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    WAR TO THE MINISTRY . The demonstration at Sheffield " for the purpose of considering whether the present Government is deserving of the confidence of the country in the management of the war with Russia , " which vras annouhced'last week , CEtttie off on Monday . The feeling of the meeting was not unanimous . The mayor , who took the chair , stated that he did so officially , and that " he did not accord with the views of the requisitionists , hut h « ld quite contrary views to them . " He complained that a number of the council who had signed the requisit ion -were absent .

    Mr . Councillor Alcoek said that , as one of the parties who Lad signed that requisition , he was equally at a . loss with the mayor as to who had got up the meeting . He was asked in the town council during its last meeting to sigti a requisition for a meeting , but to that document no one could have lad any objection , for it was simply that the mayor would call a meeting to consider whether the conduct of Government in reference to the war was deserving the confidence of the country . He had been asked to second a resolution , but not liking the petition to be moved , he had prepared an amendment which hejwould submit to the meeting . He might say , that it was rumoured this was not a spontaneous movement on the part of the people of Sheffield , but that it had been

    got up by the Carlton Club in London . Councillor Saunders said perhaps the major Would allow lim to make his confession . ( Laughter , j He explained that he lad twice refused to . sign a , requisition to the mayor to call a meeting to condemn her Majesty ' Ministers and to ask for their dismissal from office , on the ground that we were not in possession of sufficient information of the inovementsof the allied , troop 3 . He had received a resolution which he had been appointed ti > second , but he had written to the promoters of the meeting declining to support that motion . At present he thought we were doing a fair amount of military work- in the East , arid he could not'but beEeve that in the north of Europe something starillrig ' would soon be done ;

    Mr . Alderman Carr proposed the first resolution : The last time he had the honour of being lefore a public audience on this question , his remarks suffered the degradation of being pumice-stoned in Russia . { Laughter . ) It would make little difference to him if they suffered the sanie fate on the present occasion . ( Cheers . ) He stood there with a clear conscience , satisfied he was doing his duty to himself and his country by moving the resolution that had been placed in his hand . ( . Cheers . ' ) He entertained the highest respect and the greatest confidence of our great warriors in the East . ( Cheers ') He believed that every man of them was there to do his duty , lut he doubted whether they had sufficient authority given them to allow them to do their duty to . their country . ( Loud cheers . ) Ho did not believe there was another man alive like Napier

    ( Cheers . } The next man to him was in the French army . The English and French alliance was a great blessing to us , and he sincerely hoped and trusted that friendly alliance would be everlasting . Whilst he reprobated , as strongly as any man could do the horrors that followed war , yet he knew there wore times when it was impossible for any nation to live at peace , arid that it was now impossible for this country to live at peace with Russia . ( Cheers . ') In his last speech in that hall on that subject , ho stated his firm belief that if England had been energetic in preventing Russia from occupying tlio principalities of Turkey , no war -would have happened . ( Applause . ) Unless we had energetic men in our Government to carry us through the wii , it would he a lasting one , and its end would be an inglorious one . How was it that authority was not given to our military and

    naval commanders to carry on tho war finnly and strongly , as they wished to do ? He did not blamo tho whole of tlie Government . There were men amongst them who deprecated the present system as much as any oa \ c could , but he could not pe satisfied with the conduct of the gentleman who occupied tlfe highest position in this country—tho Earl of Aberdeen . ( Loud cheers . ) If that minister were to reflect a moment tha . t ho had been ono of tho greatest and dearest friends of Russia , delicacy ought to have told him that he was the last man in the world who should hold his present position . { Cheers . ) Ho did not exorcise that delicacy , nay , ho was in power very much ia opposition to a great number of members of PiuTiainont , and a largo majority of this nation . ( Cheei's . y Now , lie came forward to call upon his townsmen to spouk' out and unseat tho man

    who so nbused his power . ( Cheers . ) Tho motion ho had to movowas tho following : —" That since tlio declaration of war ngainst Itussiu by this country , numerous and dangerous diplomatic interruptions , combined with a 3 axity of purpose , have been permitted to obstruct alike the tactics ofc our naval and military leaders , and tho general progress of the wniy and thus provemted measures of a decfaivo character , tending to tho humiliation of Russia , from Icing adopted . " Mr . Woston briefly seconded tho motion . Mr . Councillor Alcock then rose , and said : — Though perhaps [ there would bo a diU ' ci'onco of opinion , owing to a want of oxplanntiona , ho trusted thoro would bo no mistake of this meeting ' s dotoatutionof llussian nggroseion . ( Cheers . ) Ho condemned thocvuoltyand rapacity of KusBia

