The Sun.
London, England, 1850-07-15 00:00:00

TO THE SECRETARY OF THE
BRADFORD REFORM ASSOCIATION.
Sir,—On Wednesday the 10th, the Marriages Bill
was hotly debated on the third reading. It is plain
that ground is being gained, against the spirit of
Scriptural misquotation, which if not checked would
give as much trouble as in any of the days of our
forefathers. The cover under which the adversary
advances in these cases, is that the matter is theolo-
gical, and theology is not for the House of Commons.
So that if the point were conceded, the result would be
this. That a misquotation or misapplication of what
is advanced as a scriptural rule, might be as flagrant
as in the celebrated edition punished by the Stsr
Chember, where it was read "Thou shalt commit
adultery," and because it was a matter of theology
the thing must not be looked into, but must be liken
as inatteckahle on the credit of the movers. But if a
Statute may be examined into, why may riot a Levi-
tical or a Caristian statute ? Why are we to be de-
barred from searchin to see " whether these things
are so or nut"? Sensible men sad Protestants will
to a certainty have no doubt about the answer.
This neutralizes the wailings, that there are not
theologians in the House of Commons as in the other
House, to whom questions of theology eney be re-
ferred. The religion of the majority of the country
has not been settled by theologians but in spite 05
theologians ; and this through the strong sense of an
earnest community, daring to believe itself competent
to judging whether a scriptural rule says Yes or No.
And this kind of examination ends, in almost all the
"gloses of theologians" being found direct contra-
dictions of the literal rule: It was so in the Mar-
riage question, it was so in the Sabbath question, it
was so in the Jewish question, and it is so in the
question on which three fourths of the Anglican
church are on the road back to Rome, the Baptismal
question. On all these subjects, the straightforward
sense of an unsophisticated peasant with the rule ap-
pealed to in his hand, would lead to a bold protest
against the fallacies palmed on the public under the
cover of theology.
The division on the Marriages Bill against the pro-
posal to insert " on this day three months," was of 144
to 134 ; and immediately afterwards a clause was
proposed, excluding Scotland, which was negatived
by 137 to 130. The hour of six having arrived, the
House was adjourned without the question for the
third reading being put. Thus there will be another
opportunity for debate upon the question.
On Thursday motion was made to bring in a Bill
for the Abolition of the Punishment of Death. The
question was very imperfectly discussed, and there is
a great deal to be brought out before there is a pro-
bability of a final settlement. Nothing will be
accomplished by invitations to the Government to
abolish first, and determine on their course after-
wards. On the contrary the reasonable plan would
appear to be, that the Government should first
make experimental proof of their substitute
punishment, and then abolish. The practical
and workmanlike course would :appear to be, to make
a distinct penal settlement for perpetual transportation
as the substitute for death, with the added circum-
stance of its being made impossible for liberation to
take place except by an Act of Parliament as in cases
of divorce. If it is urged that this would be an en-
croachment on the power of the Crown, one answer
is, that the Crown has surely no defect of power, if
it has all the power it has at present until the act
which surrenders the criminal to death or to the sub-
stitute. But another is, that if there be still any sur-
render supposed to be implied, the Crown in later and
happier days has never been adverse to any conces-
sion in which the public interest was found involved.
Such a species of irreversible removal from the
country, makes the distinction so much dwelt upon by
the Secretary for the Home Department, as necessary
between the man who only robs, and the man who
murders also. And it obviates what, however a Secre-
tary of State may ignere it, is the real objection
against the efficacy of transportation on the present
system, the belief existing in the minds of the crimi-
nal classes, and encouraged by real or fancied evi-
dence every now and then to the fact, that by some
mixture of luck and skill, a man may only have to
persevere in a course of psalm singing for a few years,
to find himself at liberty through the benevolence of
some amiable superintendent.
What should be the course of discipline for such a
place of example, is matter for serious considera-
tion. The ,heart of man revolts, from making the
greatest imaginable criminal the subject for an expe-
riment of life torture. Remission of some kind, with
time and good conduct, there must be. But he, for
instance, who has treacherously slain his fellow, must
be a monk for life. He may have his grim relaxa-
tions; but the tonsure which follows his sentence
must be indelible, except on proof to move the com•
bined Legislature of his country.
On Friday a lively debate with very unequal num-
bers, on the subject of Borneo; closed by a division
of 129 against 29 in favour of the Government's
course. The Government however has done a great
deal, in promptly stopping the source of future pay-
ments of the kind complained of.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
AN OLD REFORMER.
London, July 15, 1850.

