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yHBER 25, 1847., : ATOE .NQ1THERN SITdR ...
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cSolomai ana .yommi
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^ ~ ~~ INDIA AND CHINA. " ~"\ tr/e ha«in...
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THE POLISH PATRIOTS. Rotal Jcstice re Pa...
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DaKAnFCi. Wrecks asd Loss of Life. — Int...
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fimpmiu ^ant8»>
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REMOVAL OF JEWISH DISABILITIES . f Wo we...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Yhber 25, 1847., : Atoe .Nq1thern Sitdr ...
yHBER 25 , 1847 ., : ATOE . NQ 1 THERN SITdR 7
Csolomai Ana .Yommi
cSolomai ana . yommi
^ ~ ~~ India And China. " ~"\ Tr/E Ha«In...
^ ~ ~~ INDIA AND CHINA . " ~ " \ tr / e ha « inte % eHcefrom India by tbe overland .: i hot of no importance . -India was generally ^ j . and the * tate of things at Canton wore a ^ / fic appearstnce . F * CAPE OF GOOD HOPE . org are in receipt of advices from the Cape to the * h October . The ^ acc 80- ^ ( published . in the ^ J-ssiso Cbt- ixjcie of the 2 Cth KoTember ) went Z ., tathe 2 S ' -b of September . At that date Co-^ el S 3 « er « t was expected to advance against the * £ gr 3 ia a day or two . The Zcid-Afhicax , of e-. pt- SOih . aunounces that tbe troops had entered r ia Anuria mountains , but tbe enemy had disap--aiisd . and they were at a Io < s to conjecture iu
ili -ch direc tion ^ anci > n naamoved . 'this result was -jneral ' . v anticipated . Iheapprchension thatthcKaf ^ §* a a movement of the troops , would a » ain pour I to ihe colony , Las provedbut too true . They inundate the colonial iH-undanes m every qnaiter—the toieh has been ignited—dwellings have been firedand the inhabitants compelled fc ) fly ia every direc LVa . In short , the tragical scenes of tbe past year nay again expected in all their atrocities . Lateh Xe ^ s —Intcllisence from the Cape to the gf ) : h October . l-rjngs news that Sandiili , the chief leader ofthe KsSfS bassurrendered on thesule con-^; ti a that his life i-h-ill be spared . The Gbjuuuh % vs Jim-sib of Wednesday , October 20 th , an uomces this important fact as f ellows : —
Lis : night a despatch was received from the Cam . jucd-r o f the Forces , Lieutenani-Gcneral Sir G . B ; rSe " ^ f . with the very important announcement jhi t the proscribed cbUf Sandiili , with tighty < f hi * f j'io-K'Vi , bad surrendered to the British troops * Thii iespaicn was brought in by Captain Bissau , G . M . R ., ^ , with Captain Hops , qiittea the Ainatola ths samr jaaraing , thus riding a distance which is estimated at sd : 1- s-. ttun 120 mil . s , swismiug several rapid streams , ia aboa : twelve hours .
FRANCE . The Commerce has calculated thatdurins- the last gvetifcen ytars n » ' ess than 1 , 129 orosfentions had been directed asainst the journals in tbe name of King Louis-Philippe , who had inaugurated tis accesfl ' on to ibe throne by a formal promise that no pro fccutkn should be in future instituted against the pis-. During that perhvd fifty-seven journals were oWijed to suspend thtir publication in conseq-ience ef ihe severity t-f the penal ie ? . The writers were sub need to 3 , 1 * 1 years and eiehtmontka' imprisontseni , and the Journa ' s to 7 , 110 5 < Wf . fine . The Patrik C 3 ntaiEs tha following , headed ' A JTesksess of M . Gnirot' : —
At tlie general mecttag of tho Polish emigrants which txipl-ce at P-ois in the evening of tbe 29 th ult .. a . BiaOunin-., a Rassiax refugee , pronounced a speech erainst the oppressor cf their common country , thr £ r . { tror Xicholas . M Guiz . t ha * given orders to M , Bi 5 . 0 B = i . ie , through the Prefect of Police , to quit Paris iai wtntjf . ar boars , and Prince within the sbe nest * -OJ > ib . e- !< lay . We denounce to the in iignatiou of all b arest men this inhospitable and iiihumsK act of II . Gtzjt , and this bate condescension of our Ministry fot li-strsanuj- of the Tsar . Tne rvionn banquet at Grenoble took place on Suniiy , A thousand guests are reported to have been parent . T he banquet at Morbihan is speedily to follow sad to be attedtd by SIM . Odillon Barret . Iiroche , j ' . cqa > lin d * Litnartina Berryer , Garni-r Pages Crenkux : . L cru-R'iUin , Marie , Baroche , Lberlktte , and all tie refonsicjr dej-utie * . The reform banquet o * Itouen Bfixea for ilic 25-Ii inst .
The affairs of Switzerland continued ts perplex Jlie French Csbiret . Prresia . on accot'Et < - -t Nenfdate-, and Austria , < n account of t ' -e proximity of ter Italian dominions , vrere both urging France to join t-era in holding a conference en that question . Ewsia had ri-fn ? cn to scr . d a ncte to the Yurort , but pr .-iai-t'd to a- ^ qnies-e in ths decision ofthe three c'ier pawers . Tae Germanic Diet had likewise been c-H-std'cd on the sulject by Prussia and Austria , asd it 3 i > pe rs that , at an extraordinary mee-ing , e « vok .: il \> v the Vics-Prisidenten the lOtb . and at which ckren members attended and six others were reiTewn'cd by delegate * -, the res-lntions of the pi-reis towards Switzerland we <« fnlly approved . Tsstr . S 3 cnii . ly , moresver , decided that if Swi'z-rbsi enargjd her c-iasti'ntimi and adopted aa * Un - fcriaa' ftr : 4 i ! 'f government , the powers parties to tie treaty ef Vienna ha » l a right to deprive her of t ' tt neutrality they had guaranteed to th . 3 Helvetic
Cnnfederaik-a-Thb S wi ? s Charefe S" Affaires has addressed a letter tathi Jocbstal be- Debats * , demanding that journal tarttract aud apologise for its lyin » calumnies j'tinst C « . ! oael Ochsenbein , the 1 ' resident of the Swiss Diet .
SWITZERLAND . From , the accounts which we receive from Switsarlasd . it would hardly be supposed that that country tad iast tmerued from a state of civil war . The republle seems to he unanimous , not only in its desire for peace ; bnt in the mode by which that desirable result i > to be secnr d . The encray and moderation disp '^ yr-d by the Diet have wwked like enchantment in dispelling the danger * which threatened the republic , - and the good sense of the people themselves rrea'lv aid in the go-xl work .