    , but ho could not agree with tho mode in which it whs proposed to treat this question . Although ho was no adinlrw of Lord Abordeon , ho could not boliovo he hud tho power in tho Ministry ho whs fiiiiil to lmvo . Ho t i i ) i tllinlc tlmt Bl'cl » mon us Lord John llussell and Lord 1 nlmorBton would Hit in tlio council « h moro lookern on . ^ - ^ 7 JJW £ » nd o « g « t to bo equally responsible for their con-TV ^ Jin rrfmul . Tho policy of tlila country should not bo tOBingloNun ono man in . tho cabinet , but to make all rosponmblo to tho country : Ho would now submit on nrnondmont , but if it w « h hontilo to the feelings of tho mooting ho would withdraw it , Tho nmoiulmont waa ; "That tliifl vncoting leolo < loop concorn i \ t tho conduct , of lior M « - jeBty a MiniHtora lu their mode of carrying on tho war . That it considers thoir conduct in relation to Udosba ohowad not

    only a want of vigotir , but a want of due regard to human " life ; and permitting Austria to occupy the Danubian provinces without even a declaration of war agairist Kussia , thia meeting deems impolitic in the highest degree , in no way calculated to impress the Autocrat with their determination of purpose , or secure the ostensible objects of the war . " He himself did not like the conduct of the present Whig Government . He accused them of slumbering at th « ir posts , and acting in such a manner as to arouse exceeding watchfulness of their proceedings by the public . Their conduct in reference to Odessa was really like nothing but playing at war . ( Cheers . ) It had always hitherto been our policy when we obtained an advantage in war to follow it up vigorously , but that we- neglected to do at Odessa , and tlie result was loss to this ; nation , and the- shedding ; of the blood of oar sailors . When we condemned the Cabinet , we should

    recollect that Lord Palmerston was in office when Poland was partitioned b y Russia , Prussia , and Austria . The restoration of the independence of Italy , Hungary , and Poland must be the-wish of every English patriot , but we must not think that we should get any Government or any House of Commons to forward that movement with opr present system of representation . He referred to the part that England took with Russia against the Turks at the battle of Navarino , for which he said Russia showjed her gratitude to us by closing the Danube against our ships within a month . Our conduct has been most cowardly . Our wars have been the ' wars , of madness and folly , though he did not say this war payfook of the general quality . We must not exjecfc Lord Derby or Mr ; Disraeli to forward the independence of Italy , Hun- ' gary , and Poland . ( A Voice : " Ire don't want them" ) Nor could Bright Or CoTxlen raise a cabinet . He condemned our

    present policy with respect to Austria , in allowing that power to occupy Turkish'territory , and for the shortcomings of "the Government he held fnot only Aberdeen , but the whole Cabinet ^ -responsible . Lord Aberdeen could not'co / fltrol the whole Gabinetj but really , if he could , tiey ought -all to be impeached and shot . ( Cheers cmd laughter . ' ) The Mayor : Gome-, Mr . Alcock , you are going too far . (¦ Laughter . ) JVlr . Alcock : You don't suppose I mean any thing , do you ? ( Roars of lattghter . ') The mayor seemed afraid that he was going to say something violent . The Mayor : iTo , but that you have already said it . ( Iiaugktet ' . y . Mr . Alcock :: Well , what he meant to say was , that if men betrayed their country they deserred to Die impeached and \ Ji fie snouiu less tneir

    punisnea . ppiatise . ) nave regret ror loss than for the loss of perhaps thousands pf our troops which might be brought about by their , cowardice and awant of honesty of purpose . The longer this war lasted the greater would be the expense , every shilling of -which had to come from the pockets of the people , and therefore he wished it to be speedily concluded ; and not so as to secure peace from Russia ,, as Lord Aberdeen said , for thirty , years , but for 300 years . ( Cheers . ) We ought to raise an effective barrier to the depotism of that power , which , " though called barbarian , possessed a monstrous lot of cunning ; for as regarded the corn trade , and the right of navigation of the Danube , they had outwitted all our diplomatists . It was not one , but all the Cabinet who were answerable for the conduct of the war . and so they ought to be , for they got money enough for it . ( Cheers . ' )

    Councillor Harvey said he had also an amendment to make , which might meet with the same fate as Mr . Alcock ' s . Strong charges had been made against the Government , and at any rate those should be proved before we pronounced them guilty . The resolution lie had to move was to the effect " That , in the opinion of the meeting , the progress of tho war hitherto has not been so satisfactory to the country , nor so vigorously prosecuted as tho extensive preparations led tlie country to expect , but as now there seems a-determination to act with energy in the Crimea , this meeting be adjourned for a fortnight , to await the issue of the operations there . " ( A Voice : "Nonsense . " ) That gentleman might call it nonsense , but he called it good common sense . It was not his intention in moving that amendment to shut up public discussion on the conduct of Government . Thore was no one on tho platform who thought Government

