The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-03-14
PREVENTION OF CRIMES ACT

Unpublished Correspondence Between
Mr.. Lowell and the Secretary of State.
~ AsHINGroN. March 13.-The following Is
the correspondence between Mr.. Lowell and
Secretary Frelinghuysen relative to the Pre-
ventiou of Crimes Act.
On July IA, 1882. Mr.. Lowell wrote to the
Secretary of State from London as follows re-
specting the new act:
Il is the revival of the Alien act as part of
the Crimes Act, which alone directly concerns
our relations with this Governmet. Ques-
tions are likely to arise under it which will
need to be treated with extreme delicacy and
discretion. 1t will be rather to the per-
SoDal application of the act than to its princi-
pie hat objection will lie, and / should be
glad to be armed beforehand with the opinion
of the President as to what my general line of
action should be under these new circumstan-
ces. There must be great number OF natur-
allied American citizens in Ireland, besides
those that have rendered themselves obnox-
ious to the local authorities, and the alien
clauses OF the act may very probably strength
en- the temptation of private enmity to bring
false accusations as it undoubtedly increases
the opportunity for them. l have every rea-
son to believe that under the present govern
ment the act will be applied with caution and
discrimination, but change of Ministry may
take place at any moment. In any event,
however, think myself safe in predicting
that the provisions of the act will be brought
made or may make themselves particularly
prominent by melting to disorder or defiance
OF authority.
The Secretary of State replied to Mr.. Low
ell on September % as follows:
The careful attention which you have evil
IDENTIFY given to the subject and your last COM
ments on the policy that could have dictated
so extraordinary measure in country whose
traditional history in regard to the freedom of
the individual the security of the domicile and
the right OF every man accused OF crime to an
impartial trial has formed its crowning glory,
relieve me from the necessity of giving you
anything more than general directions as TO
your future conduct in connection with cases
affecting American citizens that may possibly
come before you. Nevertheless, / deem it
proper, in the interest of our citizens and in
compliance with your own expressed desire to
that effect, to put you in possession of the gen.
tral views of the President on this recent act
of the British parliament-an act which he
conceives may seriously affect large number
of the citizens OF this Republic.
Il is, as you justly observe, the revival of
the Alien act as part of the Crimes act that
more directly concerns us, and it is this
feature OF the measure which has caused the
President to feel anxiety as to its possible
effect on the business and social relations of
American citizens particularly those of IRISH
birth. Many lrlSh-Amercan citizens have
parents, brothers and sisters resident in Ire
land, and whenever they learn of their desti-
tuition, as the most effective mode of relief
they send member of the family to Ireland
with the means to aid them. The possibility
that persons IN pursuit of their lawful business
enterprises or on THAR mission of benevolence
snouid come under the operation of the pro-
ceedlngs contemplated by provisions of the new
law, IS much to be deprecated. The oppor-
tunltieS Tor this kind of annoyance which the
act affords for the qualification of private
enmity, as you justly remark, increase the
grounds OF this apprehension, and when to
this is added the superServiceable zeal of
local officials, 1t IS hardly to be expected that
an Irish american citizen, however innocent
he may be in act and intention, should consider
his person or his property safe in that coun try
His private although temporary abode may
be forciby visited by night or day, his papers
and his valuableS may be taken from him and
subjected to search, and he may be ordered
out of the country at the will of the Executive,
with the stigma of guilt upon him and without
having had an opportunity for hearing Jr trial.
The President, moreover, cannot contemplate
the enforcement of this measure on mere
suspicion against American citizens without
fears OF its having an unhappy influence upon
the good feeling which exists between two
great nations of common origin and common
language.
need scarcely add that this government
has no sympathy with the motives or the
methods of the class of indiscreet individuals,
insignificant in number, in this country whose
i'll directed zeal can neither serve the cause
of Ireland nor reflect credit on the country of
their adoption. The law-abiding and peace
able American citizens of Irish birth should
not be exposed to suffer OH their account. The
President, looking only to the interests of
American citizens, has deemed it proper that
these suggestions should sbe transmitted to you
in view of any future contingency. 1t would
be difficult, in the absence of any actual case,
to give you any more specific instructions.
Much must be left TO your own judgment
Cases may arise when it will be necessary for
you to act at once without consulting the de-
partment in such cases the President trusts to
your discretion. You will, of course, keep
the department informed of whatever steps
you may find it necessary to take in any and
every case that may come before you, using
the telegraph for that purpose when you deem
it expedient.