It is curi"us to remark how suddenly the divtrious of epiaion on government , religion , and the tendencies of the Tter . p ' e , appear to have disappeared lb' exp .-Iled Jcsiit-- appear to have carried away a-1 that hatred and division , which they themselves bad introduced into the confederation . The very cantus which were suppis ^ d to be the most deviated to tbe cause of the Jesuits are the first to show tbat a cbanee has come over their spirit . Fribourg and Lu -: ni » ba * e already chosen representatives devoted to the Liberal cassc . and the other Catholic cantons are prop ^ rirg to follow the example , and will iio do-ibt cbofs ? reprcspiitatives ready to c-ncnr with tbe msj . rity in the Diet in favonr of Liberal measures , and of such a modiEcatinn ofthe federsl comt
pact as will prevfnt any further intervenion , » h £ -j ?; er tfc *? pretoit bi frisndJy or otherwise , on the part of fori iga pow crs . One qnsjticn which wa' * 1 fr-ly to create new diffi eulties , and which the French * government organs eideavonr ? 'i ti w . jrk np into a serious cause of embirrKs-Tntrit . has happily been arranged- The can toa of Npofchate ? has been ra-dcted by the Diet in a fine of aOO . OOOf . far having refused to contribute it * contingent te the federal army , when about to march asainst the Sonderbnnd . The'DeBixs and otbei-< r ^ ans of M . Gu to * . cried cat shame ai-iinst this injasticf , hat the legislative assembly of the canton of Xeufchatel has shown that it feels itself to be in the wrcfi £ , and notwithstanding the encouragement of its pretended frtenfa to resist , hai expressrd its
readintss to expiate ita offence . At its last meeting it unanimouslv anopfeJ a resolution that the sum impost d « pm ih « canton by th" Diet sh-rald be paid Thisreso ' u ' -K-B will doawav withagreat deal of difficalty . The Diet will not be under the necessity of enforcing its decree , and the Prussian government - Rill now have no pretext for inferiering . The e . ectT-. n 3 for the Grand Council ef Lucerne were over ; the seventy-five mf-mbrrs returned were Liberals . T ) r Steirer was re : arced in four districts . Ia upper TJnterwaid M . Michel bad been elected as deputy to the Diet . He is a LibJral , bnt said to bs a Q ^ d £ ra * . e ww > . This half cawon has a \ v > wnt \ ts ^ eoia of 14 , C 00 f- to wards the instalment demanded br the D . et ( payableon or before the 20 * h inst . ) towards the expenses of ihe war . m have
The provHion-41 covernmeat of the Valais pronounced decrees expelling the Jesmta tram the canton convoking a c-n « titnent grand council , and imposing a contrfbudou of £ S , 000 on the parties who were the chief instigators in the late war against the Federal C ' Vfrnment . Among lb-se the most prominent are . the monks of the Great St Bernard the Abbev of St Maurice , and the Bisnop and Chapter ot C" * * A ' corr « spcB < " cnt of La Prcsse , writing from Berne on the Ht ' n , says : — . - The troops are returning by degrees to tbeir homes ererv one resumes his usual avecatiocs . ths purfic mind Tttoversits woutrd calm , tracen ^ i-p <» H . and jus-. iceu about to reopen h * r sanctuary . The menace of an wfc-rveation in the midst of such perfect tranquillity is s . m ? - tbinr »» r « y Tidicul .-us , thattte moMritup le shrng the « » h » uldcrs » hm tte journals n . ent . « n it . This is * o t a Lncy p i cture , but a faithful wprisentation ofthe actual
situatioa of the coun-ry
SWEDEN . , L „ Letters from Stockholm state that almost the » h ,. ! e nobility have withdrawn from '< " *" £ P ** ™ the debates o > the Diet ; seeing that the «»<>»^ ofthe Tiers Etat and of the peasants is so overwhelming , that the aristocratic _ party hjtTno . the Obtest hope of carrjm'anyof ils measuies . G £ R **»* Ni- _ . to * The UsivEnsiL GiZETTs OT / KCSS "' l ^ lS itates that the eight ^ \ ^ ^ ^ f 2 t ^ n bad their sentence commuted to perpetual imprisontnent . .,
ITALY . . . A popular demonstration took p lace in Leghorn on the frh TO the arrival of tbe intelligence of the ter ^ s of S ic Diet against tbe Sonderbund , similar £ 55 which occnrrJi at Rome and which we . have akeadv reported . The affair was conducted with the atSperfeet erder , and nointenupuon of the tran-Quillitv ofthe tows took p lace . A e ^ spondent writes frtm Genoa onder date of tt ve had to-day ^ oacns fes ^ l to cel elrat ^ e A ^ by theGeB ^ o ver theAus ^ s m l ^ Accuu , med as I am to popnfcr " •"""^ VtoJe t nvthl ^ to * m >* cmntng vtaA l *™
ye ^ . entire population of the City went m procas-ton to u cliurch d'Or . gina , when a solemn TtJkm was sunj , y ttulitude remaining uncovered outside . It was an a ' Acting thing to sje there , oa the battfe-fiefi won or tbeir « . ce * urs , so manv thousands raianp their hands and bea-ts in thanis £ ivin ? . and praying Divine Prondenre to dtfcnd thtir country from foreign dominfltioo . " olviue strvice was concluded , the multitude again formed and proceeded in excellent order through the p rincipal Sheets of the city . Kothirjr conld exceed the perfect order and obedience to their chiefs observed ty a'l clacsea . No nalitary . no poliee w ' trc present . A numbsr 0 f well-
^ ~ ~~ India And China. " ~"\ Tr/E Ha«In...
dxeisslladiesfo rmedpartoitheproces » ion , andmarch « d , preceded by thepuWic , in a style to please the strictest disciplinarian . The clergy alto toek a prominent paitln the proceeding , ofthe day . It is now night , the city h illuminated , and the neighbouring coast presents to the eja « Hngliue of light . The streets resound with the patriotic songs 'Sorgete Italian ! . ' and 'Sell barbero tau » . On every side is heard the cry of 'TivaTindepMiza Italians , !' Seventy insurgent prisoners have arrived at Naples . freniReggio . in Calahria , sixteen of whom nave been been condsmned to death , bnt their punishment was commuted to the gallevs for lifo , and the rest sentenced to hard labour at the hulks for variom perioda .
l » umetous and menacing troops surround the royal paiace at Naples by night and by day . At PJermo , aU the popular chiefs who were conspicuous ^ n the late manifestation have ken ca > t into prison , notwithstanding the ex ? mplary moderation which was the character of this movement . The people , disconcerted , rnnrmnr : the arrest of their chiefs has created great distrust towards those nobles and the bourgeoisie , who had just been , apparently , acting in c * bcert with them , and had , in some measure , directed their demonstratians . If they were to take up arms a second time , it would be impossible to re-strain them .
All doubts are now dispelled respecting the advance of additional Austrian' troops to fie Italian frontier ^ Field Marshal Genernl Radetzky , commsn . ' cr in chief of the Austrian forces tn Lombardy , has been inverted with additional powers , and tho army under his orders is to bo increased immediately to C 0 . 000 men . Six battalions of artillery are already on their way . Twelve battalions of infantry stationed along tbe frontier , have bsen ordered te be ready to march st a moment ' s notice .
INSURRECTION IN GREECE .-A supplement te the Courrur de Marseilles contains a letter from Ma ' ta , of the date of the loth , which says that the steamer Flamerhad jnstarrived there from Corfu , with intellige . ie that an insurrection had broken out in Greece ; that tbe sarrisoa oi Patras was attacked b y the people ; that the governor was taken prisoner by the insurgents ; and the garrison , fc-o weak to resist the numbers of the people , had Veen obliged to seek shelter in the fortresses , where supplies of food could scarcely reach tbem . The Fiamer . on reaching Zmte , sent the Spitfire steamer toPatras , to render all the assistance in her power to the English ' residents there . Grivas was reported to be the leader of tbe insurgents , who had alreadv HUed and wounded several .
INSURRECTION IN TRIPOLI . From Malta we kara that tho whole country around Tripoli was In open rebellion , and the Pacha had been compelled to apply to the Sultan , for immediate reinforcement of troops ( his own having cone ont and been beaten back ) to put down the ir . Mirsents , as he had no force at his command equal to the task . The various tribes , principally composed of wild Arabs , had thrown off their subjection , refusing not only to pay tribute , but to supply the Pacha with the amount of troops which they formerly had granted for the defence and protection of tbegarrison .
The Polish Patriots. Rotal Jcstice Re Pa...
THE POLISH PATRIOTS . Rotal Jcstice re Pausfri .--Louis Mieroslawski snd seven of his noble-hearted compatriots have been sentenced to be beheaded ! The remaieder to perpetual imprisonment , or to periods of various lengths . On the day on which tbe decision was madeknown , numerous gensdarmes on foot and on horseback , and a company of the guards , were stationed all the mornins ; in front of the prison . The court was opened at nine o clock , and immediately nil tbe public seats were filled to overflowing . ISO prisoners responded totheir name ; when called out . The president then preesedi . d to pass judgment as follows : — First Class : —Sentenced to be decapitated , after the Ires of his patent of nobility , confiscation of his oroperty , and being deprived of the national c c -tade .
