Current:

Leader (1850-1860), 10th February 1855, Edition 1 of 2, Page 122

Page 122
Page 2
2 of 24

On this page

  • Text (3)

      Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    • Untitled Article

      Untitled Article

    • Untitled Article

      Untitled Article

    • Untitled Article

      Untitled Article

  • Transcript

    • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      Untitled Article

      The Pope and his adherents are straining his nuthority until it cracks m all directions . Could we bring forth all that is saying and doma in the present moment , good Catholics at a distance would be scandalised . Even itt ^ Pprtugal ^ -that faithful country—the &rltml ™* my breaWfetegi . A member in the Corfc » dft » i ^ the roytfHpc *** did not allude to the " Immacuhtt Conception , * nd the whole Assembly laughs . SThat laugh is-a great public event . In Spaia ^ hile t he Government proceeds iinsWervingly ^ iili th e me « s * n * Pfor disposing of the edBlesiasticSl property , it ^ s announced that the Calolico newspaper will be

      prosecuted for publishing the Pope ' s Bull on the Immaculate Conception , before it had been sanctioned by the Government . To appreciate this fact , it must be remembered that Queen Isabella II . sent a jewelled tiara to the Pope for bis achievement touching the Immaculate Conception . Piedmont is still more decidedly in conflict with his > Holiness ; is indeed wag \ ng a war that must have the most important results for the spiritual independence of the world . The Pope has transmitted a letter monitory , declaring the measure for utilising the property of the regular clergy to be null and void , and inflicting upon those who aid in carrying it out excommunica-Government

      tion . Nevertheless the Sardinian proceeds . But there is a remarkable distinction in the treatment . of the Pope ' s communication : P ortugal ignores his authority , in a parliamentary Beasej and laughs at it ; Spain refuses obedience , and punishes journals for promulgating even his abstract doctrine without sanction ; Piedmont cpntests a still stronger stretch of his authority , but permits the journals' freel y to discuss the letter monitory , though official licence is refused to the official promulgation from the State pulpits . The dignity and independence to which Piedmont has already attained speak a conscious strength . -

      Untitled Article

      LORD jJOHN RUSSELL ' S ANSWER TO THE DDKE OF " .. ' ;¦ ' " NEWCASTLE . The House of Commons met on Monday , when the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated thattliose reasons -which induced the House to waive the -discussion of general business continued in full force , and he therefore moved a further adjournment . Everything being thus disposed of , Lord John Russell took the opportunity to give some farther explanations . He had refrained on the previous Monday 'from replying to the statements of Mr . Gladstone , but he could not help replying to grave errors in the published statement of the Duke of Newcastle . The question had taken the character of a dispute between Joimsclf . and ^ tliediike ,-whereas he had acted , entirely on broad public grounds . The defeats which ( he Government had sustained he should have considered sufficient grounds for a general resignation , if they had had the confidence of the country on the war . The aptitude of a "War Minister was always sufficient to settle the success or non-success of a war . The Duke of

      Newcastle 'objected to his statement that the duke wished to have the War Department , but he had gathered that fact from various members of the Government , and he thought Lord Aberdeen ' s letter confirmed it . The Duke of Newcastle stated that he ( Lord John Russell ) wished to have the office , and undoubtedly , had the office been offered to him , it would have been his duty to accept ; but it was foreign to bis habits of business and experience . What he stated and thought was , that the Duke of Newcastle was an unfit man , unless Lord Aberdeen also exercised strong control in the department ; on the other hand , if the duke had been a man of extraordinary energy and authority , then the Earl of Aberdeen would have " made » fitting'I ' xime Minister for the war . As to

      his suggestions on'the two War Departments , he had consulted < a considerable authority on the subject— -Lord Panmure—and had noted on his advice . Finding Lore Aberdeen so strongly attached to the Duke of Newcastle , he could not act in the matter without breaking up . the Cabinet . Ho thought now ho had been in error in not having done so . One statement in tho Duko of Newcastle's speech was most extraordinary—that some days before the meeting of Parliament tho duko had tendered his resignation , saying that even if tho cenguro on Ministers was resisted successfully , ho would resign . Lord

      John Russell had never hoard of that , and ho thought Lord Aberdeen h » * d been hiwrty in accepting hia arm resignation , as evidently some arrangement might have been made . Cor a week ho had been a mark for public obloquy ; he did not merely wish to livo down such calumnies ; but thought that his rather long public life should bo a sufficient answer' to them . ' If the Duko of ^ Newcastle felt so patriotic , why did he not change office with Lord Palmerstori ? Thoro had boon such an instance known , that of tho Earl o £ Itipon—who ( whon Lord Goderich ) vacated tho Secretaryship of tho Colonios to make way for Lord Stanley ( now Lord Derby)—and

      it was thought by no « jeSt « aerogatory in him . If the required change itftheWar ^ epartments had been made , the Ministrymight tiave « ome down to the House with a strong chance of retaining its confidence . He regretted to have farther statements to make , but his honour as ^ a public Asm was impeached . He might have ^ been in errOr-Vfettt he had every ^ tftetftidn of-doing-te *« y > M ^ GladWone reaUy ^ eUeved that hi * friend * Lord John SRusselL'would be > WEqttitted of every mottle but the wish to attengthen tlwir Cabteet . It was vety * awkward ^* o have explanatfc » s of « nduct after aj Swvernmenfrfcad ^ gwite ^ out ; -bafeOBsidWitig the grsatftRJence to which the discussion bad ru < i * e did not wonder at the wish for explanation . The assumption of the War Department by the Duke of Newcastle had taken place with the consent of the entire Cabinet , and the entire

