Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-07-31
CARL VOGT.

When, by the light of the burning
palace of Belgian nobleman, the MD
nicht assassin fled with his burden OF
nlnnder from the scene of his three-fold
crime of arson, murder and robbery. he
little thought of the nice questions of in
ternational law he was to bring under dis
cussion in far distant country. The
cnormity Of TIE crimes charged against
Carl Yogt, renders his character OF in
terest to not only the people with whom
his early life was spent, but also to the
nation to which he has fled for an asylum,
and this interest is now intensified in this
nation by the probability that the des-
perate man, who has shown himself Ca
pable of such deep depravity, is about
to be set loose, to follow the impulses OF
his malicious heart in this country. We
speak Of him as a criminal because we
understand there is no doubt upon the
proofs, but what he is guilty of the Of
lenses charged against him, and we I'M
dcrstand further, that it is conceded by
those acting for him, that he would be
convicted in a German court, if he ever
gets there for trial.
Upon the arrest of Vogt, difficulty
occurred in the usual course of justice,
on account of our having no eXtradition
treaty with Belgium, where the crimes
were committed. The Prussian govern
ment, with whom we have such a treaty,
demanded his extradition, and upon this
demand the whole controversy among
high law officers has arisen. 1t appears
that, by the law of Prussia, any subject
of that kingdom who commits crime
outside of its jurisdiction, may be tried
and punished by the courts of the coun-
try to which he owes allegiance; and
when il was proved before Commissioner
White that Vogt was Prussan subject,
he issued warrant for his detention,
until the State department should order
his extradition. The case was taken be-
fore Judge Blatchford of the District
Court of the United States for the south
ern District of New York, and that
learned jurist sustained the action of the
commissioner.
But the State Department, being de-
sirous that the coil of red tape, ever on
hand in that circumlocution office should
be used, made a question for the Attor-
ney General, and that public function
airy discovered reason why justice
should be defeated. We have read the
opinion of Judge Blatchford, and the
opposite one of Attorney General Viii
liams, and to us it is manifest that the
Judges views are the most con-
sonant with justice in this case, but that
the Attorney General has the law on his
side. There is something repugnant to
common sense in the German claim that
no matter what part of the world a sub
iect may wander to, he is menable to
the criminal law of Prussia, for his acts
in all lands, and the law adviser of the
government propounds question that
makes the absurdity of the claim appar-
ent, when he asks, elf Prussia could by
law extend her jurisdiction over Bel
GUM, why not just as we'll over Eng
land, France, or the United States"
We regret the necessity of turning
this man loose in this country, while the
blood of his victim cries for vengeance
from the ground of friendly power.
We regret too, that governments feel
called upon to make such monstrous
claims, as this one, for the purpose of
procuring justice under the strict con-
struction of international law. We be-
lieve the time is coming when, by con-
vention of publicists, and by common
consent of the civilized world, it will
not require definite treaty to enable one
nation to surrender to another fugitive,
fleeing from justice, for atrocious crimes.
1t is about time that nations treated each
other as friends, instead of enemies,
and that comfy and friendly feelings
should dictate their foreign policy, in
stead of distrust and frigid dignity;
then we could safely rely upon the de-
sire to have arbitration take the place of
war, and no land be a sanctuary for
traitors, murderers and thieves, flying
from the pursuit of offended justice