The Sun.
London, England, 1852-06-11 00:00:00

JUNE 11, 1852

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, June 10.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woolsack
at Five o'clock.

PETITIONS.
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY presented petitions,
from Bolton egainst the Militia Bill ; from several me-
tropolitan parishes azainst betting-houses, and a number
of petitions, from different places in the United King-
dom, against the Maynoath grant.
Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition from certain
lords of manors, in Somersetehire, in favour of the en-
franchisement of copyholda.
Lord MONTEAGLE presented two petitions, from
Limerick against the Ecclesiastical Titles Act.
The Earl of ABERDEEN presented a petition from
Paisley to the same effect; also a petition from Jamaica,
praying for relief to the distressed interests of the island.
The Apprehension of Deserters from Foreign Ships
Bill was read a third time and passed.
On the motion of Lord COLCHESTER the Differen-
tial Dues Bill passed through Committee.
On the motion of the Earl of SHAFTESBURY the
General Board of Health Bill was read a second time.
On the motion of Lard COLCHESTER the Public
Works Bill passed through Committee.

LAW OF EVIDENCE (SCOTLAND) BILL.
On tho motion for the third reading of this Bill,
Lord BROUGHAM said it was quite impossible,
supposing that this Bill passed, that the law of
evidence in Scotland should remain for long in the con-
dition in which it would be placed by the Bill. He hoped
that the whole law of evidence as it now stood in Eng-
land would very soon be extended to Scotland.
After a few words from the Earl of MINTO and Lord
CAMPBELL, the Bill was read a third time and passed.
On the motion of the Earl of HARROWBY, the In-
dustrial and Provident Societies Bill pas3cd through
Committee.

LOCAL TAXATION.
Earl FITZWILLIAM rose, pursuant to notice, to
present a petition from the Wellingborough Union
(Northamptonshire), on the subject of local taxation.
The question was one of considerable importance at the
present moment, and, taken in connexion with a re-
markable document which had been recently published
by a member of her Majesty's Government, was of
especial interest. The document to which he alluded
was one of very great importance; but emanating, as it
did, from the Minister who was specially charged with
the administration of the finances of the country, the
interest and value attaching to it could not be too highly
appreciated. The document to which he referred had
appeared in the usual channel of information; it had
attached to it the name of the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer, and it stated that " in preparing the financial state-
ment for the year, it was officially represented to me
that I must contemplate, in estimating the produce of the
income-tax, a diminution of rent not much less in
amount than 5,000,0001. sterling." But then he wont on
to state, and this was a remarkable passage to which he
(Earl Fitz withal:o was desirous of drawing their Lord-
ships' attention, that " practically speaking, in this coun-
try rent has become a return for the capital invested in
the improvement of land; that laws to secure a return
for inch investment are not for a moment to be
tolerated " a most important admission—a most
remarkable expression from so high a quarter—" not
for a moment to be tolerated"—their Lordships would
observe that it was not a question of present policy, but
whether such laws ought to be " tolerated ;" that " laws
to secure a return for such investment are not for a mo-
ment to be tolerated, but laws which, by imposing un-
equal taxes, discourage that investment, are, irrespective
of their injustice, highly impolitic; for nothing contri-
butes more to the enduring prosperity of a country than
the natural deposit of its surplus capital in the improve-
ment of its soil. Justice to the land, in all systems of
finance, is equally the interest of the proprietor and the
farmer, but is is also equally the interest of the commu-
nity." There could be no doubt that justice to every
class of society was the interest of the community.—
(Hear, hear.) But, passing on, he came to the follow-
ing paragraph, which was one of very remarkable im-
port, and which he desired particularly to impress on
their Lordships' minds:—" Every principle of abstract
justice, and every consideration of high policy, counsel
that the producer should be treated as fairly as the con-
sumer, and intimate that when the native producer is
thrown into unrestricted competition with external rivals
it is the duty of the Legislaturetin every way to diminish,
certainly not to increase, the cost of production. It is
the intention cf her Majesty's Ministers"—let their
Lordships observe that—" it is the intention of her
Majesty's Ministers to recommend to Parliament, as
soon as it is in their power, measures which may effect
this end." He (Earl Fitzwilliem) trusted that it was
the intention of her Majesty's Ministers also to carefully
consider the means by which they proposed to accom-
plish that end.—(Cheers.) They were then told what
were the means for accomplishing it. " One of the
soundest means, among others, by which this result may
be accomplished, is a revision of our taxation." Now
here they had the general proposition laid down that
they were to have a total revision of taxation, and it
might be wise and desirable to do that, and the results
of such a revision might perhaps be perfect justice to
all. But he would take leave to say that any great
and extensive changes by which burdens which
had hitherto been imposed upon one class of
the community were transferred to another class of
the community ought not to be lightly undertaken, or
undertaken without a full and careful consideration
of all the consequences that might ensue from adopting
such a step. The document then went on to say—" The
times are favourable to such an undertaking; juster
notions of taxation are more prevalent than heretofore;
powerful agencies are stirring, which have introduced
new phenomena into finance, and altered the complexion
of the fiscal world, and the possibility of greatly relieving
the burdens of the community, both by adjustment and
reduction, seems to loom in the future." Undoubtedly,
if any means could bo adopted by which a reduction of
taxation could be effected it would be exceedingly de-
sirable. But he (the Earl Fitz william) was not one,
of those who were very sanguine with regard to the pos-
sible results of any such measure, and he would now warn
his friends at Wellingborough, who had done him the
honour of intrusting him with their petition, not to be
too sanguine in their expectation of any benefit they
might desire from a general revision of taxation.—(Hear.)
