The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-14 00:00:00

LONDOIV, WEDNESDAY, AUG. 14, 1867.

To-day the Ministerial white-bait dinner takes
place, and the fact is worthy of notice on account
of the peculiar circumstances of the case. Who
among the sage political prophets believed at the
close of last session that the Government then in
office would survive the storms of another session,
and partake of the accustomed offering which
Ministers offer up to the Parliamentary deities who
have guarded their cause through the perils
of debate, and brought them to the haven of
the recess ? The present Government has par-
ticular reason for rejoicing that this day has
arrived, not only because they have remained in
office, but because of the work they have done there.
The Reform Bill is indeed a trophy to boast of, and
no doubt the Opposition leaders, who have so often
celebrated this festival, bitterly repent the eclat
which surrounds the one of to-day. We
really think that a useful lesson may be learned
from this unexpected denouement to the ses-
sion, and that for the future people may be
inclined to look upon political matters with
more prescience. No one can say that Lord
DERBY'S Government has not earned a passing
respite from their labours, for this has been a most
arduous session, and one full of anxiety and care.
The Reform Bill has been the chief thing, but many
other useful Measures have. bean passed, and the
affairs of the country in general put into
working order with spirit and determination.
,The foreign aff,irs have been conducted
with consummate tact, and all know that Lord
STANLEY has been mainly instrumental in

preventing a continental war. We see no cause
to regret that the company who meet at the White-
bait ditEicr of to-day should be composed of diffe-
rent individuali to those who have so many times
and oft feasted there; and those n ho are the present
occupants of office can, in recalling the events of
the Session, point to more items in one year than
their predecessors had accomplished in seven,
which is an encouraging reminiscence, and one
that holds out promise for the future.

The case of Mr. EYRE has long excited attention,
and also given rise to indignation in many quarters,
and we mly fairly say that never was there an
instance of prejudice working out a wrong more

glaringly exhibited than with this man, who has so
long and so faithfully served his country. Last
night Lord SHREWSBURY asked the Government if
they would undertake to defend Mr. EYRE from
another prosecution. The noble earl made a very
interesting speech, in the course of which he referred
to the distinguished services rendered to the country
by Mr. EYLE. Perhaps the most effective thing
that he said was the allusion to the insurrection in
Ceylon, when a similar clamour was raised to that
about Jamaica ; and when it was proposed to send
out a Commissioner to inquire into the cruelty said
to have been used, Earl RUSSELL, in the strongest
manner, denounced the attempt, remarking that " if
any Government was to take the dastardlypart of sacri-
ficing a Governor because there was a clamour raised
against him, got up with great perseverance and
industry, he believed that the Government, while it
would sacrifice the Colonies, would meet.with the re-
probation—the deserved reprobation—of the people
of England." Thus, said Lord SHREWSBURY, Lord
RUSSELL threw the shield of his authority over

Lord TORRINGTON, and yet he was the head of the
Government that gave way to the clamour raised
by the Jamaica Committee, and sacrificed Governor
EYRE. The noble lord also referred to the many
occasions on which Mr. EYRE had signalised himself
by his zeal and devotion for the public cause. He
has been before the public for 25 years, and where-
ever he has served he has obtained marks of
approval for his conduct. Even in the affair of
the insurrection in Jamaica, Mr. CARDWELL sent a
despatch in which he mentioned his approval of the
" spirit and judgment" which had been shown by
the Governor during the disturbance. But a change
came over the scene, and after the Jamaica Com-
mittee waited on the Ministers. " Whether the
late Government was afraid of alienating Parlia-
mentary support was not for him to say, but in
consequence of the importunity of that Committee
a commission was sent out to Jamaica." As Lord
SHREWSBURY very truly said, addresses of congra-
tulation were presented by both Houses of the
Legislature, and from persons of all religious deno-
minations in the island, all of whom agreed that Mr.
EYRE'S decision and promptitude was the means of
saving the lives of the white and coloured population.
We entirely concur with the noble lord, that where
a great danger exists there must be some remedy,
and the Government must act in self-defence in
cases of emergency. A strong proof in favour of
the course adopted by the late Governor was fur-
nished by the reply of the present one to Lord
CARNARVON in remitting the sentences in some
cases which had been passed by the Commission.

Ile stated that it would not be advisable
to do so. Ile deemed it to be inadvisable to remit
any part of any sentence for a long time to come,
" and then only if.the state of feeling in the colony
recovered its tone." The Duke of BUCKINGHAM
said that the Government could not do as the noble
lord desired, and undertake to defend Mr. EYRE
from any just prosecution, but that when these
trials were over that would be the proper time for

them to form an opinion as to what course they
ought to pursue respecting Mr. EYRE. We
hope and trust that when that time arrives the
Government will take into consideration the gallant
services rendered by that gentleman, and appoint
him to a fitting post, whore he can still serve his
country, for to have him living as he is is only giv-

ing occasion to say that he is dismissed from the
public service, while it would be a lasting reproach
to this country that so distinguished a public ser-
vant should be so neglected and passed over.

