The Express.
London, England, 1861-05-15 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS,

shush ; to la practice there was not that irregularity which
under the limes of the law might haws taken piece. lii JY
out of Ho cases the it. ran catholic church required
cation by hums, and there was so desire that Key mercer
should suit. He had no doubt but that if any' reaeneahle
mode were presente4 to the heeds of the Roman catholic
church for obtaining publicity they would willingly swede
to it. The other division of marriages celebrated b Roman
catholic priests consisted of what we should call mined
marriage,. There the legislature had stepped in and in-
t•rt•red with the common Lew right of the priest. An
act we, passed 100 years ago in the Irish parliament, which
provided that any marriage celebrated by a Roman catholic
' pt Test, and where one of the ponies during the previous 12
mouths had professed him or herself a protestant, should
be ail utterly invalid marriage. The ingenuity of the Irish
hsoliament could not possibly have contnved a greater
ardship and absurdity. He would say, once a marriage had
been solemnised do nut let it be voidable for
over which one of tho )artier could not have had any con-
trol. That was a provision which should not continue on
the statute book. He would suggest that you should put
the Roma catholic pried tu the same footing with regard
to mixed marriages as clerzymen of other &looming.
tions. Let them celebrate these mixed marriages, provided
there be publutty, the same as any other marriage.
He Ito that the hon. and learned member for Cork would
not pyres him motion fora royal commission to inquire into
the marriage law of the three kingdoms, and with thee,
observations he should °occlude by miming, as an amend-
ment, that a select committee be appointed to inquire into
the law affecting the contract and celebration of marriages
in Ireland.
Mr. WHITICRIDE seconded the motion.

Mr. SCULLY Bahl he hid not intended his motion as
as amendment, or as anything hostile to the proposition
of the honourable member for Belfast, but merely
as an extension of the idea of the honourable
gentleman. If his honourable friend were prepared
to state that the proposed committee would set to work
immediately, and would report io time to enables biU to be
brought in this manioc, he should Dot oppose such • pro-
But in consequence of an answer he had received
rem the Chief Secretary for Irelaoil, that the government
were Dot prepared to legislate upon the subject this session,
h• use under the impression that the difficultiere is the mer-
rier law of Ireland would not form the groundwork of any
legislative measure during the present year. The hon.
▪ learned member coucluded by moving tbat • humble ed.
dram be promoted to her Majesty praying that she would
be pleased to issue a royal oommission to inquire into the
marriage laws of Engl and, of Ireland, and of Scotland rm
spectre*.

OiItDWELL rid it was not his iatentice to object
to the proposal of the boo. and 'wool member for Belfast,
sad he hoped the him. and learned member for Cork would
sot press hu amendment.

Mr. DAWSON said the autionwyment of the Secretary
for Ireland would give peat satisfaction in the north of
Ireland, and he thought is select committee was the proper
tribune' to deal with the question, which war one et the
plainest importance.
XL BUTT observed that legislation in this matter would
be iselsetive mikes it solved the difficulty with regard to
searroges ii whkii • it.ubt might mamas to the religion of
the parties.

Mr. X'MAHON observed that that was a question which
turald properly be inquired into by the committee.
Mr. SCULLY. shoe • few observations, mid he had no
objection to withdraw We anteadmen•

Yr. Y. OTERRALL rid the appointment of this com-
mittee would mom great alarm in Ireland. On the part o:
the huh Roman catholic bishop,. and a large portion of the
laity, he protested against the appointment of this com-
mittee.

--"fieerneedinent was thee withdrawn, and the motion for
the appointment of the committee was agreed to.

PLACES OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP IN IRELAND.
Mr. WHAHON moved for leave to bring in • bill to
made religious coogrepttions in Ireland to obtain sites for
places of worship.
Leave was 'men, sad the bill was read • drat time.
WOOLWICH DOCKYARD.
Mr. ANOER.MTEIN moved far eopy of the reports of
the officers of Woolwich Dockyard. and of the prlacipal
officers of the Admiralty, on the errors, referred to in the
eighteenth clause of the third head of the report of the
royal commissioners appututed to inquire into the eootrol
sad management of her Majesty's naval yards, ma having
been discovered in certain accounts in the department of the
storekeeper, the accountant, sad the chief engineer of
Woolwich Dockyard. The hem. member was proceeding to
read extracts from the report of the royal commission
which sat cm this subject, when an hon. member moved
that the house be counted.

There out b;ting forty numbers prompt, tho house ad.
jotustud at tin In/Mtn to 7 o'clock.