The New York herald., 1862-03-01
AMERICAN AFFAIRS IN PARLIAMENT.

AMERICAN AFFAIRS IN PARLIAMENT.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Arrests OF British Subjects.
PRESIDENT LINCOLN SUSTAINED BY LORD JOHN
RUSSELL.
In the House Of Lords on the 10th ult the Earl of
Carnarvon said it would be the recollection OF the
House that on Friday night last he had put question to
the Foreign Secretary with reference to certain British
subjects who had been arrested and detained in prison in
tho United States, and not to use harsh term sub
octod to considerable Ill treatment under the warrant Of
Mr. Seward. Since that time he had received fresh
formation relating TO other which still
than those which he had ber0re mentioned, and he
anxious to have whatever information the noble Earl op
posite could furnish with regard TO them He informed
that three British subjects at this moment detained
IN prison in the federal States where they had been be-
tween four and ve months secret charges without
single allegation Of any being made against them No
inquiry had been made into their cases, and they had
been refused inquiry, unless they
ake the oath OF allegiance to the United States. this
Information which received were correct there
vas not moment 10 lose in obtaining an explanation Of
The exact Position Of affairs The prisons OF the United
States at this moment were crowded with prisoners.
into Of the prsons-Fort been crowd
ID enormous number Of prisoners of every rank and
postton-and among them were men Of substance and
intelligence who had been brought in affuence and
great social refinement. There representatives
there Of all the liberal Of the judi
cature members Of the press and Of all the best classes
Of American citizens who had been arrested dragged
from prison to prison. suffering every hardship,
nassn,,a ns moment msq snsy %n s confined
can citizens In Ameican prisons that House
had nothing do they not concerned in the matter
and he should be the last TO ask the House the
to interfere but in far their condition
threw light the condition Of British subjects there
confned it important point and he felt the
House and tho country could be indifferent to ii.
ne.r The stat: Of the pr,Onere ha understood
mates and two larger battery which prisoners
confned-all the chambers being constructed of
brick stone work. They lighted by small en-
brasures and when these were closed If there were
large number Of persons confined the air became ntoe
rably oppressive, and when they were open the chill
lly In aoff fhaca achaun n1,a-c
fourteen feet by twenty four feet there conned-
ut least that was the case few weeks agotwentythree
OF these political prisoners OF Dhom tco thirds
placed in irons and IN one f the battery be.
toeen thirty ard forty persons confined. During
the day there was often too much ventilation, but
night owing the paucy guards blinds and shut
ters we're placed against the WINDOWS, and the vena-
ton oqs 50 imperfect that the ar became foal and opres
sayy dccs In every case the food of the
description Even the water supplied for drinking
said to be foul while for other purposes only aA ,oate
PROVIDED. In Of the these places where
prisoners crowded together in this manner where
there possible accommodation for cleanliness
for deccncy the things was said to be something
very little better than the middle passage IL
these prisons that these British subjects were connod
He had the fact upon authority which he could doubt
though Of couree he could state it his personal
responsibility. still the authority such that he
could entertain no doubt on the subject. He had
been furnished with an account Of the names
and conditions VI the persons so confined
merchant, long resident at savannah, who
came from Liverpool. AS proof that his connexoI
with this country had been maintained and that he
bona fde British subject, he had Liverpool
ut school. The second was andrew Lowe, also British
merchant at Savannah, who at this moment had two
daughters at school Brighton. He could not give the
name Of the third, but he described Irish
NAVY. He was a laborng man, WHO had come over
from Ireland in October 1850, In order find uncle
engaged railway Harper Ferry ana
he found by the fsderalsts in that neghborhood
They offered him the oath Of allegiance and when he de-
clared himself British subject they treated the plea
with derison The oath Of allegiance preferred
him again, and his refusal he dragged prison
was impossible to say more than this, that
they were still In confinement; 1t mpossi-
hardship In individual But IT not likely that
the federal government would treat British subjects
nnsd In these prisons with consideration than IT
would show to natives Of the country. tho persons
thus arrested guilty let thom, after fair trial
dsrgo the legal punishment for their offence but they
should be detained In prison for indefinite period
and on secret charges They ought TO be brought to
trial, and have hearing. There evidence that,
oil these prisoners, without exception, the offer
was made, that as preliminary condition 10 any Judi
cia inquiry into their they should take the oath
q allegiance 70 the federal government The fact Of
these men being st IN prison offer such offer was
his mind evidence that they really British sub
scs. He did not wish go ufthsr into this subject he
would rather leave In the hands Of her Maestys go
vernmsnt But he should wish to know how it was
Informed Of the facts and what steps and had
thought nt 70 take w',h regard 70 themY
have read the papers that have been laid the table Of
the House by command Of her Majesty There has been
. correspondence between Lord Lyons and Mr.. Seward
and between the British and American governments
ths subject and In tho statement the noble carl has made
think he has hardly taken into account the cricoi
cireumstdnees in which the government Of The Cned States
dced In the spring OF last nine States Of the
federation declared against the federal government
NoDu has been usual for all governments in steA circum
aaaces TO imWiscn on suspicsoa TIE persons of those
yAo ay consider are taxing part sn ne against
fem N0 many years ago, in 1s4s, chen conspiracy
1e s sstAoray q he, kseay, gorenmea, as Sscretary
fw suspens'on Of e hateas corpus, and consequently,
~ porr g arTe'f.ne pcsors on Suspicion of edsonaLk
which American citizens were arrested In ireland by
order Of the Secretary o state On two cases ro
presentations were made 70 ner Maestys government
BY the government Of the United Lord Palmers
Ton replied that with regard 70 those two persons the
British government had full Information that they were
engaged In attempt to subvert the auho
Stty OF the sovereign. Those persons, beieus pers
bwo~0h b trial. never heard Of their having
tried. TAey gae arrested and detained solsyby te aho
plants have been made BY certain British subjects
America THAI they had been arrested suspicion,
say ON the order and ~ he authority Of the Secretary
Lord Lyons 70 represent these cases 10 Mr. se.
ward and, especially with regard 70 one OF them
appeared that thsr: bad been very light ground: for N:
delayed do not vindcate the sct Of the Anerican 60
vernmsnt In any Of these eases whether had good
:s s for ne = =. not sscs
ths American government In this House. But u is
tended that The constitution Of the United States gives
ersst persons on suspicion and connns them In prison
during his viii and pleasure. This question has been
much debated in America Some high legal authorities
BY the President alone; but tho other hand LAWYERS
have maintained the contrary opinion. have received
within the last few days pamphlet written BY gentle
~ the head Of the bar OF America IN which n is
habeas corpus can bs suspended without the ssssnt
sf Congress, and BY order Of the President alone.
Ne susss'ae has psse brought before Congress