The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-05 00:00:00

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LONDON, THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1863.

In the House of Commons yesterday afternoon,
Mr. HADFIELD moved the third reading of the
Qualification for Offices Abolition and the mo-
tion was seconded by Mr. BAINES. Mr. NEWDE-
GATE, in moving as an amendment that the bill be
read a third time that day six monthE, argued that
as a certain class of dissenters were anxious to de-
spoil the Established Church, such restrictions as
now existed, and which the bill proposed to remove,
were absolutely necessary.
Mr. SELWYN seconded the amendment.
The CrrAtictra.olt of the EXCHEQUER supported
the measure, contending that in the year 1828 Earl
Russell was justified in. adopting the declaration
which constituted the qualification referred to in
the bill ; but times were changed. He was confi-
dent there was no benefit to either Church or Dis-
senters in retaining such a statute, and he thought
it should be got rid of.

Mr. WALPOLE opposed the bill as insignificant.
The Dissenters had unfortunately, some of them
from conscientious motives, others with the avowed
design of attacking the Church, brought forward
so many sweeping measures, that they had raised a
formidable resistance.

Mr. FORSTER having addressed the House in
favour of the bill, and Mr. NEWDEGATE having
replied briefly, the House divided, when the third
reading was carried by a majority of three only—
the numbers being' 175 to 172. The bill was accord-
ingly passed.
Mr. L. KING moved the committal of the Register
of Voters Bill, the principal object of which was the
publication of an alphabetically arranged list of
voters. The motion was opposed by Mr. HoWES,
bat upon a division was agreed to by 129 to 104.
The bill was then passed through committee.
The motion for going into committee on the
Salmon Fisheries (Ireland) Bill led to a long de-
bate, in the course of which Lord FERMOY moved
as
en amendment that the bill be referred to a
select committee.
Mr. Cox (deputy, chairman of the Irish Society)
expressed the sentiments of that body, and sup-
ported the bill, on the
ground that if it were
passed the rapid increase of salmon would shortly
indemnify them for
any loss they might sustain.
Sir R. PEEL having BurTerted the motion for
going into committee,
Mr. HA SSARD, amid cries of “Divide,„
moved
the adjournment cf the debate, which being
seconded by Major Edwards, was agreed to, and
the matter stands over till Wednesday the 25th

instant.
Leave was given to Mr. COLLINS to bring in a
bill to further limit and define the time for pro-
ceeding to election during the recess; also a bill to
define and render nidform the mode of measuring
the residence required for electors in cities and
boroughs.

The house adjourned at a few minutes before six
o'clock.

The narrow majority which carried the third
reading of the Qualification for Offices Abolition
Bill last evening will probably occasion some sur-
prise. The retention of such obsolete old statutes,
remnants of the bigoted intolerance of former gene-

rations, is at best profitless, and more frequently
mischievous in its effects. According to Mr.
HADFIELD the declaration in question, notwith-
standing the severe penalties attached to
its omission, is not made in nine cases out of ten,
and he positively asserts that for the last 30 years
none of the highest officers of State have signed.
Where then can be the nee of retaining such an
utterly useless act. The answer to Mr. WALPOLE'S
query, Why do you propose it ? is readily met.
The measure is proposed in orderlto get rid of a cum-
bersome and obsolete act, originally passed to re-
place the shameful Test Act, whose abolition was
so hotly contested by a former generation. When
we remember the opposition made to that very
necessary reform, we shall most of us be -willing to
admit that the restrictions thought indispensable
by the Legislators of that day, may be totally
unsuited to the increased enlightenment and
toleration of our own times. It is diffi•
cult to see on what grounds the opposition
to it is founded. The most eager enthusiasts for
the welfare of the Church of England could
scarcely suppose such a statute added to her
dignity or influence. The most fearful and anxious
of the guardians of her wealth and power could
hardly insult her by the supposition that such a
regulation contributed much to her authority.
There would be very little concern expressed by
the great body of the English public were a Catholic,
or a Dissenter elevated to the highest official dig-
nities. It would be felt that there were safeguards
social, political, and religious in plenty

for all that Englishmen cared to preserve,
and that it would be very unlikely that

these gentlemen would, in accordance with ancient
suspicions, upon their elevation, forthwith attempt

to undermine the hard-won liberties of England.
Why then should we retain this Qualification for
Offices Act ? The crowding of our Statute Book
by extinct or useless laws, the retention of acts
which we never intend to put in force, is not the
way to secure respect either for our religion or our
legislation. Surely it is time these petty insults

