The Press.
London, England, 1855-01-27 00:00:00

87

not counterbalanced, as at present, by signal
triumphs, he commented upon the changes in the
organisation of the army that had resulted from
recent modifications. The consequence had been
to deprive the military force of the character of an
army, rendering it a congerie of regiments. The
very perfection to which our civilisation had been
carried added to the difficulties of the present emer-
gency, as it rendered men individually helpless when
suddenly thrown upon their own resources. He de-
clared that no deficiency of supply or relaxation of
activity could be charged upon the Ministerial de-
partments, and entered into several details to sub-
stantiate his allegation. Every error and failure had
been noticed by the chiefs of administration at home,
who had also written to Lord Raglan for information
on the subject, inviting him to employ the summary
power which he possessed for the punishment of all
proved offenders. Respecting the special resolution
now proposed, he contended that the appointment of
a committee of inquiry would prove most embarrass-
ing to the public service, and utterly useless for any
practical purpose, either in redeeming past errors or
securing a more vigorous prosecution of the war in
future. The Government, however, he admitted re-
quired an early opinion from the house respecting
its policy, and, viewed as a vote of confidence or cen-
sure, he was glad to accept the challenge now before
them.

Mr. DRUMMOND remarked that the country was
convinced of the existence of inexcusable neglect
and incapacity, and were doubtful only as to the per-
son of the criminal. The Ministry had embarked in
the war without inquiry or preparation, in ignorance
of the strength of the enemy, and having no just idea
of the force that would be required to encounter
him. He insisted upon the necessity of a strict and
immediate inquiry into the whole subject.
Colonel NORTH defended the military organisation
of the army attacked in error and ignorance.
Mr. MONCKTON MILNEB assigned the fault of all
failures to the executive departments of the Govern-
ment, and especially to the Duke of Newcastle. He,
however, could not approve of the proposal to ap-
point a committee of inquiry.
The Marquis of GRANBY expressed a similar
opinion as to the motion before the house, but cen-
sured the policy of the Government with revpect to
the war.

Mr. LINDSAY supported the motion.
Mr. LAYARD complained that the War Departmanta
of the Administration had shown themselves utterly

impeL viuus to reform. If the British soldier were
helpless, the fault lay with the system reduced
him to a machine. The root of the evil, he said, limr
at the Horse Guards, and detailed at much length
the errors, omissions, and blunders which had sprung
from that source.

Sir G. GREY strongly objected to the establish-
ment of so mischievous a precedent as that of sub-
mitting the conduct of a war to the investigation of a
select committee of the house. In effect, the motion
now proposed was equivalent to a vote of censure on
the Government; but he charged the Opposition
with subterfuge if they adopted it as such, at the
same time that they declined to challenge a
direct decision of the house on the question of
confidence. On the general charge of incapa-
city in conducting the war, he admitted and
regretted some errors and evils ; contending,
nevertheless, that blame could not justly be
attributed to the administrative departments either

at home or abroad, since the results were partly
from providential visitation and partly from the
universal inexperience which a long peace had ne-
cessarily induced among the individuals to whom
the management of the vast machine of war was
intrusted. With respect to the internal arrange-
ments of the Cabinet, Sir G. Grey confessed his
own adhesion to the belief that Lord Palmerston
would be the best War Minister, but submitted
that the transference of that office at the time and
in the manner suggested by Lord John Russell would
have been highly inexpedient.
Mr. WALPOLE urged that the evidence already
in their hands was amply sufficient to warrant an in•
vestigation, and proceeded to argue that the in-
quiry now proposed to be instituted through the
agency of a select committee would not be attended
by the inconveniences that had been pleaded in op-
position to the present motion. Declaring his inten-
tion to support the motion, the right hon. member
remarked upon the constant failures and serious
evils which had attended every effort to govern Eng-
land by means of a Coalition.
Mr. VERNON SMITH commented upon the existing
state of disorganisation in which the Ministry was
left. In his present ignorance of their arrangements
he would not decide whether they deserved his con-
fidence. Still he felt compelled to vote against the
motion for a committee whose appointment he be-
lieved was totally unprecedented, and would prove
extremely inconvenient to the public service.
On the motion of Mr. STA/TORD, the debit* wee
then adjourned to Monday.
The House adjourned at 12 °Igo&