France. and the United States that the principle has conquered the world. Vigne. an eminent lawyer of Ghent. writing in 1870 in. the Revue de droit International. declares that "concerning political offenses but one rule is fair. that of recognizing absolutely the right of sanctuary." and he adds that "the one exception still existing to this rule Is the treaty of January 4. 1834. between Prussia. Austria. and Russia concerning the extradition of Polish refugees." Both Great Britain and the United States. in order to guard against any possible interpretation 9f any treaties into which they have entered or might enter. expressly forbid by law the extradition of political offenders. The British extradition. act of 1870 provides as follows: A fugitive criminal shall not be surrendered if the offense in respect to which his surrender Is demanded is one of a political character or If he prove to the satisfaction of the police magistrate or the court before whom he is brought on habeas corpus or to the secretary of state that the requisition for his surrender has In fact been made -with a view to try to punish him for an offense of a political character. Our statute is more brief but not less pointed.
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refugees