The Noble Earl then laid the petition on the table.
On the motion of Lord REDESDALE, the second re-
port from the Select Committee on the Parliament Office
and office of Gentleman Usher of thißlack Rod, was
considered and agreed to.
WEST INDIAN DISTRESS.
Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from the
Judges of the Supreme Court of Judicature, the Vice-
Chancellor, the Master in Ordinary to the Court of
Chancery, the Chairman of Quarter Sessions, and other
leaders of the legal profession in the island of Jamaica,
representing the distress under which that island, in
common with the other West India islands, was now
labouring under. The petitioners spoke of the dimi-
nished value of property, and the consequent impove-
rished state of the proprietors. They state that although
the actual amount of crime had not increased, yet that
person, comprising fights and as-
offences against the
saults, were greatly on the increase, as exhibited in the
returns of the criminal courts. The petitioners be-
lieved that the state of things which they were suffer-
ing from was attributable to the Act of 1846, reducing
the differential duties on sugar, anclexpres:
expressed
oauldh hope
that their Lordships would ad opt such steps
al-
leviate their sufferings. He felt it to be his duty to read
the statement of the petitioners, and while be differed
from them in the economical view of the question, he
must agree with them that the effect of the Act of 1846
was to increase the slave trade in the Spanish colonies
and the Brazils.
Earl GREY could not agree with the Noble and
Learned Lord that the Act of 1846 had the effect which
the petitioners attributed to it. On the contrary, he be-
lieved that it very materially, in conjunction with the
squadron on the African coast, diminished it. The
papers which had been laid on the table showed that
slavery during tne last five years, as compared with the
five preceding years, had very much diminished; and at
that moment the parties in Cuba wore so satisfied with
what they saw resulting from free labour, that they
were taking measures for the introduction of 8,000
Chinese labourers.
The Bishop of OXFORD laboured under the inability
to maintain silence when ho heard the sentiments just
uttered by the Noble Earl. end those also given ex-
pression to by the Noble and Learned Lord (Brougham).
He could not allow the statem(nt of the Noble Earl to
pass without protesting against it, believing, as he did,
that the statement contained in the petition presented by
the Noble and Learned Lord, attributing their distress
to the Act of 1846, wee correct. He believed that the
necessary aspect of that Act was to give a great
stimulus to the increase of slavery, the demoralization
of the people, and the promotion of the produce
of slave grown sugar in the Brazils. Slaves continued
to be largely imported from Africa, showing clearly one
of the bad effects of the Act of 1846. The Noble Earl
had told them, however, that the introduction of Chinese
labour into Cuba was attributable to the Act of 1846,
but he must protest against the arguments of the Noble
Earl, and against the cause of justice being defeated on
this great and most important question.
Lord BROUGHAM presented another petition to the
same effect, from the President and Associates of the
College of Surgeons in Jamaica.
Lord BROUGHAM, in presenting a petition from
the Board of Council, and Council of the Assembly of

Antigua, complainingof distress, said the inhabitants of
that island were deserving of the respectful attention of
their Lordships, seeing that they had the distinguished
honour of emancipating their slaves, without waiting for
the operation of the "apprenticeship" clause. The pe,
touers prayed that the House would take into their
serious consideration what steps could be adopted for
the alleviation of the sufferings of the people of a]:
island, and would to Heaven that he could see any
chance of the Legislature of this country being able to
afford them effectual relief, for he entirely concurred I
that they were most deserving of it.
