The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-07-24 00:00:00

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THE

kiberpoot tattbarbf

TUESDAY, JULY 24, 1855.

THE SEBASTOPOL COMMITTEE DEBATE.

THE debate on Mr. ROEBUCK'S motion for a vote
of censure on all the Ministers concerned in the mis-
management of the war, after two sittings, protracted
to an unusual length, has ended without satisfaction
to any one. By a majority of more than a hundred
the House of Commons has decided that the question
I shall not be put ; that, notwithstanding the unanimity
with which the Committee agreed upon their report,
attributing the disasters in the Crimea to inadequate
supplies and inefficient management, no further result
shall be arrived at, and that the whole affair shall end
as it began, in mere talk. If, however, the debate
may be supposed to have any moral effect, independent
of any verdict by the constitutional representatives of
public opinion, it must be of the most damaging
character to the present Ministers. To judge from
the tone of their speeches, they assumed an immunity
from censure on the ground that the blame belonged
wholly to their predecessors ; and Lord PALMERSTON
went so far as to assert, that, since he had been
Premier, the conduct of the war had been so ably
carried out, that the army was in a condition that left
nothing to desire. Yet, despite `these assumptions,
which if true would have entitled the Ministers to
great praise for their exertions, they took refuge
under the shelter of " the previous question," which
forbade the motion of Mr. ROEBUCK being put to the
vote. If the Ministers really feel that confidence in
the justness of their cause which they professed in their
speeches, they should have boldly met the intended
censure with a direct negative ; they should have
placed their conduct on the intelligible issue which
would have been involved in a decision on the ques-
tion before the House, and, relying upon their as-
sumed innocence, have agreed to stand or fall by the
verdict of their country.
The same arguments by which they supported the
amendment would have served them equally well to
oppose the original motion. They might have pleaded,
and with some show of justice, that even if the
charges were true, they did not apply to the present
Ministers, inasmuch as those members of the Cabinet
who were directly concerned in that portion of the
management of the war which came immediately
under the cognisance of the Committee, were not
members of the present Administration. They might
even have gone further, and asserted that, although
the PREMIER and some few of his colleagues were in-
directly concerned, and therefore ostensibly respon-
sible for the faults with which the ABERDEEN Minis-
try are charged, they had subsequently atoned for
their unconscious share in the offence by the subse-
quent good management for which the PREMIER
claimed credit. With such a case, it was a duty which
they owed to themselves and the position which they
occupy, to have taken a bold stand, and met the
motion of censure by a direct negative. By taking
the course which they did, and sheltering themselves
under the plea of " the previous qnestion," they have
virtually admitted the truth of the accusation. They
have shrunk from a decision which they professed to
believe would have been in their favour, and thereby
shown themselves to be destitute of that moral courage
which is indispensable to the success of a Ministry at
any time, and never more so than when the country
is engaged in war.
How much better was the position taken by the
Peelites, who were directly implicated in the result of
the motion before the House. They denied the truth
of the charges against them, but refused the shelter
which was taken with such craven fear by Lord
PALMERSTON and his colleagues. Their acts were
before the world, and they were willing to abide the

