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Leader (1850-1860), 14th June 1856, Edition 1 of 2, Page 554

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      the oath which can be twisted into a meaning not legitimately its own , and be made to « erve js a proscription in thatHouse of the professors of the Eld Hebrew faith . AH the *^*« ££ Bg £ E were being expressed , ithejbra ^» ^ * tzXL ^^ jdbM ^ ff iCg SSt'ft . 'S- 'aasssMi prospe ^ J of this ^ try ^ tfmg to ho *» l » le Lmbers commencing their , deliberations jevery

      evening with Christian prayer . But the House , as on previous occasions , went against the champions of orthodoxy , and decided by 159 votes ^ ot 110 not to entertain the amendment . Ine Dill thereupon passed-to be thrown out again , m all probability , by our Constitution-loving Peers , who are so jealous of their own prerogatives that they will not suffer the Crown to touch them , but who cannot allow the Commons to arrange then- own internal affairs as they may think best . SChe two legislative Houses , during the last few days , must have been in a mood peculiarly connexion

      susceptible to the reception of trutn in with religious matters . The Commons tolerated , with an occasional laugh , Mr . Hbywood ' s assertion , in committee on the Cambridge University Bill , that , throughout the length and breadth of the land , ninety-nine out of every hundred medical officers do mot believe in the Thirty-nine Articles , and that therefore it is absurd to insist upon-the Professor of Anatomy at Oxford signing those declarations of faith : which is a truth , no ^ otibt , but rather a startling truth for our orthodox representatives to listen to . The Lords tolerated

      a discussion on the propriety of consecrating ^ chapels in bur i al -grounds ; allowed the Larl of ; MiutfESBUBY to accuse the Bishops of being disagreed on the subject ; and did not fall into hysterics at hearing the Bishop of Cashkl repeat , -approvingly , the systematic neglect of the latituitbnarian Archbishop of Dublin to administer the ^ sacrament in the ch apels of cemeteries . Noble Xords listened to all this in patience ; though Lord Dungannon objected to the " unhallowed " proceedings of the Archbishop , and Lord Camp-,

      bell prudently advised that the subject should 'be allowed to " drop . " Again : the House of Commons cried "Hear , hear ! " when Mt . Ewart , in ; moving for a . select committee to inquire into ihe question of capital punishment , said he would not enter , into the Scriptural argument , " because , whea the House embarked in theological discussion , it always deserted common sense . " Some progress , assuredly , has been made in the two branches of the Leg islature towards a better frame of mind on matters of faith .

      But progress has not been made in other matters—as , for instance , with regard to our penal code . Palmer , drifts on towards his legalized death in the midst of great doubt on the minds of many whether , in the abeence of absolute proof of Cooke ' s death by strychnine , the execution should take place at all . We do not share in those doubts as regards this particular case ; but it is nbtorloiis * that Judges and juries do sometimes make mistakes in , matters of life and death , and only sfind - out the . blunder when it is too late . . Hero as a case wjth . a peculiar difficulty , felt by many thoughtful persons ; yet the Commons will

      ¦ not'iisten to any plan with reference to the general question of removing from the agents of the law ifae frightful ¦ responsibility of mating fallible ( human , judgment with an irrevocable sentence—. an exercise of power-fit only for the unerring hand . of Divine Wisdom . Accordingly , our representatives throw out Mr . Ewahx's proposition by 158 j votes to 64 , and declare by a majority of 92 that 'the obsolete Hebrew code of morality shall be the ^ governing rule in a state of society altogether dis-j rSnnilar to that of ancient Judooa , and under a dispensation which essentially modified the Mosaic , moral system . 'In the meanwhile , Palmeb is inexorably left to

      -his -fete . Sir George Gbbt refuses to commute or "fKMtpone the -punishment ; and this day , in « U atunfrn certainty , ' will be pregnant to him -with , ttjha * aoever of new and wonderful experience may lie -within the awful change from Life to Death . "Some 'degree of satisfaction is derivable from ttre'fafct that Government has promised to inquire onext 'session > i « to i the state -of the laws affecting 4 h . e , property , of . married ; women . Sir Erbjonk Vtiuax gAllantJy itook up the cause of tho fair oppressed , and , in , a clear , concise speech , showed ' 'the cruel sacrifice of " equity to " law "— . the gradual J overriding of tho old manly English rule by tho

