The Sun.
London, England, 1857-07-22 00:00:00

THE PABLIAMENTABY OATHS BILL.

(From the Daily
News.)
The deputation of Liberal rnetnbers who waited
on Lord Palmerston yesterday, with reference to
the question of Jewish disabilities, are entitled to
tbe credit of having taken a new tone, and having
set a new example in more ways than one. Fortu-
nate in their mouthpiece on the occasion, they suc-
ceeded iu avoiding equally the
scolding or upbraid-
ing language of mutiny, and the far more reprehen-
sible whine of emasculate expostulation. Mr.
1-10tsman, in the name of the Palace-yard meeting
of Friday last, remonstrated firmly, though respect-
fully, on the conduct of Ministers with regard to the
Oaths Bill in the House of Lords. Without say-
ing so in so many brusque words he made the Pre-
mier feel that the bulk of his party thought they
Lad been trifled with on a matter of grave import-
ance, involv;ng one of the great principles on which
their very existence as a party seated. Lord Pal-
mersten was reminded in terms of well-bred but
keen-edged sarcasm that the existence of an Admi-
nistration, strong even as his own, was brief and
transitory compare 1 with that of the party it pro-
fess( d to lead ; and that if the ordinary relation be-
tween leaders and followers now appeared to be
inverted, the inconvenience must be ascribed to the
error into which the former had fallen in tolerating
dissonance of sentiment and vote amongst them-
selves on a question requiring and imperatively de-
mand final settlement. The right hon. spokesman of
the King's Arms meeting would not, we are sure, dis-
gdeve in healthful vigour
dis-
pute the abstract propriety of permitting what are
called open questions in the Cabinet. No representa-
twi vhei
isiydesteeam ctan
opinion ; and the Executive of a free State being,'
' the reflection of its representative thought and cha-
racter, must oftentimes exhibit the variations and
diversities of the latter. But there is a time for
all things—for open questions among the rest—
and
that time as manifestly and naturally passes
away when public opinion has conclusively pro-
nounced in favour of a particular question being
settled, as the season of growth ceases when the
grain nods ripely and heavily to the sickle. Any
longer to forbear when that season has come is
wea and reprehensible. Unity of action when the
time for action has arrived is as much a duty as
liberty of debate while matter is still debateable.
And here is just the point at issue between the
Prime Minister and his supporters. They insist
that the Oaths controversy should be concluded in
Pat liament, inasmuch as it has been long since con-
cluded in the country. While small majorities
doubtfully endorsed tlteJewish Emancipation Bill,
they did not urge its summary liquidation. On
the contrary, they suffered it to be again and again
dishonoured, without challenging the right or the
power to do so. But when all reasonable people
have made up their minds that the measure must
, eventually pass, and. when a majority of well nigh
two to one, immediately after a general election, de-
clare the mind of the House of Commons to bedefini-
tively made up on the question, men, have a right to

ask the responsible advisers of the Crown what they
mean by affecting still to treat it as an open ques-
; tion amongst themselves. Nobady asks, nobody
has a right to ask, why Lord Herrowby voted
against the Jews last year, and why this year he
did not vote for them. But people ask, as they
have a perfect right to ask, why Lord Palmerston
permits the Lord Privy Seal to oppose the business
of the Government and the will of the House of
Commons. The office of Keeper of the Privy Seal
is a sinecure ; but. it has always Leen saved from
at:olition on the plea that it was desirable to have
a seat in the Cabine,tior some distinguished indiv:-
dual who might not he exactly suited to any specific
department, and who, it was said, might be well
employed in looking out of the windows of admi-
nistration, and seeing what the people moat wanted
or wished to have. Matey eminent persons have at
var:ous times occupied the post since the days of
Chatham, who preferred it during his second ad-
ministration to any other, because it bad no depart
menial duties attached to it. But the case for its
su:ppres,ion will become absolutely irresistible if it
continues to be filed by a man whose presence in
the Cabinet is a positive hindrance to the progress
of good governmeet ; and the Liberal party would
grossly. neglect and abandon their duty if they
silently sanctioned its perpetuation for so mischie-
vous a purpose.
Lord Palmerston's reply evinced a prudent recog-
nition of the weight and value of the representations
thus made to him as official head of the party. He
carefully limited himself indeed to the practical
question of the day that pressed for solution.
Would he or would he not support the last
attempt about to be made at settling the oaths
controversy by act of Parliament 1" To which the
noble viscount, seeing no better use for a Tuesday
evening, blandly replied—" Certainly." When,
however, the further interrogative was put to him
—whether he would give a Government day for the
further progress of the bill, his lordship seems to
have taken a series of .special demurrers. First of
all, he had no day to spare ; then, even if he had,
the concession of one day would be of no use ; and
finally, there was plenty of time, for nobody could
tell whether Parliament might not sit another
mouth. This is fencing, not meeting the difficulty
in the face. Perhaps a little more st. ady pressure
may open the Premier's eyes to the propriety and
expediency of going further ere many days elapse.
If he only wants to be pressed, and to have an ex-
cuse in the fact, it were a monstrous pity not to
gratify him. We think the adjourned meeting did
well in adhering to their original intention of sup-"
porting Lord J. Russell's proposition. The house
last night voted for the introduction of Lord John's
bill by a majority of 92, and whatever the ulterior
fate -of the measure may be, it will clear the way of
qualms and quibbles, and make the path plainer
that leads to the alternative of a resolution. We are
in no hurry to have that great question argued. Its
time will, as we believe, come, and that speedily.
Whea it comes, we hope it will be debated
with fulness and with freedom. But in the mean-
while we must be permitted to pooh-pooh the so-
lemn twaddle which some short-sighted puzzle-
pates indulge in, about what they call a conflict
with the Courts of Law. A conflict might no doubt
be attempted, for the sake of making mischief and
creating costs ; but its duration would of necessity
be summarilyterminated by aDeclaratory Act,which
neither House of Parliament dare refuse to pass,
for the simple reason that it would become an ob-
vious necessity. A couple of grand field days there
might be in Westminster-hall, and two or three
late nights there would probably be in the Lords,
and as many in the Commons ; and then the hub-
bub would eud, for no other or more awful reason
than that its continuance would on all hands be
deemed intolerable.