The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-12 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—THIS DAY.
The SPEAKER took the chair after twelve o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Mid-Sussex and Midhurst Junction Railway Bill
was read a second time.

PETITIONS.
Mr. BALL presented a petition from Cambridge in fa-
vour of the Marriages of Affinity Bill.
Mr. J. EWART presented 37 petitions from Liverpool to
the same effect.

Mr.MONCKiON MILNES also presented several to the
same effect.

Mr. D UNCOMBE presented two petitions from places
in York against the revised code.
Mr. JAMES CLAY presented petitions from Hull to
the same effect, as did also Mr. Jois- LOCKS from the
trustees and managers of St. George's National Schools,
Southwark.

MARRIAGES OF AFFINITY BILL.
On the order of the day being read for gcing into com-
mittee on this bill,
Mr. HUNT moved as an amendment, that the house go
into committee on this bill that day six months. ;He con-
sidered that as the second reading of the bill was only
carried by a majority of 11, and as there were a great many
Scotch and Irish members who had not at the time made
their appearance in the house, he was fully justified in
again asking the house to discuss the merits of the mea-
sure. If the measure was to become law the result would
be that a great social revolution would be effected in the
end, and consequences of which no one could predict, for if
they once opened the door to marriage with a deceased
wife's sister, what was to hinder them to go further
and allow a man• to marry his wife's niece or his wife's
mother. It would in fact be a throwing back the stream of
civilisation, and introducing, so far as marriage was con-
cerned, something of that cystem which was in existence—
" lc% hen wild in woods the naked savage ran."

It was said that it was a poor man's question, but if it was
so, why was there such exertions made to get up petitions
in its favour, and se much money paid for the signatures
attached to them. If it was a poor man's question the poor
man would come forward voluntarily in support of it, and
would not require all the drilling, and hunting up, and
money payments to cause him to support it which had
been had recourse to.

The amendment having been seconded, there were loud
cries for a division, in the midst of which
Mr. BALL rose and supported the measure. He took
his authority for doing so from the Word of God, and from
the manner in which such marriages were viewed by the
Jews, to whom the Divine law respecting them was pro-
mulgated. There could be no doubt that the Jews of old
tolerated such marriages, and that being so, he saw no
reason why they should restrict them by legislative enact-
ment. In regard to the question being one in which the
poorer classes were interested, he could only say that were
they to take the opinion of those classes on the point, they
would find them almost unanimous as to the propriety of
permitting such marriages. In matters ,where there was
no political agitation, the poor never interested them-
selves much, and especially in cases of this nature,
where they knew they were utterly powerless, they did not
come forward; but, as he had said, there could be no doubt
that they were all in favour of the measure.
Mr. MONSELL said he quite agreed with the doctrine
that it was wrong to keep a law on the statute book which
was adverse to the feelings of the great body of the people ;
and, consequently, the people of Ireland and Scotland being
unanimous in their opposition to this measure, he protested
against the measure being thrust upon them. There was
one question to which the hon. member who had charge
of the measure was bound to answer; and that was,
where were they to stop in this downward stream
of legislation, which had been inaugurated by
the establishment of the Divorce Court. He be-
lieved that there was nothing in the Scripture
strictly prohibiting such marriages, but the prohibition of
them was in consequence of the establishment of Christian
society. It was so in the time of Theodosian, and was so
at the time of the establishment of Christianity in France,
and in this country it had been so from the time that St.
Augustine raised the sacred banners of Christianity in
Kent down to the present time. In all those cases such
marriages, though held as permitted by scripture, were
considered incompatible with a state of social Christian
society, just the same as slavery, though not prohibited in
scripture,_ was repugnant to the feelings of every Christian
mind. He should, therefore, oppose the measure, and, if
unsuccessful in his opposition to the present stage of it, he
should afterwards move, that Ireland be exempted from its
operation. (Hear, hear )
Sir W. JOLLIFFE said while he was doubtful whether it
would be wise to extend the measure to Ireland and Scot-
land, he was certain that the present state of the law was
most unsatisfactory, and that something was absolutely ne-
cessary to be, done to place it on a better footing. He must
say that he could never discover the evil consequences
which it was said would result from such marriages. He
considered, on the contrary, that the prohibition of such
marriages was the cause of the greatest evils, and he should
sordially support the measure.
Mr. GREGSON, atter referring to the immense num-
ber of petitions presented in favour of the measure as com-
pared with those against it, the former amounting to over
a million, and the latter not exceeding one hundred and
forty thousand, gave his cordial assent to the measure.
The House then divided, when there appeared—
For going into committee,

Against it,
Majority against going into committee, —32
The announcement of the numbers was received with
loud cheers from the opponents of the measure, and the bill
is lost.

MARRIAGES (IRELAND) DILL.
This bill was read a second time, and ordered to be com
mitted on this day three months.

CONSOLIDATED FUND (t 18,000,000) BILL.
This bill was read a second time, and ordered to be corn.
mitted. _

SMALL HOUSES EXEMPTION (SCOTLAND)
BILL.
Sir J. OGILVY obtained leave to bring in a bill to pro-
vide for the exemption of houses of small annual value
from the payment of poor's assessment. The bill was
afterwards brought in and read a first time.•
WHIPPING (No. 2) BILL.
Mr. HADFIELD obtained leave to bring in a bill to
amend the law as to the whipping of juvenile and other
offenders.