[JULY 24, 1855•

it
consequences ; so that their votes were forma "A
minority amonzst those who opposed the araetd7
The division, censequently, was no test whate.ris
the opinion of the House on a subject in whieto
public take so deep an interest ; and all tliatoo
Ministry have gained is the success of their mote,
for evading the verdict which,
regard for their reputation, they would have
anxious to obtain. : ;iosP
The consequences of this unsatisfactory (by'
to
the subject which must now force itself upon, P,
attention, and the only reasonable solution of to
e
culty appears to be in an appeal from the rePt,7
tative to the constituent body by a disc itO
Parliament. We cannot and ought not to forge
during the last winter a numerous and gallailtoi
were subject to bitter privations, resulting in detf
and the death of many thousands, hazarding the'
of all the available British forces, and the 7d,
position of the country, and involving cons
fearful to contemplate. So strong was the if they had
indignation, that it engrossed every other co
tion ; and when Parliament was called upon 1
expression to the popular feeling on the 010(
majority of more than two to one agreed te.4o
pointment of a committee of investigati°Wtyli
which was deemed so important, that it led to
solution of the Coalition Cabinet. The eiiietlt
undertook the task assigned them with. „an,
disposition to perform their duties faithtuui 060
witnesses examined were those who had bee; eetel,
directly concerned in the whole of the details bel'e
with the affairs of the war ; and so far ft/jgeriti°lls
shown that previous statements had bees eTortie:
of facts, they were confirmed in almost eted,ilitt
lar, so that the committee were unaniol.-cy,
report condemnatory of Ministerial in4ei'occi,f;
subsequent course was obvious ; and Mr. ildeP,
chairman of the committee, had no altern<tecei
investigation was intended for any purpose VIP
but to move a resolution confirmatory of the?'
The House of Commons has, however, virtu
tified tified itself by the division on Friday morniu6'o7,
declared itself unable or unwilling to preurifc,
opinion whatever ; and all that can be urge
of this course is the apprehension that an s'n
ti
cision might have led to a Ministerial resiga4
There is something truly Whiggish in tbisiyOit'
action. It means, if it mean anything, tilat,DeP:::
ests of a party are paramount to those of l'ecifiv;
and that, however disastrous the consequetif
public welfare, votes are to be given in re,,4500ti
political influence rather than to the main
truth and justice. The gallant army which ,110
the Crimea at the call of duty has been sad
acknowledged Ministerial incompetence, au ll
satisfaction to be obtained is a purposeleaso4,l
which the House of Commons refuses to eu
the truth of which it shrinks from disrl, oftbetri
honour of England.has been imperilled, allu
cetion of it is made an open question, because' e toll t
Thy value their places above their characters. flee to;s4,
of public men has been assailed, and theYre,figLo
it to the vote, because it might be followed:jog of
timate consequences. A decision on the or
vote of censure might have damaged the bU
the PALMERSTON Administration ; but it I'9ooo
more damaged in the estimation of ever)" tllsll.d
mind by the course which has been pursll foe
could have been even by a large majority's
the original motion.
of the 4
Let us hope, however, that the labours
vitbotvj
topol Committee will not be altogether toad't
brough fj)
uses, but that before the sessions be
give some s
the Ministers will be calleduP°
4- of the war.
explanations as to the conduct
of the pubied
forfeited all right to the confidence of
sueb estro tic
should, therefore, be required to make
;rid 0504
tions as may help to satisfy the public ntol hi
cou.ise puLauu. am.- The ItVG-Ure. e ace 'e bt
the narrow escape from an ignominious ace
511 g "
f f
concluded at Vienna ; and we have, there'e-eqoid
to expect that, before the opportunity of eeilelticli
lost by the sittings of Parliament being e
35 0.0
some definitive statements should be made.
can be done without detriment to the public 4/
own WI/
The members have the power in their °
refusing to transact further business until such
0,1
nations be given ; but if the opportunity b or
o lad :404
to pass over, our troops may have to P.
winter in the Crimea, with no better provigeo,ooroj
cold and starvation, disease and death, than of 0
last winter. It is a duty which the Inetabers A
tb
House of Commons owe to the country;
.31; d'rni
nothing in the antecedents of the ginls,
should entitle them to any exemption
demands.
LAW REFORM.
• m 00 fe'
WHATEVER credit the party now 01, 2
tis 4
assume to themselves for their zeal for the;iet
fare, it must be acknowledged that the 11,05 P
were far more successful in the practical fe,sjolOie.
legislation. As far as promises and Prool/'
concerned, the Liberals have greatly the
ere
and if introducing bills into Parliment 11 coF,O
was required of them, no better legislatersoffilio
found. Unfortunately, however, for such 0.09 111
are actually needed, session after session is
bey
a close, and it is found that nothing lids fof le.
pit
while the war is made a convenient esctiset,i:
and postponements which appear to be i110er..5
It will be recollected that, during the sburi:, tr6f 4,1
1852, while the Earl of DERBY held t'yortiooo
Government, almost upon sufferance, oarove 0
LEONARDS wasLordHigh Chancellor,raure n
was effected in the Court of Chancery Os
half century preceding ; and such was the DOPoft7
this vigorous course, that the Coalition
the 1
menced with the promise of a complete re 6011 o f
other branches of the law by a consobu 7ee
Statute Book. Nearly three years have 51j11 gdf
and literally nothing has been done. kfodliedaS°'
part of this session a measure was rr: Jiolb '
. ,otile,ed
passed through the House of Lords for jaPrord
the law with reference to Testamenta,,,,frfogitlhosttiiie
and though it was objectionable in so lc- tile „a
to transfer the jurisdiction on Wills t4l qe, 5
ao. ,
Chancery, nothing further has bee e$
the
rejection of this bill has been made, t of
withdrawing another bill on the subjeckas °1)0"
These unsuccessful attempts at legl:t of th cito
buted by Lord LYNDHURST to the 19- of thy
erae
CHANCELLOR and the other law-offieer t: ' tileY 00.
being at cross-purposes. At any °o g Over);
show the utter uselessness of aPec a log: to FA
results than purposeless discussions °trust& 05K,
while the affairs of this country are enwilicb lmf r4c)
professing Liberals. Another measure Lana TAW ;;.1101
delayed without apparent reason is the bill',slnc
nership, and it will be found that of a
of rash
have at times occupied the attentioner obe P. 40,
there are none which will not ultinlaot /nom
or be so hurried to completion as t

practical value
jm,oaltaggeumaiannttee of England and
any
THE discussion took place on 111.°1:ri:e 1'114';
THE TURICISII t)
House of Commons, on the motion to ow leo
l:°,°00,000 to the Sultan of Turkey, witb /e of II!:
closeil division by which it was agreed to, is coie
ofev consequences arising from the an of
the PALMERSTON Administration• Not li_deir r,
before, they were put upon their trial for
aced
themselves upon their • Navin.- i/P
success in loin ow
;0
House not to vote upon the question ; but, ,of
they had escaped the dreaded censure, the P:01 tll4
tllla
soon to be afforded that they no looger c)s°'
of the war, and were cou,soti)-
France t°

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