The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-28 00:00:00

SUSPICIOUS FOREIGNERS.

Mr. BENTINCK called the attention of the house to the
necessity, in the present aspect of affairs in Europe, for
conferring on Government more stringent powers for deal-
ing with foreigners of suspicious character resident in this
country. The necessity for dealing with this question had
much increased of late owing to the state of affairs abroad.
It could no longer be considered as a trifling matter, after

the opinions expressed by the highest authority in that house.
The Channel, it should be recollected, was now bridged over
by means of steam, and therefore the most important and
absorbing question for the people of this country at the pre-
sent moment was that of its defences. He believed the subject
to which he was calling attention was as directly connected
with the defences of the country as ships, soldiers, and for-
tifications. There was a general feeling pervading the
country that a descent might be made on this country, and
that being the case, they were bound to consider the ques-
tion of the defences in all its bearings. If such an attempt
were made it might be facilitated by the presence of so many
foreigners within the country, whilst their efforts to repel it
might be paralysed from the same cause. There was no use
in disguising the fact or mystifying themselves on this sub-
ject. It could not be doubted that these defences were made

with a view to protect themselves from an invasion byFrance.
lie did not believe that such an invasion was contemplated
by France, nor did he believe, if attempted, that it would be
successful, but on the contrary that it would terminate in the
destruction of every man who came to invade these shores.
The noble lard, much to his credit, did not disguise the fact
that our defensive preparations were set on foot with a view
to France. Let him therefore suppose that such an invasion
was made, it could not be denied that there were many thou-
sands of foreigners in the country, and especially about Lon-
don, who were not of the very best character—he might say
of the very worst character. Those individuals, for the sake
of some small pecuniary reward, might destroy the electric
wires, or even the railways themselves, which, in the pre-
sent state of the world, were vital to military operations.
He should like to know whether the Home Secretary had
powers to meet such an emergency and to protect the coun-
try from such machinations. Unless the right hon. gentle-
man told him that he had sufficient and ample powers to
deal with such a state of things in a summary manner he
did not believe the country would be satisfied. If a bill was
necessary for this purpose it was downright insanity not to
bring in one.and to pass it immediately. He hoped the right
hon. gentleman would be able to give an assuring answer
to this question.
Sir G. LEWIS said it was only by the indulgence of the
house that he could address it again on the motion for the
adjournment. He differed entirely from the hon. gentleman
on the construction which he put on the speech of his noble
friend.

Mr. OSBORNE rose to order. The right hon. gentleman
was out of order in addressing the house again. (Hear.)
The SPEAKER said that the right hon. gentleman could
address the house again only by permission of the house.
Sir G. LEWIS said be had already intimated that, but if
the house did not object he would answer the question put
to him. (Hear.) He was saying that he entirely differed
from the hon. gentleman as to the meaning and construc-
tion which he put upon the speech of his noble friend a few
nights ago. He did not understand his noble friend as re-
presenting that he entertained any fear of an imminent ix-
vasion of the country from France or any other country.
(Hear.) On the contrary, his argument went to this—
The SPEAKER intimated that the right hon. gentleman
was out of order in referring to the speech of the noble lord.
Sir G. LEWIS would then only say that in a statement
which might have been recently made to that house—
(laughter)—it was not the wish that any impression should
be created that the shores of this country were likely to be
invaded. What ho ut,derstood was that in consequence of
political changes which had taken place since 1815 ; in
_ _ _

consequence of changtm which had taken place in the art of

war ; in consequence of changes in the mode of communica-
tion, we were placed in a position of greater infericrity with
regard to our defences than we were some years ago. That
had no relation to any immediate danger. It was a perma-
next change, which it was proposed to meet by a permanent
system of defence. The question with regard to our de-
fence, as :he understood, was whether we should expend a
greater sum—
Mr. OSBORNE—" Order, order."

Sir G. LEWIS—Then he should proceed only to answer
the question of the hen. gentleman, although it was diffi-
cult to do so without referring to the groundwork on which
he based his question. He would only state that he did
not concur with the hon. gentleman in thinking that we
were exposed to any immediate danger such as his question
contemplated. (Hear, hear.) But if war happened to arise,
it would be competent for the house to entertain the ques-
tion of an Alien Act. In 1815 the Government was armed
with the powers of an Alien Act. Those powers were, he
believed, rarely exercised. His own opinion of the value of
an Alien Act, as a means of defence, was by no means an
exalted one. He did not regard very highly the possession
of such powers as were possessed by the French during the
revolution—the power of apprehending such persons who
were deperibed by Lord Macaulay, in one of his essays, as
tin e
g" persons suspected to be of a suspicious character."
did not know how the Government could deal with
aliens of a suspicious character except by deportation from
this country or imprisonment in this country. He doubted
very much
the bon whether, without much stronger reasons than
gentleman had be disposed to ask, advanced, the Government would
or the Parliament to grant, any increase
to the powers already vested in the hands of the executive.
(Hear, hear.) Re shod
i
not follow the hon. gentleman nto the remarks he meth, a
s to the character of several
foreigners resident in London,
ngaged in the pursuits of industry,liey were mostly persons
ul and were not at all
likely to engage in; such projects as gentleman bad
sketched out. Thiere were no doubt° hon, gentleman
residing here
persons
he could hardly
who might be WWI political refugees
conceive any class less likely to engage in any hostile prac-
tices against the British Government. Irnedreeraithreeasedcireum.
stances he shoul d say the Government w
with the power c dealing with these aliens and fore armedrs
of suspicious cha ratter, and it was not therefore the inteii_
tion of the Gove clement to propose any measure of this sort,
TEI LMINABLE ANNUITIES.
Mr. HUBBA ff..D rose to call the attention of the haute
to the impolicy o f -raising money by loans payable internal-