The Bishop of OXFORD presented a petition on the
same subject, and with a similar pcayer, from the colo-
nists of British Guiana, in
theno t petitionerson l
y
vol.
de-
clared that the singl© Act of 18461eiia
d
the slave trade.
them, but encouHraAgendßt
The Earl of
the
m2ur.
..tr presented a petition from
the colonists of ttius, showing that the impor-
tation of cooli,s had been accomplished to a considerable
extent, and at a very considerable expense, and praying
for the further introduction of free labour into the
colony. The Noble
presented a memorial
from the island of 5,., Earlii t alese
, Nest lndies, complaining '
of the evils arising to the morals of the population from
recent legislation,House to adopt some
remedy to effect an imiirrjellgstathtee of the law.
The Earl of DERBY beg,,,,d
clergy
present a memorial
on the same subject f, om the
tions in the island of Jamaica. Th"egyet)tf' all
sdebnoorme denomina-
tions
tes-
timony not only to the distress fromp petitioners
the island
Was buffering, but to the negro population lapsing

into a state cf consequent immorality. The petition
was signed by 69 clergymen of the Chirch of England,
and 83 clergymen of other denominations, including
Wesley-ails, Baptists, Independents, and Roman Catho-
lics, all concurring that the negro population were ra-
pidly lapsing into their former state of ignorance Lead
vice, and that the evil was attributable to the Act of
1846. The petitioners hoped that their Lordships would
apply some remedy to relieve them from the injurious
operations of the Differential Duties Ach The effect
of that Act, the petitioners submitted, exposed them to
a most unequal competition. There v.'es no question
but sugar could be produced more easily and less ex-
pensively by slave than free labour, and it certainly
seemed advisable that their Lordships should take the
case of the petitioners into consideration, with a view
of adopting some course that would place the West
Indies in a better position than they were at present.
He confessed he entertained the most serious apprehen-
sions, in consequence of the distress from which the co-
lonists were suffering, and the consequent demoraliza-
tion of the negro population.
Earl GREY—The Noble Earl had said that the de-
moralization of the negro population was to be attri-
buted to the Act of 1846. Their Lordships would allow
him to make a few observations in reply to the Noble
Earl. There had been papers laid on the table of their
Lordships' House in abundance, which showed that the
Act of 1846 had not boon the cause of the result attri-
buted to it. He had the testimony of officers in the
highest position in the West Indies to that effect, and
that all the evils now stated were in full operation before
the measure came into operation, the falling back of the
negroes from a state of civilization included. The
country was so favourable in its production, that the
negroes finding that they could, on the produce of two
days, live the rest of the week without working, became
idle; and as a remedy to obviate that evil, it was con
sidered that to lower the price of sugar would have the
effect of lowering wages, and cause the negro to labour
more for his subsistence. The anticipations thus formed
had been realised, and it was now found that in every
one of the colonies the negroes laboured more, and that
the produce of 1851 exceeded that of 1850 in every one
of the colonies. Now that was the way in which the an-
ticipations of the Act of 1846 had been realised. Ho
asserted on a former occasion what he advanced now—
that the evils complained of had not been increased by
the Act of 1846.
The Duke of NORTEIUMBERL AND was understood
to say that since he had come into office the Admiral in
command on the West India station had reported to him
that all the evils complained of were attributable to the
Act of 1846.
The Bishop of OXFORD was sensible of the diffi-
culty of discussing a measure like this incidentally. The
Noble Earl's argument was, that the real distress in the
West India colonies was not attributable to the Act of
1846; and the Noble Earl then went on to say that the
negroes, in the first instance, were overpaid, and did
not care to labour more than two days in the week, and
that therefore a reduction was thought desirable, as a
means to cause them to labour more. Now, that was the
argument of the Noble Earl; but in his (the Bishop of
Oxford's) opinion, the Noble Earl's argument was no
answer to the evils complained of. They gave their de-
liberate opinion that as they saw things under their own
eyes, :the Act of 1846, instead of producing the
desired effect, bad led almost to the lapse of this whole
people into barbarism. There was a universal belief
that it was impossible to compete with free labour.
There was also an impression amongst capitalists
throughout Europe that they could not offer any satis-
factory security for the investment of capital. There-
fore they could obtain no advances for the improvement
of their manufacture, or their estates and machinery.
