House of Commons, April 3.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 554, 6 August 1851, Page 3

House of Commons, April 3.

Jn reply to a question from Mr. Hume, Mr. Bailme said he would bnng forward his motion with respect to Ceylon if possible before Enster ; but if not possible, he would bring it on the first open day subsequently. In reply to a question from Mr. Ilerrios,

ibe Ciianci.u.or of the ExciiEQUtn B.iid bo would bring forward bis financial statement in a committee of ways and means this evening, when lie would take a formal vote, to bo subject to the decision of the houso upon the motion of Mr. Homes respecting the income tax, which ho suggested might be conveniently taken on bringing up the repoi t of the committee on Monday next.

Mr. Ansily moved nn atkliess to Her Majesty, representing that it was now necessary that the due condition of the territories under the governmont or management of the East India. Company, anil the real feelings and wishes of our fellow-subjects inhabiting those territories as to such government or management, should he fully ascertained ; and, /or that purpose, praying Her Msijesty to take measures for the appointment of a committee of inquiry, with full power to take evidence in India as to the operation and results of the laws now in force touching the government and management of the said tcrritoties, and to report such evidence, together with the opinions of the commissioners thereon, to her Majesty in Parliament.

Lord J. Eussi'M. was opposed to sending a commission to India, believing thnt the present administrator of aflairs in that country were able find experienced men. If it Hbould be thought desirable to have inquiries instituted into the administration of Indian afiairs he would not object to such an inquiry, but he would oppose the appointment of a communion. Mr. llumk supported the motion so far as regarded the necessity for inquiry, but he did not think it necessary that a commission should be appointed for that | purpose, because they had the intelligence, for the most part, at home. Great as ho believed had boen the abuses in India, yet if it had been no better governed than had been our colonial dependencies, it would have long since passed out of our possession. Sir J. \\. llocg, on the part of the East India Company, was most anxious for the fullest inquiry into the subject of the government of India. r J hat company had been assailed with charges which those hon. members who made thorn could not prove, and he hud no doubt that whatever inquiry might bo instituted, the Ivist India Company would come honourably (hiough the investigation.

3\h. JSiticjiu condpinnpil the sort of double government which rulnd India — the .luthonty and the irsponsibility being divided between the East India Company and. the Board of Contiol, and thus leading to tlie poverty which now prevailed in fhnt countiy, the lesourccs of winch, under such a Bybtem, could not be developed. Within the short space of fouitccu 3 ears, no less than three lituidied millions of lpvenuo had been absti acted from India, and the only return it had leceived was about £1,400,000, expended in improvements. JMr. ftLiNOiib defended the administration of the affairs of Jndm, and said u commission was unnecesMiry, for they could iely upon tbu evidence of the seivants of tho company beie. JMr. Ansilv rejihed, and withdrew his motion. Loid J. Kussi i.l then moved that llip House should resolve itbelf into a committee of the whole bouse, to t.iko into co/ihideiation tho mode of ndmmisteiing the oalh of iibjuiation to jiersons professing tho Jewish leligion. 1110 uoble lord said be bad so often stated bis

views upon tins subject, that it was unnpccsiuy to repeat them on th;it occasion ; ns, howe»'e», some cncutiistancc-, had occimed to place tbp question on a dilFoient footing fiom t hat which it previously occupied, he si ouli) make floino observations upon its present position, lie rcfened to what had laken placo last si'ssiou, when Haron RolhscliiUl presented himself to take the na'lis, anil lef'iwd to re]>oat (ho words "on tlio true i.ntli of a Cbiiatmti," on the giound that they wore not binding on bis conscience ; and contended that tbose words woig novel intended to apply to (bo oxclus'on of Jews. It appeared 10 him, liowovor, that those words could not bf) omitted from the oath without an express Art of I'arli inierit on the subject, and the question was, whether they would relieve the Jews fiom taking that part of the oath 1 The question resolved itself into this — whether religious belief was to disqualify men fWm tbe exercise of civil lights and political power' Uc thought it should not, and therefoio submitted bis resolution to the house.

Sir 11. 11. Inoli;> saifl that for the last twenty years lie had felt it to be his duty to oppose every measure of this description winch was brought before the house. The piinci|)Jo at st.ike was tbat of Christianity ; and if Jews should be admitted, however small the number, the principle would bs given up, and the Parliament would be unchristiamscd. It was to bo recollected that the Jews regarded Him who we regarded as our Redeemer — God — as a crucified impostor. To the admission of parties holding such sentiments into a Christian Legislature, lie would never bo a party, and he therefore moved th.it the houso should resolvo itself into a committee that d.iy six months.

Mr. J\l. Gibson said the bill should have taken precedence of all other public business in the present session. The bill bad been twico passed through that house, and been rejected in another place, but ho hoped that if it should again bo rejected, the noble lord would take some decisive step to show that he lvns in earnest in sil tempting to cany it out. Mr. Pi umi'i ni was soiry that the noble loid had not paid moie attention to the religious feelings of the country than ngain to bring forw.u d this question for discussion. The Christian feeling 1 of this country would bo deeply wounded by such a measure, and lie therefore hoped it would not meet with tho sanction of the house. •Mr. WcGO-PRossn? believed the Jews were undergoing a punishment fiom the Almighty, but that was no reason whatever for their being subjected to restriction on account of their creed, lie could not help, however, I remirlcing upon the inconsistency of the Government in bringing forwaid measures one day in favour of religious liberty, and on another day imposing unworthy resti ictions upon a lai ge portion of their fellow-subjects. Under those circumstances he would decline voting altogether.

Mr. JNTmvdi gatk believed that there was a connexion between tins measure and Papal aggiossion, for Piua IX. might well think it safe to adopt the course he had recently pursued, when he saw the Government and one branch of the Butiali legislature ready to put.iti end to the last remuunt which distinguished it as a Christian assembly. Ihe house then divided, and the numbers were— For the motion 166" Against it 93 Majority 68 Tho house then went into committee, and a icsolution upon which to found a bill was agieed to, after which the house resumed. In leply to a question fiom Sir It. 11. Inglis, Lord .1. Rusm 1 1. said ho hoped to be able to bring on the second reading of tho bill on Friday week. On the motion for the house going into committee on the Designs Act Extension Bill, Mr. Aiikwiuour moved as an amendment " that the house go into committee on the bill that day six months." After a short discussion, tho house divided, and the amendment was negatived by a majority of 13J to 42. The bill then pas.scd through committee. The leninimng business was then disposed of, and the house adjourned.