      Cabinet ought to bear the blame . Nobody had an idea that Lord John Russell would have accepted the office had it been offered . The Government had not the means to arrange the War Departments according to Lord John Russell ' s suggestions . Whatever might have been the opinions of Lord John Russell , the impression on-the minds of Lord Aberdeen and the Cabinet—and they had evidence to prove it in the writing of Lord Aberdeenwas that Lord John Russell had changed his mind respecting his determinations in the event of no adaptations of departments or persons being made ; and he thought that the conduct of Lord John Russell , from the 16 th of December up to the reopening of Parliament , fully justified that impression . Lord John Russell had somewhat misrepresented the facts of the intended resignation of the Duke of Newcastle . These were the words of the

      duke :- —¦ " The noble lord ( Lord J . Russell ) , in his statement with reference to the course which he had taken , said , until the notice was given by Mr . Roebuck he had not fully considered the course which he ought to take . My lords , I had . I had maturely considered it ; and , while I had made up my mind that my official career was practically brought to a-close , 1 resolved at the same time that I would face the ordeal of censure in your lordships' House , and would submit the con-i duct of my administration to the judgment of the House of Commons . But , my lords , I felt that it was right that I should announce my determination ; and a few days before the meeting of Parliament , on the 23 rd of January , I told ray noble friend at the head of the Government— -I did _ tell my other colleagues , because I felt that it was not right that I should do so , and I think your lordships will appreciate mv feelings and motives in that course—that ,

      whatever might be the result of the discussions in this House or in the . House of- Commons—whether the Government succeeded by a large majority in overcoming resistance and reproach , or whether they failed—I equally should tender my resignation as soon as that judgment should be given and the verdict of Parliament should be pronounced ^" This was ah intimation , not a resignation ; and had Lord Aberdeen made it known , it would have put them all in a false position with Parliament . The Duke of Newcastle had absolutely gone further than Lord Ripon , for he had not , as Lord Ripon did , acceded to a request of his Premier , but had placed himself entirely at the Premier ' s disposal . Mr . Gladstone hoped that these corrections would not have the effect of making him appear a party to charges of treachery or cowardice against Lord John-Russell , for the-man-deserved . conr tempt who could make such charges .

      The subject then dropped , but during its discussion Lord John RuBsell apologised to Sir De Lacy Evans for having omitted to mention the Second Division in tho motion for a Vote of Thanks ; but he had distinctly said that Lord Raglan ' s despatches should be referred to for the particulars .

      DEPRECATION OJTHE MINISTERIAL INTERREGNUM . On Tuesday the Earl of Aberdeen moved an adjournment until Thursday , when he believed the new Cabinet would be formed . In the Commons , Sir George Grey moved' an adjournment until the following day . Immediately a discussion arose . Mr . Bkntinck called attention to the disastrous state of the country , and the delay in tho formation of tho Ministry . He hoped the ; House would put a stop to such a state of' things . Sir C . Wood thought such a matter inconvenient , hut Mr . * Whitesidk remarked that it was rather an appeal to the House itself , than to any one connected with the Government . Mr . F . Scott strongly condemned Lord Aberdeen as the cause of the unpleasant position .

      Mr . Labouohere deprecated such discussions as being inconsistent with the dignity of the House , which , if it interfered at all , and it might be necessary for it to interfere , should do so , upon notice given , by the constitutional modo of an address to tho Crown . Mr . MtTNTz thought it a very humiliating position , becanse it appeared as if only two or three aristocratic families could govern us ; but we should soon find that tho people would learn to govern without them . Mr . S . Wortley objected to the discussion , and Mr . Maltns reiterated Mr . Muntz ' s views , nJso remarking on tho principles of tho new Ministry , to which Mr . Robbuck replied , that he was mistaken in supposing that tho Conservative party wore not to aharo in tho Administration . They had boon offered an opportunity of taking tho Govornment , but they had declared their inability . Ho could not proceed with tho committee of inquiry , without grout inconvenienco , until a Government was formed . MUflSTlCRlAL STATEMENT . On Thursday Lord Granviujs ! , as Lord President of tho Council , and , thoroforo , as mouthpiece of tho

