DISABILITIES OF THE JEWS.
THE principle that no man ought to suffer any civil disability because of his religious opinions, was laid down last session in the most unqua- lified manner; and it was acted on, in reference to persons professing the Catholic faith, by one of the largest majorities that ever divided on a highly important question. The Catholics are a large and powerful body, but neither their numbers nor their power at all affect the prin- ciple in accordance with which emancipation was granted : it will not therefore be urged against the claims of any class of Englishmen pe- titioning for similar indulgences, that they are few and feeble, and their prayers not worthy of notice. Having opened the gate to admit a host, it would be absurd as well as unjust to stickle about unlocking the wicket to let in a troop. The Jews are now knocking for entrance. Their exclusion from civil appointments has not even that shallow ex- cuse which up to last session served to defeat the demands of the Ca- tholics. They are not dangerous from their numbers, their tenets, or their connections ; they are, compared with the Catholics, a mere handful ; they are not proselytizers ; they attack no man's faith ; they claim no exclusive salvation; they own no foreign head, and pay no foreign allegiance spiritual or civil. If any thing could be added to strengthen their claims, it would be found in the fact, that the disabi- lities which they are desirous to see removed are incidental, and Were not even intended to operate against them. The demands of the Jews are not great. They ask, 1st, that all doubt may be removed touching the Act of 1813 (which gave the benefits of the Toleration Act to Uni- tarians), by extending it to Jews eo nonsine ; 2d, that in all cases where the abjuration oath is directed to be taken by a Jew, the words "an the faith of a Christian" may be omitted. It is a mistaken notion that Jews cannot hold heritable property, or exercise any of the functions of a citizen, unless in cases where they are opposed by direct statute. The opinions of the soundest lawyers are uniform on this point. There is a very scandalous by-law, which excludes Jews from the Corporation of the city of London ; and some time ago, the very charitable and intelligent Christian butchers of Fleet Market wished to exclude the converted son of a Jew. The Parliamentary relief which they re- quest will of course remove this by-law, unless the Corporation see fit to anticipate the Legislature,—which we hope they will, for their own credit. Mr. F. H. Goansmin, who has written a sensible pamphlet on the subject, refutes at some length, and very satisfactorily, the silly objections that ignorance and prejudice urge against the admission of Jews to civil power. But we do not think that more will be neces- sary than merely to submit to Parliament the plan for the removal of the disabilities complained of. Their retention is incapable of being justified by a single argument; nor do we believe that the most nar- row-Minded bigot in Parliament will attempt it.
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