      mere dicta ? ann interpretations of Judges , who decide frowwwhatSir'iSRSKiNE calls the " husband " point of tftew . As the law now stands , a woman may bej » iill-used by her husband as toffee forced [ n y ajMUllUri frnm hipj , jmgl yet be oblj ^ efrto yield to m ev « 3 jr farthingatff her ^> ropei * ty or Seer income , * at tlBBirisk of orcantn ^ g necessaries f * r her owntaubsidfeonce . •* Ahe may protect henriif in theawart inequity , " agpis MrJB ^ Iahn ^ , whjeti&mke it wo * Ul « e «' con * B « y * to « 4 fce law of TSWEP ' if the and mfe

      interests *^ man « should not remain identical—which is precisely what they are not at present ; but we all know the slow and doubtful proceedings of la ^ w courts . The discussion , however , was remarkable , if only for Mr . J . G . Paitxjmore ' s assertion that England is an example to ^ all other countries in the relations of the married couple . In proof , refer to the police courts for wife-beating cases , to the law courts for actions for adultery , and to the House of Lords for divorce bills .

      Our social system receives another illustration from the strike of the miners in the west of Scotland , which has this week been brought to . a termination by the surrender , as usual , of the men , after a sacrifice in wages alone of 500 , 000 / . The strike originated early last March , owing to the desire of the masters to reduce the wages of their labourers from five to four shillings a day , in anticipation of the conclusion of peace . Great distress has been experienced by the men ; and at length , in the fourth month of the strike , the garrison is starved out . Here is a lamentable comment on the want of co-operation and

      agreement ; here also are materials for Mr . Mackinnon ' s committee . But we have discussed the subject at large elsewhere . From these gloomy questions it is pleasant to turn even to the Cockney pleasure-grounds of Cremorne , where we find the Queen visiting the flower-show , or to the Ascot races , where Royalty may again be seen unbending in the presence of the people . And still more pleasant is it to behold a true alliance between the English and French peoples , in the shape of charitable contributions , from the former for the sufferers by the terrible inroad of the waters over the fields of

      Southern France . A pithy and sterling letter of advice from Mr . Roebuck , the newly-chosen chairman of the Administrative Reform Association , to the members of that body , forms an admirable make-weight to the political history of the week . It will be no fault of the energetic Sheffield Radical if the society do not rub off the ruat that has prematurely gathered around it , and set vigorously to work , with a prospect of achieving results that shall be worthy of the pretensions it puts forth .

      Capital Pvmishment . —A public meeting , convened by the Society for Promoting the Abolition , of the Punishment of Death , was held at the London Tavern on Monday evening fn support of the motion to be submitted by Mr . Ewart on the following evening to the House of Commons . The speakers were—Mr . Edward Webster , a Chancery barrister ; the Rev . Henry Christmas ; tho Rev . H . Richards , secretary to the Peace Society ; Mr . Farmer , apparently a working man , and Mr . Mason , who sought , amidst much opposition ,, to justify capital punishment ; tbve Rev . Dr . Burns , a dissenting minister ; and some others . Tho arguments advanced by tho advocates of abolition were of the usual character . Resolutions in favour of the objects of tho meeting were carried almost unanimously ; and a petition to . Parliament was agreed to .

      Fiue . —Tho promises ( situated in tho Blackfriarsroad ) of Messrs . Norton , Haytor , and Co ., patentees of tue wool company . for making wool out of worsted etufly , wore burnt down , with tho exception of a small portion , last Saturday . Tho machinery also was partially destroyed . Mormon liJUoitATioN ik Pbkston . —Largo numbers arc omigrating from Preston to tho Salt Lakes . " Wo find it is not unusual , " saya tho Preston Guardian , " for husbands to roturn'homo at night and find wife , daughter ,

      and children tied , tho house stripped , and a pretty long list of debts incurred on tho eve of departure left unpaid . " Stxianok Discovioky ok a Dead Body . —A dead body , much decayed , and dressed in very tattered clothing , was discovered a few days ago among some lumber in a loft ovor a Htablo in Bristol . An empty phial was discovered in one of tho pockets . It is tlto opinion of medical men that the deceased must havo been dead at least 'fifty yearn . An inquest has been opened and adjourned for further evidence .

      Killed ny a Nuicdlu . —The young Irishman mentioned in our last as huving boon dreadfully wounded in tho chost by a needle which broke in tho muscles , has i since died . Ghnkrai . Die La'Marmora , has loft tho Crimea for his own country .

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      Monday , June 9 th . THE FOREIGN LEGIONS . , In the Bwdse -of Lords , Lord Doxoughmore asked the Secretary for " War what the intentions ofthe Government were , with respect to the foreign legions ? Lord PANjnTWrffeplied that the foreign legions , when dise m-Ja ^ WH , were to be sent to their homes , or to be located la-some British . colony , at the expense of the Government .