    had been more lax and negligent in prosecuting the war than ho did . ( Cheers and laughter . ) For the first two or three months they henrd of nothing but the captures of cargoes of salt nnd guano by pur powerful fleet . This appeared to him a pettifogging trifling with the nation . But what had wo arrived at now . Perhaps ere thia resolution was moved to-night , Sobastopol was in possession of tho allied armies . lie hoped to God it -waa . ( Cheers . ) We had now strong opinions against Aberdeen and his Cabinet , and it was only u low months ago that wo entertained somewhat similar opinions of Prineo Albert . Yet diroctly Parliament met , tlio charge ngmnst him was at onco blown to tlio -winds . ( Cheers . ) Seeing it stilted in tho Morning Herald that the Newcastle people were the only sensible people in tho kingdom , and that tho people of Sheffield wore going to ' not like-wise , ho naked them to pnuso before they allowed it to bes said they wore tho only people who iiml f ' ullon into fchnt trap . ( Cheers . ) Ho urged thorn to bo careful , lest by thoir conduct they should thwart Govern

    mont , who had manifested a deposition ; to enrry on , tho war mnn fully and with vigour . They should rnthor encourage Government to go on . In a . fortnight or three weeks \ vg hIiouKI sue whethor Government word » incoro , and the question would lose , nothing in the interval . If thia Government wore tunned out , whom would tlioy got Jn their phicc ? The Dorbyitcs ? Wo know enough of thoni . Lord John Rusaoll wont » low enough \ but Lord Derby put tho dratg on nlto- * golhor . ( Lanc / htet : ) It was n low twaddling bi /» oted Tory pnpeirs who wore attempting ; to rouso up opposition to Govornment . of whoso alleged unfit nesB no proot was given . Councillor AloooU seconded tho amendment . IMr . Wilkinti rot . o to support Mr . Hmvoy ' s amendment , which , however , lie thought did not go fur enough-, booauso n fortnight waH a very short time , nnu might disclose nothing Hiiillciont to warrant thom in pronouncing nn opinion advorso to Clovcrnmont . They ought to waive their dincwHslon until tlio proHont Houson vnih ondctf , and until Parliament met , ho that they might hour tho defence of Government , before pro

    ceedmg to condemn it . Hia belief was that Government was wiser than this meeting . The resolution merely supp osed'a case , but gave'no instance of Aberfleen , or bis f « Uows ;* iAvHte done ^ that which the resolution imputed to them . The meeting would be committing itsolf ocriou&lj- by p roriounein& an opinion upon mere- supposition . He hoped tuat- tnt meeting would not pass the resolution before 1 it , until its assertions had been proved . Alderman Carr having replied , The Mayor said , Mr . Wilkins had requested bilh to stale that he only wished the meeting ' ito be aqjonrned for a' certain limited penod-r-not for six months , or sine die . His ^ wotsiiip then put the amendment , which was negatived by nearly the whole meeting . The resolution'was then pnfc and carried with loud cheers . Councillor Ironside CLoitd Cheers ) said bis * name was

    down to move another resolution ,. but' be shorild never obiject to do duty on an occasion of this description for his worthy friend Mr . Schofield ; and , therefore , moved ^ " Tha ' t eonsideting the treacherous character of Atfstria lnallher tortuous diplomatic proceedings ; nH hope is offered to tbte people of England that any permanent' advantages ; bearing on the future peace of Europe , can result'fr 6 m acceptirtg ^ her as an ally ; and that the Austrian occupation of the Principalities , without declaring war against Russia ^ is < in ' the highest degxee dishonourable and improper . " In 1844 , Nicholas of Russia visited this country ; After his return to Russia" he sent a memorandum of what had happened , by Count Nesselfode . - Ootrtrfc : Ness « lrciae ' ptop 6 se * t 'beiparfiti ( ii iof Turkey , to- thtf British < 3 overnmetit , and ' afte ^ nr ^ ing ^ tKis prapoaitioa ; the ! coun *> said : -r- " That ; .- notwithstandu ^ , will be the- more beneficial , inasmuch as ; it will have the fuul

    assent of Austria . Between her and- Russia there exists already a& entire confortoity >' of prlneiple in jegard- tb the affairs- of Turkeyi" In' coneldsioTi ,- Nesselrode said , ' alter showing ; how Turkey -was to ber' partitioned :- ^ " -Aixir for the purpose' just , stated , vthe-poRcy ,. of Hussisr and'Austria , as we have already safety is-- cfos ' ely ^ uhited bjy the- prinfeipfe of perfect identity . " v ] Stow , tlrat waS--in 1844 . , Aberdeen , : Tirbd was th ' en Fcireiga Secretary , ' received that' proposition , put it into his red box , and neither returned * nor . rejected it . ( Applause . ) When the Emperor Nicholas , a fortnight after the accession' to power of Lord Aberdeen , saw Sir H . Seymour at St . Petersburg , be g < 5 t hold * of him by the button-hole , and had some conversation with him respecting Turkey . His Majesty said : " The sick man is ready to die ; the tune has come aboat which we spoke in 1344 ; " In the course of the conversation , Sir Hi Seymour said : " Yciir

