Lords Sitting of 18 March 1842

Preamble
MINUTES.] BILLS. Public.—1a Consolidated Fund. 2a. Newgate Gaol (Dublin); West India Clergy. Private.—1a Cottenham Inclosure; Imperial Insurance. 2a Midland Counties Railway; Manchester Infirmary; Brandling Junction.
PETITIONS PRESENTED. By the Earl of Mountcashel, from Millers in King's County, against the Importation of Foreign Flour.—From Millers of Guildford, against the Proposed Scale of Duty on the Importation of Foreign Flour.—From Paisley, complaining of Distress, and praying for facilities for Emigration.— By a noble Lord, from Garryduff, for the Validity of Presbyterian and Dissenters Marriages (Ireland).—From Galashiels, for Universal Suffrage.

OATHS.
Lord Campbellpresented a petition from an individual, a Roman Catholic, who had a conscientious objection to taking an oath. The petitioner had been a merchant, and had become a bankrupt, but refused, on account of his scruples on the subject of oaths, to swear to his balance sheet. He offered to make a solemn affirmation, but being neither Quaker, Moravian, nor Separatist, that was insufficient, and he was sent to gaol, where he would be obliged to remain on
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the gaol allowance of 6d. a-day for the remainder of his life, unless Parliament passed a law of which he could take advantage. He prayed, therefore, that a law might be passed, giving individuals who had conscientious objections to the taking of oaths, the same exemptions which are enjoyed by Quakers, Moravians, and Separatists. The noble and learned Lord supported the prayer of the petition.
The Duke of Wellingtonsaid, that the foundation of all justice was truth, and the question was, how truth was to be ascertained. Before he could receive any application of this description, and before he should vote for the bill lately laid on their Lordships' Table, he would like to hear the opinion of some of those learned men who were at this moment engaged in the administration of the law, and who must have made up their minds as to the best means of ascertaining the truth. Hitherto it had been understood in this country that the best means was by administering oaths. He was aware that the Legislature had made certain exceptions. It might be very well to make these exceptions—and let further exceptions be made if they were expedient—but he did say, that they ought to have some solemn examination of the question, and some certainty that the new mode proposed was as good as the old one for ascertaining the truth, which, as he said, was the foundation of all justice.
Lord Campbellquite agreed in what had fallen from the noble Duke, and he hoped the question would be subjected to a strict examination.

DUTIES ON TIMBER.
The Earl of Malmesburyhoped their Lordships would excuse him, if, having been so recently introduced into their Lordships' House, he occupied their attention for a few moments, to put a question to his noble Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, respecting the timber duties proposed in the schedule of the revised tariff. As it now stood, the change would come into operation on the 5th of April, when Canada timber would come in at 1s. duty, and Baltic timber at a reduced duty. A considerable quantity of home-grown timber, particularly elm and fir, would be affected by the change. All sales took place in January and February, and be thought it hard that those who had made contracts three weeks ago should find

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themselves in a perfectly new position three weeks hence. Contracts were made on the faith of the old arrangements; and he wished to know whether regard would not be paid to the interests of the parties concerned by fixing a later day for the commencement of the new duties?
The Earl of Riponwas not aware, that his noble Friend intended to put a question to him respecting the details of the plan submitted to the other House. He could only say, that the 5th of April was put in the schedule under the expectation that more progress would have been made than had been found possible. As they were now so near that time, it would be impossible to give effect to the measure at so early a period, and a later time would be fixed for its coming into operation.—Adjourned.