PARLIAMENTARY OATHS BILL.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Paget Priory, Kilcock, Ireland, July 10, 1850.
Sin,—Ever a frierad to zeal and perseverance, I can-
not :Jut atireire that of the National Club, so steadily
eXerted in favour of the crippling system, which fences
the legislative manor from the innovations of education
and liberality, and only advocates change when the in-.
terests of society are to be prostrated before the genius
of fanaticism. An illustration, in both respect, is
afforded by the widely-spread circulars, one of which I
enclose, at oace urging hostility in an organized form to
the Parliamentary Oaths Bill, and felicitating their co-
puritans elsewhere on the triumphant result of the
Ashleyan vision—all :unconscious that a change could
come o'er the spirit of his dream I The infallibility of
the National Club and its claim to public confidence
being thus at once and so clearly established.
Tnis claim is fully admitted by those of the clergy
who preach[Christian charity, without exercising it;
and now denounce the Jews, as formerly they did the
Catholics, under the title of aliens, alike regarding each
as out of the pale of the constitution, and losing sight of
the great principle, t hut no member of the community
ought to be subjected to civil disabilities on account of
his religious opinions, or excluded from the enjoyment
of equal privileges with the rest of his countrymen ; for
my own part, I rejoice that rulers, standing fist in the
liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, have marked
their recognition of this feature in national progress, and
trust that many of my reverend brethren, unshackling
themselves from the disgraceful trammels of an un-
christian bigotry, will recommend to their flocks co •
operation with, instead of opposition to, this measure of
justice designed by Government; will sympathise with
the dispersed people, and, c itching the spirit of the pro-
phet Isaiah, cry frorci the pulpit and the platform, " Com-
fort ye, c,mfort ye my people, saith your God" (Isaiah
xl. 1); proclaim that the time of reconciliation and
favour is at hand, and impart the jo3ful tidings that the
punishment cf Israel, prolonged for so
.many centuries,
had satisfied Divine justice.
I rejoice at the test of sincerity being thus presented
to these who labour in the field of conversion, and look
for the restoratirn of Jerusalem. The clergy, I con-
ceive, far from forwarding the exclusive tenets of the
soi-disciet National Club, should " speak comfortably to
Jerusalem, and city unto her that her warfare is accom-
plished;" should labour, and not they alone, but every
ore in his vocation and calling, that " her iniquity may
be pardoned, for she bath received of the Lord's hands
double for her sins."
I would impress upon Christians that the New Testa-
ment promulgates a religion of love, and everything
therein is calculated to excite that spirit, and make it
universal in its application; no rancorous feelings were
exhibited against the misled multitude by our blessed
Redeemer, and tleerefore we should not usurp the prero-
gative of judgment, but on the contrary cultivate the
tender, compassionate, and kindly disposition which the
state of the Jews is so peculiarly calculated to bring into
action.
Jeremiah, Amos, and Ezekiel prophecy their return
from dispersion, and Zechariah that Christ shall reign
over them. Let Britain afford the refuge; incorporate
them with her people, make Christians be looked up to
with gratitude by them, and render justice to the indis-
criminate and magnificent charity of the wealthy Jews,
and to the orderly and peaceable demeanour of their com-
munity at large.
I seek not to inflame, and shall forbear to rake up the
cruelties committed against them in other countries, or
the injustice they long suffered in our own; but I ask
foroo reiipea enlightenedrrat imonna,n at
Government
v delightetrhntos
ee
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moet
to, beholdthe
enactments
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natns disposition
to
whichs pony ofeet
defile the statute-book.—l
and
Vicar
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dDio.cDe.;eLoLf.mDe.,ath.
RectEor.

National Club, Jane 8, 1850.
Rev. Sir,—l am desired by the Committee to call
your immediate and earnest attention to the necessity of
obtaining, as tar as the time will allow, from your loca-
lity, expression of disapprobation of the Jew
Bill, a
now
strong
,atter an unaccountable delay, unexpectedly
reproduced by Lord John Russell, in a yet more offen-
sive form than that of last session.
The Committee feel assured that you will not spare
exertion on this occasion, when it is obvious—

Ist. That if no such expression is seen, it will be sup-
posed, and not unnaturally, that public opinion has 11E-
dergone a change.on the subject.
2d. That the value and effect of a strong expression
by the public has teen proved by the result on Thurs.
day, on the occasion of Lord Ashley's motion, resptcting
Sunday labour in the Post.office.
3d. That if the public, after having expressed so
strong an opinion on thetsubject of Post-office,labour on
the Sabbath, should be silent on the subject of the Jew
Bill, their silence on the cne, a.; contrasted with the
strong opinion on the:other, will be used as an argument
for the Government proposition.
I inclose a form of petition, which alter as you think
proper, and get as many signatures as you can before—
say a fortnight, by which time it should be in the I:tncis
of your represenatives to rresf am, Bev. Sir, &c.,
W. H. BELLAMY, Secretary.
P.S.—lf only signed by yourkelf and churchwardens,
the committee recommend the petition to be neverthe-
less sent_up.