The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-15 00:00:00

,_*

THE INDIC76IENT OP THE LATE
DANISH CABINET.

We have received the indictment just presented
against the members of the late Danish Cabinet,
, 10 are about to be tried by the High Court ofthe
against
ngdom. This document is remarkable for the
!, new facts which it brings to light relative to the
wpolicy followedempowered
ered
toby
the
consultO e Oersted
register Ministry
n-
dfodroctu -
he
public prosecutor named by the Diet, M. Brock,
went relative to the administration of the fallen
Ministry, including even the minutes of the sit-
' tings of the Cabinet Councils. It must, however,
be stated that it was at the request of the accused
Ministers themselves that this authorisation was
accorded to M. Brock. The document in question
is of extraordinary length, but the following are
the principal facts set forth in it :
In the month of December, 1853, when a rupture was
imminent between the Western Powers and Russia, the
Danish Government manifested its intention of remaining
strictly neutral. However, towards the end of January,
1854, or about three monthsl before the declaration of
war, the Oersted Cabinet prepared to make certain ar-
maments. First, Rear-Admiral Steen Bille proposed to
have an extraordinary levy of sailors to man vessels to
defend the coasts. A bill was presented for the purpose
to the Diet, which evinced a strong opposition to the
measure. However, the minister at last overcame its
repugnance by declaring that the levy in question would
not require any additional funds. Some days after, on
February 8, General de Hansen, Minister of War, pro-
posed to the cabinet to increase the army, alleging as a
reason for the step, that if Denmark was not well de-
fended, England would adopt violent measures to force
her to declare for the Western Alliance. Most of the
ministers opposed the plan, being of opinion that the
present army, 24,000, was quite sufficient. M. Blumme,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, declared that he had no
doubt as to the intention of foreign powers to respect
strictly the neutrality of Denmark, and Count de Spon-
neck, Minister of Finance, affirmed that the state of
the exchequer would not warrant any increase of ex-
pense. General de Hansen, however, did not give way.
He merely made some slight reductions in his original
plan, and then obtained from the King an ordonnance
authorising an augmentation in the infantry, cavalry,
artillery, and engineers. In like manner, the lisnlstei--
of Marine acted irrespectively of the Diet, and levied
sailors, defraying the expense of their equipment and
of that of the vessels which they were to serve in from
funds intended for other objects. The Diet soon began
to suspect that some unauthorised acts were in course of
execution ; and at last there appeared the well-kiSown
ordonnance of July 26, 1854, which, by creating a
legislative body for the whole of the Danish territory,
tended to deprive the Diet of its most important pri-
vileges. It may be remembered that soon after the
Diet sent in an address to the King, in which it
declared that the councillors of his Majesty bad lost the
confidence of the national representatives. What was the
conduct of the ministers at that conjuncture ? They held
a conference, at which they placed at the disposal of the
Minister of Marine, who had increased Lis original plan
of armament, all the funds that he required. As to the
credits called for by the Minister of Wsr, they at first
thought his demands too considerable, but at last agreed
to them, notwithstanding the certain opposition of the
Diet. Meanwhile the war commenced, and the Minister
of Marine ordered the fortress of Christiansoe to be placed
in a state of perfect defence, and increased its garrison.
He also sent the fleet into the Baltic, but with orders
net to go beyond Gothland. Shortly after the Ministers
of War and Marine proposed conjointly to establish a
line of defence on the coast of Zealand. a further levy of
1,400 men, and the construction of various fortifications.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs strongly opposed that
step as quite unnecessary ; and the Minister of War re-
nounced part of his plan, but the Minister of Marine
persisted in his fortifications. Before, however, that idea
could be carried into effect the Diet met anew on Oct.
1, 1854, and the Oersted ministry was overthrown. The
first act of the new cabinet was to present to the legis-
lature the budget, on which was set down all the extra-
ordinary expenses incurred by their predecessors. The
committee appointed by the Diet had the former minis-
ters brought before them, and after interrogating them
strictly, declared that there was no good reason for the
said expenses. The Diet adopted that decision, and, in
addition, ordered that the late ministers should be
brought to trial for improper conduct when in the exert
cise of their functions. It is this trial which is now
about to come on, and which excites the greatest inte•
rest in Denmark.

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