The Express.
London, England, 1851-07-18 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

MOOSE OP LORDS.—TIMSDAT. JULY 17.
The Low, cm
IO:Am talk his seat at f~ Valera.
PETIT NS PRESENTED.
(Urn or AWOL/MO:4 (Jaws) BILL.—By Lord NEIr
SON, frau a pbee is FANS, sad abo from Stafford; Lora
REDESDAL ham Mt members M the English bar, aml
hem several plum; sad the Bishop of OXFORD, he.
I=in the mambas of Barba, Buckingham. Oahri,
y, Derby, and Sufkdk ; against this ha
Cs P Lam—Lord BEAUMONT. holt Twain,
maiast the removal of the Crystal Palace.
MILITIA BALLOT BILL—ASSESSED TAXES COM-
POSITION BILL—PUBLIC WORKS. 111811EIME8,
ilbe. BILL.
?bac hills severally paned through eammittas.
HIUHWAY RATES BILL.
This bill was read a third time, and passed.
ST. ALBANS BRIBERY COMMISSION BILL.
This bill west through ananattce, sod was 'epochal to

the
OATH OF ABJURATION (JEWS) BILL.
The order of the day on the sawed raiding of this ball
having been read,
TM LORD CHANCELLOR said this bill was the
shortest which had come under their lordships con-
sideration daring the present session ; the whole
object of the bill was to omit certain words, at-
tached to the oath of &Napalm, those words
being " upon the true faith of • Christian," which
at present bad the effect of excluding conscientious Jews
from admission to parliament. The subject was by no
means • novel one, and it had been so often under their
lordships' consideration that it could not be expected that
anything ye ry new could be produced. Many arguments,
eloquence the meat spleudiel, and declamation almost inex-
haustible, had been applied to the subject. It was said that
in the result truth always prevailed, and no doubt it did ;
but it had pleased Providence that the discovery of truth
should be the reward of consideration and deliberation, for
its briehtnees and forte were not always apparent at
first. (Me of the most valuable features in their lord-
ships' house was that they offered • ben to moon
and donotrous innovatiens ; and it wee eh* hums
that in their lordships' house perpetual relleaftlas
not found to the general sense of the nation. It, air
due delibs ration, the sense of the country was head
in favour of e particular measure, and their lordaldps, wpm
further comideratMo, saw that it was not likely to be pre•
judicial to the interests of the country, after havingezer-
eie (I their caution, they had fregently altered their opinions
and lased measures which they had before rejected. The
bill which lie hail the honour to present to their lonlehips
bad fire times passed the other house of parliament. (Hear.)
The country, always excited upon propositions interfering
with religious liberty, had shown's strong interest in mea-
sures fur the removal of the disabilities of the Jews. The
absence of petitions on the present occasion was no proof of
India...nue, on the part of the country to this subject. It
was au unlucky time fur such an argument, fur they had
had lately an opportunity of seeing the number of pe-
tition% which hid been presented when it was thought
that the temblished religion of the country was in danger;
and yet how few were the petitions which hail been pre-
sented against thin measure, notwithstanding the circum-
stance that the bill had so often paned the other house of
parlieueut which must have put the country sufficiently on
its guard. Ile had now to pray their lordships to do an act
ofjuetice to the Jews, and ho would briefly call attention to
the situation in which the Jew. were now placed. What
ever doubt hid been herebefore entertained as to how far
the Jews might be admitted to the enjoyment of the rights,
of citizens, it could no longer exist, fur they had now been'
admitted in the fullest and freest manner to partici-
pate in civil immunities. They were now magistrates
and capable of tilling every municipal office; and they
might now sit in judgment on life and death on the bench.