Weadislas-Eusubius de IO-aswiski . Stanislas-Felix deSadowski , Severin de Ela-mowski , Joseph Albereth , Stanilas Labodsk ' . Stan-las Fiorian Cejnawa , J-isepa Pi » ttka-jimer £ le > zvzynslu , and Apollonius deKarowski are sentenced to the same punishment . The following are sentenced to imprisonment in fortresses , either for life , or for . periods of from twenty to twenty-five Syears , with confiscation of all their |» roperty and variousdegreessi additionl punishment—in most instances of a grv-at cruelty : —Ado ) , de Malcz ^ wski , Hippolyte deTrapizvnski , Charles F . Liebelt , Mnximilien Ogrodowirz , Ant . Ogrodowicz , Vincent de Chachulski , Louis-Antoine-Stanislas de Pofiski . Stanislas de Radfciewir-z , Albert Warciechowfki , Ucnri de Poninski , Jude Szoldrski , "Frang > 's Anteniewicz , Casrmir Blociszswski , Frang . is de E / ibyiinshi , Joseph de Z-iryewski , Constantin
Stanisias-Valefltin de Wa' < vzynski , Michel Garoslaw Toiz 2 w . ski , Guillaume Wysocki , Jean-Ediuard Mazirowski , Stanilas Eiias de Jenta-Lipinski , Antvine Switalla . Jean Donowslri , Alex , de Neymann , Xavi * r Okuiick , Severyn Nawrocki , Alexis Strzyzawski , J- ; sn Glefcocki . " Leopold de Alieczkonski , Al phonse-C'ement de BialkewskJ ^ Lncien Phwenski , Romual Gczunir ? ki , Jos . Szrayber , Frar-ous deGezimirski , Joseph Klatt , Jos . de Malinowtki , Jean-Nc ^ omuccne de Toraicki , Erasme-Ch . de Niesiolowski , Nickoias-Thade tie SmalenskI , Marieil de Chratz ztwski , Constantin Milewski , Wawrz-nDeregowjki , Jos . Essmann , Louis Burchard , Igsatz de Lebhttki , Thadee Laejewski , II . Lewanzowki , Thomas Staakiewitz , Michel Biandski . Jean Frast , Tbeophile Lndke , Jean Ciesieiski , FranSois Dabry , Waycieck Golebiewski , Wadislas Jos . Spiller , Norb rt Sznmann , Guillaume Veeth .
In addition one piisor . er was sentenced to ten years imprisonment with banishment on the expiration of his sentence ; twenty-five ^ were condemned for not having revealed the corn-piracy , v ' z * , twentyone to eight years' imprisonment in a fortress ; two t e ght eirs' do . in a house of correction ; one to ^ ten years' ditto , and one to be detained eig ht years in a penal section ; one has been sentenced to six years * imprisonment in a fortress for participating ^ a secret conspiracy ; and one to two years' ditto , for treason of the second class . Ten prisoners were sentenced to the following terms ot imprisonment for attempting , by violence to liberate prisoners ; one to one year ' s imprisonment in a fortress ; seven to one year s imprisonment ; one tooneanda halfyesr in a house of correction j and one to one year ' s detention in a penal division . Tiie expenses of the trial will be borne by the prisoners .
Dakanfci. Wrecks Asd Loss Of Life. — Int...
DaKAnFCi . Wrecks asd Loss of Life . — Intelligence has been comraanicated at Lloyd ' s of the dep lorable loss of a fine ship , called tbe Henrietta Mary ( trailing between Liverpool and Quebec ) within a hundred roihs of the English coast , and the perishing of fourteen live * , including the caofain . chief officers and a lady passenger . The Caroline , of Cork , fsil in with the illfated vessel on the 11 th inst ., in Ut 60 N . long . 9 W . She had eicountered most tempestuous weather , and foundered speedily afterwards . Shtxwas water-lagged , her rudderonshipped , and otherwise totally disabled . So great was the Bnvf when the Caroline fell in with the wreck , that
no boat could approach it , and three prior fellows , perceiving that there was no chance of saving their live * but by jampi . np overboard , leaped into tbe see , and were providentially piekt d up . The unfortunate vessel was reported to be insured- Oh Saturday an account was received of a fearful collision takingplace ator near theentranceof the English Channel , o n the ni ° ht ofthe l * tth instant- Tbe Warrior , Mr Beynon , master from London , to Gibraltar , and the ^ Emma , Mr Bertha , commander . reported to be from the Black
S ' -a , came in violent contact with each other , and the only matter of surprise is , tbat their destruction did not instantly ensue . Of the two , the Emma suffered the most , and she quickly went down , with five of hercr . w . who , of course , perished . The remainder succeeded in reaching the Warrior . The serious damage the Warrior sustained , preventing her contiEuinsr her voyage with anv dt-pree of safety , she ran info Falmouth to make gorvd her ir-jury . To whioh vessel blame is attributable has not transpired . The authorities are now investigating the
Relsass of Bakbeb , the iate Cokvict . —Information has been received , by private letter , in the metropolis , that the late convict , Barber , who was banished from this country some years since , has _ received a free and unconditional pardon , and that he left Sydney on the 16 th of Augnst last . Barber , it will be remembered , wa ? convicted of forrery in tbe celefcrat . d will case , in which a man of the name of Fletcher also appeared as a principal . It is stated in the letter that it is not the intention of Barber to come immediatelv to England ; he intends , it is said , to remain some time in Boulogne . ISo information i * contained in this communication as to the reason why the pardon was granted .
AKOTnrn . Mysterious Robbbet of Cash at the P 3 DBi > Groir Tebsoses ar the Great WrsrrBX Railwat—Information was circulated throughout the various divisions of the metropolitan police , relative to another very mysterious whbery , which took place on the previous evening , at the Pad * ington Railwav station . It appears that Mr Fryer , a part of whose duty it'is to pay the men belonging to the locomotive department , left his office , adjacent to the entrance gates , at six o ' clock , to go to tea , and on quitting , locked , as usual , the ' outer door ; on lis return , a'ter an absence of not more tbak twelve minutes , he discovered tbat the cmee had-be-a entered , no doubt bv means of a skeleton ker , and that upwardsof £ 82 , in gold and silver , had been stolen from a drawer , the lock of which had been forced . Information of the robbery was promptly comronnieated to Mr Collard , the saperinitndant ofthe company ' s police , who is using bis atoit endeavours to trace eut the guilty party .
m SouTHAHPros CoyFEDEBATF . Cixb— On Monday eveniL " . Pfccmber 20 ib , Mr Msguire in the chair , ft was M « d , « Tbat F . O'Connor , & q AJ P ., is enSJ-dW the mtqaalified thaws of this dob far in-Scein * t £ e question of Repeal of the Aetcf Union into the Souse qfCosHaons . *
Fimpmiu ^Ant8»≫
fimpmiu ^ ant 8 »>
Removal Of Jewish Disabilities . F Wo We...
REMOVAL OF JEWISH DISABILITIES . f Wo were nnable to give . more . than a mere statement of the fact , that a dtbate took place on the motion of Lord John Russell , te introduce a oill for the removal of the civil disabilities affecting the members of the Jewish persuasion . The debate was , however , so interesting in a constitutional point ef- view , and was so ahly arguud , that we are desirous of preserving a few of the more remarkable points contained In some of the speeches , and therefore give an abstract of them . 3 lord Johk Russell , In moving for leave to introduce tbe till , rtferred to tbe elrcamstances under which the Tist or Corporation Acts were repealed , and Citholic Emancipation ctrried . Tha arguments then used did not apply in this case . Bat ho intended to argue
the question , not on the ground oi any peculiar circutnstinces in the esse , but on broad constitutional princt * pies . One danger was pointed out aa likely to " arise from its adoption , many years ago , * by my hon . friend ( Sir R . InglU ) who intends to oppose me on tho present occasion , but be is not in a pnsitioa to repeat his waraing now . In 1830 my hon . fritnd took upon himself the character of a prophet , j . nd said , ' You maj depend up n it that if you admit the J ; ks ( o civil offices and seats ia Parliament , it will fellow that in less than seven years you will have a reform ef Parliament . ' ( 'Hoar , ' and laughter . ) But . without the admission of Jews to Parliament , as the precursor ofthe so much dreaded event , within two years ofthe time when my hon . friend used those words I have referred to theriform of Parliament was effected .
