The Sun.
London, England, 1842-09-23 00:00:00

DOCTRINE OF « DISAFFECTION."
We have observed in several instances that the
Magistrates, before whom the rioters have been
lately brought, have seized the oppottunity for cen-
suring severely those who stir up the people to disaf-
fection against the laws. The Anti-Corn-law League
having been directly pointed at by some of those
magisterial censors, we hare a word to say upon the
subject, by way of clearing the mystification intended
by the use of the terms " disaffection to the laws."
We would ask Mr. Foster, the respectable chair-
main of the Salford Court of Sessions, and his brother
Magistrates—do they mean to impugn the conduct of
those who promote disaffection towards bad laws ?
We remember to have seen a female put to death at
Newgate. She was a mother, and her infant child
was torn from her breast as she mounted the scaffold.
Was Sir Samuel Romilly deserving of censure, for
exciting disaffection in the public mind against the de-
moniacal law under which that poor woman, and a
mother too, was judicially murdered, for stealing pro-
perty above the value of five shillings from a inen-
draper's counter ? It is not ten years since our fellow-
Christians were legally bought and sold by British
citizens. Were Clarkson and Wilberforce censurable
because they agitated the public mind to create disaf-
fection towards the law which sanctioned the system
of slavery in our colonies? On the contrary, are not
the above names held in the highest reverence for
having succeeded in creating such an abhorrence of
those bad laws as led to their abolition ? Following
in the path of Romilly and Clarkson, the members of
the Anti Corn-law League are exerting themselves by '
every legal means to spread the disaffection they feel
towards a law which, they believe, limits the supply of
a nation's food, dooms multitudes to a premature grave,
and demoralises great bodies of the industrious popu-
lation. Entertaining this belief, not only are they
justified, not only are they not censurable, for the
course they pursue, but they would be guilty of a
dereliction of their duty as men, as citizens of a free
country, and as Christians, if they did not use every
legitimate effort to create disaffection in the public
peaceful mode of effecting its repeal. We may be told by
as the only practicable and
mind towards the Corn-law,
Mr. Foster and his colleagues, that they do not concur
with us in our view of this law. Be it so. In that case
they are not expected to join us in exciting public
opinion against it. All that is due from them as com-
ponent parts of the electoral body is, to investigate the
nature and operation of the law for the support of
which they are responsible to their country and their
Maker. Ignorance they cannot plead ; our agitation
of the question has deprived of that plea every ra-
tional possessor of the electoral franchise.
In times like the present it is especially important
that Magistrates should strictly confine themselves to
their proper functions of administering the laws, and
not exceed their legitimate duties by interfering with
the rights of citizenship. Despite the opinion of Mr.
Foster and his brother Magistrates, we regard it as
not only the right, but the sacred duty, of all who en-
tertain similar opinions, to use every constitutional
means for disseminating disaffection towards the Corn-
law, as the surest means of procuring its total repeal.
—Anti-Bread Tax Circular.

AMERICAN CITIZENS AND
BRITISH CON V ICTS.
CORRESPONDENCE.
House of Representatives, Aug. 10.
Sir,—We beg leave to address you in behalf of
sundry citizens of the United States held prisoners by
the British Government in its penal colony of Van
Diemen's Land.
It is represented to us that upwards of 100 citizens
of the United States are thus held captive at the pre-
sent moment.
They are chiefly young men of the State of New
York, who, during the late revolutionary movements
in Canada, conceiving that the struggle there was
analogous in principle to the revolutionary war of
their own country, volunteered their services in aid,
as they were induced to suppose, of the people of the
British provinces in arms for independence.
Being taken in arms against the established Go-
vernment of those provinces, and found amenable to
its criminal laws, they were sentenced to the punish-
ment of transportation to Van Diemen's Land.
We have been charged with the presentation to the
House of many memorials, and of the proceedings of
public meetings, seeking the interposition of the Go-
vernment of the United States for the release of these
prisoners.
It seems to us, that the accomplishment of this ob-
ject is one which it would be honourable and just for
the Federal Government to attempt, by application to
that of Great Britain.
Though convicted and sentenced in due form of
law for the acts committed by them, yet the crimes
charged were of a political nature—a class of offences
in regard to which it is common for one Government
to interpose amicably on behalf of its subjects held
captive by another Government.
These individuals, in volunteering to enter Canada,
deemed themselves to be exercising rights of emigra-
tion, and of action in foreign war, appertaining to them
as citizens of the United States ; and it was not until
after many of them had actually been made prisoners
in Canada that they became aware that they were
proceeding in violation of the laws of their own country
as well as those of the British provinces.
They have already been severely punished ; and, for
public effect, their liberation would, it seems to us, be
more useful in preserving the peace of the frontier than
their longer detention.
We cannot but hope, therefore, that the Federal
effi-
ciently
for Government, which has recently:exerted itself so effi-
e release of citizens of the United States
detained in Mexico, may be induced to extend its
parental care to those also who are confined in Van
Diemen's Land.
We think that the present time, when arrangements
are in progress for the removal of so many of the
causes of the differences between the United States
and Great Britain, is an auspicious occasion for soli-
citing from the latter an act of mercy towards the
citizens of the former, thus attesting, in the strongest•
manner, the reciprocal good feeling by which both
Governments are actuated.
We, therefore, would most respectfully submit to
your consideration the propriety and wisdom of imme-
diately applying to the British Government for the
release of these citizens of the United States.
We have the honour to be, very respectfully,
C. CUSHL.NG.
FERNAND 0 WOOD.
CHARLES G. FERRIS.
To the President of the United States.

