The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-01
ENGLAND,

ENGLAND
LORD JOHN RUSSELL ON FRENCH AFFAIRS.
We note the following in late Parliamentary
proceedings:
Lord John Russell, at the close of his expla-
nation of the cause of Lord Palmerston's re.
signation, entered upon continental affairs, and,
in reference TO France, declared his own opin-
ion, that though it was not for England to act
as Austria and Russia had done inregard to the
President, still he had no hesitation in saving
that, no doubt, the President had acted from the
best sources of information, and had done what,
from his knowledge of the question, he thought
best for France. Murmurs and some slight
laughter, upon which Lord John Russell re.
peated the sentence He proceeded to con-
denim the severe language the English press
had used against Louis Napoleon and reminded
the House that such language by the press of
former days had goaded the first consul into
war; but he thought this was not probable on
that occasion, because the President of France
we'll understands that the press Of England did
not necessarily convey the feelings of the gov.
eminent or Of the nation. He was opposed to
alarmist doctrine, and did rot believe that two
of the greatest nations of the earth were going
to butcher one another. Abiding to the hospi-
tality we had for so many years shown to refr-
gees of every nation, he trusted we should
never forget this obligation, but he hoped we
should remember IL without ncensing other m.
tions, or increasing our own ornaments His
lordship concluded with an euogy on peace, and
the expression of belief that out of all the
troublous events of the day, political liberty
would be at last established.
FOREIGN REFUGEES IN ENGLAND.-The fol-
lowing circular, despatched from Earl Gran
vile to Her Majesty's minister at Vienna and
st. Petersburg and Her Majestys charge DAT
fairs at Paris and Frank fort" has Just been pre-.
sented, with other papers on the same subject,
to both houses Of Parliament:
FOREIGN OFFICE, Jan. 49,
My Lord (Sir)-Repres entatons have been
made to Her Majesty's government on the part
of several European governments, through their
representatives at this court, on the subject of
the proceedings offoreign refugees now residing
in England; and 1t has been urgently demanded
that immediate and effective steps should be
taken by Her Majesty's government to put a
stop to those intrgues and conspiracies against
the governments of various European powers,
10 which foreign refugees now in England are
asserted to be engaged.
BY the existing law Of Great Britain all for.
egners have the unrestricted right of entrance
and residence in this country and while they
remain In it, are, equally with British subjects,
under the protection of the law nor can they
be punished except for an offence against the
law, and under the sentence Of the ordinary tri
bunals of justice, after public trial, and on
conviction founded on evidence given in open
court No foreigners, as such, can be sent out
of this country by the executive government,
except person removed by virtue of treaties
with other States confirmed by net of Paria
ment, for the mutual surrender of criminal Of
tenders,
British subjects, however, or the subjects of
any other State, residing in this country, and
therefore owing obedience to its laws, may, on
conviction of being concerned in evying war
against the government Of any State at amity
with Great Britain, be punished by fine and i'm
prisonment. Offenders in this respect are equally
open to prosecution by individuals or by the
government.
Measures, In the form of alien acts, have cen
Mt different times resorted to by the British leg
slature, by which the power of expelIing for
eigners, in case of necessity, has been conferred
on the executive government; but such powers,
even when asked for only for the maintenance
Of internal tranquility, have been regarded by
the people Of this country with jealousy.
The general hospitality thus extended by our
TO all who choose to come to Eng.
land, has, from time to time, been tho means of
secure asylum TO political refugees
of all parties, many of them illustrous in rank
and position. Among them may be mentioned
kings and princes of the two branches of the
Bourbon family, and The prime ministers of
Franco and Austria