Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-05-08
Interesting From Europe.

| Deb0tc in Me British Parliament oh tte Arrest
 qfMc o6iceys Qf Me prirateer Sumpter. I Through our northern papers we have ad- vices from Europe to the 18th of March. The general news is unimportant. The lieutenant of the prvatecr Sumpter and the ex-Consul of the United States had been arrested at Algiers and had subsequently been taken aboard of a United States ship to be brought to the United States as prisoners. Their arrest, from the ac- count given below, was brutal and violent, and 1 the prisoners, we are told, were loaded with irons. The authorities of Morocco protested against the act, but were bulfed into acquies- cence by the United States Consul at Algiers.- We give below an interesting debate in the Brit ish Parliament on the subject which relates the circumstances of the case:
 ARREST OF CONFEDERATE STATES CITIZENS IN MOROCCO.
 | In the House of Commons, on Monday, March ' l7th, MT. D. Griffith asked the under secretary of state for foreign affairs whether the lienten- ant of the Sumpter and the ex-consul of the | United States, at Cadz, who were arrested on landing from the Willie de Malaga steamer by the United States Consul at Tangiers, were talk en down to the harbor, and embarked as priso- ners on board the United States trigate Inc; whether the Moorish government did not protest against this proceeding, and only yielded to the threat of the United States consul that he would strike his flag; and whether 1t was the opinion ofher Majestys Government that the iurisdic- ton with which, by the exploitation or treaties European consus were invested over country men in Mahomedan countries empowered them | to make judicial cOgnizance of alleged polit- l cal oticnseS committed in any other country: and if not, whether the British government would take means to protect our faithful ally, l the MOorish government, from such infringement of its independence.
 | Mir. Laynard said he owed an apology to his honorable friend aBd the House for having on a previous occasion misnformed them on this subject. In fact, 1t was only at the close of last 1 week that he received the information which he was now about to give. He had stated be- l fore that two gentlemen-Oue the purser of the so>called Confederate States steamer Sumpter. and the other gentleman who was formerly | United States Consul at Cadiz-were proceed
 ing on voyage from Cadz to Lisbon, and ac~ cordIng to MT. Myers, the purser's statement. | hearing that a fellow citizen was i'll at Tangiers 1 they landed to see him. and were returning to embark, when they were met by the American Consul accompanied by Moorish guards. ar. rested on the spot and carried to the Consulate. l They were then loaded pith irons and confined ! in an improper place. The commander of the Sumpter, hearing what had occurred. wrote q letter to the Moorish authorities and sent it to MT. Hay, Her Majesty's Consul, requesting him to deliver It, and to make use of his influence on behalf of the prisoners. Mr. Hay delivered the letter, but declined to take any steps in the way of interference. That happened on the | 18th.
 On the 20th the United States sloop Inc ar rived at Tangiers, the captain landed with a number ot his crew armed and proceeded to the Consulate. The Moorish government in the meantime had learned that these gentlemen had been arrested upon political accusation alone, and they sent a letter of remonstrance to the Consul. The Consul declined to surrender the prisoners, and fell back upon an article in the treaty between Morocco and the United States. The l lth article ofa general treaty between her Majesty and the Sultan of Morocco stated that should the British Consul General or any British Consul, vice-consul or consular agent, have at any time occasion to request from the Moorish Government the assistance of soldiers, guards or armed force, for the purpose of arrestine any British subject, the demand should be compled with on payment of certain fees. By the 23d article of the treaty between Morocco and the NhAINN 1etttS0, iG was tLldJ the consul Of the United States should reside at any seaport ofthe Moorsh dominionS, and should enjoy all the privileges which the consuls of any other nation enjoyed
 When it became known in Tangiers that those gentlemen were about to be transferred to the soop Tho, large. assemblage of Europeans and natives took place. They threatened the United States Consul, and for some time a serious riot was apprehended The United States Consul sent for Mir. Hay, but he declined to n- tetere, and at the same time remonstrated with the consul, who fell back on the treaty. Mr. Haypointed out that the right of affording asylum belonged to the Moorish government, and that the article of the treaty referred to really applied only to criminals, and not to persons charged with political ohenses. The United States Con. sul declined to receive that interpretation of the treaty, and on the remonstrance of the Moorish