The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-16 00:00:00

who accept the proposed change as a benefit, but
who then turn round and -Want to make di-rect and ex-
plicit
an exclusion which was indirect!y and accidentely
made by the terms of the present oaths. (Hear.) Tee
oath On the true faith of a Ceri-tiara" was not meant
to exclude the Jews, but to make more emphatic tho
words of the etrire oat's. Hon: members, by endeavour-
ing to insert these wor 'FT, endeavour to persuade the
house to make purposely en exclusion which it cannot be
contended was ever deliberately and purposely made.
(Hear, hear.) Sir, we are told that this is a Christiae
coentry and a Christian assembly, and therefore we
ought not to admit any Jews within the walls. Why,
sir, this is a Christian country, and this is a Christian
assembly, inasmuch only as that those who represent the
nation are of the same opinion—(cries of " hear, hear,"
from the Opposition)—of the same creed—(renewed cries
of " Hear, hear") ; but do hon. members maintain that
this is a religious assembly? (Laughter ) It is a poli-
tical assembly. This is an assembly for political pur-
poses ; and I say with my right bon. friend the member
for Stroud you are not entitl,d to exclude gentlemen front
this house by reason of their religious oPinione. You
have nothing to do with their religious opinions, only
inasmuch as those opinions may sway their political con-
duct. That is the only principle on which this test could
be imposed; and that principle does not lie in the amend-
ment which we are called upon to discus. I shall not
follow the hen aed learned member for Enniskilen in
that brilliant speech, parts of which, at least, we must
all have heard with gr-at pleasure, on account of the
display of talent which they exhibited. (Cheers.) I
shall not follow hint in the ancient examples which he
quoted ; but I must say that his argument went much
further than the amendment which we are now called .
on to agree to. If the argument of the hon. and
learned gentleman should be worth anything we ought
to go beck to the period to which he referred. (Hear.)
We ought to expel the Jews from the country— (hear,
bear)—or, if by exercise of great indulgence and
liberality we admitted them within the realm, we
ought to exclude them from every municipal office—
every position in which it would be possible for them to
obtain influence. (Hear) But, sir, it is not consistent
to admit them to the exerci.ie of inunicipel functions, and
then say, forsooth, that the existence of the Christian
religion depends on our exeluding half-a-dozen Jews
from Parliament. (Hear.) The argument of the hon.
and learned gentleman utterly fails miler these tests. It
is utterly preposterous, and I am sure the country will
concur in thinking that it is perfectly preposterous to
imagine that the admission of a few Jews to Parliament
could alter the character of this country as a Christian
country. (Hear.) In my opinion the only effect the
maintenance of the present state of things can have is to
cast a slur on the practi-e of Christianity by making it
appear as if the Christians sought to uphold their creed
by the maintenance of intolerance and moral persecu-
tion. (Hear, hear.) Sir, we have of late years made
great progress in the principles of civil and religious
liberty. This matter still remains in whin these prin-
ciples may be and ought to be applied. (Cheers ) And
I cannot persuade myself that in this House of Corn-
mono—where I see Catholic members who have within
the last few years been permitted to break through the
trammel with which intolerance and bigotry had formerly
surrounded them—l cauuot persuade myself that in this
House of Commune where I see so many dissenters who
have been relieved by those principles of civil and reli-
gious liberty from the injustice that was so long done
them—l cannot persuade myself that this House of Cern-
MODS, which so fully represents the liberal feelings of the
country, can possibly support the amendment of the hon.
and learned gentleman, which attempts now, Ix the
first time, to make deliberate and exclusive that which
is now only accidental. (Cheers.) I cannot believe
that this House of Commons will concur in the amend
meat of the hon. and learned gentleman, and, therefore,
I go fearlessly to a division—(cheers)—feeling confident
that by a large majority we shall affirm those principles
of civil and religious liberty on which, I contend, the
real spirit of the constitution of this conntry depends,
and which this house will never lose sight of. We make
a boast o our free institutions, but those institutions
would lose their animation and become dead if the prin-
ciples of civil and religious liberty ceased to inspire them.
(Hear, hear, and cheers.)

The committee then divided—
For the amendmenf 2Ol
Againtit it . 341
Majority
The numbers were received with loud cheers.

On the motion that the clause be agreed to.
Mr. WALPOLE wished to know if the bill was to
remain in its present form, because, if so, the Jew and
the Roman Catholic would be placed on a different foot-
ing. To a deputation which had wa,itel upon the noble
lord, he bad stated that this bill was but a step in ad-
vance Re wis,hed to know whether the Government
intended to make any alteration in the bill.
Lord PALMERSTON said the Government did not
intend to make any alteration in the bill.
Mr. MAINWARING hoped the noble lord at the
head of the Government, now that it had been decided
to admit Jews to Parliament, would give greater freedom
of action to the Pi ote4ta.nt Church.

Lord ROBERT CECIL thought more time ought to
be given for the consideration of the clause, because
under this bill Jew, might appoint bishop., arid be
eligible for the office of Prime Minister ; and, therefore,
he moved that the chairman do report progress.
Lord PALMERSTON said the motion could be only
to ere Ate
Mr. DRUMMOND asked if it really was the inten-
tinn of the Government, under pretence of admitting
Jews to Parliament, to give them the nomination to
bishoprics ?

The committee then divided—
For the adjournment
Against it
Majority against the adjournment —136

Mr. BEN riNca said the minority were determined
to have an answer to the question whether it was the
intention of the noble lord, it this bill passel, that Jews
should be eligible to the offices of Prime Minister, Lord
Chancellor and wher high offices.
Lord PALMERSTON said that ibis bill was not -a
bill of this qualification. The bill, as it stood, would
not prevent auy of those appointments ; but the Prim..
Minister, and appointments of that character, did not
depend simply on the will of the Crown, but on the ma-
joriry in that house. If any hon. member wished to
offer any furtbee amendment, he would not resist the
adjournment after, the first clause had been passed.

-M
r. WALPOLE said after that intiinatiOn he would
advise his friend to desist from further oppo,ition.
Mr. MOW hRAY thought the adjournment ought to
be pressed to a s'ivt,ion again.

Mr. MALINS thought no good object could be a
tained by protrac•ing the discussion.

Mr. ICIILES thought so too, but he believed that the
House of Lordi would throw out the bill.

After some further discussion,
Lord PALMERSTON said it was clearly against the
feeling of th, house that the Chairman should report
progre,s, especially as any hon. member might move an
amendment on the report.
The motion for reporting progress was negatived with-
out a division, and the remaining clauses were agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN then reported the bill to the house.
The Sound Dues Bil was read a third time and passed.
The County Cess (Ireland) Bill was read a third time
and passed.

The Militia (Ireland) Act (1854) Amendment Bill was
read a third time and passed.
The Fraudulent Trustees Bill was committed pro
forma, for the purpose of introducing amendment 4.
The Turnpike Trusts Arrangement Bill was read a
second time.

The Savings Banks (No. 4) Bill was committed, pro
forma, and ordered to be recommitted on Monday next.
Mr. WILSON obtained leave to bring in a bill to
continue the act for extending for a limited time the
provision for abatement of income tax in respect of in•
eurance on lives.

Mr. WHITESIDE obtained leave to bring in a bill
to amend the act of 1856 to facilitate leases and sales of
settled estates.
Mr. ADDERLEY obtained leave to bring in a bill for
regulating the presentation and withdrawal of election
petitions.