Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1876

Abstract

The policy of returning for trial and punishment the criminal of one country who has escaped to another, is not less manifest than its justice. It would seem, therefore, that there ought to be no great difficulty in agreeing upon the proper international regulations for the purpose. This, ho:wever, has until recently been practically an impossibility. While the leading nations of Christendom were engaged for a very large proportion of the time in inflicting upon each other all the mischief possible, it was not to be expected that they would be solicitous to assist in the enforcement of their respective criminal laws. Indeed the opposite course was to be looked for; that they would harbor fugitives for the mischief they had done or might do to other nations rather than return them for punishment. Moreover a sentiment has prevailed that something of national dignity and importance was involved in the state furnishing a secure refuge and asylum to the fugitives from other lands, and in its resisting any thing which might seem like an extension of the authority of a foreign power to seize and punish persons beyond its borders.

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