The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-23 00:00:00

• place in its name ? Why was that trial ever commenced, and
why was it permitted to proceed, if, when fiuished and the
result emphatically announced, no judgment were to follow ?
It is impossible that such questions should not bo put; it
would have been the most•igaominious proof of imbecility on
the part of the promoters of so grave and important a pro-
ceeding-, if they had not been anticipated within the walls of
Parliament. Mr. Roebuck has done that which it was his
manifest duty to do in giving notice of the motion to which
we have adverted.. - Its terms are closely, even. literally,
copied from, the Most important paragritph of the committee's
report ; and their affirmation by the house is obviously meant
to be no more than the judicial adoption of the verdict
brought in by the jury whom the house itself appointed. The
oroposA resolution declares that " the conduct of the Ad-
ministration was the,cl;ief cause of the calamities which befel
our army," and that the house
liei eby visits with its severe
reprehension every member of the Cabinet whose councils led
"
to such disastrous results." The House of Commons will be
called upon to sly Aye pr No to this declaration.
There may be some gentlemen without constituencies who
upon the coming occasion will repeat the conduct they
pursued five months ago, when inquiry was first called
for. Of course, no methods of persuasion will be loft untried
to swell the ranks of the defenders of Ministerial impunity.
Jesuitry and jobbing will be busily employed till the 3d of
July to recruit the'bedyguard of Government ; and wo should
be prophesying smooth things it we pretended to underrate
the persuasive efficacy of Treasury whisperings at a time so
interesting. We shall not be surprised to see many occupants
of seats for rotten boroughs and close counties set public
opinion again at defiance and make one more shameless
effort to whitewash their inculpated relations and friends.
But we cannot forget that more than a moiety of the
House of Commons obeyed the dictate of national opinion
in voting for the appointment of the select commit-
tee ; and that when Lord Palmerston,. having seated himself
in Lord Aberdeen's chair, attempted tor quiz this majority
into tacitly rescinding their vote; he foiMd himself most la-
mentably mistaken. How many have since sought to make
atonement for that 'exhibition Of virtue >by absenting them-
selves on other questions; when their constituents expected
them to be present, or by voting with Mr. Hayter when they
ought to have been found-elsewhere, we cannot here enume-
rate. The division lists on Mr. Layard's motion are full Of
serious cause for reflection, if not for reproach. We read
in the catalogue of Ministerialigts on that occasion names of
men whom -we deeply regret to have found in such
company. Still more do we regret to be obliged to
remember the scores of men who are called Liberals that
were absent altogether. These things may occurouce and be
forgiven, but if repeated it will be in vain to try to shirk
the painful scrutiny to which desertion, so inexcusable in
times like the present, must give rise. At all events, upon
the affirmation or repudiation of the principle embodied iu
the Sebastopol Report, there cau be no excuse for flinching.
That principle is simply that of ministerial accountability.
Without it all constitutional government is a cheat and farce.
It may be exercised mildly, as iu the lenient form of Parlia-
mentary rebuke, unattended with any men ion of those
severe penalties which in sturdier days were comprehended
under the dreaded name of impeachment. But the more
lenient our political jurisprudence-.has become, the more ne-
cessary it is that its decrees-should be inexorably and incor-
ruptibly enforced. Public opinion in our time is not cruel
or vindictive ; but it has become more merciful because it be-
lieves itself less liable to be set at defiance. It will be a dark
and dreadful lesson should the people ever unhappily be
forced to feel that, over the multitudinous graves of the best
and bravest of their brethren oligarchic power can venture to I
laugh in the insolence of impunity.