriving branch of national industry or improvement? When was this ever the case?— When did any thriving branch of industry or improve ment not produce a vast deal more than any interest that can be obtained from a Government Loan ? The true cause of every such avidity in Capitalists to lend to the Government must be, that they cannot procure even a small profit for their money anywhere else. Trade and Manufactures, and in short every branch of industrious pursuit, must be in so depreerd a condition, from the burdens, restrictions, and de privations with which each is more oppresied than another, as to present at the time no temptation whatever for the investment of capital. A worse predicament for a country to be reduced to, it is dif ficult to imagine ; and we grieve to think that with England it is so much a matter of history as it is. Various interesting topics came before the House of Commons last night, among which the state of the Courts of Judicature in Wales, and the Alien Act, were the must prominent : but the question of the payment of Artificers' Wages Was, perhaps, the most important, from the future consequences which may result from it. Many abuses prevail at present which imperiously call for some remedy. A workman, in numerous instances, after being necessitated to agree for wages inadequate to his sustenance, is compelled to receive a part of that wages in commodities sup plied by his Master! On the general question there seemed to be a feeling in the House that the less Parliament should interfere with this question the better, and that it would be most advisable to re peal entirely all the existing laws on this subject. We greatly doubt, however, whether, if this were proposed, even those who urge the measure, would feel themselves disposed to follow it to all its extent and consequences. Perhaps they would; but till all the points which such a measure would in equity and justice embrace, shall have been distinctly admitted as comprehended by them in their general proposi tion, we cannot know the extent of their meaning. If all restrictions are to be removed, is it meant by this that the laws which now prevent workmen from meeting to regulate their wages, shall be repealed ? ,Is it meant that every impediment which hinders a workman from carrying his talents and industry to the best market, shall be removed ; and that he shall have permission to go to any other country in which he can receive a better remuneration than in this, without any let or hindrance whatever? Masters may meet to regulate wages : Masters and Mer chants may remove their persons and capitals to other countries.—ls it meant in the general proposition, to admit that equity demands that similar rights should be extended to every class in the community? If not, restrictions will still be found to operate with partiality. From the turn the debate took on this question, it seems likely that ultimately a Committee. will be ap pointed to iinuite into the expediency of repealing all restrictive laws respecting artificer; wheeler in such a manner as to embrace the points to which we have alluded, time will shew. We hare meminned these points, in the hope that some of the Men hers will turn their minds to them, in such a manner that it may be made manifest, that in any proposed change the rights of the working classes are kept as fully in view as those of their employes. New York Papers arrived this morning to the 29th April, Boston to the 30th, and Baltimore to the %ch. The following are extracts: NEW YORK, APRIL 20. A rumour prevliled at Washington City, that ad Saturday last, just as the Senate were about adjourn. ing, a Message was received from the Prci,!ent of the United States, in which was inclosed the Treaty with Spain, ratified by the Spanish Government.— The Senate adjourned without making any order on the subject. It was expected to be the first thing acted upon in Senate cn Monday. • WASHINGTON, APRIL , 23. It is rumoured to-day, that the new Spanish Mi nister has addressed a note to the Secretary of State, complaining of the conduct of Mr. Foriyth, to wl.ich he has received no answer ; but he was called it ion by our Government to say, whether he was preparel to act on the subject of the Treaty unless assuranct's were given that our Government would not recf‘gni. the independence of the Patriots? The PresiLteot vela probably communicate something in relation to cur affairs with Spain to-morrow. NAVAL I:;1 LLUGENCE. Yesterday the dispatches for lletv,;11, by the ship beam awt ti, were dosed at the It:lst-India I louse, and delivered to lie Commander. of that ship.—l'assergets per the JAsis.s Ssestto: For Bengal—William Brodie, see.. merchant ; Lieutenai t-Ca lonel Bradshaw and family; Airs. Trower, Misses Dace, A. F. and F. Palmer, Sealy; Colebrooke, and Prer,.. Jc r.. gast • Mrs. M. M:tlnue. The Herefordshire, Holtz, arrived at Batavia on the 41S January, from London and Bombay, and was to sail on tae 1. for China. The Prince of Orange (arrived in the Downs) passed a 5).;7, apparently about sco tons, on the I:sth ult. in lot. 43.9. N. I,: 35. W. bottom upwards. `VESSELS srotaN wrrg.—The Wakefield, Scott, tram' pool to Rio Janeiro, on the 29th of March, in lat. IS. it'. S. lung. 35. SO. W. the Henry Clay, from Plymouth to ILltimore, on the 10th ult. in lat. 41. 