They relied on the Jews fur everything valuable in society,
liberty, and property; and who ever heard of any injustice,
any partiality, any misconduct, on the part of the Jew.. in
the administration of those duties? Nothing of the kind
had ever reached his can ; and the bar which this bill pro. 1
poled to remove was the only one which now prevented the
subssiesiou of the. Jews to all the rights of citizens. Fur
every purpus, for all the burdens, and all the duties of the
country the Jews( were British subjects, and he apprehended
that British subj. eta were all, without regard to religious
opinions, entitled to the free exercise and enjoyment of civil
rights. With new reception, he perfectly agreed in the lan-
guege of a 'Wit rev. prelate,' that all those rights were
trusts ; and he hilly admitted hat there must be a capacity
for the full and faithful discharge of these trusts before the
rights could be given. Society which was associated few
mutual ben, lit and advantage, afforded no right to
any man who was not in a situation to fulfil
the duties lie asked for to the advantage of the
whole, and if it should appear to their lordships that there
was anything iu the Leith or conduct of the Jews, which
imbued them fur the discharge of legislative shake, they
would be right in refusing to grant them. But he thought
no one could eseert that there was anything in their feiti
or conduct, which unfitted them for a hill and faithful dis-
charge of those duties. What were the requisites for their
proper performance ? lied the Jews sufficient intelligence?
where would they find greater ? Did they understand the
value and the rights of property ? (Much laughter.) Ile
wished that to every proposition he bad to isdaineee be
could Mitain so ready and so audible an awn& Int It
wa use isieliusiderable qualification fur a legislator, that be
understood the value as well as the rights of property.
Having, on the authority of quotations from Vattel, from
th, es elenee supplied by the correepoudence of Mendeheolin
with Livid, r, and from other sources derived arguments in
support of tie• till, denying at the same time that any of
the nation il•eareete risme of that peculiar people, the Jews,
dieeutith d them to the rights of British subjects, or give to
the supreme power in this country any right to add to their
affictione, the noble and learned lord observed that it
was true renierks were sometimes made that Clod had
visited his displeasure on the Jews; but that great and
Rost man wise ly called their attention to how Oat marked
thee, wile heel thought fit to add to their punishment.
Owl hard( nod the heart of Pharaoh, that he would not let
them go from Egypt; he hoped Ile would not harden their
hearts, that they would not let them be free. Afflictions
ware imposed by the Almighty to prepare us for another
sad a better life; but although the Almighty, in the in-
mendable via). of Providence, afflicted neenkiwe it was not
the part of a Christian to add to that affliction. Nay, tuitions
had drewn down divine vengeance upon them for that per-
version of duty. If the Jews were in distress, it
was their duty to relieve them. It was 'so part of their
slaty to add le the rap of bitterness which that nation had
to drink. Ile said, therefore, leave to the Almighty the
accomplishment of his own prophecies. It was for them to
soften w re teliednies and to relieve from persecution, where-
ver they f mud it. Did vain man suppose that by any act
of his he could arrest the accomplishment of prophecies at
add to their force? It was next said that this was •
Chrietieti country. Thank God it was. He might say be
thanked God he halievell it would ever remain 10. big
would any 111.411 say it would lose its Christianity lessues
eight or eine Jew. were admitted into parliament t They
required • security that they should have none bah
Christians in the legislature. They celled upon men
pledge thenuelves with words. They could not always real
their heels. But did they by these worth exclude infidels?
Certeiely not An infidel could by deception introduce
himself into the legislature. What danger was there in
admitting the Jews? How many chases &decree to the
establiehmeat had been admitted into the legislature, while
the Jew was in no respect adverse to it ? The Jew was of '
the *ad of Abraham ; he wished not to make proselytes.
lie was WO prowl, too jealous to allow of others to be ad-
mitted into Ilia fraternity. Their lordships looked to the
established church as our of the means under Providence
by which to preserve the Christian religion. If the Jew
was an enemy endeavouring to diminish its authority or
Its claim to the respect, and honour, and obedience
of his fellow subjects, he gave up the case. But where was
the evidence that the Jew had ever shown any disposi-
ties to make proselytes, any disposition to do aught that would
affect the established church ? Regarding it as one of the
securities of the peace of this country the Jew was inte-
rceded in the prosperity of the established church.
