The Sun.
London, England, 1828-02-29 00:00:00

have been again resumed at so early an opportunity. Me
expressed this opialion the rather, because it was not' until
two o'clock on Wednesday morning that 'a majority. of 4.1
could be obtained, not for a repeal of the Acts, but that
the House should resolve itself into a Committee on the
question. As to himself (the Hon. Secretary) he stood in
an extremely peculiar situation. The House was aware
that he had been absent from London very lately, attending
a Privy Council. During the entire of this day, his time
was occupied partly by official duties, and in part by a pe-
rusal of certain papers necessary for the motion respecting
the police, which he had just introduced. Under such
pressing engagetnents, it was quite impossible that he
could hitherto devote that attention to the subject which
Its importance demanded; and he would:therefore refrain
from delivering any decided opinion until he should
be able to bring to the debate such informa-
tion as be might consider it expedient to acquire. Thus
far, however, he would assure the Noble Lord who had
brought this question before the legislature—if this ques-
tion had simply and solely related to a repeal of the Test
and Corporation Arts—if it had not certain incidental hear-
ings, and affected no other points, he would have consi-
dered the late majority sufficiently decisive to prevent his
persevering in st course of opposition which was calculated
to engender religious animositige.—(Cheers.) This ma-
jority was, in his opinion, the more influential, because it
consisted of members of all parties, many of whom thought
differently from others upon some subjects of political im-
portance. There was another great question, often there
discussed, which this measure might be considered in
some degree to affect. He would, however, again remind
the Noble Lord, that those who had voted along with him
slid not by that vote commit their opinions as to an abso-
lute repeal of the acts complained against: He therefore
hoped and expected that the Noble Lord would not refuse,
to admit of an alternative shert of such unqualified repeal.
As to this alternative he did not wish to say anything that
night. But if some modified measure, to which all par-
tieas all scrupulous , friends to the interests of the
Church of England, could be offered for their ac-
ceptance, he certainly should not be inclined to op-
pose it. He hoped that the Noble Lord would not
be induced to refuse his consent to such a suggestion, by
azt feelings originating in triumph on account of the.issue
of the former night's debate. He would ask whether
every person present at that debate did not perceive that it
developed these two points? On the one side it had been
argued that the principle of the law requiring the sacra-
ment as a test for those entering into corporation offices,
was sufficiently mitigated by the Annual Indemnity Bill.
The argument on the other side was, that notwithstanding
the bill certain practical grievances, against which the Dis-
senters had no remedy, were still in operation. That,
although there were certain Corporations where Dissenters
were admitted, there were many by which they were liable
to rejection ; where, even after• admission, any rival
operated on by private malice or personal pique, might
effectually disqualify the Dissenter by merely proving that
he bad not taken the required test, without which his right
was immediately. invalidated. Another suggestion like-
wise had been forcibly urged on the occasion of the former
debate,—that you cannot determine what are the cases
where Dissenters have been withheld from application
by a tacit unwillingness for this reason, which might
fairly be assumed to have its effect with many. There
Was also a third point mentioned, which was, that
the preamble of the Act was directly. at variance. with
certain clauses—a fact which had been made use of in the
coarse of the argument. He desired. to suggest to the good '
sense and good feeling of the Noble Lore!, whether. it would
not be. better .to propose a temporary suspension of the
operation of this, requiring the sacrament to be taken as
a corporation teat. He would ask him whether a qualified
arrangement of this nature would not prove more expedient
than taking the ,hazard of an opposition in
•Parliament on
a question with which religious feeling and polemical
jealousies were so intimately connected? For his own part,
ilia personal . wish 'was entirely for measures of a pacific
character.. It would be well, he thought, for both parties
to pause and deliberate before they:presented .themselves
in an attitude of hostility. If those who had voted on the
"ole,side with the Noble Lord were disposed to meet his
overture, he desired they would remember that it would
produce the delay of only a few hours. ile.therefore hoped
that the: Noble Member would not now force the House.
lath a step,which must necessarily prevent:his (the Right
Honourable. Secretary's) suggestions from taking effect.
Lord ALTHORP had hoped, from -the early part "of the
Right Hon. Secretary's speech (Mr. Peel's), that he was
about to support (upon certain conditions) the entire repeal
of the laws in question. But when the Right Hon.
Secretary concluded, by proposing to do no more than to
a4d to the present scheme of acts of indemnity, the sus-
pension of the disputed law prospectively for a given pe-
riod, he (the Noble Lord) was compelled distinctly to differ
froth him. The effect of the proposition' 'of. the •Right'
Hon. Gentleman would be to re-debate the-tiiiestion from
year to year. Under these circumstanees,- he hoped that
his Rom Friend (Lord John Russell) would pereeVere in
endeavouring. to carry his motion through, consenting at
the same time. to the introduction of any securities which
should not offend the scruples of the parties whose interests
he represented..
