New-York tribune., 1886-07-17
yyTss3 PRINCIPLES OF EXIRADI7ION

Ext1adition practice Is the most important
contribution which American diplomacy has
made to international law From the outset
the United States Government has taken the
lead in negotiating treaties for the return OF
criminals and has set wholesome example
which has been followed throughout Chiistcn
dom. American statesmen and jurists advocat-
ed system of international compacts for reg
ulating the extradition of criminals when Eng
lish and Continental writers were unable to
agree on this question. SO conspicuous and In
tiuentiiil has been the part taken by this coun-
try in shaping international legislation on this
subject that the principles upon which extra
dition is grounded may justly be sad to be-
American in origin. Those pnncples cannot
he too jealousy guarded by the Senate and the
Administration in the present negotiations with
Great Britain. The EXtIaditiOn treaty be-
tween the two counties should be the strongest
and the most explicit of the whole series of
conventions but it should not embody any
novel, dangerous or unstable principles.
Mr.. Wheaton defined the fundamental pIin-
ciple of extradition with characteristic lucldity
A State" he said, should never authorize
" the exhadition of its own citizens or subjects
cor of persons accused or convicted of political
"or purely local crimes, or Of slight offences,
:" but should confne the provision to such acts
as are by common accord regarded as grave
"climes.' An extraditable crime must be one
that is considered a grave offence punishable
under the common law Of every nation. Ii
snust not be political crime Modem Govern
ments are not only jealous of the rights of aSy-
lum accorded to political refugees, but invall-
ably disclaim any obligation to provide for the
internal security of other counties. "lt l.
sufficient" said Lord Palmerston in mem
olable debate, "for Governments 10 have the
"power to provide for the internal safety OF
&" their own dominion" England in the Ex-
tradition Act of 1870 expressly provides that
"a fugitive criminal shall not be surrendered
" for political offence, or ii he prove that his
surrender has in fact been required with
"view OF tying him for a political Oience''
The new treaty should be as explicit on this
point as the English Extadition Act. Polit-
ical offences should be excluded and the door
should be left open only for the cxtIadition
OF offenders who are accused of serious common
law crimes.
This matter cannot be too carefully con
sidcred on the American side, since il is no.
tOlous that the British Government and the
London press have been approximately demand
ing i'll recent yc:ls summary action agains,
IIish conspirators. 1t Is of the highest impor-
tance for this country to acquire the night of
pursuing embezzlers and faithless defaulte,s
across the border and of bIingmg them before
its criminal courts but anxiety to secure tins
greatly needed privilege should not blind our
dplomatsts and statesmen to the danger of
making concessions that are at variance with
the fundamental principles of extIadltion and
with the sacred right of asylum.
The wanton destruction of public property