      THE SEES OF GLOUCESTER ANT > BRISTOL . The Earl of Ellenborocgh , adverting to the vacancy in the Bishopric of Gloucester and Bristol , caused by the death of the Bishop , made some remarks advocating the separation of the two dioceses—a step which he believed most of the county gentlemen desired to have taken , oa the ground that the see is too large . — Lord Redesdalk also expressed an opinion in favour of separation . —Earl Granville said the question which had been raised was one of a very difficult character and required much consideration . There were several sees with respect to which there had been great complaints of the necessit y of dividing them ; and therefore it was obvious that if anything was to be done in such a matter it should be by means of a general measure , and not one applying only to this particular case .

      OUR AMERICAN RELATIONS . In answer to a question from the Earl of Carnarvon , Earl Granville said he had understood that the Asia had arrived , and that she had brought some news of a private character which was not very dear or intelligible . There was , on the . one hand , a report that letters had been received which extended to the 27 th , and which announced Mr . Crampton ' s departure ; and , on the other hand , a telegraphic message was said to have been sent on the 28 th , stating that there was no further intelligence . It was not quite clear what that telegraphic message meant—whether that there was no further intelligence besides Mr . Crampton's dismissal , or that Mr . Crampton had not been dismissed . ( Laughter . } Her Majesty ' s Government had'received no official communication . —A similar statement was made in the Lower House by Lord Palmerston , in answer to Mr . Disraeli .

      MERCANTILE LAW AMENDMENT BOX . The -House ^ having gone into committee ( on recommitment ) with respect to this bill , Lord Overstone protested against clause 1 , the object of which is to abolish the necessity for having written contracts in cases in which the amount of value exceeds 10 ? . Speaking in the name of the merchants of the City of London , he said there would be great danger of such a repeal leading to fraud , by making mere casual conversations assume the nature of actual contracts . However , he would not divide the House . ^— After a brief conversation , the clause was agreed to , and the bill passed through

      committee . ENCUMBERED ESTATES COURT . In the House of Commons , in answer to Colonel Gkeville , Mr . J . D . Fitzgerald ( the Attorney-General for Ireland ) said he was prepared to advise the Government to introduce in due time ( but not during the present session ) a bill for the continuation of the system o £ the Encumbered Estates Court . rUBUC PROSECUTOR . Sir George Grey , in answer to Mr . J . G . Pmu . imore , said it was not the intention of Government to propose any bill during the present session for appointing a Public Prosecutor . The Attorney-General , however , intended , to frame a measure during the recess .

      THE TXPPERARY BANK . Mr . Bowyer called attention to the fact of the Ma 9 ter of tho Rolls in Ireland having intimated his opinion that Government ought to interfere in the affairs of the Tipperary Bank ; and wished to know whether Ministers had . taken any steps in consequence . —Mr . J . I > . l' ™ zgerald said that on the previous Thursday morning , for tho first time , ho saw by chance in a Dublin paper the report to which Mr . Bowyer had nlluded . Ue immediately communioated with the Crown Solicitor wiin reference to attending tho judgment of hi . s Honour upon tho case . ( Jlear , Aear . ) The course which had been «" along open to tho learned Judge was a perfectly cleat one : ho had only to direct that tho matter should uo brought under tho attention of tho Crown Solicitor , wiw would have placed it before him ( Mr . . Fitzgerald ) 1 <» «" lie nut

      consideration , with a view that , if necessary , , "" put the law in force . OATH OF ABJURATION MIX . This bill was read a third time . On tho question " that tho bill do pas . s , " f „ Sir Frederick Thksioeu moved , as a fmlwtiluio « clause 2 , a clnuuo which , while it omitted tliowo : portio of tho oath that havo become obsolete , rointrodii « - <«» words , omitted in tho oath-which was propoHod by bill , " upon tho true faith of a Chrintinn . ; Jtcpuaui'b tho ' arguments ho had used , " on a former ocnrtuon , contended that , ao our institutions are laid deep >» foundations of Christianity , thoro ahould bo no hv " to tho House of Commons except through a pro «»» Of that faith ; and that , at any rate , tho objc « t < ' < - " ' by those , who advocated tho measure ought to Do cm-

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      554 i THE LEADER . [ No . 325 , Saturday ,

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      / fflffPERIAL PARLIAMENT .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), June 14, 1856, page 554, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2145/page/2/