The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-28 00:00:00

_

LONDON, MONDAY, JULY 23, 115

A fortnight can scarcely have elapsed before the
Imperial Parliament will be prorogued. According
to an official intimation, it may be observed elsewhere
that the ceremony of prorogation will be conducted
by her Most Gracious MAJESTY in person, and con-
sequently every eclat will accompany the close of the
legislative session of a year already rendered remark-
able by its pageantries. The national representatives
may, therefore, look forward to a participation in the
famous sports of the 12th proximo, when the
pleasures of the wild moors will compensate
for the labours of so many nights and
days fraught with senatorial anxiety. As a sig-
nificant preliminary to this movement on the part of
the two Houses, it will have been seen, from our
last impression, that the Ministerial white-bait
dinner is fixed definitively for next Saturday.
Having banquetted upon that most seasonable deli-
cacy at Greenwich, the members of her MAJEsTY's
Government will forthwith prepare themselves for
that annual period of relaxation which custom has
vouchsafed to our national administrators. That
some lull of this kind is absolutely requi-
site for the proper conduct of public af-
fairs, must be at once obvious to every
individual of even the most ordinary discernment—if
only for inasmuch as it affords the Cabinet an oppor-
tunity of deliberately reflecting upon the position of
the country apart frosts the storms of debate and the
agitating influence of party conflict. Besides which
it should be remembered that the temporary separa-
tion of the House of Commons is desirable, if merely
on account of the occasion it presents for some direct
intercommunion between the people and their repre-
sentatives. Several of the latter, it cannot be
forgotten, have each year considered it so far
desirable that this exchange of thought between
themselves and their respective constituencies should
take place, that they have periodically called meetings,
at which they have, so to speak, unburdened their
consciences to their supporters, and explained to them
the course they have considered it right to pursue in
reference to some of the most important subjects
brought under discussion in the course of the recent
session of the Imperial Parliament. Such elaborate
and formal explanations as these, have, of course,
proved inconvenient to the majority of the
Members, but a few honourable exceptions
have testified the benefit resulting to the mass
of electors from such a proceeding. By con-
vening these periodical assemblies, and bringing under
their consideration the legislative labours accomplished
during the past year, the popular representatives in
question have materially advanced the general cause
of enlightenment as to the management of public af-
fairs and as to the improvements demanded in the
Government. Nothing, indeed, could be better cal-
culated to educate the community to a due apprecia-
tion of the value of the rights of citizenship than these
retrospective surveys of the progress made in the way
of reform within the walls of the Legislature.
Moreover, it should be borne in remembrance that
those backward glances at the improvements
effected by the Parliament, enable the multitude in
the most effectual manner to perceive the nature of
those additional reforms which are especially required
as the next achievements in the way of emending the
great fabric of the Constitution. Viewed in this light,
the interval of repose which elapses between the pro-
rogation and the re-assembling of the two Houses may
be regarded as advantageous to the nation, not less
in regard to the future than to the past,
not less as a means of consolation than as a means
also of encouragement. From the evils already
removed from our pathway we can discover the power
remaining to us fur the dissipation of other and yet
more formidable obstructions to the general develop-
ment. While as a method of improving the very
manner of their Parliamentary tactics, the retro
spect taken by the popular representatives them

selves cannot but prove productive of the greatest
benefit imaginable, inciting them appreciably
to yet more strenuous exertions, reminding
them of the nature of the impediments
yet remaining to be vanquished, and revealing yet
more the cause to which are attributable so many and
such reiterated disappointments. Everything, in
short, combines to satisfy the mind of the more re-

flective observer of the good resulting to the nation,
to the Parliament, and to the Government, from this

annual lull in the toils of legislation.
"All play and no work makes Jack a mere toy,
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,"
seems to be a scrap of nursery wisdom, especially
applicable to JACK BULL, if we may be permitted the
familiarity of that diminutive in reference to so very
sedate and respectable a personage. So likewise
might the distich be applied with point to the whole
mass of our national administrators from the PRIME
MINISTER downwards ; and it was doubtless in con-
sideration of this necessity for recreation that it was
arranged for Parliament to be prorogued each year
in sufficient time to enable its Members to share
in the sports of the ever-memorable 12th of
August. It should likewise be recollected
that the lapse of time which takes place
between the commencement of August and the be-
ginning of February, between the prorogation and
the re-assembling of Parliament, is time by no
means lost to the nation, but time, on the contrary,
occupied to the general advantage. During it the
Members, though availing themselves to a reasonable

extent of the opportunity afforded in it for relaxation,
are, nevertheless, industrious in preparing for the
next session ; the more active and conscientious

amongst them, to say the least of it—knowing as
they do that upon their exertions at this period the
efficiency of the subsequent discharge of their

duties may be said to be in a very great measure de

pendent. Therefore it is that, for a variety of reasons,
we may look forward with satisfaction to the proro-
gation of the Legislature.

This evening the House of Commons will be called
upon to act in a new capacity, to give a judical de-
cision on a question which, although of vital import-
ance to the cause of civil and religious liberty, is yet
one of the very plainest and most simple character.
Two important constituencies have petitioned that
their chosen representatives should be admitted to
take their seats, or that, at least, before their un-
questionable privileges should be violated, that they
should be heard by counsel at the bar of the
House, to show that there is no sufficient
reasons for excluding the Baron ROTHSCHILD or Mr.
Alderman SALOMONS from the honourable positions
to which they had been called by the voices of their
fellow-countrymen. To the manly and energetic
conduct of the latter gentleman is owing the present
state of the case, and the prospect of an early deci-
sion. Conscious of the justice of his cause, and de-
spising the penalties to which he might be subjected
if he had taken an erroneous view of the law, he
flung himself boldly into the breach, and assumed all
the responsibilities of the contest. His Jewish brethren
could not have selected a better or more chivalrous
champion. They are fortunate, indeed, in having
such a man to fight on their behalf.
The question itself lies in a nutshell. NVe venture
to assert that in a court of justice, before any one of
the judges of the land, the sworn and experienced in-
terpreters and expounders of the law, it would be
promptlywithout
evens
decided without doubt or hesitation, and
point being reserved for the considera-
tion of the full court. The celebrated and leading
case of OMYCHUND v. BARKER (1 Atkyns, 5. 8)
is decisive on the point, and the principle
thereby affirmed has never since been impeached, but
has always been received as an unquestionable
authority.
In that case we find C. J. WILLES declaring that
" the nature of an oath is not at all altered by
Christianity, but only made more solemn from the
sanction of rewards and punishments being more
openly declared ;" while Lord HARDWICKE, a
judge, whose opinions will for ever command respect,
added, " All that is necessary to an oath is an appeal
to till hunts BRING, as
thinking Him the rewarder