§ Mr. Wilksreminded the House that during the present Session three subjects connected with the claims of the Dissenters had been more or less discussed:—1. A motion, now postponed, but which had stood for to-morrow, on the admission of Dissenters into the Universities. 2. The Dissenters' Marriage Bill, which had been introduced by the hon. Baronet, and had since devolved into the hands of the present Government. 3. A question which seemed to him of extreme importance which had been deferred, but which he had intended to submit, on the subject of a national civil registration of births, marriages and burials. To these three might, perhaps, be added the subject of Church-rates, repeatedly mentioned by his hon. Friend, the Member for Exeter. It had, however, been intimated that if the Dissenters would not press these several topics, to them of great interest, but allow measures of more vital and 12 general interest to proceed, in order that they might not be inconveniently protracted, but occupy the undivided attention of the House, Ministers were disposed, early in the next Session, themselves to originate official measures—first, for a general civil registration of births, marriages, and burials; secondly, a Bill for a the relief of Dissenters in respect to marriage; and thirdly, a provision as to Church-rates. He (Mr. Wilks) now only invited the attention of the House to the subject, and requested the noble Lord at the head of the Home Department, for the sake of general information and satisfaction, to state whether, after due deliberation, such was the course designed to be pursued by Government.
§ Lord John RussellIn answer to the question of the hon. Member, which the House has just heard, I have to state that I have paid great attention to the measure introduced by the right hon. Baronet opposite, on the subject of Dissenters' marriages. I found that those among the Dissenters whom I consulted, without saying whether the Bill should or should not be postponed, were anxious to have introduced into it, Amendments of so extensive a nature that they must give rise to protracted discussion; they wished to have a number of new provisions inserted, so that it could hardly be expected that the Bill in its new shape could be passed in the course of the present Session. On this account it is not my intention to proceed with that Bill. I have to state further, that my opinion certainly is, that the first measure that ought to be adopted with a view both to the Dissenters and to the inhabitants of the country at large, is one to establish a civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths. It is accordingly the intention of Government to propose such a measure early in the next Session. If we can propose a Bill satisfactory to the Dissenters and satisfactory also to Parliament, I do not apprehend that we shall find much difficulty in framing a measure relative to the marriages of Dissenters. As to the other point—Church-rates—retaining always the opinion I have heretofore expressed, it certainly is the conviction of Government that it ought to proceed early next Session to the introduction of a plan upon that subject. I believe that I have now answered the several questions of the hon. Member, and I may add that I certainly 13 think it not possible to bring forward measures upon these questions with any hope of passing them into law in the present Session. Government is determined earnestly to apply itself to the consideration and preparation of Bills to be introduced to the House in the ensuing Session.
§ Mr. Wilkswished to be permitted to state, that he had not put these questions to the noble Lord without having first had very general communication with Dissenters in all parts of the kingdom. Among all great confidence in the kind and just feeling of the present Government prevailed, as it was believed that they were sincerely attached to the cause of religious liberty. The Dissenters felt that by forbearance they had not cancelled their obligations to the same cause, and that they best conformed to the wishes and promoted the interests of the country by acquiescence in this arrangement, looking forward, as they did, with great anxiety and intense hope to the production of measures that would harmonize with their feelings, while, at the same time, they gave general satisfaction.