Hie own church ho could never set up—he had
no wish. (Hear, hear.) Should he advert to the cir-
cumstance of the Jews being the erucifiers of our
Lord—should he enter into that? They had a good ex-
ample in this respect. When the Jews were pursuiiig that
conduct, Jesus sail, "Oh, Father, forgive them; they
know not *het they do." Ue mid, therefore, that any re-
ference to that subject was irrelevant, and that it would
lead to disc witou that was unavailing. Ile presented to
them, therefore, the Jews as faithful to their creed, of
which it was 110 part to do any set or make any attempt In-
consistent with the perfect good of this nation in every ,
temporal and spirituel thing. Why, then, withhold from
the state the benefit of the wisdom and experience of
these men, and why withhold from them the right to which
they were entitled? There was no Food foundation for
such exclusiou. and their lordshipe having had this subject
repeatedly under their consideration, he trusted they would
bestow upon it that intelligence and that wisdom that he
applied to their lordships, and he said to them " do justice,
and love mercy." His lordship concluded by moving the
second readiest of the bill.
Earl NELSON contended that neither the concession nor
the use of merely administrative powers gave the Jews any
right to claim legislative faattioas. If this Me were allowed
to cuter parlimmat without Inking the oath to respect and
defend the protestant ditnlefew coal& • formula of that
teaor be required hem ea ether Christian sects ?
After briefly disiessang tan
esigimeates sewed in defence of
the bill by the Lord anoresleg, ties amble lord strenuously
molested the position of the Lena Chancellor reepecting the '
usenet or paucity et Indies ; ark though be admitted !
that in one sense the pribmist tetlinghad was not strictly
Christian, yet UM lest ellesisi die strenpan aegernent
against the PrCrild 111111•11 Pis In seedleer some, rear kph-
!antra was Chemise; as;, V hhaltisil a Jew to • seat
in the other home, ihry May emiwis sea of so creed from
an y office art way sd en initypennas les mewed that the
WI be reads saint tine Int fey in panda
Lord WODEROUIIi et
now is•Zetessameds thrtUat*lllia •Wiraree
b• mein awl embed upon
the dipeleink et theiMisiZreeep enema et nrallertty
Fliggisisealsieg that warn Clerhthert henna the mojnity
delay eve mesh, were estillel Mein in own
home =gawk sh • awns sal esnilmeeen. The
UN woe as nesse alhas than were the deenniente et any
=rgaselisi _ d, sad be hepaa Ina
aigidia ens pira that this penseiben et civil and
pdillips was sot to be isgsaisei spa religions
The Asslllals9 DraLrs stns oollorhimed the sane
asstlesets sa Me subject which he hi hid for way
and wool& asset, ea the present ocenies recapitu-
late • kw of the asinine why be bed hitherto vend, awl

Wended mill to vote; in favour of each measures es the •
Present. In all that he had said and written on this Inds-
oset, he bad never in as many weeds admiration the 'daili-
es= of Jews to parliament. All ha had dose was to core
tend that the matter was one which ought to be left to thie
electors. (Cheers, sad "Year, hoar.") He had set 'xi
pressed say /realer sympathy in the ease of tho Jews=
that of the Hiadoos and Kakommedann bat he bad
for the removal of all the restrictions whisk were pissed
on the electors, sakes it could be shown that some pallti-
eal danger was to be apprehended from allowing the else-
tors the free nee of their judgment. (Hear.) He had not
particularly spokes of the Jews, but had, on the contrary,
always abstuned from saying anything in their favour—
(laughter)—not because they were not Christians, but be-
muse he considered all religious denominations had to be
considered in a matter of this sort, and that no secular
penalties or civil disabilities should attach to a man on ac-
count of his religious belief. (Chums, end " Hear, hear.")
la considering this question he had proceeded on the ground
which our Lord himself had laid down, that his kingdom
was not dais world, and that they were to render unto
Cesar the things that were Cesar's, hut unto God the
things that were God's. (Hear.) lie did not think that
any person voting for the present bill would be acting an
taw:gneiss:at part in recommending the choice of a
Christian in plate of a Jew candidate, for the
gesetion at issue he held to be simply whether
W electors should be allowed to choose whom
they thought flt, or have their hands tied up. He
regretted that this bill did not take that comply-
hensive hold of the subject which it ought to have done.