Capitalists did not hesitate to make large investments
in Cuba and Brazilian estates, which benefited in cense-
qeence, while Jamaica was suffering from the want of
them. He felt the difficulty of dealing with this subject.
It seemed to him that what they were doing with one
hand, they were undoing with the other. While they
were preventing the slave trade in Africa, and the intro-
duction of slaves into our colonies on the one hand, they
were on the other stimulating the production of slaves
grown sugar in the Brazils and Cuba.
Earl GREY denied that there was any want of em-
ployment in Jamaica from a decrease in the manufacture
of sugar. The quantity of sugar produced in the colony
had increased, and was increasing, But wages, he ad-
mitted, had fallen some 15 or 20 per cent. His argu-
ment was, that their security was so bad that they could
not get capital for improvements. However, notwith-
standing the indisposition of the planters to adapt them-
selves to the existing state of things, and the dependence
upon the supposition of a return to protection, there had
eeen more improvements in the colony during the last
five or six years than during the preceding twenty or
thirty years.
The Earl of HARROWBY read a paper, showing
the increase in the production of sugar in the Brazils
and in Cuba. During the last ten years it had increased
in the Brazils from 82,000 tons to 235,000 tons, and in
Cuba, from 63,000 to 111,000 tons. Upon the average
of years it eppeared that, with some few exceptions,
there had been a gradual decrease in the production of
sugar in Jamaica. They had also exported machinery
to the Havannah and Cuba, which would not have been
done if they could have obtained a profitable return from
their estates.

Lord STANLEY (of Alderley), who was nearly in-
audible, was understood to say, that since emancipation
the cultivation of sugar had increased in Europe, and
that had tended to decrease the price of sugar in the
market. He thought more was made of the effect of
the Act of 1846 than was justly deducible from its
operation.

The conversation then dropped, and their Lordships
adjourned.

ROUSE OF COMMONS, June 10.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
NAVAL RESERVE.
Sir F. BARING said he wished to know what was
to be done with the sum which had been voted in the
estimates' for the naval reserve. He understood that
the Admiralty bad considered their plan, and had relin-
quished all idea of carrying it out. Did they intend to
apply the 40,0001. which had been voted for this pur-
pose to keeping up a force larger than that for which
they had taken a vote? If he were rightly informed he
believed that they would find, if the Admiralty went on
in the system they were now pursuing, that the esti-
mates which they had taken would not cover their ex-
penses. There were rumours afloat that there was no sur-
plus at all, and he should be glad to know if there was
any foundation for it.—(Hear, hear.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER agreed
with the opinion that had been expressed respecting the
Accountant-General. There was no foundation in the
report that the rate of expenditure exceeded the esti-
mate.—(Hear.) He would net enter into any discussion
respecting the navy reserves, but the House might rest
satisfied that the Admiralty expenditure would not ex-
ceed the amount justified by the estimate which had
been voted by the House.--(Hear, hear.) A great de-
mand had bean made upon the Admiralty inconsequence
of the gold discoveries, but no increase would be made
in the number of man, should such an increase ulti-
mately become necessary, until the matters requiring it
had been fully explained to Parliament—(Hear.)
Sir F. BARING wished to know if the rate of expen-
diture bad exceeded that of last year?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought
he had already stated that it had not.—(llear, hear.)
Mr. W. WILLIAMS was glad to hear that Ho was
quite ready to vote money to make the navy efficient,
provided the money was properly applied.
COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY.
The SPEAKER then left the Chair, and the House
went into Committee on the question that 4,4691. be
voted for the miscellaneous allowances on the civil list.
Mr. ANSTEY objected to several items comprised in
the estimate, and moved that the vote be reduced to
2,6691. The items which he principally objected to were
7001. for poor French refugee clergy, 3001. for poor
French refugee laity,ll7sl. for charitable and oth.r
allow-
ances formerly paid from the civil list, and 4001. for the
College of St. David's, Lampeter, in aid of the expendi-
ture4ool.
of the college. His objection to the grant_
is con-
viction that the students at that college received o
to SC. David's College was founded h un
efficient instruction in the Welsh language.was also
I s no
taob
e sectarian
supportedestablishment,
the
p aabnl
io and
o n ey'.
of the college,
form that reHasooncooungsihdterneodt
that, under the present circumstances
et
ihdee
red f
comingraudul
forewnat.
