Star.
London, England, 1822-06-06 00:00:00

ject
he found it necessary in the course of his argument
to repeat what had been said before, and to take
grounds which had been pre-occupied, he hoped he
should not be charged with a tedious consumption of
the time of the Rouse. He thought that even his
most determined opponents upon this question would
allow that he was meeting it fairly and legitimately
if he applied himself to the evils, against the danger
of which they were called upon to guard—to the re.
medies for preventing the evils—and to the objections
which bad been urged against those remedies. First
of all then, he would consider the evils against which
they had to guard. He was sensible that he was about
to propose an Alien Bill inn time of peace, and at a
time when peace wau in its seventh year. He wail
fully sensible that they were under relations of amitil
with foreign .nations, and that his Majesty, at the
commencement of the Session, had assured them that
such relations of amity were likely to continue ; yet
whoever should consider the late war in regard to its
peculiar character and length, the principles which
its commencement involved, the change of dynas.
ties which its progress accomplished, and the new in-
terests which had grown up at its termination.:.-who..
-ever considered all these, could not assert the possibi-
lity of the mere signature of a treaty of peace having
restored the affairs of the world to the situation in•
which they were, or of destroyin); the principles
which the war had called into action. Whoever
looked 'into the present condition of Europe, would
seein that quarter of the globe that there had been
great ferment and political agitation. There had
been conspiracies to overthrow established and legiti-
mate Ocivernments, carried on bysecret and organised
associations. There had been also attempts at revo-
lution, which had been put down Sy the arm of power.
He did not mean at the preient moment to pronounce
any opinion upon these transactions, but it was im-
possible that the spirit of those conspiracies and fer-
ment's should not continue to exist. 'l'he consequence'
of such political agitation had been the expatriation
of many individuals, who had fled from their o n
country to this. And, notwithstanding the existence
of the. Alien Bill, he would confidently ask, was
there any one instance iii which refuge had been de-
nied them ? No matter what their character, no
matter what their country, no matter what associa-
dens they had been connected with, in no one single
instance had an asylum been refused them. They
had been met on our shores with a perfect oblivion of
the past. He said this to shew that in no one in-
stance had the hospitality of England, which was
justly its pride, been violated by the powers which an
Alien Adt vested in the hands of Government. A
document which he held in his hand, contained the
names or persons now in this country, who had been
connected with the political movement: to which he
had, alluded ; and there had been no conspiracy or
attempt at revolution in Europe within the last two
yairs, but some of the persons engaged in it were

down in Magna Charta for the treatment of ahc.::s.
Now he had turned to Magna Charta, and of course
expected to find that the ports were open to aliens at
all times and under all circumstances, for their free
entrance and departure. But what was his surprise
to find that this did not apply to all aliens, and that
the clause beginning "mimes tnetcatores" provided
that all merchants who were aliens should be ex-
cluded from participating in this liberality. It con-
cluded in English thus: " If they be Aliens belong-
ing to any country at war against us, and if they be
found in the land at the commencement of the war,
they shall be taken into safe custody, and if ours be
safe there, others shall be safe in our land." New this
did not appear to him to set off Magna Charm to such
particular advantage with regard to its protection to
aliens. What was the conduct of this country at a
modern period of time towards merchants placed in
a similar situation ? What was the case at the peace
of Amiens ? Did our country resort to reprisals after
the seizure of our merchants? He believed that it
was impossible even to contrast the policy of this age
with that of others, unless it could be shewn that cir-