( Hear , hear . ) Therefore ) there is , at least , one danger which it will be unnecessary te take into consideration in disenssincth-. s question . ( 'Hear , ' and laughter . ) Iplac * tbe question upon this simple , bat , I think , solid ground —tbat ererv Englishman is entitled to the honours and advantages which tha British constitution gives bim . ( Chetrs ) I state further , that religious opinion of itself ought to be no disqualification for the enjoyment of those rights . ( Renewed cheers . ) I found mysi-lf on a decla « ration in one ofthe statutes of tha law of England— ' It U a birthright of the people to enjoy the privileges common to all . ' I found mystlf on a declaration made in the Haute of Lords during the disenssions on the Con . formity Bill : — 'The lords think that an Englishman c-mucit ba reduced to a more uahappy condition than lo
be put by law under an incapacity of serving his princ « and country ; nn - therefore nothing but a crime of the most d-. testahle nature ought to put him undtr such a disability . ' I say , then , that on this ground , unless something shall be proved to disqualify Jews , tbey stand in tbe position of persons born in this country , bearing all tbe burdens which' are imposed on them , and ready to serve tb . ir prince and tbeir country in any capacity in which they may be called upon , and that , therefore , ih * y are rntit . ' ed to all the rights and privileges enjoyed by their fellow subjects . -1 state this with confidence , and I will not attempt to ask your favour by anything which I migh- ; urge in behalf of the merits , of the Jews . I think this is not a matter of favour towards the Jews , but that , unless sent ! ground of disqualification be proved
agiinst them , if is a matter of right . ( Chevrs . ) I , therefore , will not urge that even those who have opposed the claims of the Jews havo admitted their peaceable conduct and their moral character as subjects—that the ; are governed by that moral law which is adopted by and is binding on u«—that thsra are among them many persons disiinfuUfced for eminent talents—that in tho offices to which they have been admitted they have aV ) wn thems « Ires-as capable of di-char ^ mg their duty as any of their competitors ; and that in various other capacities , as well as in ( ha pursuit of fci-nce and art , they have shown themselves competent , by their intelli . gence , to undertake the dntiss of ' any position to which an Englishman may aspire . ( Cheers . ) I will not urge these circumstances , because , by doin ^ so , I might seem
to make this a matter of lavc-nr nnd Indulgence . No ! I a ? k the L ? g . slature to renove the- disabilities under which tbe Jjrb labour , not on fl'C'unt of any peculiar merits belonging to Her Majesty ' s Jewish subjects , but because , bting subject to the burdens of tbe state , being boru in this country , being compelled to fulfil those duties which tbe state imposes on them , I maintain that they have a just claim to be admitted to its honours and rewards . ( Prolonged cheering . ) I ceme , then , without pressing any peculiar merits Appertaining to the Jews , to consider the objections which are urged in bar of the recognition of tbe rights which I claim for them . Ia the front at those objections this i « put—that it is proposed to un-Christtanise the country—that it is proposed to taki away the Christian character of the
country by admitting not only Jews , bat every-kind of infidel , into-Parlkment and the offices of sta . e . ( Hear , hear . ) The hon . tsember by that cheer seems to admit that I am cotrectly stating the objections which are urged to the measute lam advocating . ¦ I will not say in answer to such objections that the r « .-ligioh of mac is a thing apartfrom the business of man . ( Hear , hear . ) I certainly will not say otherwise than that I think tbat in our private concern?—in our daily occupations—ia all those trades and professions which men exercis » , religion should nave influence and control . ( Uear ; -liear . ) Still more , therefore , when-1 a ^ speaking of the Legislature which has to difpose of all the various int- rests of tbe country , should I bo disponed to say that reltgit . n ought to Influence and control its decisions . ( Hear , hear . )
I do not , therefore , argue this question on the ground that civil offices and scats in Parliament ere totally separate and apart from religion ; but what I do contend for is , that it is entirely a mistake to suppose that by the words of an Act of Puriiament , by tho postscript of an oath or the fag-end of a declaration , you can insure religious motives and religious obligations . ( Cheers ) I believe , and 1 think I can prevei that by those declarations yon do not obtain the security which you pretend to ob . tain—that you do by these means shut out men who are conscientious and deserving—men who would execute the duties of civil oGLes , and exercise tbe functions of legislators with due regard to religious obligations—and that you do net shut out those whom you profess yourselves afraid of admitting , I mean , that
class of persons who , having thrown off altogether the obligations of religion , do not conceive thems . lves bound to fulfil any of its duties . ( Cheers . ) I say that it must depend upon the general opinion ofthe country—itmait depend on the state of things therein eiiftini!—it mult depend oa the eta'e of educitibn—it must depend on tbe religion existing in the country , whether cr not you have a Christian Parliament . L ° t me , for the sske of illustration , rvfsrto two very d-ffetent tiro . s . In the reisn of James I . and Charles I . strong religions feelings existed in this country . Men were divided into dm * r = nt sects , but nothing was more remarkable than the deep religious fervour which prevailed , sometimes burning more fiercely in one sect , sometimes in another ; but all believed themselves bound by Christian obligations . Imagine that
'en have before yon the assembly in which Falkland , Ho ! Ii » , and Vane met— m-n differing from each other in religious views , but all-iacerely religious , and professing fie doctrines of Christianity ;—would the Chri-tlan faith have been better secured in that Parliament if no man had been permitted to enter it without bin-iing his conduct by a declaration * on the true faith of a Christian V ( Cheers . ) Would it have added In the sli g htest degree to the security of Parliament , and would you have believed more strong ' y than you do eow that t . ' . ose men were Christians , because they had stated the fact at tb ' e end of a declaration ? Let us take another period and another couRtry . Let us imap . no a PatHument assembled in France towards the en-S of tbe last century , at a tiraewhen many amongtbe aristocracy were th- ;
discip . es of Vultair * -. and aiKon ? the democracy of Rousseau —letussupvoseilirabeau , Csudorcet , Robespierre , and other men of ihat description , returned to that assembly ; can you believe that any security would bare b * iB obtained by compellir . g every one of them to pledge himself to observe he oath which he tosk ' on the true f » itb of a Christian i' ( Cheers . ) I will refer to anotherlllustration , which our own country furnishes me with . Thecomplaint against the Jews Is that they are rr-Tilers of Christianity—tbat they make a mockery ofthe Christian rt-1 ' eion—that tbey hold up Christ as an impostor ; yet was there ever a man who more sneired at Christianity— was tbf re any Jew of the lest century who used such language with tho view of depreciating the doctrine Of Christianity and destroying the belief in it in the
minde of the people as Gibbon ! ( Cheers . ) Yet Gibbon took your cedarstion . ( Loud cheers . ) Became to the table and swore ' on the true faith of a Christian . ' ( Cheers and laoghter . ) He held ofiice under George III . —he sat en tbe Treasury bench , utider a govcramtnt which was more of a high church government—which was more disposed te raise the cry of' Church and King , ' than perhaps any government which ever existed during the reign of that monarch . ( Loud cheere . ) Take the case of Mr Hume . ( He * r , hear . ) He did not , it is true , have a seat In Parliament ; but he held an office under government , and I believe that he held office for a short time at the Court of Paris . Tha right hen . gentleman , the member for the University of Oxford , isust well kaow tbat there was no man in the last century who
wrote essays' so much calculated to undermine religion as Mr Hume ; and yet , if he bad * een returned to Parlia ment , an 4 had to make tbe declaration ' on Ihe true faith of a Christian , ' he wonld have taken the oath with a graile or a sigh , as the case might be , but he would have taken it , and the cobweb wonld have been swept away , I hold that it is not by a declaration of this kind tbat you can obtain security . You say that the Leftisliture ought te be a Christian Legislature , that tbe Parliament ought to be a Christian 1 ' arliatsent ; but do you cot say that the nation is a Cbristain nation , and that tbe British pe-ple are a Christain people , though there may be 30 , 000 Jews among them , yen might say that tbe Parliament was a Christain Parliament , although among the 656 members of the House of Commons there might be six persons professing the Jewish religion . He next proceeded to show , at some length , that we tbould not