Mr. HAMILTON forward to ask for this grant must be con_
a few explanations on
the objects to whichhlemba• had referred,
though, if he had consulted
would
thelt eolid ffoetrnh. e report of the Select
With
ehack t a
he
s
far as the time of the revocation of the edict of Nantes,
Committee on that subject, he would have obtained the
ivnoftermfoarttiohne Frenchhe seenireedf utgoerees it mq,
uirei to.e regardterrgh ed to
and in his opinion to evoke that grant now would be an
act of great hardship and injustice. In respect of the
grant of 891.93. to the Bishop of Scdor and Man, it
Was also a very ancient one, having been made so far
back as the year 1766. The subject of the vote to St.
David's College had been already :so fully discussed that
it was unnecessary for him to enter into the question,
but ho must say, that ho did not consider that the Ikon.
Member had shown sufficient reason for discontinuicg
this grant.
Mr. BOOKER oemid,red the charges made by the
Hon. Member for Youghal entirely untenable. This
opinion was formal upon mortal 'Knowl edge the subject. With regard to the allegations of tneof Hon.
Member, that the returns of the college had been frau-
dulent, he would read a letter from the vice-principal of
the college: (The lion. Member then read a letter, with
the view of showing that there had never been
even a mornantary concealment.) Interested as
he was in the subjec', ho should not have
considered himself to be doing his duty if he had silently
listened to the allegations so recklessly made.
were
BENJAMIN HALL considered thatyotral w
re
allega-
tions of the Honourable Member for ag
the managers
in the main correct. He would defy
of the college to produce the returns
proving that there had been grossHeoonsidered that the
io the affairs of the college.
rather carried out the
letter read by his Hon. Friend rather anakidanfoarnawgietmhoentitt
been made. It had
notion that fraudulent returns
that the ext;rcises in the
on ono occasion been shownof the studensts..,..cpanadviiddraste.
For
Welsh language of
illiterate thatt
notwheleydgweeroef Sent
ordination, had beetoBll°tlnßh:eee
rpyr principal
el of back as specimen: a
practical purposes was necessary. The Replan Catholic.;
bad established a Jesuit Celle f
Nor, permit a single man to go forth to
Collet; rom
Welsh larent,g
nl
unless he be so
jpiwanrhneNgiaccitt lhel e11117,6a Pe:11 IS:
Gospel
a ya
b. usefulpa
c e
di n. ucc°loll ry Conversant
the ew peopleth the
anronrgd whomE74LITN could not reconcile the Hon. Baronet's
language in this place with his actions in other parts of
the country. He Ives convinced that any imformation
upon the expenditure of the college could easily be
obtained.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
the question had been brought before the House Oil
morning. He begged to say that he would take the
matter into his cosideration, with a view to what hebelieved to be the interests of all parties ; but during
the present session it would be impossible to consider
the question.
Mr. AGLIONBY supported the vote, and the House
then divided, when there appeured—
For the motion... ... 17
Against it ... 57
Majority against the motion —4O
SUPPLY.
I he House then went into a Committee of Supply.
6001. for the Female Hospital, Dublin, and 6001 for the
Female Orphan House, Dublin, were agreed to.
1,5001. for the Westmoreland Lock Hospital.
1,0501. for Stephen's Hospital, Dublin.
2,660/. for the Fever Hospital, Cork-street, Dublin.
3501. for the Hospital for Incurables.
38,5601. for Non-coniorming, acceding, and Protes-
tant Ministers,
Mr. ANSTEY said he now wished to call the atten-
tion of the Committee to the notorious vote called the
Regium donum, Rion the subject of which ho complained
that no information had been given. He believed that
the great bulk of the Dissenting ministers of Ireland did
ngint
teorosratticnattothnh,neett,mihpnsuoeßan
promotion
congregations require
ha this i s
petitioned grant, an
thatd that
Houseth e Pr eagainstsY
etiiLomnildoefoneebeemiliig,e
ion but
dtbhuet otherofboj object
similare
tt hoe f thep u prMoesnaeteso7l ast
se-
curingoyterianthseregjoeeedtedoptihneion of the lower classes. The Pees-
it was a source of discord and snipicion among them• grant with scorn; the existence It
was was believed that the most worthy objects were not
selected, and that their orthodoxy (in the Scoto-Cal"
tic sense) was not consulted. They represented that thee
grant, therefore, was made use of to pervert members or
their body from the original profession of Geneva. 11°ws
ever, he considered that all endowments or grants, casual
or permanent, for religious purposes, should CeaSe• A
therefore should move the rejection of the vote, and
divide against it.
