Star.
London, England, 1820-07-11 00:00:00

the slightest doubt should he cast upon the strict inn
partiality of its proceedings upon this most painful
proceeding. That pie,presecutors ought not to have
any t ndue influence over the witnesses in any legal
proceedi .g, was a proposition too simple and obvious.,
to require any illustration. It was 'his. intention,'
therefore, to "move that it be all lastrattion to the
Committee to receive and considef,a clause, exempt'
sag from the operations of this Bill all witnesses, who
might come into this country to be examined as wit-
nesses for or against her Majesty the Queen. It was
c•nremely essential that his Majesty's Ministers, who
yore constitutionally the prosecutors in this case,
~hotit.d ;lot possess the means of refusing her Ma-
ieAy the means of defence, by excluding her witnes-
ses from this country. It was equally necessary that
trey should not possess the means of banishing their
A n witnesses I for although he did not suppose that
-hey would exercise such a power, they would be ena-
%led ti) suppress ail the testimony disagreeable to them.
To remove from the minds of the witnesses all fears
and apprehensionsfroni power which might be exer-
cised, it was necessary to take away that: power from
tne Government. There was still another reason for
this measure. The possibility that calumnies would
hz asserted and spread abroad against the character
of Padiament and the country, rendered it necessary
to remove every pretence for those calumnies, and to
ail .'t this or some similar clause to prevent the exer-
c.; of any undue influence over the witnesses who
-ore to be examined on the one pan or the other.—
Honourable Member proceeded to move his first
C .suss:._" That the Lords of the Privy Council shall
lase to be delivered to the Alien, a general summary
4-i the matters alleged against him, and allow him a
reasonable time to prepare his defence ; and that it
511211 be lawful for the Alien to examine witnesses, and
• J be beard either by himself or Counsel inhis defence."
Lord CASTLEREAGH said, the arguments of
-41.1 e Hon. and Learned Gentleman would perhaps have
t‘ane weight, if the Bill under consideration were pro-
, . -ed to be a per-inane:it measure, but it had never
.2a asked for by his Majesty's Government, bur as a
r.:.!asure applicable to temporary exigencies. The
t; :t clause proposed by the Hon. and Learned Gen-
tleman, was to enable the Privy Council to institute
a judicial inquiry into the cause for which an Alien
.is sent out of the country, and to furnish a sum-
sratement of the circumstances which. might
re.,der him an object of jealousy or suspicion to the
Now, it was obvious that if there was any
:,aed for an Alien Bill at all, cases must often arise
wl-4eh the political reasons which might render it
ex:,dieiit to send an Alien out of the country, could
-1 it be avowed. If the. House were not prepared to
It this measure, it would be better to say so at
titan:to erect -so extraordinary a tribunal as
proposed by the lion. and Learned Gentleman.
A, to the second clause proposed by the Hon. Gen-
t:.:;:-to, to take out of the operation of the Bill all
r-i„;cers who had settled in this country since the
Tear 1514., it was too much to assume that no fo-
n:: J,:ler who had happened to reside here during the
war could possibly be an object' of jealousy to the
S:ae. Foreigners settled in this country in a time
of war might entertain purposes as inimical to the
tranquillity of the country as after a period of peace.
There was no ground of apprehension that his Majes-
ty's Government would exercise the powers given by
this Bill in a spirit of oppression. He could not agree
to the distinction of the Hon. and Learned Gentle-
man, between foreigners who had resided in this
country before or since, Ste could that distinction
furnish any criterion whether they were or were not
objects of suspicion and jealousy to the Stare. The
only just distinction which could be recognised by
the Legislature, was that between foreigners who were
naturalized in this country, and these who owed no
al:egiance in this country. If he had objections to
the two first clauses, his objection to the third-was
infinitely stronger. He could not conceive a more
bail imputation upon the Government of a country,
tan that it should be suspected of exercising its
power to obstruct the purposes of justice. Did the
honourable and Learned Gentleman-believe that his
Majesty's Ministers were capable of throwing ob-
stacles in the way of her Majesty's defence?"(lfear).
!.i.) far was his Majesty's Government from using its
power to obstruct the purposes of justice, that he had
:Lade a tender to the Honourable and Learned Gen-
t:eman who was to conduct her Majesty's defence, to,
exert all his influence abroad for the purpose of
riving every facility to the course of justice. If the
House of Commons were to accede to such a clause,
he was sure it would be felt as a great stain upon the
character of the Government. It was in effect a spe-
cial provision to prevent Government froth commit-
t:a positive crime, which, if Ministers were capa-
ble of committing it, would not only subject them to
the animadversions of the country, but to an im-
peachment by this House. If the Honourable and
Learned Gentleman had directed his attention to cir-
c'imstances which had taken place within these few
he might have found a better ground for ani-
madversion. If he had been really actuated by the
spirit of vindicating the ends of justice and the cha-
racter of :he country, he might have raised his voice
arainst the outrages which had been committed upon
e:tr shores, and which might truly be considered as
a rational disgrace. Whatever feeling might exist
eii.ewliere, be trusted there was no Member of this
House who was.not prepared to raise his voice against
this violation of every principle of hospitality, hu-
manity, and justice. He felt strongly upon this sub-
ject, and he trusted the house would feel as strongly,
and that even the Honourable and Learned Gentle-
man would partake of the indignation which be felt
this occasion.
Mr. SCARLETT felt considerable surprise at the
‘'ery extraordinary speech which he had just heard
r'cna the Noble Lord opposite. For what was the
4it;,inient of it? That the power given to Ministers
by this Bill was so odious, that it was a gross libel,
:nal a wicked calumny upon ;hem, to suppose that.
they could ever employ us-I(f/ear, hear).—Why, if
this argument was to be allowed for a moment, the
'Ministers might in.a short time ask for the suspen-
ou of the Habeat Corpus Act upon a similar princ.i-
Pie—Wear, hear)..--They might say, " For GOD S
sake suspend the Habeas Corpus Acs--for Gob's
3,1;;t:. give Op your right to. Trial by Jury—for GOD'S
s:ike repeal all pairs most valuable laws. The power
v..e shall gain by suck measures will be so odious,
shat it will be a libel upon its tomuppose.that we-shall
aoase it, and therefore you will be in quite. as good
condition as feu are at. present"—(Laughter and,