The Sun.
London, England, 1860-06-20 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JUNE 20, 1860

Ap a, voluntary contribution in the f!(lrae-r,e-
Tort a pOine*hich has been altogether passed over to-night

—recommended that, in consideration of our taking that t
course, the law should be strengthened for the recovery of
compulsory rate so imposod._ (Hear, hear.) If we have
consented for peace sake to the exemption of perslons who
claim exemption upon rights the abstract justice of which we
do not recogniseL—if we haVe assented to their relief under
those circumstances from the general burden borne by the
parish, we have at the same time provided that the persons
so exempted shall in no degree be entitled to take part in the
. administration of the funds to which they refuse to contri-
bute their share. (Hear, hear.) Perhaps this is an extreme
concession, but it is one which I am quite ready to justify;
it is one of which I am not ashamed, though it may not be
consistent with strict justice. We have not proposed that
persons who decline from conscientious or from other motives
to pay this'rate should therebY be deprived of the benefits and
'advantages which are conferred by the existence of the
Church on a whole parish. We do not depriVe them of their
rights as'parishioners, but we do take away from tien the
ri:ht of regulating or administering the funds from'the pay,
ment of which they wish to be exempted. (Heir.) Thus
we have endeavoured to maintain the principle, th'iugh we
have modified the practice ; but that is widely different from
the proposition now made of leaving to every person the
option whether he will contribute at all, or how much he
will contribute, and to leave every parish church in this
country liable:to be closed or abandoned at the caprice of
those whose bounden duty it is to maintain the fabric.

(Cheers.) repudiate the idea that we concede the prin-
ciple by the exceptions we have consented to introduce, and
on the other hand, I contend that if there has been an ab-
sence of conciliation and 'concession it is not against us, the
Supporters of the existing, law, that such chargeS should
be made: (Hear.) We have endeavoured to meet our op-
opponents half way, and more than half-way; but we are
told by them that there shall be no alternative between ab-
solute abolition and maintenance of the existing laW. 'ICONV;
great as aie the' objections which I see to 'some of the pro-
visions•of the existing law, and desirous as I should be to
amend the law, if our opponents should permit us to de so,
yet, if there be 710 alternative between the maintenance of
the existing law and the absolute abolition of the provision
made from time immemorial for the support of the fabric of
the church, and for bringing: home the blessings of religiOn
-tO every poor 'Man •in 'every parish in the kingdom, I am
without hesitation for maintaining the existing law with all
its -imperfections as against the entire abolition of church
rates. (Cheers.)
Lord LYVEpEN said the debate had beenso satisfactory
to him that after, the speeches of the noble earl (De Grey)
and the two noble dukes below him he felt that nothing re-
mained, for him, to, answer. The noble earl who had just
spoken had addressed a short lecture tohim for not showing
more discretion than to bring this bill again before their
lordships after its defeat last year. That, however,, was
quite a new doetrine to him. had been bred up in the
same political school as the noble earl, and there he had
always been taught that the smallest minorities were en-
titled to respect, and the principle which had been affirmed
by small minorities had eventually triumphed by, large ma-
jorities. • (heer.) He should never be deteired,:therefore,
if, when convinced that a measure was right in principle,
he,pressed it forward, whether backed up by Small or large
majorities. (Hear.) The noble earl did not consider the
report of;th select committee an abandonment of the com-
pulsory
,scheme. Now, could anything be more voluntary
than a system which allowed any man to object, whether
with reason or without reason ? (Hear.) • He was surprised
that the noble earl, who wasso powerful a reasoner, should
attempt to justify the report ,on that ground. wished
that ,he could feel as satisfied with the probable.result, of
the division as ,he did with the debate, but nothing,which
had been said led him.to abate his confidence in the volun-
tary,system. ;
. The house cthen divided, when there appeared
• : For the bill •
Against it..
• • Majority -9T
The bill was consequently lost.
The Fisheries (Scotland) Bill passed through committee.
The Ecclesiastical Courts and Registries (Ireland) Bill
was reported. ' •
HIGHLAND' ROADS AND:BRIDGES BILL:

On' the motion to go into committee on this bill, the house
divided : ' •

For the motion ` 26
Against it • ' .. 25'
• ' Majority for the motion —l
The bill Was then passed through comiaittee.
The house adjourned at 20 minutes after 10.