The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-25 00:00:00

JEWISH DISABILITIES.

BARON ROTHSCHILD AND THE CITY.

A publio meeting was held yesterday, at the London
Tavern, in compliance with the following invitation of
Baron Rothschild to his constituents
" Gentlemen,—l feel it to be my duty to the highly
important constituency which has twice elected me as
one of its representatives to take the earliest opportunity,
after the rejection of the Oath of Abjuration Bill by the
House of Lords yesterday evening, of requesting my con-
stituents to meet me at a public meeting, at the London
Tavern, on Thursday next, at one o'clock, that I may have
an opportunity of consulting them on the best course now
to be pursued, with a view to insure the success of the
cause we all have so much at heart.
" Allow me to remind you that the principle of this
measure has been five times affirmed by the House of
Commons, and five times rejected by the House of Lords.
—I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, your faithful
servant, `°LIONEL DE ROTHSCHILD.
"New-court, July 18, 1851."
Shortly after one o'clock Mr. Baron Rothschild,
entered the room, accompanied by his supporters, and
was loudly cheered. Mr. Alderman Salomons, who
subsequently made his appearance on the platform, was
received with similar demonstrations of applause.
There were present, besides the two Hon. Gentlemen,
Lord Dudley Stuart, M.P., Mr. Macgregor, M.P., Mr.
M.P., Mr. B. Osborne, M.P., Mr. Anderson,
Husephery,
M.P, Mr. Forster, M.P., Mr. Sadleir, M.P., Mr. R. Cur-
rie, Mr. Bennoch, Mr. J. Dillon, Mr. S. Morley, Deputy
Peacock, Baron Meyer Rothschild, and others.
Baron ROTHSCHILD said he had thought it his duty to
call a meeting of his constituents and supporters as soon
after the rejection of the Oath of Abjuration Bill
by the Lords as possible, and judging from the numerous
attendance, and the warm reception he had received, he
had no doubt they thought he was perfectly justified in
taking such a course.—(Hear.) The Hon. Member then
detailed the proceedings in Parliament, which he regretted
had not ended in a satisfactory result. Having availed him-
self of the advice of the best lawyers, he was induced to
consider that his case resembled exactly that of Mr. Pease,
and with such a conviction on his mind, he hoped, by
taking the oaths in the form most binding on his con-
science, he should have been allowed to take his seat in
Parliament.—(Hear.) He had to complain that the
Bill of the Government had been introduced at so late a
period of the session; whether that was, or was not in-
tentional, it had the effect of preventing a demonstration
of the people's feeling on the subject before the close of
Parliament.—(Hear.) This Bill, though rejected by the
Lords, had been passed no less than five times by the Com-
mons, and the question now for consideration was,whether
they should bow to, and obey that decision, or go on ex-
erting themselves until they succeeded in attaining the
great object the electors had in view.—(Cheers.) If the
way
resignation of his seat would in any assist the cause
he was ready to place it at the entire disposal of his
consticuents—(Cheers, and cries of "No")—but
on the contrary, they thought his retaining it was ad-
visable, he was equally ft 6 willing to accede to their
wi'hea•—(Cries of " Yes," and cheers.) He would only
add, that if they gave up the question and allowed per-
secution and intolerance to predominate, theyt_ would
have to encounter much greater difficulties if they at-
tempted at any future time to renew the contest.
He was extremely anxious that they should express their
opinions calmly and deliberately as to the course which
he ought to adopt under the
*circumstances.—. (Hear.)
There could be no doubt teat with their united
forces they would be in the end suceesfal, pro-
vided their exertions were judiciously directed. After
again intimating that his seat was entirely at the dis-
posal of the meeting, he concluded by moving that Mr.
Raikes Currie should be requested to take the chair.
The motion having been seconded by Lord DUDLEY
STUAKT, was carried unanimously.
Mr. R. CURRIE then addressed the meeting, and re-
peated the observations which he made two yeare ago, when
proposing the election of Baron Rothschild, that the
electors had thrown down the gauntlet, and pledged
themselves to contend, by every constitutional means,
against the last remnant of religious persecution, and
never to cease from the contest until they achieved a
victery.—(Cheere.) It was after deliberation, and with
perfect sincerity, that he re-echoed that determination.
—(Elear, hear.) There was something in the spirit
and unanimity evinced by the meeting which
told him that they would not ,alter or draw back, but
would, notwithstanding the insults of opponents and the
lukewermness of pretended friends, steadily endeavour
by their own individual and collective exertions to
achieve a victory.—(Cheers.)
Mr. DILLON then rose to propose the first resolu-
tion. He said they had been beaten by the Lords,
but, to use an expression of Lord Castlereagh,
or rather to reverse it, they did not stand prostrate.—
(Laughter and cheers.) Much had been written on the
subject, lawyers had made long speeches on the constrnc-
tion of Acts of Parliament, statesmen had differed and
disputed as to the meaning of the oath of abjuration,
and the last words of it were torn to tatters and rags,
but the real question laid within very narrow limits, and
might be discussed with great brevity. There were two
questions before the public—first, whether this remeining
religious test should be retained in order to restrict ad-
mission to the house of legislature; and, secondly,
whether the House of Lords should be allowed to
triumph in dictating on the subject of religious tests in
opposition to the sentiments and votes of the electors.—
(Hear, and cheers.) Ile contended there was nothing
in the law to prevent Jaws sitting in Parliament, or if
there were, that it was purely accidental and not inten-
tional, and a technical difficulty or omission of which no
person but a pettifogging lawyer would avail himself.—
(Hear, hear.) The question was not simply whether
Baron Rothschild should sit in the House of
Commons, but whether the electors of Eng-
land should enjoy the right of electing whom they
chose as representatives, and whether it should or should
not be decided, once for all, what were to be the neces-
sary qualifications of Members of Parliament.—(Hear.)
Ile had great pleasure in proposing the subjoined reso-
lutiert :
" That the House of Peers by interposing their mere
privilege to reject measures five times introduced into
Parliament with the sanction of the Crown, as ex-
pressed by Ministers and affirmed by large ma-.
jurities, and peculiarly concerning the qualifications
of the House of Commons, have strained the
powers of the constitution to au unexampled
and dangerous extent; that as Ministers have repeat-
edly declared that these measures are identified with a
great public cause, and that it is only by taking
advantage of the accident of the letter, in defiance
of the spirit of the law, that the oath of abju-
ration is made a religious test ; they can only en-
title themselves to the confidence of the reformers of the
United Kingdom by being propsred to stand or fall by
such measures, and that this meeting calls upon the
Prime Minister, as Member for London, forthwith to in-
troduce into the House of Lords as a Cabinet measure a
Bill for the total abolition of the present oath of abjure
Lion."

