The Express.
London, England, 1863-03-28 00:00:00

PILUSBLk.

Mr. D. GRIFFITH asked the First Lord of the Treasury
for iuturroation respecting the alleged memo of the Russian
troops through Prussian territory, in order to attack the
Polish insurmte ; and also respecting the alleged wound-
ing and robbery of a British subject, Ludwig Finkenston,
bearing a British paasport, by the Russian soldiery.
Mr. LAYARD said that with regard to the capture of the
Peterhoff, the facts had been submitted to her Majesty's
government, but they were the ex parts statement of the
owners. He did not mean to call in qusstioe the accuracy
of the facts, but the house would agree with him that the
government could take no immediate action upon a state.
meet of that nature. The facia had been submitted to the
law officers of the crown for their opinion, and when that
opinion was known such representations as to her Majesty's
government might seem desirable would be made to the
government of the United States. He did cot know what
other course the bon. member for Horsham would have
the gneernment pursue. The hnn. gentleman we. mieteken
in supposing that any arrangement had been come to between
the two governments as to the rights of American cruisers.
What took place was this—an arrangement was made by
the Americus government with regard to their own cruisers.
We stroogly objected to the proceedings of their cruisers,
and in consequence, he believed, of our objection the Ame-
rican government issued new orders, which were considered
sansfactory, mid an improvement on the arrangements
which previously existed. As regarded the question of the
hon. member for Devine (Mr. D. Griffith), hie sources of in-
formation were so inexhaustible in foreign newspapers that
be (Mr. Loynd) was unable to keep pace with him. As to
the Prussian troops having crossed the frontier, he bad no
official information on the subject.
Mr. 1). GRIFFITH—The Afoniteur.

Mr. LAYARI) said he was not answerable for every
article appearing in the Moniteur, but he had seen a dia-
°llama so that paper of the fact of the Prussian troops
having crossed the frontier. As regarded the as of
wounding a British subject by the Russians the government
had information, and a more disgraceful and cruel attack
he never knew. glair, hear.) It appeared that
Fiukcoston, desiring to embark in a speculatift in corn,
Grossed from Cracow into a part of Poland, and whilst doing
so • Polish lady liaised him Wallow her to accompany bim,
to which request he acceded. In crossing the frontier he
wee stopped by the Bastian guard, who examined his pass-
port, cad he was allowed to proceed with the lady. When
some distance from the frontier they fell in with a party of
Russian troops, and were detained daring the night. On the
following morning, in company with a party of insurgent'
who had been recently captured, they were told that they
mast be sent to the general in charge of the district. They
were furnished with a guard, and on the way to head-
quarters a body of insurgents was seen in the distance, and
bring commenced. The guard thereupon murdered all the
captives at the cart wheel, and then dragged the lady from
the cart, and indicted on her several bayonet wounds. They
then seized Mr. Finkeneton and bayoneted him, inflicting
several wounds, and left him for dead. He must say
that the cabers commanding the troops did their
hest to prevent this outrage, but were unable
to do so. Whilst If r. Finkeoston was lying on the ground,
hews' found by the Polish General Langiewift, who treated
him with great kindness, and removed him to Cracow,
where he was plead m as hotel. The consul, then, seat
to our ambassador (Lord Blomfield) who had the statement
of Mr. Einktioston taken down,and that was the state-
ment that be (Mr. Lewd) now ade to the house. Bar
Majesty's government had mint out orders for an inquiry to
be made into the whole owe. There was some doubt as
to whether Mr. Finkenstoa was a British subject, but if
he were, he (the boa. gentleman) hoped, as IN believed,
that justice would be done and full reparation obtained for
the outrage. (Haft)

