The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-05
THE DITION MIDDLE.
Great Britain's Position IN Accord with nm
Act Of Congress.

WASHINGTON, May 4.-The position taken
by the British Government in the Winsow case
is squsrely on an act OF Congress passed in 1913,
and which is found in the Revised Statutes in
section b212. Us follows:
II shall be lawful for the Secretary Of State, under
his hama aud seal Of once to order ho person
mitted to be delivered - such person shall he
covcrneh to be tTiSd for Inc crime Of whdS ,ush
person saal be so accused aud sdcn person email be
delivered up accordingly.
Mr.. Fish said more than two months ago that
he was nervous about the EItradition treaty.
and did not believe the British Government
would surrender Winslow except Ia conformity
with the English view Of the treaty.
Lawrence was extradited Tor forgery, and
when taken to New York II was proposed to try
him for smuggling. To this the British Gov
eminent objected IS breach Of faith, inas-
much as smuggling Ia not ono Of the crimes
enumerated IN the treaty. lnd while It would bo
pcnal offence 10 the United states 1t was only
REGARDED as political ore In England. More
over, Lawrence would, II tried for smuggling,
endeavor 10 show that his accomplices were
members OF large English exporting house,
which wo aid not, Nr Ftsh thought be eXtrior-
diary, as they are all enemies Of the protective
taliH sys,eln and voo.tes Of free lrade.
But II seems that a principle OF vital I'M
portance 10 Great Britain must be established.
Tno British Minister, sir Edward thornton, says
that hi, q Goyernment has not acted ia a captious
sJiIit. II, for Instance, "A British subject should
be extrfdited on a charge OF MURDER and on
rercninc En!land should not re accused OF that
30 shot, no fancies tho people of the United
states would be justly indignant that the Extra
dtIon treuty had been made the cover Tor
securing the delivery OF person whose
real offence was not included In tho list
Of ciimos enumerated In the Extrad-
ton treaty, Neither would his Government
consent that an Ex raditiOn treaty should be the
means Of securing political refugees who seek an
asylum In Eugl4nd, and WHO might be claimed
as fugdives from justice and charged with
rreyIous cTImes tOr the sake Of securing them
for trial on solely polite grounds. IL was
twentI-eight years before Parliament declared
that the purpose OF an Extradition treaty re-
q Iired that tho accused PARTY should be tried
only for tue offence specified IN the rrquisltion.
whi Q Congress enacted a similar law only six
wears after tho ratification OF the Webster Ash
burton treaty.
Against the protest OF our Government tho
British oficlals alludr to the direct violation OF
tho letter and splIit of tho treaty OF Washington
bY tho act of Feb, y, 1873, Imposing tax upon
package cont tanning ish, though the treaty stlpu-
iaiea tnat nsh, the products OF Canadian waters,
Sh.ll be admitted tree OF duty. When Secretary
lrstow's attention was called 10 tine protest OF
Il o Canad al packers he replied that he had
nothin. 70 40 with the treaty, Uut must obey the
laws Of Congress. This act has always been re-
gnded as a mean trck OF Yankee Congressman,
VINO found that tho Canadian packers woild
haye the advantage In getting their tin cans
cheaper than tho Maine packers and TO get oven
with them had this tax Of a cent and bali on
every quart put In the little tarih bill.