Asylum

A refuge; a place of retreat and security. An establishment for the detention and cure of persous suffering from mental disease — and also a place for the reception and bringing up of desolate orphans. That some of its inmates are to be orphans will not impart to the institution generally the character of an orphan asylum; [1S99] A. C. 107. It is not an educational institution; State v. Bacon, 6 Neb. 286.

In International Law. 1.

A place of refuge for fugitive offenders. Every sovereign state has the right to offer an asylum to fugitives from other countries, but there is no corresponding right on the part of the alien to claim asylum. In recent years this right of asylum has been voluntarily limited by most states by treaties providing for the extradition (q. v.) of fugitive criminals. Owing to the privilege of ex-territoriality (q. v.) possessed by ambassadors, their residences were in former times frequently made an asylum for fugitive criminals. Although claimed by, and often conceded to, ambassadors, this right of asylum was not definitely recognized, and Grotius, in 1625, does not admit it as part of the law of nations (II, c. 18, § 8). In 1726, when the Spanish Government arrested the Duke of Ripperda, who had taken refuge in the residence of the British Embassy, the British Government complained of the act as a violation of international law (Causes Celebres, I, 178). Within the past century the right of asylum has been rarely exercised, except in Central and South American countries and in the Orient, where it has been frequently granted to political refugees. Even in those countries the United States has discouraged its ministers from granting asylum, though it has not absolutely prohibited it. The qualified privilege of ex-territoriality possessed by public vessels of a state in foreign waters has led them at times to exercise the right of asylum, but international comity requires that this privilege be not abused, and it can, in no case, be exercised by merchant vessels.

II, Moore, §§ 291-307. 2.

In time of war, a place of refuge in neutral territory for belligerent war-ships.

See Neutrality.

AT.

Expresses position attained by motion to, and hence contact, contiguity or coincidence, actual or approximate, in space or time. Being less restricted as to relative position than other prepositions, it may in different constructions assume their office, and so become equivalent according to the context to in, on, near, by, about, under, over, through, from, to, toward, etc. Cent. Diet. A congressman at large is one who is elected by electors of an entire state. See Pound; Running at Large; Animal.