impair the principle that Christianity was part and parcel ofthe law of the land by admitting Jews into Parliament . The 4 th chapter ofthe act of the 31 of James I . was the first act in which the words ' on the trae faith of a Christain' were used , and they wero repeated la another act ofthe seventh year of the same monarch for the purpwe of distinguishing those Roman Catholics who bore true allegiance to the Crown of England Irom those who held the power of the Pope to depose heretical mdnarchs . The Introduction of those words was founded , not ou religieus , but ' on political reasons , and they were intended not to exclude Jews , but a certain claf s of Roman Catholics from Parliament . In tbe r-. ign of Charles II . tbe same reasons prevailed , which induced tho Legislature to exclude tho Protestant Dissenters from certain offices by an oatb ia which the same nerds were used . Now , in 1823 we bnd repealed all
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these acts , so far as they regarded both Roman Catbo ' lies and Dissenters ; and that beta * the case , he BUbmit * ted that this which was called the Christian character o our constitution , if It evw had any existence at all , had no eristenue save from the year 1 S 29 , He neat adverted to the objection that the Jews were a " separate nation—a position which the Jews themselves at present denied . If they were aliens , to what country did they belong ? When you excluded a man as an alien It was because there was another country to which he belonged , and another Sovereign to whom he owed allegiance , But no such reason exhted , In the case ofthe Jew born In England ; for bis attachment was to England , and to no foreign country whatever . But then we ore told , though it is rather an insult
than an argument , that , as . the lato Mr Cobbctt u . ed to say , we do not see tha Jews following the trades which otberpersons . follow . Is there not a sufficient reason for . this in your owa laws ! You disqualify them from holding land , and in many cities , from practising r « t ill trades ; and what right haveyeuto turn round aad say to the Jaws—' You have no taste for the cultivation of land , or for travel which other Englishmen follow V Is that justice ? Is , that argument ? ( Chters . ) I believe that is France the Jews enjny all thc . honwrt and omnlu ,, ments which the state has to bestow ; jand M . Dupln , aud some other eminent persons who have been elected to « eats In tbo Lighlature , areof tbat persuasion . D i not , therefore , I beg of you , rest their disqualification upon your foraer proscription , and do not argue that , if you take it away , you wid not find the Jews fulfilling tbo obligations of citizens like ether men in similar circumstances . Bnt we have been told also , that there is . a very solemn denunciation in the prophecies , which would
prevent our granting to the Jews , the rights which they claim . Ids obvious , that if such , be tha meanim- of the prophecies , it is not for us ,. to decide what should be done , but that Providence will accomplish by its own means its own purposes , , But I yrould ask where it is tbat those who use this argument would draw the line ? I have told you that In Franco they hold all offices to which Frenchmen are admitted , and that more than one member of tho Chambers has been of theJewisb . persua . sion . E ? en in this country we have much relaxed the rigour of our enactments respecting them ., A , Jew has been a magistrate , a Jl-w has been a sheriff . By a late statute , which was introduced by the right honourable roembirfnr Tamwortb j Jews may hold offices In corporation * -, and it wis but tbe other day that a Jew was admitted to the office of alderman in the corporation of tbe cttyofL-indon . ( Hear , hear . ) I ask you what right or business havo you to Interpret a prepbec ? so as to draw the line between an alderman and a commissioner of
customs—between a justice of tho peace and a person having aright to sit in Parliament ? ( Hear , hear . ) What enabled yoa or authorised you to say where , the . line in- ' tended by tbo prophecies should be drawn , and bow can you take upon yourselves to * . raw the limits of the line the Almighty intended to mark out ? ( Cfceer . « . ) It would be , in respect to the Almighty being , to ' Strikefromhuhandtbebalanceandtberod , « Rf judge his justioo—be the God of God . ' I trust that no such prjsuxiption will fall to our lotthat we shall o that which we think our duty , to our fellow-countrymen , and the best for the coun ' ry according to our imperfect reason , had rest in pious but humble confidence that the Almighty will accomplish his purposes by means best known no Ms wisdom . ( Cliecr ? . )
But , Sir . there is that which lean hardly call an argu . mont , but which operates more against those whoso cause I have undertaken perhaps tban any other thing . There is a papular prejudice rgainst the name of the Jew founded upon various circumstances to which I need not nlludc—founded upon what I think a mi « . taken view of Sacred Writ , and the dislike and the distrust there is on the part of men of a different religion . But that pnpularpri-judice which induced tbe Administration of 1754 , after passing an act for the naturtilizatiouoftbe Jews , to come down in a hurry , in the next year , for the purpose of repealing it , has . I believe , very greatly died away —( hear , hear )—that ik has subsided in this metropolis I have with my own eyes a proof , because a gentleman in the city of London , well known in
that city by his extensive transactions , by his wealth , his charity and liberality , was elected for tbat city by nearly 7 , 000 votes at the last general election , ( Hear , hear . ) I quote that as a proof that this house would not be safe in saying— ' Such is our opinion ; we are liberal ; we intend well te our Jewish fellow-subjects , tut there is such a prejudice amongst the people ogainet Hum that it would not be safe to legislate in their favour . ' ( Hear , heor . ) 1 warn h-. m . gentlemen not to rely upon that feeling . I believe that the people are to the full as enlightened as the members of this house . ( Hear . ) I believe that the general opinion , and tHo right and true opinion , as I . conceive it to be , lsth 9 trel gions oj'ininns ought not to bring with them anj penalty or punishment . ( Hear ; hear . ) I
believe that that is the right and true opinion , overbearing asy prejudice tbat may have existed against the Jews , ( Hear , hear . ) I have now , sir , stated to you thereasons why I think that tbeobjeclions which have been made against the admission of Jews are futile and unfounded , If I am asked what are the prevailing reasons for tlie motion that I propose , I appeal in tbe first . phico to tbe constitution of these rcnluis ; I appeal to tint constitution which is intended to giro to evtry man those rewards , that honour , that estimation to which his character and talents may entitle him . ( Hear , hear . ) . 1 eppeal to that constitution which is the enemy of restriction or disqualification ( bear ) ; to that constitution which by the abrogation ofthe laws existing a fewyeam ago , has put nu end cveu to those cases of exception
which our ancestcrs thought , upon the ground of imminent danger to the State and Church , tbey were justified in imposing . I ask you in the name of that constitution to take away this lastremnant of religious p rstcution , to show that you are not icduenced by tho numbers or terrors thiit might mnke that , which was an act ef political justice , en act of political necessity . ( Cheers . ) I askyeu in the name of that constitution , to admit tho Jews to all the privileges , to all the rights , of which those who are not exeluded from tbem , are so justly proud ( cheers ); and , let me tell you , that you cannot judee of tbe feelings of those who are excluded by the number ot those vsb . 0 mi'sht wish f « v teats lu parliament , or who might aspire to hold office under tbe Crown . Many a man who would not seek for either , would to content to
pass bis days In obscurity , and « onld wish for no other advantages than those of private life ; but . he feels the galling degradation , the brand tbat is imposed upon him , when he is told tbat men of all other classes , men of the Established Cliurcb , Protestant Dissenters , and Roman Catholics , may all enter within tbese walls , may all epj-iy those advantages , bat that be belongs to a S 3 et which by the law and constitution is proscribed and degraded . ( Cheers ) But I would make a still higher appeal . I would make an appeal to the principles of that Christianity , which has so Ion * been the law ofthe land . ( Cheers . ) I appeal to you , then , in tho name ef tbat religion , which is a relifion fif charity and lore , 'to do unto others as you would ' they should do unto you . ' ( Cheers . ) I ask jou why it i . » , tbat when we are taught by examples and parables that we ought to love our neighbours , it is not priests or Levitea who are singled
outa » instances for our appr . ibal . on and admiration ; bat it is one if a proscribed sect—one who belonged ta what was then the refuge of all nations ? I risk why it is that we are taught that nil men are brothers—that there is no patt of tbe human race , however divided from us by feelings or colour , that ought to be scparatrd from us ; but that all belong to tl ' . e'family of man , and ought lo be Inw , d as brothers ? ( Cheers . ) I ask yon , therefore , in the name of tbat constitution /* h . ch is the constitution offrettiom . of liberty , and of justice—I ask you in the name of tbat religion , which is tbe religion of pesce and goodwill towards men—toagn-eto tho . ' motluawhioh I have now tho honour to make . The noble tord then moved , * That the hou « e i-Jiould reeolre itselfinfoa comm ' tttee on the removal ot the civil and political disa . Millies affecting her M . ije 5 t }' s Jewish subjects , ' aad r . suraed his seat amid loud and long-continued cheers .