The Atlantic cable brings us the important news
that President JOHNSON has suspended Mr. STAN-
TON, and appointed General GRANT Secretary of
War. It will be remembered that the PRESIDENT

had requested Mr. STANTON to resign, and that the
Secretary declined to do so. The differences in
the Cabinet had long been a matter of general
comment, at least so far as Mr. STANTON was
concerned, for the other Ministers have for the
most part given Mr. JOHNSON a willing sup-
port. It was a question whether the PRESI-
DENT would follow up his demand or
whether he would shrink from so bold a step as the
suspension of a Secretary of State. However, he
is not a man to be easily daunted, and in this
instance, at least, he has shown his wisdom by
insisting on the fulfilment of his original purpose.
lie has enough to contend against in the vehement
opposition and audacious insolence of the extreme
Radicals. It would be a proof of weakness to per-
mit the same thing among his own colleagues. A
united Cabinet can do much, but a traitor in the
camp is a dangerous foe, and under the existing
circumstances he could hardly occupy a more criti-
cal position than the Secretary of War. The
PRESIDENT'S greatest stronghold, now that the
Radicals have clipped his powers in so many ways,
is his office of Commander-in-Chief. By this he
retains the superiority over all those district com-
manders and arrogant military officers whom Con-
gress hai put over the heads of all civil authorities
in the Southern States. It is manifest how much
Mr. JOHNSON would lose by having as his Secretary
of War a disaffected colleague, who differs from
his policy, despises his authority, and resents his
control. The Radicals knew they had a powerful
ally in Mr. STANTON, whose opinions were no secret.
Mr. JOHNSON has yet full eighteen months of power,
and much may be done in that time. It is very pos-
sible that feeling himself strengthened by the grow-
ing aversion of the country to the Radical policy he
may strike out a bolder course, of which this super-
cession of a troublesome colleague is the first step.
The appointment of GRANT in STANTON'S place is a w isc
and politic measure. GRANT has always been popular,
and at one time he acted very cordially in concert
with the PRESIDENT. He is certainly the right man
for the place, and the offer of it is due to his mili-
tary reputation and to his political standing ; for
though no great statesman himself, ho is confidently
looked to as the next President. If GRANT will
act heartily with the President, Mr. Joossores
position will be immensely strengthened, and he
will be free to take vigorous steps for the better
administration of affairs in the South. GRANT'S
popularity with the army will make it difficult
for the Radicals to circumvent his influence or defy
his authority, and Mr. JOHNSON could hardly have
secured a more valuable ally. The news will not
be very welcome to General SHERIDAN, who con-
tinues to lord it over the unlucky district under his
command in the most arbitrary fashion. Ile has
removed the alderman and assistant alderman of
New Orleans, on the plea of their opposing the
Reconstruction Laws. Naturally his conduct
has excited warm approval among the Re-
publicans.; and the Virginian Republican
State Convention, which has recently been
adjourned at Richmond, has endorsed his action in
removing the Governor of Texas, " notwithstand-
ing the embarrassments thrown round General
SHERIDAN by the PRESIDENT." In Tennessee the
Republicans have carried the day, Governor
BROWNLOIV having a majority of 30,000 votes.
Happily the election which has occasioned so much
apprehension has passed off quietly.

With regard to Mexican affAirs, intelligence re-
ceived at New York yesterday nnounces the
surrender of the body of MAXIMILIAN to Baron
MAGNUS, the Prussian Minister in Mexico.

Of the position of the Mexicans themselves we learn
nothing. Documents have, however, been published
in New York, showing that the late Emperor made
a proposition to JUAREZ, through the United States
Government, offering to retire from Mexico until
the permanency of the Empire could be decided
by the people. Mr. SEWARD declined to entertain
the proposition, not recognising the right
of MAXI MILIAN to represent any portion
of the Empire. Mr. SEWARD was known
to have been strongly averse to the imperial
interest, and has taken no pains to conceal his satis-
faction at the downfall of the Empire, and the
establishment, as he thinks, of the MONROE doc-
trine. his refusal to take any part iu this negotia-
tion, however, is scarcely to his credit, and many
persons who have already ceasured him for the
part he has played, will now be convinced that the
tragedy which has aroused the sympathies of the
whole of Europe might have been averted by a
more conciliatory action on the part of the Ame-
rican Minister.