      Gov « rrflttWBtf made in the House of Lords the usual sta Bent oif aaWwSMfeaistry . He spoke with much mode © f bis Ownnnaritslfor the position he held ; but in lead th ^ 3 @ fpperSBotise' he would be , in a great measure , un the guidance < 6 f the Marquis of Lansdowne . Leav other BxPttalt * Si » to Peers present , he stated that L PalmerslMi ° iMfedsucceeded in forming a Governm which 8 i « riftlaies * y had approved ; their -pr inciple ' s wo be idead « Bl' with those of the late Ministry , but / ctrarse '¦¦ intwrml improvements would be made whei « wa 8 J ! pWsiB * e . ^ The war tfcould be carried on with vigc ; f # «» uldn « n » e'ftienied tW * vgreat disasters had occun

      arid it Tfas dltRcMt to stey * who was to blame ; but < thing was certain , that the iountfy must not despo for the army itself , in the midst of sickness and dea were yet far from that . The resources of the coun were unlimited , and we are only at the beginning them . Thanks to the oare and discretion of Lord C rend < ra- < mrTelatiOfls " with France are most intimate i cordial , and from Austria much is to be hoped . L Palmerston and his colleagues would take every me ; to push on the war with vigour and energy , until tl can command a fair ' and honourable peace . He moi that the House adjourn until Friday , 'the 16 th .

      The Earl of Derby took the opportunity of explaini the course he had taken respecting the formation oi Ministry . The public ought to know the reasons whi actuate public men—who are public property—in for ing Ministries , or in shrinking fr 6 m such offices . Ii well known that ; the Earl of Derby and the Conservat party did not exactly wish to disturb the late Govei ment , but when , through unparalleled circumstanc they were led to" resign , he was not surpr ised at 1 Queen ' s sending for him . The Conservative pai honoured him with their confidence , and that pan owing to the splitting-up of the Liberals , was decidei the largest in the country . Honourable as it is to he so ennobling an office as Premier , it was impossible

      do so with the probability 6 f frequent defeats—partu larly in the House of Commons . He might have some very adequate colleagues : for instance , for ^ Minister the Earl of Ellenborough ' s great experiei and well-known energy would have had the confide ! of the country . In the Commons he would have the support and assistance , the unrivalled eloquen and commanding talent of Sir E . Bulwer Lytton . 1 yet some further assistance was requisite ; and after ; cepting the Queen ' s commands , he considered the qu tion , and found the co-operation of Lord'Palmerston be indispensable . In the event of Lord Palmers ) accepting the War Office , Mr . Disraeli expressed hi self quite willing to resign the leadership of the House

      Commons , which would natnrally have fallen , to hi and which office would have better accompanied that the War Minister . Lord Palmerston declined to without two of his-late colleagues , Mr . Gladstone i Mr . Sidney Herbert ; and Lord Derby communicai with them , the result being very courteous repli But Lord Derby learned , through Mr . Gladstone , tl " Lord Palmerston was of opinion that he could i render useful service ; " and so the affair concliul Uespecting the Foreign Secretaryship , he explained the Queen the great confidence he had in the skill a abilitjTof "L 6 rd-Clarend 0 n 7 and hoped that there woi be no impediment to their acting together ; but , considi ing the political relation in which he stood towards the with whom Lord Derby was in the habit of acting , a also his political connexion with others with wh < he was not acting , he did not feel justified

      making distinct offers without the express sanctu injunction , and command of the Queen . One thing regretted was , that he had not asked the very valual advice of his friend , the Marquis of Lansdowne . Fin ing the efforts he had made unnecessary , ho advised t Queen to try some other course , and promised his hi assistance in the event of that other course failin Since then , Lord Palmerston had accepted office T Earl of Derby would shrink from no responsibility I that of thrusting an uncertain Government on t country at a time like tho present . He might lm erred , but his political faults were generally said to ha been in an opposite direction . With respect to the wj deep responsibility would attach to any minister wl concluded a peace which did not guarantee great resul to this country and to Europe , and responsibility equal deep ' would rest with one who carried on tho war for oi moment after such results were obtained .

      Tho Marquis of Lanhdowne , though ho had not hr made to him precisely tho offer made to tho Earl Derby , had yet been prominently engaged since tl resignation of the lato ministry . Ho did not wiwh i act , but ho was very desirous of giving every assiHtnni with his advice . Whon tho Earl of Derby failed , tl . Queen sent for him , nnd he recommended Lord Joli liussoll , who , on deliberation , declined . Finally , Loi Palmerston made a ministry , decidedly the stronga that could bo formed . Ho hoped that it would hir \ the confidence of all , oven of those nominally the opponents .

      ' " In a groat measuro we must , undoubtedly , dopei ; for tho issue of tho groat cause in which wo aro oiitfn&i with one of the greatest and most powerful cmpiroH i the world upon tho courage of our soldiers , tho coiinif of our eeamon , and the ability of our oommaiuloix . 1 *' bo it remembered that it is not they alono who a : actively engaged in tho contest—that tho contest id o

      Untitled Article

      , «„ ¦¦¦ ¦ ' THE LEADER . ____ [ Saturday , \ £ i& - ¦ - ¦ ¦ ' - ' ¦ / _ ====== ~

      Untitled Article

      IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT . ' • . ' ¦ ¦ — ¦ ~' . _ , *

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 10, 1855, page 122, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2077/page/2/