Mr. Wilkspresented a Petition from a Congregation of Dissenters at Salisbury, praying that the administration of Oaths might be altered.
Mr. Cutlar Fergussonhoped this important subject would soon be brought under the distinct attention of the House. There were many oaths which could safely be abrogated; one of the most absurd was that which was required to be taken by Protestant Members of that House, who were compelled to swear it was not in the power of the Pope to absolve subjects from their allegiance. But the most whimsical part of the ceremony was, that Catholics, who were the only persons who were supposed to put faith in the doctrine, were not required to take the oath. This subject had never received the large and liberal consideration it deserved. He hoped Parliament would soon come to the conclusion that the multiplicity of oaths only tended to weaken the moral influence of the obligation which they imposed; his opinion was, that all the oaths to be taken by official persons ought to be reduced to one, and that one should be the Oath of Allegiance.
Mr. Wilks,in moving that the petition be printed, said, he concurred fully in the remarks made by the hon. and learned Member, and as a proof of the necessity of some amendment being made on this subject, he must beg to inform the House, 857 that by certain Bills which had lately passed, 300,000 oaths which had been previously taken annually at the Excise and Custom Offices were abolished. He knew a person who declared that he had taken upwards of 1000 such oaths, and had never inquired as to the object of any of them.
§ Petition to be printed.