Sir It . Iffotis said he bad never been so much alarmed at the introduction of this measure as he was now , when it was introduced by tbe First Minister of tie Ciown He did not dispute the merit of the Jews , but he was not inclined to place them in Parliament merely because they were aimable end respectable citizens . Mr Macaulay insisted that privation was punishment . He denied it ; for would any man say that the Legislature punished thote who enjoyed not tbe elective fcunth so , or those who were not qualified to sit in Parliament 1 Tho qn stioa was not one oetween Ctirlstians and Jews , but between Christians and imn Christians , Now , Eng . land for years past bad not only bad a constitution , bnt also a Christian constitution , and he defied Lord J . Russell to produce a single Imtanee in which the oath
of cfiiee bad not always been taken upon some Christian symbol . ItmigVtbrf true that David Hume and Ed . ward Gibbon as infidels would not have scrupled to take at the table the declaration now required by law ; but was that a sufficient argument for blotting out of our statute book a solemn declaration that our first duty as legislators was to discharge our duties as ChristianmcnJ A Jew could not listf n to our form of prayer , in which wecallcd upon Christ to have mercy upon us , without either committing an awful bUspbeuiy , or going through a deliberate mockery of religion . He would sot withhold tbese concessions from the Jews on account of the etaalmess of their numbers if he could believe them just ; but as he did cot thir . k them so , be thought he had a right to ask whether it was either right or espediout to
mike them to 20 , 000 or 30 , 000 or 40 , 000 persons , at the risk of exasp * rf . ting 3 . 000 , 000 or 4 , 000 , 0001 He had called tbe last bill introduced on this subject a MI ! to enable Mr Salomons to become an aldcrm .-in of Loudon , aud be called this bill a bill to enable the Baron L . . de Rothschild tti become a member ef Parliament . ' He then proceeded to show that tbe Jews were a separate nation , with a separate creel , aad for that purpose read a letter frem a Jewish rabbi , and an extract from the speech of John Duke of Bedford , against the Jew Bill of 1753 . Hi called upon tbe house by every consideration of inttrtst and duty to pause before it changed the Christian constitution ofthe Legislature , and bttcrc it buztrdtdthc emiittnee of tbe people in the Christian institutions of tbe empire .
Mr W . J . Fox said tbat this country had been called a Christian and en exclusive country , but those words conveyed to his mind a contradiction , aad be could not conceive that either Christianity , or the constitution of tha country was marked by exclualvouesa as its characteristic feature That which in Christtanity was mostcapable of am ^ lgamatiou with Christian society was not opinion , wfcich might bo exclusive , but the great moral principles of aoiion , which were more
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comprehensive , and expansive than any other system oi mtraity , . j Thij igre ^ t law quoted by the hon , baronet , ' Do untddtbersas ' you would tbey should do aatoyou , ' was assuredly not exclusive , but comprehensive . It taught us . to bear , in mind the civil duties which we required to be performed by our Jewish Mlow-gnbjtcts ; the burdens which we imposed upon our Ja-vlsb followsubjeots ; the co-opertitien which we required of th > m in works of peace and charity ; and , as weour-elres , sup * posing us to bj in the minority , would most certiinlj seek to obtain for ourselves rUhts commensurate with ourdutlt * .. , eo we were taught by that great Christian lawto deal with tbem in » he same manner , and to grant them rights , while we impose upon tfeem tbe psr * formancc of duties , Ncr did be sea in ihe constitution
of this country any feature of excluaiveucss . ' What had been the whole current of legishtioi in this country—what had keen i-s great and leading characteristic in reference to that diversity of religious sects which had ; , so Iong . e * is ^ d , i Surely it had been to extend the pale of the constitution . ( Uear . ) There was scarcely an instance during the last century and nJial ! of anything like exclusion being tho immouato aun contemplated resultof any legislative wi-anm , ( Hoar , hear . ) On tbe contrary , the stream of legislation h " tl been ia tbe opposite direction , Toleration imdnotetclusivenoss had been admitted to bj the ptiaciple by which the government of Great Britain must be regulated . Tho Toleration Act put an end even to tho professlon of absolute nnity among tbe . people of ibis cuuu .
try lureliglous matters ; the perseverance of the Society of Friends in the matter of their marrmges gainsd its object ; gradually the Dissenters were freed from the various restrictions that had been Imposed upon them ; the penal code azainst tbe Catholics was from time to time relaxed ; at last the Unitarian * were brought within the boundaries of that tolcrstion from which th : y had been so long excluded;—by the repeal of tbe Test and Corporation Alts the barrier ; ivera thrown down whiehhed keptout the Diescnters from the various corp ration offices ; tbrn that ' great weaaure was pissed by which the Roman Catholic body wis adinlttc-l to share in the representation of this country , and from hat lime , in various minute points , the same principle of relaxation had prevailed . Where wergwe to find the
constitution of Great Britain if nat in tho charaetc-ristle features of a succession of Legislative fuiictments con tlsued through ssvfrjl fenerations ? Ours was not o paper eoastHn ' . ion ; it was not to bo found in a set of cu ' -snd dried propssltions ; it must bs sought in tho'e great prinsiples which had gradually but surely it . turwoven themselves with the system of our leeislstion . Some ol tho arguments of the hon . baronet appears d to be based upon tbat d , fiaUiw ot tbe con < fitution reported to . have been made by a great legal authority , — that the eonetitutiin of the country was , whatever w ^ g constituted ,., ( Heer , , hear ) Hthat were tHe definition , then tbo constitution was a most fluctuating tkinir , an <) contained natklng to which appeal could be . made with auytbini like motel certainty . But , if wo bobed to tNe
constitution as something which grew r . nd expanded , and developed'itSelf with the growth of soei * ty , then in the history ofthe laws of this country , the principle , of religious freedomand equality was te be : seen gradually but progressively developing itself as one of the tendencies of government in Via country , and- as one ofthe principles of our constitution . ( Caeors . ) It had been argued by the hon . baronet , that exclusion was not punishment '; nud there might be clrcuuistaneis under which that argument would hold ; but it wns scarcely applicable to any class which had intelligence enough to perceive and moral feclin-r fnough to appreciats the rights ani privileges of citiznship . ( Henr , hear ) Whensoever a class existed in a etato , that el ,-ss felt wronged if their position was such that they wer .:
esteemed ; to have nothing to do . viith the laws but t # obey thtm ; and they wonld never cease to protest againB * that wr » n ; . ( H *' .. r , hesr . ) The question really before fee house at that moment was tbe pnrtlo . l disfrnnr-bisement of the city of London , for by the present state of the law It was deprived nf its due share ia the representation , and was und-rgoing a punishment in not having its due share in thefotmhton of those laws in whose proper administration it was eo much interested . It wns , therefore , In tho same post * tion in which it wou'd be had a bill of pain ? auii penalties been brought in against it for sslacting Baron de Rothschild as its " representative , lie asked whether it was likely that the city of London , which had made such a choice , would retract it . The city would
do no such thing , and he believed that if tlie house persisted in that form of oath by whieb ths exclusion of the Baron . de Rothschild was effected , it would stir up a most formidable agitation . The electors mipht be told that a system of checks ran throughout our rcpro sentativo system ; but the exclusion of a Jew was different from ai-. y other exclusion that opu-aud in the return of members to parliament . Thrra were tbe oaths . What wris contained in the oath of allegiance , for example , which an honest man and a good subject would not feel equally binding oh his conscience it fee had not taken the oath . ? Whot was there in tho osihs which n man wouhl not equally feel to be his ' social , aud uoli tical duty if they did not ex ' st « There was ni exclusion in them . But the exclusion here was one of
reunion and race ; an indelible brand was nffixofi upon tbe Jew , As to a profession of Christianity , if be made I * , his mind was not changed by his external pilaney . Ho was a Jew by race , and a Jew he niu-. t continue : he cannot un . Jew himself in order to get rid of his disability for sitting in . that house of legislature , He mi » ht ns well attempt to uncircmncise the corpses of his forefatbm , ( Much laughter . ) If society wire now commencitig instead of advancing towards tho comp ' eti ' on of a grt-et experiment , —if there were now but one faith snd one worship over the land , and we ware disposed to try whether a different and more comprehensive system might not be advantageously adopted , he knew of no class of men with whom it wonld be se > safe to begin thateiperimcntas with tho Jews . ( Hear . hcnr . ) They