cumstances had not changed with time. But if that
contrast could be made, he had no doubt that it would
always be to the advantage of the present age. Wi:11
respect to Queen Elizabeth, he had no doubt but that
it suited her views to admit foreigners into her domi-
nions: But if it had been her policy to have acted a
different part for the interest of her people, he did
not believe that Magna Charm would have been an
obstacle to.her doing so. That she had no scruples
about the departure of aliens might be pretty easily
conceived from an Order in Council,which authorised
the Bishop of London to write to Alderman Heywood
and Alderman Osborn to this effect—that if thete
were any aliens in the City of London belonging to no
Church and to no congregation, they were presently
to avoid the realm. It was really a matter of surprise
to him when he heard objections to such moderate
discretion being placed in the hands of Government
with respect to aliens, where such extensive powers
were given to them,without objection, to be exercised
towards persons of this country. Upon such occasions
they wanted no precedents from Magna Charta, but
'simply contented themselves with applying a remedy
to correct an evil. To shew that this was the case,
he would net look to any measure proposed from hi;
side of the House, but he would take one of a very
recent date coming from a Gentleman on the other
side, of very high character in the Court to which he
belonged, and who might be taken as a mociel of A
Whig lawyer. He said this with a full conviction uf
its truth, for he believed that Hon. and Learned Gen•
tleman to be a real friend to the constitutional libc.•
ties of the people. He meant the Hon, and jAarneil
Member who lately brought in presieut tilt)
removal of the Poor. Now ns this *Went its %filed
contradiction to the provisions of Magna charts, 142

?WIT
thosconneaepislarier,Wwhq,Fin the present year, although only five months of it
were not with vr -wire 1161bad elapsed, there was an increase in the number of
same to whearilittifes tiveetkilerrelief foot the. -aliens arri•rinwarertbote departing, of 1191.. What
inedreniesellrefinieh be was formerly subjected. he meant to infer from thiftwen, jtkavlue
.41iuo Bill
With :aspect to imialaf parmissiosimMrsy. had not operatadesopcohmt the resort of miens to this
Mat to ace his sister, he 'maid *Piot word of country, wbeie thif had finind.iiri asylum affording
Dr. Colon, which iverei' that- 14' thefint intiniason theta preseation-froor.pramosation.. and even immu-
lie'recitirecTihat Mr, Heat had oeistet tst,p4 bal. tkity floto trim.. '; Willini ilyiP, instance they had
'frown Ike dedionritin of the tioneuriblealWea . Ito; lend iinelevir4Setili• Ash it Psisist be adiesl why
had applied to Mr; Hunt the repletion iirdi ' did they req
with rasp cite females r-but doing so, Wield '
.to such
eh
slightest idea he was Interdicting hist frees. riftrt.l ittliodliti sl ord jsot.pt,otection and ob
Le . h ;4. .., iiii•rt 1., • • . •
his sister." 11. (Mr.. Secretary Feel) could not en- i 3 A . 5y . . -2 skdt come here to dese
taste to givacsildenee to thisetateinent, coming as it crate .
.a`nc ua,Jow 4 h . atlas you refuge ; yc;
did from a Megawatts and a Clergymanoill,belSogit
,shalt nalin
~ t. 6 P. Offiltose conspiracies an.,
layoff trousiisibridoing tithiritigh. ..as 'rid-m:1 7.. r sefailTof . RS'Ajiiiie ' compelled to fly you
0 yew
Mr. bICKENSON complained of theattachatmS -dviii 'dada jr ~51/t... '4 14'bi More unjust towards
as him by the 'Honourable Baronet, whisoot theleast, die‘nOVititrirOfbtfiii Countries than to makethis
notice having woo • of such being his intentibn. nietrnl4llA 1./bOilt 0 cabal and conspiracy against
He bad a faintrecollection that an one occasion he 'them?' . edi ' nOt.pnt this ease opOn mere surmise,
went to look at. a wall which a prisoner had got over, or as sispecolatida'V' the mind, but he stated as a
What he did on that occasion was written down and. Minister or the. &OM!, upon his own responsibility,
left in the jail. If. in that instance he had sanctioned, that he bilierred it tell* true, that if tTie Alien Act
the use of irons, be would appeal to any one in that were not iiiforce, this Metropolis would be the scene
House, except the Honourable Baronet, if they could df cabelssand conspiracies against foreign Powers.