Ind PALM:FAST& rose sod said—Sir, with regard to
the gaieties put to so* by the hon. member for the King's
Comity (Mr. Haney) with respect to Poland, I em
afraid I tea add very little to what I stand to him on •
former omens. I told him then that her Majesty's
goverment had made a communication to the goverment
of Russia os the subject of Poland, very much to the same
effect is the opinions which I stated to the house when that
question came under our consideration, and that we wen
in connunicatioo with the government of Freon for the
porno of joint action in the matter—(hear, hear)—that
action of course being, as the hon. geutlernan said,
of • diplomatic character, for I am sure the house
:in general would not urge say otter method
of actin. (Hear, hear.) We are also in communication
with other governments who are parties to the treaty of
Vienna for the purpose of ascertaining whether they would
be disposed to support the repreasetatioas we have made.
I thin it would he inexpedient for me to gusto details and
make szplanatioos as to say particular onmaniernion but
I tope that after Easter mitten will be is such a state
' that we shall be enabled to lay before parliament papers
shoots' what has pared and is paring; aid we hope and
trust that what has wand and will pass will be deemed
satisfactory be the hone. (Hear, hear.) A much more
important question has bees raised by the hoe, meaner for
Bradford, and I cannot but express some regret at the ton
of his remarks, and still more at the tone taken by the hon. ,
member for Birmingham. There is no conceal* the fact that
whammy ens political party, whether in or out of Alen in
the United States finds itself in difficulties it seism •ay
against England—(hear, beer)—sa a method of westing
what is called, in Andean lozenge, political capital. ,
(Hear, bear.) That is • dune which we must very deeply
mot: 8o lon as it ice simply confined to their owe inter-
nal affairs we can ally hope that, it being rather • dan-
gerous game, it will not be caned further than they intend.
When a government, or • large party, excite the passions of
one nation semi another without lust caress, it ham agent
tendency is endanger friendly relations between the two
countries. We understand the object, an do sot feel the
irritation which we might under other circumstances. But
if that on is raised for tie purpose of driving the govern-
meat of this country to take some causes which may be
ocotrary to the law and dignity of England, in the way of
altering our laws for the purpose of pleasing soother
couotry, all I cam my is that suoh • course
is ad likely to accomplish its object. (Hear,
hoar.) I rgrat, therefore, that the speeches of the
hes. nasethein for Bradford and Birmingham were calcu-
lated to escourage that imtation which I think totally un-
found on the pert of the Americans. I should have
hoped that 'Gunmen bringing this question before the
house would rather have tried to allay that irritation, in-
stead of eninvourieg to make out that the Aniericens had
jest cause of complaint against Negle.nd and the English
goverunieut. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the cause of
complaint, my hon. and learned friend the Solicitor-General,
in that adnumble speech to which we have all tinned
with the greatest delight—(cheers),—dernonstrated indis-
putably that the Americans have no cause of complaint.
(Hear, bear.) Ile has shown that the British government
have done, upon representations made to them by the
American minister here, everything which the law of the
country enabled them to do, and although I can very easily
understand that in the tin ted States. where, owing to
the great irritation sod the animation produced by
the civil war now raging, men's minds have bees led to
forget in a great degree the oldigations of law, and the
course of practice has been to set it aside—l can under-
stand they may sot give that weight to the arguments that
we nee, that we onset go beyond what the law prescribes
and antboriess. Yet, I think the boom will en that
my hoe. and learned friend ham shown that, in regard to
the Foreign Enlistment Act, we have nos everything
which the law allows and enables us to do. Hoe. patio.
men have argued u if the seizure of • vessel we equiva-
lent to ita condemnation. They my, " Why did you not
seise the Alabama—you were told she was known or be.
listed to be intended fur warlike purpose on the part ag
the Confederates!" But, in the first plan you cannot
seize a vessel %ludo. the Foreign Eolistniest Act unless you I
have evidence on oath authorising a just suspicion. (Hear, I
hear.) Well, the American minister came to us and said,
" I tell you this and that." He is asked if be will pro-
duce evidence on oath, and he says, " No, this
information is gives confidentially, but you are to act on
ray assertion and my suspicions, which I maintain are well
founded." But what would have happened if we had
seised this vessel unjustly sod without good pounds ?There I
is • proper of law to follow—(bear, hear)—and the I
government would be condemned in heavy oasts and
damages. And why are we to widened' an illegal course
of this kind simply tolplease the agent of • forage eoustry
(Hear, ban) Bo far as Mere was any fault, it was OD the
part of time who called upon us to set, bat would sot give
us the e'ridesee on which we could set. (Hear, hear.)
lam ice peas doubt myself winner if we had seised the
Alabama we should ern have been liable to costs and
damages. It was geoerally keen elm sailed from this
nutty without arms, sad she obtained them and her crew
in • foreign port and therefore the probability is that
whatever the sapiens were, the =edition in which she
was at that time would sot have justified me
is proceeding to take her from her owns's. (Hear, hear.)
IMa mom the house that her Majesty's government have
se indieneitios to enforce the conditions of the Foreign
Unitised Ad whenever • case mg occur. The has. .
member for Birmingham repeoachis wit with (inhibiting a
cold sed nofrieodly neutrality. I do sot know whet no
manioc d these word, may be. They anger o iavelvs •
contradiction in thenisslne—(bear. hear)—because e "n-
-trality that is warm and friendly to one party must certainly
to
be seenthin very differest towards the other—(=r)—
ad rest semen be that winch ice nameis