51. long. 36. 30. did Barrett, irGra Liverpool to St. Andrew's (N. 13.) .the same day, in lat. :O. long. 35. 36. with her main-topmast sprung; the 11...'0e, 1-. Shields to Aliramichi, on the 12th ult. in lat-45. long. 55. the Maria, Thonnhwaite, from Dublin to Quebec, on the £4th, it lat. 51. 49. long. 15. 50. the Lord Hobart packet, on the 10th of April, in hit. 1. 5. S. long. 23. 30. W. and the liegatia, 'fal len, out 45 days from Jamaica, for London, on the lath, lat. 42. 23. long. 36. 50. FALMOUTH, I%IAY 30. —Wind W.—Arrived the Fox part, with a Mail from Jamaica, in 42 days; and the Atrn, &L»- tan, from Waterford.—Sailed the Enterprize, liosars, for Loa don.—The sloop Flirt, WA REIM, from Ilristot for Port .11101,1 th., with iron, foundered on Staidly last, between Padatow and St. Ive's.—Crew saved. POILTSIIOUTA. JUNE I.—Wind W.S.W.—Arrived his Majesty's brig Caaszt.tow, from a cruize.—Sailed the Baroas.a, Aa - aaators far Londoa.—lt has blown a heavy gale of wital rll day, aid very squally. Dias., Jose I.—Wind West..—Arrived, and remain is the Downs, the Henry Wellesley, Cotr.; Regalia, Taviel ; Lady Hannah Ellis, Uttoortaar ; and the Lonion Timers, terra elatter in 61 days; the Fritnds, Rresuaases, fives Rio Janeiro; and the Sisters, Dostrtrwaitr, from Desnerara.— Came down from the River, the Shipley, blowc.ticr, for New South Wales; and Regent, SCA ILLETT, for Rio Janeiro. Sailed the Commerce, Mawr, for St. Petersburgh. Ramsay; Jima I.—The Maid of the Mill, Rem., from Leo. don to the Westward, lost two anchors and cables in Kingsgate Bay yesterday, and has been supplied from this place with an anchor. _ - . Cowes, .luKs I.—Arrived the Active, Hamm, from Fal mouth, with loss of main and foretop-masts. Sr. Ma 1.e., SCILLY, MAY 30.—N0 vessel has arrived at, or sailed from this place, for the last three weeks. Ltrzatoot., May M.—Arrived the Antelope, Hairrea, from the Havannah ; Bowes, Dovaat., from Trinidad; Falcon, Lawn, from Boston; Neptunus, BaLavas.; and Enigheit, M arv, from Dantric. 0:Imo's-Boom, JUNE I.—Ships Entered Inwards: Emphasis, from Hamburgh; Fame, from Lisbon; Twee Jane. from Worcum ; Two Brothers, from GottenbUrgb ; Sisters, from Stangate Creek; Ferinia, from Dalitzic ; Zealous from ditto; Marquis Wellington, from Madras; and Sophia, from Rouen. —Entered Outwards : Crauford, for Antigua; Release, for Antwerp ; Julie, for Calais • James, for Petersburgh ; Ann, for Hamburgh ; Naiade, for Havre • Betsy, for New York ; and Lord Exmouth, for Malta.—Cleared Outwards : Lively, for New Providence; Albion, for Legborn; Lady Kennavray, for Madras; Standard, for Jamaica; Vriendschap, for Brussels; Hope, for Petersburgh ; Susannah, for Dublin; Traveller, fer Amsterdam; Margaret. for Stettin; Henry, for Genoa; atad Magnet, for ArchangeL His MAJRsrt will go in State to the House of Lords, on Monday next, in order to give the Royal Assent, in person, to the Bills which have been passed by the new Parliament. - Another courier (Mr. Iltraostrues) arrived yes terday morning, from the QUEEN, and had an inter view with Mr. Baeuomitst, at twelve o'clock, in the apartment of the Serjeant at Arms, in the House of Lords. Her MAJESTY reached Villeneuve-sur-Yonne, which is about 60 or 70 miles from Dijon, on Mon day morning, at three - o'clock. He r MAJESTY dis patched a courier from thence with letters to his Royal Highness the Duke of YORK, Lord LiveareoL, and Lord MELVILLE. In her letter to Lord Livra root, her MAJESTY has requested his Lordship to in form her-what residence in England is prepared far her reception • and in her MAJES T Y' S lette r to Lori MELVILLE, s he requests that his Lordship will send a yacht to Dover on Friday next (to-day), to be in readiness to convey her MAJESTY to this country. C• 12411.1 Battersow.—Sixth Day's Poll —Tuesday last; Mr. James, 167-Bir Philip Musgrave, 13. Total state of the Poil Mr. James - . 459 1 Sir Philip Musgrave Disputed - I Disputed - Majority for Mr. aloes - 104. Fns.—About four o'clock this morning a fire broke out in the second floor of the house of Mr. Jones. tailor, No. 14, in Searle's-place, Carey-street. It raged with considerable fur . ; by the speedy arrival of engines, and a good supply of water, the Imes were extinguished, but not before the destruction 01 the haw in 'which they commenced, and partially injuring the two adjoining. Coax-Excuance, Joss 2.—We had hut little fresh Wheat in glace Monday, nor was there much of fine quality at nick •I this morning, yet the trade was very heavy, but not lower 0.7 1 Cu Monday, for superfine samples, although a few sales vr tie made of the inferior descriptiors, at Es. per quarter below that day's prices. Oats are rather cheaper, having bad several car goes in since Wednesday. In Barley there is little tieing, prize , as rt g ;: u sst. In other articles no alteration. Finn Mauer, Jose 2.—Beef, 4s. 6d. to Ss. 4d. re stese•f sib.. ; Mottos, ss. 6d. to 61. 6d. Veal, ss. Od.to 71. va- Pork,ss od. to Es. ad. Lamb,7s. od. to Bs. Od.—Cattle at blarket Beasts 570; Calves,loo; •Sheep and Lambs, 6,300; Pi‘s, EEO. — Hay, SI. 10s. to 41. 4s. Clover, 51. as. to 61 10s. Straw, U. Fs to 11. 14s. :49 I LONDON; Printed and published by Lirist. itswi, POW , * Place, Imple-Dar s. t ; I .a a , IP tl _is w • al I ■ I 1 I