be more properly applied to anyone thin to a prison- As a servant of the Crown therefore, he desired to
breaker ? With respect to the closing of the door, he dike the' responsibility of this Measure upon himself,
stated, that if the well had not been rebuilt, men had rather than shelter himself under the recommenda•
. been employed there at the time when it was or- tion of a Secret Committee. He declared that there
dered to be shut. He objected to the production of had been no coa.ideration of foreign interests in the
the Journal.. . motives which induced him to propose the renewal of
Mr. BROUGHAM, after what had been stated by this Act, mach Jess any foreign interference. It
the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Secretary Peel), that was as Secretary of State for the Home Department
.the Journal could not be produced without prejudice that he came forward to recommend the measure,
ktO the jailer, • who was soon to be put on his trial, and his exclusive inducements were the interests o
thought the motion had been resisted on reasonable his country. He should next come to state the na-
grounds, and was of opinion the Hon. Baronet had cure and extent of the remedy he was about to pro.
better withdraw it. ' pose to meet the evils he had described. The Bill
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL opposed the im- enacted that aliens arriving in this country should
mediate production of the book, as likely to prejudice state their name and rank, and that a penalty should
the case of Mr. Bridle.' attach to masters of vessels bringing persons who
Mr. W. COOPER read a letter exculpatory of Dr. did not conform ,:o such rule. But the most mate-
Colston. . rial enactment was, that his Majesty should be era-
Mr. Alderman WOOD maintained that the defects bled by proclamation, by an Order in Council, or
of the jail had not been remedied, dud' its state had by an instrument bearing the sign manual to order
: been such, that 4,000 prisoners out of 6,000 had been aliens to quit the country. For non-conformity to the
ill. He did not wish the motion to be withdrawn. order they would at first be liable to fine; if they
Mr. DICKENSON stated improvements to have refused afterwards they would incur an imprison-
been made in the jail, and a machine hid lately been ment of 12 months. There were other circumstan.
procured to pump water up from the river. ces which, would subject them to be sent from hence.
Mr. ESTCOURT said, with respect to the state- But if the Alien could shew good grounds for his
' ment that out of 6,000 prisonersconfined at Ilchester delay after receiving the order, he was at liberty to
4,000 had been sick, it-rested on documents Which had appeal to the Privy Council, where, if he could make
been framed for the Quarter Sessions. A new ac- his appeal good, the order of the ecretary of State
i count was made every time, the whole remanent being would be rescinded. He then came to the objections
urged against the Bill. In the first place it was ob-
i carried over, so that one prisoner who should remain
during three Quarter Sessions would in these returns jetted to the measure, that it involved a departure
' count for three. He did not think the production of from the ancient policy and usage of the land, and
; the book would be injurious to Mr. Bridle. It had he was prepared to admit that the first presumption
aw
i been in the possession of Mr. Hunt many days, and was always in favour of abiding by the ancient l
and usage ;but this was always to give way to erner.
if it had contained anything that would make against
▪ the jailer, he did not think it likely that it would have gencies. It was a libel on the Constitution to say
! t escaped him
.(Mr. Hunt). that it laid down an iron formula, yvhich they were
Sir F. BURDETT replied, and after some remarks
necessitated to follow. An Hon. Member had aw.i.
` on the probable effect of the production of the book,
cipated his opposition to the Bill by saying that it
t consented to withdraw his motion. was against the principles laid down in Magna
e The motion was accordingly withdrawn. Charta. It was very much the prevailing custom to
5
refer to former Governments upon questions of policy,
ALIEN BILL.
and to hold them np as examples to the present age.
~ilia
for thee
Secrerenetary PEEL then rose to
wal of the Alien Act. submitAs the sub-
his mo-
This had been done with regard to the reign of Ei-
-3
- jest bad been at various times-before the House, if zabeth, and that of King John had been
spoken of
a, if somemost liberal line of policy had been laid
hp Cnnnil it neretsaro in the conrse of his argument