Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1854-12-22
Arrest Of Foreign Convicts.

On wednesday last, ship load OF Belgian
paupers and eonricts arrived in New York. and
tho authorities getting wind Of it arrested
twelve of the latter, before they had time to
leave the vessel II was proved upon their cx-
animation that they were sent over and pro-
vided with passports by the Belgian govern
ment We condense from the Times an ac-
count Of the affair:
During the past two years large number Of
English felons have arrived here from Botany Bay,
whom the authorities Of the Old World liberated
from confinement and paid their passage to this
port to get rid Of them In the course of the past
summer about fifty OF these notorious thieves were
captured and returned. BY the mails received per
Pacific, last week, Collector Redfeld received dis
patches from A. y. Gale ESQ, United States Con-
sui at Antwerp, placing him In possession Of infor
nation relative to the Importation of several able
bodied men, who were convicts in the Belgian
prisons, and sentenced TO serve long terms. Their
crimes ranged from petit larcenics to robberies on
| the highway.
| In communicating With the collector, the consul
states that the authorities Of Antwerp recently de-
bated the question Of the expediency and cheap
/ ness Of insttuting prison deliveries and sending
| the cupnts TO America IL seems that our consul
was shabbily treated by the governor Of the prov
ince Of Antwerp upon his demonstrating with him.
We copy below the important portions Of the con-
| surs letter to Collector Red6eld:
ain regard to the shipment Of the men alluded to,
my suspicious are founded upon the facts that no
Government, at their own expense, would send
away men 70 a foreign land In the prime Of life,
and capable Of performing military duty, which Is
by law imposed upon every subject above a GER
tain age In Belgium. The captain Of the Rocbam.
beau having protested at this consulate, against
the egality Of carrying said passengers, most
earnestly demonstrated with the governor of the
province Of Antwerp and with regard 10 the ship
ment Of convicts, then demanded, as a right, sc.
curity that they should not become charge 10 ana
city or county in the United States. In reply TO
this demand the governor informed me that Cap.
tain Stackpole had received a letter addressed TO
the Belgian consul In New York, from the the in.
spector Of the Emigration Service, a royal OH
cor with instructions to take care that said Bel
gian subjects did not become chargeable 20 the
city of New York. Said persons are provided NTH
passports from The Belgian government. This in.
formation from the governor here excited my sus-
picions, especially IL was once discussed In the
Legislature of Belgium, whether il would not be
better to send to the United States all criminals at
government expense rather haa 20 mainiair
them at home"
Upon the receipt Of this letter. the police
were directed to 60 on board Of tho ship rs
| soon as she reached quarantine:
The convicts, suspecting the officers we're in pur
| suit Of them, were much alarmed. The captain Of
the ship was on Shore and the rsscals being aware
Of this fact, attempted to resist, but after some
trouble and searching they we're all taken into Gus
tody, and brought up 10 the city.
On examining the persons Of the men arrested,
| passports emitting them TO travel through the
United States were found concealed in their under
| clothing. They were thoroughly questioned, by
the assistance Of an interpreter, 10 the manner
they had not been prisoners in Belgium, but paid
their own passage money. Finding, however, that
their statements we're not believed, one Of the
party confessed the whole affair, divulging the par
ticulsrs Of the system recently adopted by the Bel
gisn government. Prison clothing, used In their
cells at home, were cont With them