The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-26 00:00:00

EXPULSION OF TRE REFUGEES FROM

JERSEY.

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The Jersey Weekly Times contains a report of a discus-
sion which took place on Monday last in the States, or
Legislative Assembly of that island, upon the subject of
the recent expulsion of the foreign refugees. Judge de
Quetteville denied the right of the Lieutenant-Governor
to expel strangers from the island, and gave notice of re-
solutions on the subject. These resolutions are to the
effect that the order of the King in Council, dated the
12th of Juno, 1635, investing the Lieutenant-Governor
with unlimited authority, is contrary to the charters of
this country, and is Lot in harmony with the present
age, aria therefore the States have decided to pray her
Majesty to repeal the order and to substitute the follow-
ing regulation :—"For the future, no stranger residing
in this island shall be expelled by an order of the Lieut.-
Governor, unless the latter shall have had, previously,
a conference with the Royal Court and obtained its con-
sent to that effect. The Royal Court, previous to com-
ing to a decision, shall have, if it deems it necessary,
the right of ordering the appearance of the person
about to be expelled, and to hear witnesses on the
fact of which he may be accused." Mr. Godfray hav-
ing put some questions to the constable cf St. Helier,
M. Le Quesne, which the latter declined to answer,
denied that the resolutions passed at the Queen's
Assembly Rooms were agreed to unanimously, and
said that the second resolution was negatived by a ma-
jority, and that his amendment was carried, and it was
pot only his opinion, but that of Dr. Dickson and many
others. Dr. Dickson, as well as himself ar.d the majority,
were hir having the authors of the le!ter, or the pro-
prietors of L'llomme, brought before the Royal Court—
the only legal way they could have been punished.
Mr. GoJfray proceeded to contend that the liberties of
the island were in jeopardy by the recent acts of the
Lientertani-Governor, who pretended to have the right
of expulsion by an old law of 1635, made in the Star
Chnniher. That law was never made for aliens, but ex-
pressly for the nobles and others living iu London ex-
pelled by that most iniquitous chamber under the insti-
gation of Charles I. The King, fearing lest they should
ergal&e a Parliament, batiisbed them from London, and
as nanny hail already resorted to the island, be emanated
this order of 1635 to expel them from our shores. M.
Le Quesue denied that Mr. Godfray's amendment was
carried. M. Le Quesne proceeded to say, "My opinion
is that the majority was for the resolution. We all know
that the refugees insulted us. Have they not carried their
red flag in our streets ? It is not my duty to examine if
the power of expelling rests with the Lieutenant-Go-
vernor, and he has only complied with the request of
the inhabitants if he has so used it. Tt4.ee of them were
not satisfied with banishment, but 36 others must needs
sign a declaration which sets at defiance the authorities.
We have only acted in this affair as loyal subjects ; and,
hnd we brought the offenders before the Court, it would
only have been acting a comedy which would never have
had an end. I reret the Lieutenant-Governor thought
that such power resided in him. lam aware the Court
would never have finished the affair had it been brought
before it." It was arranged that M. de Quetteville's re-
solutions should be discussed at the next meeting.