wero essentially a : non-proselytlsmg people , aad tbey conld not , like the [ Romon Catholics and ct s . cr sects , come into collision with the established religion of th ? country . They wased no warfare , like many sects of prn . fessing C rlstians—they were men [ of peace , stud ) isg and pursuing the arts of peace . They had no secret societies , no religious orders , who . might be supposed to disturb the neighbourhood of those amongst whom they dwelt . They were simply the representatives of those whose hobiliiy—if illustrious character con * titu » ed nobility— boasted a higher origin of antiquity then those Normans or those Italian nobles who found their anecators iu the Catos snd Caisars—who were in comparison but things of yesterday . ( Hear , hear . ) Tht * r Bible was our B-blo . ( Hear , hear . ) Thtir ancesiral
naints aud patrons were outs also ; end if we were asked where was the Jewish law of moral : ! , wo should find it not iu the temples and synagogues m .-rriy . but we houldread them in the tables fifthe law which were placed over the altars of our Christian churches . ( Hoar . ) Suroly , then , of all people those might faifrj hoal / owi-d to come first , instead of last , Within tbe boundaries of the British constitution . He felt that instead of h » . zardicg our Christian character by such a movement we should be asserting our Christian character ; for the form in which our religion had hitherto been blended with the glories of our country had not teen in tbo tnfort-piuent of opinions , —not in putting down heresies—nut in the magnifleent < fforts for its extension and propagationbut In knocking the fetters from the slaves , and in respecting the rights of poverty chd industry ; it h :. d been In the measures by which we had stimulHted free
intercourse between different natioaa , binding ikem together in tho bonds of peace—It had been , not in excluslvencss , but in expansion , or to nse the words of a great powt , * in teaching the nation * how to live '—it had been in the national career which we hud consistently pursued ; end he was sure that by removing the stigma and abolishing the penalties wM ' ch attached to men of honour , patriotism , and ambition , and which prevented the choice of the constituency of London from taking hU place-between those walla ; by declaring tbat the Clirietfan spirit In which we asked othti s to deal with m we should deal with them—we should do more towards a nobler identification of Cliristii . nity . witb . tho Ciisstltu . tion and the law than could be obtsined hy the stern edicts and the fioree prosecution of the dark ages , however much these might succeed or cot , iu enforcing an apparent uniformity . ( Hear , hear , )
Lord Abdiev observed , that on this question there was no intermediate feeling in the counir , ; - , for It was either a feeling of ind ftVrence or ofthe deepest interest . The pr < judic ( B ofthe present day against the Jews had no connexi-n with the personsl hatred once directed against them on , account of their crucifixion of our Saviour , nor even wUh those prejudices which existed io 1703 . The Jew held a higher place now in the opieioa of society ; and the objections against bis admission into Pavliament did not rest on such balf . forgotten recollections , but on the adherence ofthepeopIeofBngland toa principle which he hoped they would never Ftirraider , bis opposition to this measure was not fouii'led on any selfish or persecuting motive , but on n principle of religlous truth . He , contended that religion had a great deal
to do with polities—that tbe house knew tfiat fact—and that It prrved it by every one of its daily actions , Mr Macaulay , In an elaborate essay . haddecland that government by its essential character wns interdicted from contempluting and accomplishing Christian ends ; but he well recollected that that distinguished writer had in another speech declared that ' everything which lowered Christianity in public estimation washigh treason ngainst the civilisation of mankind . ' Ho then controverted Mr Macaulay ' s doctrine , tbat to talk of Christian government was as absurd fig to talk of Christian cookery or Christain cobblery , and passed a heavy censure upon him forhavitig confounded , for the sake of a witticism , the lowest operations of the mind with the operation of tbe highest { .. fluence of the soul . It was true that G ; bl > on and Hume might as infidels have sat in tint bouse ; but
they could only have done ? 0 by professing ( bat in tbeir opinion Christianity was part and parcel of tbe law o ( the land . The house was now cilUd upon to . bve & k down all tbe barriers which prevented Jews from tittiag in Parliament . Ho advantage would be gained by such an enactment—no compensation would bo effordod for the great shock which it would occasion to thou sands of honest and conscientious Christinas . The present was altogether a question of principle — it was a legislative d . duration tbat for all the purposes ot public government , of making laws , and of administering public affairs , Christianity was nhegether needless . To such a doctrine h » could not assent even for a single hour . If the Ju ws bad been olready In Purlii-ment , be would not have proposed to turn them out , but it wp . s a widely different question to propose to bring them in and to rep ;& l for their introiu . tkm uu o « th which was a de-
Removal Of Jewish Disabilities . F Wo We...
claration of Christianity ea the part , of the . Legi « Iatorf t In saying this , he disclaimed any antipathy to the Jews , The Jews were « apeople of very - powerful intellect , of cultivated minds , and with habits of study that would defy the competition ofthe most indefatigable Scnuan , Their literature extended in an unbroken chain fiota tNe days of our Lord down to the present time . [ Mr Disraeli . — * From far beyond that . ' ] True , for tbe lit » n , gentleman meant , no doubt , tor throw inte their literature the whole range ofthe historians and , tW prophet * of the Old Testament . ( 'Hear , hear , 'from Mr Disraeli . ) But he ( Lord Ashley ) was speaking , not of the old Jews in their palmy days , but of the Jews oppressed and despised in their days of dispersion . ( Hear , hear . ) Evan thu . ^ . their literature ombracetl every saij > ct of science
an ^ liarning , of secular and relkious- sttQwledtse . Aa early as the ninth century tbey took ibe leadln grammar , aBdlexic . griphy , and towards the end of the twelfth their labours iu this respect formed the . basls of' . very tiling that bad sinee been done by Christian doc-trs . They had a most abundant literature in French :: nd ' German , but especially in Hebrew : and tbe Joys pre . seated , ho believed , in onr day , iu proportion to their suiters , a far larger list of m < n of genius and learning than could be exhibited by any G . ntile country . Mur . ic , poetry , medicine , astronomy , occupied their atfcnC'on , and in all they were more than a match for their cm » pe > litors , ( Hi'jr ) But the most remarkable feature in tbe character of tbJewe in tbe prescrt day was this , —that they hod difeared very / uieny of their extravagant and auti-social doctrines . Their hatreds . and their suspicions
were subdued , aad undoubtedly they exhibited a greater desire and a greater fimejs to re-enter the gi'tp-: al family of mankind . ( Hear , ' ) He « hoaW be asked , their why , with all this belief' of their merit , ho hesitated to a . iopt the present measure l He was fully prspareel tomako every concession tl al could contribute to their honour and comfort ; he offered no oppoaitioi io thsir being admitted to corporate tiltcs ; but when he was summoned , In obedience to a principle which from hit ' soul ho repudiated ( the . priicipie that religion had nothing to do with politics ) , to strike out c rtuin wards from the oath that asserted the truth sod maiu'ti . n : d / the supremacy of the Gospel , 'be Must at once decbre that h * could not give his vote for tho admis-i . n of » 5 iybody to the high and most solemn functions of legislating in the British Parllamtnt uulesa he professed , ' t ' je true faith ofn Christian , ' ( Hear , hesr , )
Mr W B . Gladstohh commenced by alluding to ' Mb position as a m « mber for the'University ' of Oxford , audi explanatory of the reasons wh y he intended to vote agaiust tho motion of his colleague , Sir R . Inglis . I here represent a body , of whom I gladly acknowledge that I must losk up-= n the members of which it is rum . poaod asb ' . irjg'In ability , in knowledge , in opportKnl . ties ot judgment , either superior , or , at the least , tqual to mj self , But that will not absolve me — I am sut e I al . a ' . l be borne out bj tho intelligence of all who hear me —that wiil not absolve me In stifling the dictates of my own judgment and conscience , feeble as they may be , with regard to what the principles ot the constitution » nd tbe interests of the country may require , ( Hoar , hoar . ) I must take advantage of the position in wiiioh .
