Star.
London, England, 1818-06-09 00:00:00

ALIEN MILL.

Lord CASTLEREAGII row, and said that it was
necessary for him to call the attention of the House
to the clause introduced into the Alien Bill by the
Lords, and which was objected to by the House as a
violation of its privileges. Whatever difference of
opinion there might exist in the House upon many
branches of the Alien Bill, there conld not be two opi-
nions with respect to the impolicy of naturalizing
subjects in the manner authorized by the Scottish
law in 1695. It could not be in the contemplation cf
any Parliament to suffer the privileges of naturaliza-
tion to be atquired in such a manner; and so strongly
did their feelings operate upon them at all times,
that they thought it necessary to put a restraint on
their powers, an 4 to submit to the uniform operation
of that restraint, whereby they cannot confer natura-
lization on any individual, without exempting him
ilom many privileges annexed to it, except in very
peculiar cases. Nur could it escape the observation
of every rational man, that this Scotch law was ca-
pable of being converted to the most formidable and
dangerous purposes. Whenever a Sovereign of Eng-
land wished to raise an army from foreign countries,
he had but to enable every soldier to undergo the
simple process of purchasing stock in the Bank of
Scotland, and that would be sufficieat to supply him
with arguments enough about the naturalization of
his soldiers. The House would readily see the ex-
treme impolicy of such a law. It further appeared,
that several corporations throughout she kingdom pos-
sessed the power of making any individual a denizen,
independent of Parliament. It could never be the
spirit of the law to admit the existence of such means
of naturalization. It was, therefore, incumbent on
Parliament, without employing itself upon any par-
ticular privilege resident in any body to confer na-
turalization, to look deliberately on the whole law,
and provide one general regulation, upon it. An ob-
jection had been expressed, that sufficient notice
would not he given by the proposed measure to the
several corporations and inctitutions. But no notice
could be more satisfactory than that which informed
them o!'tlie suspension of their privilege for a given
time. And, even if it were necessary, the usual Par.
liamentary delays were quite sufficient. They would,
by this arrangement, have opportunities enough af-
forded to take whatever measures they might have
thought necessary to adopt, if they had obtained any
formal notice. Ile trusted that the House would al-
low the Bill to pass through all its stages with the
least possible interrelation, particularly as it was un-
derstood that foreigners had been coming in crowds
to the Bank of Scotland, in order to become pur.
chasers. He then moved—" That leave be given to
bring in a Mil to prevent aliens from being natura-
lized for a limited time."

Sir.l. MACKINTOSH could have no objection to
the Bill. He did strongly protest against the clause,
whose retrospective operation would have producer'
such a violation of the honour and faith of the
country. That clause, he was happy to say, had
been removed ; and he did Rot hesitate to say, that
the Scottish Act alluded to by the Noble Lord, per-
mitted a species of naturalization both unreasonable
and inconsistent—(hear, hear.) He would repeat,
that he saw no objection to the Bill proposed by the
Noble Lord ; at the same time, he had strong scru-
ples in adopting hastily and iinmaturely any mea-
sure, however specious. And his scruples arose from
observing the manner in which the two Houses of
Parliament had involved themselves on the subject of
.the Alien Bill. It appeared, that atter. the Bill lad
passed many of iis stas.es, they discovered that they
knew nothing of the abuses in Scotland. Nest they
discover, that the introduction of a money amend.
meat by one house was invalid, as being inconsistent
with the privile,tes of the other. And they make
third discovery, that corporate bodies had the power,
under certain conditions, of conferring naturalization.
This, he confessed, was to him an adnicnition to be
cautious in the adoption of every proposed measure :
and, had Parliament only relied on the Noble Lor,
and Honourable Gentlemen opposite, into what a!
surdities would it have been betrayed ? The NotO.
Lord had stated, that when Aliens obtained their na.
turalizarion from the Scotch Parliament under cer•
Lain citctiniAati:ts, they obtained it ..-:ithout any rf