The resolution was seconded by Mr. MA.VERS, and
carried with applause.
Mr. B. OSBORNE, M.P., who was loudly called for,
next addressed the meeting. Ho had expected
that tho next time he should have the honour
of meeting the electors of the city of London was.
to toast the success of the great cause in which they
wore all embarked; but the House of Lords had thrown
out no less than four times the Bill which had repeatedly
received the sanction of the House of Commons. They
had been disappointed, but judgine., from the present
meeting, and the unequivocal expression of opinion by
a constituency near the metropolis, he thought that,
though dis •
anOointed they were not discouraged.—
(Cheers.) It had been said the House of Commons was
a judicial assembly, but it any distinguished foreigners
now present in London had been present when
Alderman Salornons took his and heard the
crowing of cocks, the braying of donkies, and the hisses
of geese, they at least would have
been much puzzled to
discover what the judicial assemblies of this country
were composed of.—(Laughter and cheers.) But he de-
nied that the House had ever acted in a
n judicial capa-
city, because the question had bee
preju`dged by the
Prime Minister. Out of the ablest lawyers in the House
ef Commons, eight entertained one opinion and five ano-
ther, and the Prime Minister was like Captain
Macheath in the Beggar's Opera, v
Attorney-
General on one side of him and tll,elthtll Solicitor-Generale
on the other, both differing in o .
pinion, and dividing is
separate lobbies.—(Hear, hear.) The Prime Minister
was, in fact, unsupported by any legal assistance. Ho
(Mr. Osborne) was of opinion that whatever a man's re-
ligious opinions might be, whether Mahomedan
or Hindoo, as long as he was a good sub-
ject and paid the Queen's taxes, was as
much entitled to sit in Parliament as the most profess-
ing Christian.—(Cheers.) He would not narrow the:
question to Jews,
who, though a very intelligent and in-
dustrious race, were not more so than any other branch
of the community, but would give it a wider aignificn_
ti°n•—(Cries of " Hear, hear.') He did not despair
of the House of Lords, because he thought man,
of their Lordships, more especially the Bishops, werej
madee of such squeezable materials, that if the people
spoke out boldly they would put their principles into
their__ Poeket with many other things, and pass this and
....4Laughter.) They
many Other useful Bills of which they now disapproved.
the course adopted
on former on • would follow . from the
casion, absenting themselees from the
House, and quiet' ' of
accordance with allowing the question to be decided in
did not wish tothe wish of the country.—(Hear.) As he
would suggest thatcnl)fine the Bill to Jews alone, he
mised a measure for the Prime Minister who had pro-
bers the qualifications of Mem-
bers should brina in Bill to abolish all kinds of re-
ligious tests.— `n
Currie presiding. at some fen°
Barentive hoped to see Mr. Raikes
propose the health of meeting next year, and
Rothschild for having suc-
ceeded in taking his seat in the Rouse of Commons.
utthaend carried.
The resolution was tpheesneAs
Mr. S. MORLEY pro
was to the following effect : next resolution, which
thatl the cause to
" That impressed with the opinion
which the electors of London stand
elections, will be best
re-
turn of Baron Rothschild at two Padged by the
laa.:rtOp"l3hsrelYof
served by his retaining his seat, this
him to dos ; and the citizens of the 'g • call upon
confidence upon the support and cooperationwith
provincial constituencies for the firm assertion theand
maintenance of their common electoral rights."
The resolution was seconded by Mr. Bennoch and sup.
ported by Lord Dudley Stuart. Mr. Bateman, Mr. An.
stay, M.P., Mr. Aglionby, M.P., and others.
Mr. ScovELL moved as en amendment that Baron
Rothschild be requested to take his seat at once in the
House of Commons.
Mr. Alderman SALMONS, who was egain warmly
greeted, said there was this distinction between his case
and that of Baron Rothschild—that the Baron was at the
head of a great commercial establishment, and
posaessed great infloenco in the city of London
as well as in other parts of the country. He
(Alderman Salomons) had taken his seat and voted,
being determined to do whatever became