The Sun. — 1858-01-27 (London, England)

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JAN. 27, 1853.  A morning contemporary, high in the confi hence of the Premier, announces ex cathedra its certainty that " the Government must, and will  propose, on the opening of Parliament, a measure for the punishment of political assassins.' This is a significant intimation, more especially when coupled with the threatening speeches against England on the other side of the Channel, and also the strangely consistent rumours as to diplomatic demands for the expulsion of certain political fugitives, and the modification of the right of sanctuary in this country ! We cannot believe that Lord PALMERSTON could be so wanting to himself as to surrender for a moment, to any pressure however urgent, the sacred duty of hospitality hitherto freely exercised iu favour of every political refugee, no matter what may be the nature of his opinions, or under what standard he may array himself. Should the Premier be so ill advised as to make the attempt under any dictation, it will not only be the signal for the immediate overthrow of his Government but for his own permanent exclusion from office. He might then, indeed, "bid farewell, a long farewell, to all his greatness." No future act could restore the public confidence, forfeited by the timid concession is the time appropriate for any alteration inNthe Nor law. Although of little practical importance in itself, it would be ascribed to fear, and be the signal for new demands, mere urgently insisted on, and more difficult to be resisted. " Nolumus loges Anglice mutari." We shall not surrender the smallest portion of our constitutional rights to any Prince or Potentate on the face of the earth. One of the most cherished of those rights is that of affording sanctuary to every victim ! We shall not condescend to act as the police of any State, or to hand over to the tender mercies of despots, those who have had the misfortune to incur their suspicions, which would practically be to become parties to legalised murder. We demand from all who obtain asylums in the British dominions strict obedience to our laws. If they be guilty of any offence, they will be duly punished. But the question must be decided by a British or mixed jury, and the penalty inflicted by the sentence of a British judge. In no case can they be sent out of tee country, except they have, in the first instance, been adjudged to undergo a term of penal  servitude, and then only to a British penal settlement, to share the fate of other cowrie" We should far rather receive as guests honest patriots, unfortunate he who had struggled for a noble, albeit an causel than any despot, aye, though "bore his blushing honours thick upon him." As to the insulting and threatening demands of -venal and restricted journalists, f toadying functionaries, or even of any. government or coalition of !governments, lye shall exclaim with old Honaex— " Non ardor eivium prava jubentiutl " Nec vultus instantis tyranni Meats quatit solid a." We shall turn a deaf ear alike to their threats and blandishments, and still afford shelter and protection to every claimant who can fairly and reasonably claim it at our hands. And we tell those who are now most noisy in their demands that the time may come, as it has been heretofore, when they themselves would be the persons who would bitterly regret any unmanly or cowardly concessions on such a point. It is not very long since we declared that the