The Express.
London, England, 1861-06-06 00:00:00

IMPERIAL P,

ROUSE OF COMMON& WEDNESDAT, Jois 5.

DWELLINGS OF THE WORKING CLAMS.

This hill was read • wooed time.
OILININAL PROCEEDINGS OATH RELIEF BILL.
En LOCKE, in moving the wooed rending of this bill,
it was for the purpose of enabling 1•1401 k• who had a
scruple se to taking as oath to be allowed, by the leave of
Me judge, to make au sffirouttimt. That was the whole of
the bill. The bill was confined to criminal cases, because
the law in civil courts was already precisely the same that
be wished to make it in criminal marts. The Commas law
Procedure Act of 18:4, provided that the oath should be
dispensed with in civil caws if the witness declared that
the taking of an oath mu. according to the religious
belief of the witness unlawful. At present, a person who
as, a quaker, s 110111 v inn. or a separatist, wan allowed to
make so affirmatioe in criminal as well as civil cute, but if
a person did not belong to one of those Kate, though he
Might have just as sincere au objection, lie was eon: jelled
to take as oath, or his evidence was rejected. All he
wanted was, that such persona should he allowed to make
as affirmation There was a prevision that the punishmeat
fee tasking a false &thistles should be the same as for
esetiaittiog perjury.
r. SOTHERDN•ESTCOCRT said as the hon. and
laused member for Weakest, who lcul given notice of as
asaiednaut to reject the bill, and sa the law advisers of the
grown and the Home Secretary were not present, be thought
they were hardly is a condition to discuss the bill at
present, and he therefore moved the ,aljournment of the
ebate.

Mr. OONINORAY hoped that the right hon. gentleman
would mot pommy in hi, motion.

LOG`IEE said though the Solicitor .General wu nut
past be approved of the principle of the MIL
:Sir 6.0. LEWIS (who had just come into the house) 11141
the *set of this bill wee to assimilate the law with regard
te the edirmatioo .4 witnes.....s in criminal proceedings with
Met eraweitisting with regapl to civil proorodtags. He bul ievell
dist the giniker. and Iforaviaus hail the benefit of • special
aesetemat, allowing them to make au affirmation instead of
as eath ; but persona who did not come under three ileeo-
nsinehions. though they might have • conactenta.us objec-
Isom to tilting an ..uth, were obliged to take it, or their evi-
dence was rejected. This bill would apply to that limited
clue of person.. He was not aware that there wee any
meat &beer in estimating the law to criminal procealinp
with regard to this narrow damn( persons. He had had
arse communication with the Solicitor-General, and the ro
mark he made was that the law hail hitherto shown great
jealemy as to suletitutiag idlimuitiose for oaths in criminal
ewes, but he did Pot undemniod lion to say that he
ealertained any decided objection to this bill, though he
sepowesed ...toe double as to its pdilr. Under these eir-
inemMenees perhaps his right hon. hired might be inclined
the withdraw hot. anweilmeat, sad allow the bill to be reed
• emend lime, on the usderstandieg that the Solicin.r.Gene•
nal meeld he present wises the order was taken that the house
p tab amentittee s the bill. Some hon. members might
=Wt the semetmonte in this bill were similar to thou
bill of the hoe. member for Tavistock. The object
of Ibis la however, was wholly different. That bill ap-
plied to case' where it wee alleged that the wits's, was not
glibleat to the ordinary obligations of an oath. When a
was devoid of religious belief the objection wa• made
]sus
opposieg ammo' that the oath was not binding, but
the peewees to whom this bill would apply were preemie who
themselves stated that they had • conscientious objection
be SWIM. sal alau requested that they might make an
sibrmatioe instead.

Kr. BPOONER said his right hop frisod (Mr &Mout)
did not object to the bill, nor did he; bet he objected to the
bill Wes taken in the absence of the law *deniers of the
aroma sad of the HOMO Secretary, w►eat that time wee sot
a the boom.

Ilr. H N PAST said be inteaded to divide the house
apart the second readies of the bill. The effect of this
/ill mid that of the hoe. member for Tavietock would be the
samy sad both would take from the promedimp in our
swab the sweeties of religion.
Kr. ff. EncoußT thee withdrew his amendment.

Zr. ZINN therespee armed tt,t the bill to reed
sermonise Salts six meth&
Hr. KU eseeris4 cutter • short theoulAioa, io which
Ilk DAMN OIMMTR ef=sithe arm Mr. ROVICCII
ermseled tbe hese
he the send reedirm
Apisat it
TRAMWAYS (IRELAND) DILL

65
31- 31

TM Imes wen into sommittee on this bill, resuming st
slew 3, wigs& wadi alarms 4, .1, 6, $, 9, sad 10 ware
411018 a M.
Ir. PUTT maxi ma additional clause, ;riving to pews,
I. appear ea lie inquiry him, the mod Jury, in
Psi se their approval el Use undertaking, power to trireme
mai appseval. sob** I. attain rsgalatisea
The abase was spied Se, and tbro lame mimed.