    Majesty has forgotten . Austria ; 2 Tow , this question affeefs that power very nearly , and she will expect to > "be consulted . ' ' "Oh , " said the Emperor , " but you must understand wlien I speak of Russia , I speak of Austria as well- ( Laughter T and cn ' es of " Hear , hear . " ) What suits tlie one suits the other . ( Cheers , and cries of " TkaVs »"« . " ) Our interests with regard to Turkey are perfectly identical . " ( Cheera ?) He ' need not say more on that part of the question than to ask the meeting " What is Austria now doing in the Principalities ? " OmerPacha , that noble jnan ( ApplaiisttS ^ unaided by us , drove Russia out of the Principalities . Austria wris now in . England had influenced the Porte to sign a convention to allow Austria to occupy that territory ; and what was Austria doing ? Hunting oat the refugees—obliging Omer Pacha to give up the Hungarian refugees there ; telling them that she would not have the Polish and Hungarian

    refugees in the Principalities . And pur Government were in complicity with that act . ( Cheers . ) Then , he nslced , ¦ what were they to do with an adjournment for a fortnight , when , for aught they knew , Austria'might be shooting down those poor unfortunate refugees in hundreds , as slip had done before . ( Cheers . ) Why , it made his blood boil to think that England should be a party to so disgraceful and horrible a transaction . ( Applause . ) Omar Pacha did not want Austria in tho Principalities ; but Austria was there because the interests of Russia and Austria were " perfectly identical . " ( Cheers ^) Austria held possession of the Principalities as a warming-pan for Kussia ; and as Russia 1 old Austria to declare war against us , she would do so . Austria , would then say : "I am in tho Priricip / alitios , and I'll not move out of them . " Ho ( Mr . Ironside /) regarded our' toleT ration of Austria's occupation of the Principalities " as a most disgraceful transaction , and called unort tile meeting , bv its

    vote , to indorse his opinloncr . ( Cheers , ' ) Mr . Pearson seconded the motion . Councillor Alcock hoped that the remaindor of the business would bo conducted in a more friendly manner . Ho wanted to know the truth . If what Mr . Ironside had said was trua as to Austria ' s occupation of tho Danubian Principalities , that was so serious « ' matter tliat it ought to bo tho first subject for inquiry on the re-assembling of Parliament : and if it wore found tha * Miwistora were guilty- of tho tilings imputed to them , they onght not to bo" allowed to esistl ( Applause and laughter , ) Ho'CMr . Alcook ) saw "Mr . Roebuck a short time nftor Kossutli ' s visit to Sneffleld . Mr . Roebuck expressed great admiration for tbtenoble Hungarian , and hia sympathy with Kossuth ' s nation ; bat Mr . Roebuck also said that ns an English statesman ' ho could not adopt hia ( Kossuth ' a ) views with refertaco- to Austria . Mr . l { oobuck wroto a letter to tho promoters of Kossuth ' a demonstration in Sheffield in Juno lust , in which ho stated his

    reason for dissenting from Kosauth ' s views on tho Austriiin question . That lottox was never rend in public . Ho < "Mr . ' AlcO ' ckJ regretted' It was n 6 t ; because it wouldlinvo /» i von Kossutli ati opportunity to reply to them , ond to put the pointfj in" dispute between hiirt and Mr . lloebuck bofore tho public in « . most interesting light . And moro than Hint , ho Ii ' ad M : r . Itoobuok ' s unthority to mnTco it known that Iio folt disnpriiflintcd , ns the rt'presontutlvo of tlila town , time Jua views wore not on that occasion laid boforo tlio Duhlw on such an important auoatlon asthat ofAuatria ' M mfluonco op position with regard to tho prosont war . J ' or Ins ( Mr . AIcock '« - ) own partTlio < lid not ifko Austrmn Inilnonco nt all ; and if tho opinion of tho Jiurl of Aborclcon wan ft corroot one , that Franco could hont Ituasla and Austria put toother , ho would rnthor not boo us in nlllanqo with tho latter nation ; boonuoo ho wns aura that tlio -viown o ( AuHtna would bo inimical to tho inturostH of Turkey in the sotUomont of tlila innttur Uo » miuUluod , hoWovor , that tlVoW wore portions

    Untitled Article

    September 30 , 1854 . ] TM E L E A D E R . 9 j 6

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 30, 1854, page 915, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2058/page/3/