Department of State, Washington, Aug. 27.
Gentlemen,—The President has referred to me
vour letter to him, of the 10th of this month, asking
for the interposition of the good offices of the Govern-
ment in behalf of sundry citizens of the United States,
now held prisoners at Van Diemen's Land, on con-
viction of offences growing out of the revolutionary
movements in Canada, some years ago ; and has in-
structed me to adopt such course on the subject as
may b
have in view. to promote the object which you
Thee mostconsidleirkaeytlions which you state, Gentlenien,
are undoubtedly such as may justify the exercise of
clemency on the part of the British Government
towards these persons. They have been transported
half round the globe to a penal colony, have already
suffered much and long, and many of them have
friends and connections in the United States, who
Sin their fate. For the purposes of
example,
e,slt deeply
dseem that it would be hardly useful
to continue their punishment longer ; and now the
other questions of difference have been settled, and
that undisturbed peace may be expected along the
borders, their release would be a happy and proper
consequence of the pacific arrangements recently en-
tered into between the two Governments.
I shall communicate your letter, without delay, to
Plenipotentiary and
herspe
Special,
anßritannicd
respectfullylVbj
esty's Ministerderation of your request upon the attention of his
urge him to press the consi-
Government.
And I will
add, Gentlemen, that I entertain the
strongest hope
that this interposition will, at the pre-
sent moment, be effectual, and that these mistaken and
misguided young men will soon be returned to their
I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, with
DANIEL WEBSTER.
great country.
resPeet, your obedient servant,
Hon. C. Cushincr, Fernando Wood,
and Charles G. Ferris.

place opposite the copper STEAM-BOAT COLLISION. Yesterday forenoon,
wharf of Messrs. Sims,
about eleven o'clock, a steam-boat collision took
Williams, and Co., between Southwark and London
Bridges. It appeared that the " Jasmine" London
and Westminster boat, was on her way up the river,
with passengers, and when off the wharf was violently
struck by the ~ Nymph," Woolwich boat, proceeding
down the river, and with the tide. In an instant the
generally
passengers were thrown on the decks, when several
Bankside Waterman put off to their assistance, and,
after a few
minutes, all were placed ashore safely.
Both vessels were considerably damaged.
LANDLORD AND TENANT.
may not be aware that
Div. .
u readersr
Crawford has
given notice that, on an early day next session, he
will move fora Committee to inquire into the condi-
tion of the Irish tenantry, with a view to the legisla-
tive enactment of the fixity of tenure principle. No
Sharman°lv
doubt vast benefit must arise from the labours of such
a Committee, were it only to expose to the indignant
gaze of the world the infamous tyranny of the Irish
landlords as a class. The press—the Liberal press—
if we except some of our ultra Whigs, though bold
and honest, dares not hold up the ruinous system in
the. same satisfactory manner that a Committee, com-
prising a few just and honourable and determined
men would do. We entertain a Onfident hope that
great good will be the result, The state of the Irish
tenant has been too long neglected. --r
unerickßeporter.