wa are placed as members of Parllattunt . I -fed that here we have opportunities of judgment and of leaniiny in our own profeseion—for It is a profession—which others eonnot have ; and that I shoolc be betraying tbo interests ' of my constituents if 1 were to succumb to their ; udgmonts in a case where I was conscientiously convincf . d tbat there wns n bthr course to pursue , ( Hear , hear ) With regard to the positive arguments lor the admission of Jaws to P . irliaimint , I shall be brief , The noble lcrd has statee " , and iu terms sat s ( ae ! ory to me , nearly all that I think required to bo stated . His doctrine with regard to tho fitness of the Jew for reprc . sentatioh has kdeed beed contested by the assertion tiint to withhold political privilege does not constitute a grievance That is a proposition which I apprehen * . can
neither be affirmed nor denied in universal terms ; it must bo judged by the circumstance ? of the case . We are bound to inquire whether there ar strong causes of disqualification , which oblige us to draw a distinction between one class ot cit z-: ns and another . If there are strong nnd adequate causes , Incapacitating parties for the performance of certain duties , then to withhold from th : m political privileges do .- s not constitute a grievance ; hut , if yon or , u show no each stiong , nod powerful , ond substantivereasons , —if it is admitted that tbo parties are competent for the duties which it is proposed that they should discharge . —then , I say , iu that case , It is tru » , and it must be affirmed , and It mu « t be adhered to , that to withhold political privilege does constitute a grievance . Having chowo t . Vat we had contended first for a
Church pailiampnt , ond then for n Protestuntpsrliament , in both of whioh contests we hVd been defeated by the course of events , or he ehould rather soy by the providentin ! superintendence of God over th <> world , he said that , according to Lord Ashley , we had now come to the stage in which we must stand up for a Christian parliament , When ( said Mr Gladstone ) we speak of the British law * and the British consti . ' ution , I really must ask , with the hon . number for Oldham ( Mr W . J . Fox ) , that right bars we to fix on some particular period , fifty or one hundred or tno hundred years ago , and to say , ' 1 will take the ba * is of tbat particular period , ard I will say their hvglnn , and there ends , the British consti * mtion ? ' On tbe contrary , I gey tbat the very same principle which mvkts me regard Mngua Ciiarta as a
part of the British constitution , the same principle which makes mo regard th ; B-ll of Rijhts as a part of the British constitution , and the Act or Uniformity , and other acts , —I do not moan to saj as nil equally important , but all nuking parts of our coastitutlor . al system , —by the same principle , I think , in general justice , whether Hike them or nr > , quite independently ef personal opinion , we who meet here in 1847 a ^ bound to recognise to a great extent , as facts , those laws which have fairly cnt' .-n-d into the political system of the country , which hardly anyone desires to change , which no one attempts to supersede , which we all on coming her * ' profess to . accept , and which I think we are bound therefore to apply and develops in tbe spirit of fairness anil jus . tics , ( Hear ) Then we have now arrived at a stage in
which , after two or three generations contended for a church Parliament , and two or'three generations more CiiDtended for a Protestant Parliament , each being in succession beaten , we are called upon to decide whether wo shall contend for a Christian Poriiamcnt . ( Hear , ) And here I mu 5 t say that my noble friend ( Lsrd Ashley J has made assumptions which if he could establish I should not be found voting aunins ' - him ; and , I may say , not I alone ; but certainly , so for as I understood the noble lord who opened this debute in a powerful address , I thought the assumptions of my noWe friend with regard to the views of the promoters of this measure entirel y inconsistent with the statement of the noble lord—I mean with regard to the relation between religion and polities , My noble friend says , that we are asked to make
a public declaration that for all purposes of government and the making of laws Christianity is neiidless . Certainly such was not the doctrine of the noble lord ( Lord J , Russell , ) ( boar , hear ;) aud I must say , without , of course , impeaching the camlour of my noble friend , that ' I think he has put an extreme and a strained contraction on the sense and spirit ef tho measure itself . ( Hear , bear . ) I do not think It amounts to what my nohh friend has said ofit ; I do not think it does establish a severance between politics and religion , j think ' . it amounts to Ibis—it amounts to a dccltnticn on our part ( if it shall pass , ) founded on the whele circum--stanees of the ease , and upon mir view of tho society in which we live , its composition ; , and its temper , that ihers is no necessity for our absolutely excluding the Jew , as
such , from an assembly , with regard to which asf orably every one of us in his own conscience feels perfectly sure —as sure as a mail may venture , without piesumption , to fed upon what is future—that the vast and over , wbeiming majority will long , and I pray always may , continue to be Christian . ( Hear , hear . ) Now that question , whether , under given circumstances , under the circumstances in which we live , you may open jour door to Jews , whom you expect te enter here by ours and twos , is , I know , an important question ; and I freely avow to myself , audi have no doubt to mony . it'js peinful to part even with tbo title oo exclusive Christianity , written our th » portals of the constitution . I come ( jsid Mr Gladstone ) back and close with the ep . ptalmade to me by the noble lord at the head of the
government , feeling that in ho measure which that noble lord has proposed h . . is aspiring " at 1 ef >* t to i ! o an act of ju . tice The measure we urge is one worth y of a Christian Legislature to enoct , for tho nrguraenis which support it are those which Christianity recegnises , Should wer fuse It the wrong and injustice on ehjl and political grounds will speedily manifest themselves ; while , on the other hand , if we adopt it , and admit the Jews , we Bualllinve the consolation of usding , that even if ihclr prejudices should for a time e- * igt yet their good sense will not fall to allay them jWe shallhave the coueo-JstloB of . finding that we have used the light that has been given ns , and I think we need not despair of hAng guided by it aright ; and under my cir .-umstaHces we shall know that w « have done our duty by conceding civil and political equality to our fellow-subjects , without any d .. « pnriigeme > it to tbo religion wo profess . Wo shall
have the eatisfnetion to . rt fleet that we have not , by doing an act of civil and social justice , lowered Christiaoity in the public estimation , but have discharged a duty sending rather to elevate Christianity ia all reflcctive minds , especially if , when a few yours shall have elapsed , axd we shall be enabled to read tbo debates of the present hour with the lights which afttr events m & y throw upon thoui , wo fin . that the Christian religion we professed ennbkd us to do an act of duty in spite of prejudices and prepossessions , appealing to our tenderest feelings ; asd that , although weduly re » respeeted those prejudices and prepossessions , yet a Jetl . ing of justice would not allow as for a moment to suffer those prejudices to come in competition with the calls that wsre made upon uo tor . rt upon tho precepts of our religion . | ( The right bou . gentleman resumed his seat amidst great cheering . )
Mr DifEAEU observed , that both Lord John Russel and Lord Ashley bad considered this measure as a question of principle . With tbe former it was a pvinoiplo of religious liberty ; with the latter a [> rinc-pla of reli glou * truth . The former had adopted a principle whictl in this country was comparatively a novel one , 1 nd upen which his . lordship , from bis descent and his own personal exertions In its behalf , must ever be expectedto look with respect , Tho Jewish race were men who acknowledged the same God and admitted the same reVflntion with ourselves , and to whsm we wero indebte . 4 for much of our human civilisation end almost all our divine taaowledtie . They professed a true , if not the true , religion . If they did not believe all that Chris . ; . as 6 did , Chrbtiwis tclitvcii all that they did , As kr
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 25, 1847, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_25121847/page/7/
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