to our fellow-citizens were swept into de-
served oblivion ; that churchmen should have
more confidence in their church than to de-
clare it rests upon such fragile foundations, or is
propped by such tottering supports. The speech
of the Chancellor of the Exchequer last night was
strongly in support of the measure, which the
member for the University of Oxford could hardly
advocate if it were really prejudicial to the inte-
rests of the establishment. Tests and qualifications
of this kind belong to a bygone age, the age that
insisted on the retention of Catholic disabilities,
and denied the Jews the rights of citizens. It
has been found by the experience of every suc-
ceeding age that they are worse than useless, for
the over-scrupulous men who might refuse
them would be very safe officials, while the crafty,
dishonest, or unscrupulous candidate, whose
appointment might really be attended with danger,
would certainly not hesitate to pronounce a brief
formula, We regret to see so much opposition
manifested to so desirable and, at the same time, so
harmless a measure, and only trust the Lords will
have too much good sense to reject it. There
is one fact that might teach the in-
tolerant a lesson if they were not almost

hopeless scholars: It is that it has never
been found neceesary or even desirable to retrace
any step in favour of toleration. Often have rulers,
statesmen, and peoples rued the fierce and relent-
less strifes into which intolerance has drawn them ;
often have reluctant concessions been extorted from
unwilling Administrations ; but our whole expe-
rience confirms the fact that to broaden our legis-
lation is to advance our social and religious progress;
that every fresh struggle successfully terminated
increases our security, our prosperity, our
internal wellbeing. This is not a land or an age
when oaths and restrictions are needed to make men
do their duty to their country. Let us hope that it
is not a time when we shall consent to retain on our
statute book rules and regulations strictly specified
which are never put in practice, and whose prin-
ciples all men of common sense and enlightenment
would strongly disavow.

On going into Committee of Supply this evening
on the Navy Estimates, Mr. COBDEN is "to call
attention to the large number of obsolete vessels of
war in the British Navy, and to offer some observa-
tions on the conduct of our naval administration
which has produced this state of things"—and a fine
field he has for trying his logic of facts. The num-
ber of vessels built long ago and put aside from the
fancy of successive controllers of th© Navy, is
mainly due to the system—one Board of Ad-
miralty superseding another, undoing the
work of its predecessor. Hence the accummula-
tion till our harbours are almost choked
up with ships that become obsolete only because
they are not kept in employ while new ones are
being built to supply the place of those which are
not wanted ! If we had a Board of Admiralty not
subject to be turned out with every change of Ad-
ministration, these anomalies would not occur.
The working board, being permanent, would
become responsible for its conduct, and an efficient
navy would be the consequence, at a cost, perhaps,
less than half of what we have been paying,
simply for wasting the public money. No wonder,
then, that the dockyards are charged with the
faults of others. The people there employed have no
power to remonstrate, nor, indeed, would it be their
interest to quarrel with those who employ them.
Besides it would be a breach of discipline, as well
as of duty to themselves. But all this comes of
patronage--and patronage is both the bane and
antidote of party. The evil is born of power, and
will be continued by whichever is in office at the
national cost. We think that if one half the ships
lying idle, or perhaps some of those now become
unseaworthy, had been sold out of the service years
ago, our Navy would be more efficient, though less
in nominal strength. And now that a change is
taking place in the material from wocd to iron, see
what a treasure we have amassed of property ren-
dered almost unavailable for further use ! This is
really too. much of a good thing.

Some infatuation seems to pervade the conduct
of all those who take upon themselves to arrange
the plan and supervise the details of the Royal Pro-
cession. As fast as one difficulty is adjusted
another springs up ; and the last news is that the
civic portion of the show will not be permitted to
proceed with the rest after Temple Bar, There is no
reason given for this arrangement that seems at ali
valid; and even if it were more convenient
for them to take their departure at that
place, the disappointment that this deci-
sion
cimuwiensidltliso:fc.ause to many should have in-
duced the authorities to forego their own ideas on
the
seemstoaetuaties
to get it over, he
ew
motive
tsettleiv eh
w theseieh
arrangements
ttrit'd be done with it as quickly as pos-
sible. Why this notion should have taken posses-
sion of their minds it is difficult to say, since such
an event does not, except under peculiar circum-
stances, occur more than
once in a generation.
It is not likely that many who see
this procession will live to welcome
another Prince of WALES on his bridal march.
Why then should the public be disappointed in so