The bill ought to have been a measure for the removal of
all disabilities on account of religious belief, and not a bill
simply for the removal of Jewish di,ahilities. (Hear,
hear.) It was too much the fault of our legidation to meet
only this, that, and the other case, without taking a broad
view of subjects and principles. He knew, however, that
difficulties often stood in the way, and he was glad to accept
the present bill as a step in the right direction. lie
thought that if danger was to be apprehended from the ad-
mini= to parliament of members of any particular
sect, that danger should be br.Lved by the spirit
of the Christian religion ; and whatever parties might
think as to the danger of admitting Roman ca-
tholic* and other dissenters, the danger of admitting
Jews was less than could be attributed to the admis-
sion of any other class, for no one imagined for a moment
that the Jews were at all likely to Judisise the state. He
trusted that neither under victory nor defeat, calamity nor
prosperity, they should be deposed to disregard religion,
but he could not see how oar victories ought to
he connected with religious disabilities, for we
wore ever ready on such occasions to avail our-
selves of the services of men of all religiuus per-
soasions—(hear, hear)—and in respect of the par-
ticular ease of India, he wondered where our victories
would have been if we had disbanded all those who would
not take an oath " upon the true faith of a Christian," for
nine-tenths of the army had been Ilahommedans and Hin
does. (Cheers, and " Hear, hear.")
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY said it was impossible to
approach this subject otherwise than with the deepest feel-
ing of carnotness and solemnity. He, however, very much
regretted :hat the question had been again revived, for no-
thing new had occurred to alter any of their opinions. The
' same proposition was offered, and it must be met by the
same resistance and the same arguments as formerly, for
She question was so simple that it did not allow of being re-
garded in different lights, and did not admit the
aid of a variety of details. (Hear, hear.) His
objections to the bill wen not grounded on any
intolerant feeling of hostility to the Jewish people.
They did not seek to exclude them as a disloyal and
incompetent race, nor because they were few, nor, as had
been remarked by the late Sir Robert Peel, from soy feeling
of vengeance or hostility. (Hear.) The real difficulty lay
within ourselves and was nut with respect to the Jewish peo-
ple, but arose from the intensity of our own principles. like
Jews had demanded to be admitted to parliament, but how-
ever reasonable that demand might be he ventured to assert
and would endeavour to prove, that it was a demand which
the Jews had no right to make, and which their lordships
had no power to meet. (Hear, bear.) Let them look to
the peculiar character and pusitiou of the Jew. They might
admit that he was an honourable and upright, and a liberal
and humane man, one of high intellectual acquirements. But
let them recollect that his very existence and profession
were a perpetual and manifest protest against the recep-
tion of Christianity. He declared that it was in all its
forme and circumstances false. If he were conscientious he
must publicly, and at all times, and under all circum-
stances, maintain that protest and give it force. (Hear,
hear.) lie must also take all opportunities of advancing
his creed. It was hie duty under all circumstances—it was
necessary, as it were, to his very existence to place
himself in decided opposition to the advance, either directly
or indirectly, of the Christian religion. And he demanded
a seat iu the British legislature for the purpose of making
laws that ahuuld bind indirectly the church of Christ and
directly the church of England, which was a Christian and
a protestant church. (Cheers and " Hear, hear.") lie
wished to strike out the words " on the true faith of a
Christian." He denied the true faith of Christianity, and
asked them to strike out the words as improper and unne-
cessary. Now be (the Harlot Shaftesbury) maintained that
no one had a right to make such a demand as that. It was
going beyond the legitimate bounds of what one could de-
mand from another. The Jew denied the words which
' they considered vitally true, and called on them to withdraw
the words in order that he might take his scat in the
' legislature and give effect to that denial. (Hear, hear.)
But he (the Earl of Shaftesbury) maintained, on the other
' hand, that their lordship,, hail no right to make the comes-
' siun. (Hear, bear.) Now this was a declaration either
actually or virtually made by every one who had assumed a
seat in parliament fur the lost two hundred years. The
question was not simply one of expediency. They had full
power to give to the Jews a share of the rights and privi-
' leges enjoyed by other classes of the community, but they
had no right to give them the power of legislating in mat-
tees of religion—to afford them the means of extirpating
I Christianity. (Hear, bear.) An argument bad been de-
-1 dueed in favour of the admission of Jews, from