Dr. PHILLIMORE would not vote for the present
measure iff .lie thought that the Established Church could
in the slightest degree endangered by it. .;•
Mi.:WILMOT HORTON had voted a few nights since-
toost cordially for the repeal of the laws in question ; for
he was one who did not believe that the Established Church
Was at all assisted by them. A Right -Hon. Gentleman,
now unfortnnAely no more, had stated, last year, that lie
opposed the repeal of the Corporation and• Test Acts, be-
cause he conceived that that repeal would militate against
the general cause of the Catholics ; now he bad no hesita-
tion to declares- that lie believed that Right Hon. Gent.
himself could not have supported the indemnity system,
subject to the real case of grievance which had in the pre-
sent debate been made oat against it. At the same time
he was not himself entirely of opinion, " for all of us," said
the Right Hon. Gent. " have a right to our own opinions
here,"—(Mueli laughter),—that the objection of the Right
Hon. Gentleman to whom lie had alluded had been with-
out foundation, or that, when the Acts before the House
were repealed, some slight lose of strength to the Catholic
Question might not arise. He (Mr. Wilmot Horton)
was no advocate for delay ; he would carry both the ques-
tion before the House and the Catholic question that very
evening if he could. And if he saw reason to believe that
the repeal of the laws affecting the Dissenters alone could
be carried, without endangering that unanimity of feeling
which did prevail, and which he wished should continue to
prevail, with respect to religious disabilities, he would sup-
port it. .But, if there was a doubt upon this point, he
should he induced to hesitate. If put to his election, to
support, without any qualification, the proposition of the
Noble Lord, or to reject it, he should undoubtedly vote in
its favour ; but lie wished the Noble Lord would consider
the suggestion of his Right Hon. Friend near him (Mr.
Peel).

Mr. PEEL proposed that the Noble Lord (Lord John
Russell) should postpone his motion for three or four days
(Cries of " No, no"); because he was afraid if the House
affirmed the Noble Lord's resolution, it would be inconsis-
tent to introduce afterwards to the Committee on the Bill so
material an alteration as he (Mr. Peel) proposed to suggest.
Mr. WYNN opposed the plan'of suspension. Repeal,
in his opinion, was the only proper course. It was im-
possible to suppose, that, after the decision of Tuesday
night, the Dissenters would rest satisfied with suspension.
Mr. G. BANKES was in favour of some postponement.
Mr. CALCRAFT opposed delay.
Mr. FERGUSSON supported the repeal of the Acts in
preference to their suspension. He could not help re-
marking, that whatever opinions Were entertained by dif-
ferent Members in the House, no one defended the oaths.
Mr. PERCEVAL was friendly to the proposition of the
Right Hon. Gentleman, and was of opinion that, by SIT
porting his proposition, he afforded the best support to
the object of the Noble Lord. .
Mr. PEEL observed that the Committee had hitherto
proceeded so amicably, that he should be sorry to say any
thing that would interrupt that spirit. Would the Noble
Lord prejudice his views by consenting to a short delay? If he
(Mr. Peel) had intended to take the sense of the Committee to-
night, he would have freely told him so ;.and he would not
propose a suspension. It was a course which he was not
prepared to adopt. But there were many members who
did not expect a discussion to-night ; and did the Noble
Lord
prejudice his object by voluntarily consenting to
postpone the _ discussion till Tuesday next? He (Mr.
Pael) had much rather he would voluntarily consent to
that, than that he (Mr. Peel) should propose that,the
f,hairman should report progress. -It was much better to,
pOstralii tllit.dirussion till Tuesday, and then fairly take
the sense of the ,House on the question of repeal or suspen.
.--(H ear)
Sir C. COLE Would grapple at Owe with the objections
• ' so the !nog of the Corporation and Tesi Acts ; it was
-01-thst "et were a barrier to the riehts and privileges of
VotahL7l,Ch‘Areh. If so, they Were a .harrier of
guM,fi which 3`PX xnalt.►_naight break 'to pieies in a minute.
was a very gttat nardship to the .P.rotestant.Dissentets
prgogland, dist' they Should. have Acts hanging Over,their
Its2a* Which did itot affect those of Scotliiid and Ireland.
.ova NDON Add, that it did not ipPeir to him that
1• • '-the vote of the Uollie precluded the Cinumittee from adopt
ing anforber Measure besides a simple repeal, of the. Acts.
t?on°') - • • --- •
r l TORN RUSSELL ob%rvO, aim t watisquel*