Mr. G. A. HAMILTON said the Hon. Member could
know little of the Presbyterian body if he supposed they
could be bribed by such a vote.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. ANSTEY—I never said so.
Mr. G. A. HAMILTON said he had so understood the
Hon. Member, and begged to deny it. The fact was,
that at the time of James 1., when a body of Presby-
terians came from Scotland, it was stipulated that there
should be a public grant for their ministers. Thil
_ are arrangement had repea'edly been recognised h_y P lia-
meat, and he was persuaded it would not be disturbed.
—(Hear, hear.) It was not true that there had been
any application from the Presbyterians of Ireland to dis-
continue
ftinureomthtehem grancto;ioanugd.oPoanrtliinanmeednatnwnoussi
ldsthaanredel.y with-
drawCeptain JONES asserted that the Hon. Member for
Youghal had made a most unfounded statement in re-
presenting that the Presbyterians required their loyalty
to be secured by bribes.—(Hear, hear.) The efforts of
their ministers were most assiduous to maintain order
and peace.—(Hear, hear.) Let the Presbyterian coun-
ties be compared with others as to the stet° of crime, or
the cost of constabulary.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. HUME said the objection to the vote involved CO
)u
Ittawk ea
spturbuleicome ovnoetey
hi fa
dt hbeeyemc onuelgdegneitni
t.'
imputation upon the character of the Presbyteriaota for
l
but times had much altered since then.t
days(s Ll a (Laughter.) nht. t
,lames,wer
o.
t
nts should haveaid i n
religiousnglnd ? grants, W 8 itf
rh
Catholicst
The objection to it was one of principle. Should one
i
nDeiswseenretesros be paid by Government in Ireland,
bad nee? Let every man
Pl‘)v ri).lciltne son::
pay for his own parson, a, for
his own doctor.—(A laugh.) The Presbyterians ought
to pay their own clergy, as other religious classes,
should. No less than 520 clergymen were paid out et ,
this vote—a
paltry pittance for each—which it was dis-
creditable that so rich a body should allow their clog/
to receive.
Mr. STANFORD said he thought the Hon. Member
had spoken a great deal of common sense. But he con-
fessed that he often found himself placed in a very ent:
bA.rrassing pdsition with respect to votes in Committee
_
of Supply, by reason of the anomalies comprised in the
British Constitution.—(Hear, hear.) He was in favour
of an Established Church, but it was hardly consistent
to support it, and at the same-time to support votes ler
the maintenance of other religious communities. Resew
no good reason for the vote, and if it were carried to a
division, he must vote against it. It was most monstrous
and also to vote public money to keep up religious sects
to call upon Members to uphold all Established Church,
opposed to it.—(Hear.) It was time that some consis-
tent and sensible course should be taken upon the sub-
ject; and he should pursue such a course iu the present
instance.
Mr. FOX considered no sound reason had hem given
for the grant. It had risen from 8,000/. to 38,000/.
And so much was it viewed with aversion in the Pres-
byterian body, that ministers sometimes had been come
pelled to relinquish it or resign their posts. One *es,.
tion to the grant was that it was distributed in proponi°°
to the number of congregations, which, of course, was
great inducement to constant division of congregations-
The
Presbyteriansgrant also i
ntended
supportingto depress
their the
religionp rop. Even e r z pra lof n
thotshee
who shares tie grant hill scruples in receiving it; and
one who was te scat inconsistency
against Reis a
eon his own
principles, sail his co iscienee went
minister of religion, but he consiiesed that he received
it es a politiciau,—(A laugh.)
Mr- W. PROSSER said all these grants were, in his
oninion, injurious to the religious denominations en..
Cowed and to the religious character of the State; for
the State to endow half a dozen religions was really al-
most tantamount to practical infidelity.—(Hear, hear.)
There were great anomalies on the subject, and no
which
clear
principle established. In England a religion was estab
•
reli-
gion
of the majority. In Scotland a religion was estab-
lishedwhiliehed which was considered true, and was also the
altogether different, and in Ireland one
was only thereligion of tho minority. No principle was
followed, therefore; neither the truth of a religion nor
its being that of the majority.—(Hear.) The state of
the Irish Church being so anomalous, he could not while
it existed hastily alter the position of other relig, j
ious
m
comunities.—(Hear.) The whole qnestion req
_ed
investigation and adjustment upon sound and statesman-
like
principles.
Mr. WILLIAMP ClVsed the Er4nt? a 131.°°:1(14. VC°