Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-08-07
LORD JOHN RUssELL's EXPLANATION.

In the House of Commons. on the 10Th ultimo, Lord
J. Russell stated that having Thursday sgnifed 10
the First Minister his wish retire from the service of
the Crown, and her Majesty having been graciously
pleased 10 accept his resignation, he held office only
until his successor was appointed. Recent events,
lie proceeded 10 say, having been complicated and
perverted. he wished 10 pluce before the House
ucroun. Of his conduct in these difficult TRANSACTIONS
Ii had been said that he pledged himself to use his
influence with the Government to accept certain
Austrian propositions
This was not true, but true that he did lay
these propositions before tile Cabinet and he did so
in concurrence with persons nf great weight and au
rhority. He brought those propositions to London
OH the Goth of April, and Cabinet held q, which
they not adopted, circumstances having occur.
red quite independent of the merits Of the propositions
themselves, which made IT, to his mind, impossible 10
agree to them. With regard to the merits Of those
propositions he justified the opinion he had first
formed Of hem hrleviug then that they might afford
the means of combining al the powers of Europe
against tho future nggrcssnns OF Russia, aud placing
| TErkcy IN Il secure position.
Having stated the genera! grounds upon which hr
had thought AT the time that the propositions might
nave beeil accepted, hr Went on To sH that further
knowledge of the views "f Austria 10 the obliga-
tons impn.ed upon her by the treaty ef Deorn.h-r
the I'd, induced her Majestys G"rernment 10 think
that 1t was NOT worth wu into negotiations
founded upon her last prnpositIon and, III these cir
|
on, and the war must be continued 10 obtain the Ob
jec- Tor which il was commenced. Il had been made
IL rcpronch 10 him, ho observed, that, III a speech
Ina'e since his return from Vienna, he had been in
fnvor of 4 vigorous prosecution Ot the war, or, III
other word. of Mr.. Dlsrae becaple "an uncomprom
ring advocate of war"
| After the rejection Of the Austrian propositions he
had 10 other Course But i, had been said that the
House had not been informed at the time of the fact
! ut these Austrian propositions. He was not respon-
hn fDr
Secretary 10 make this communication; but hv
thought it quite right on the part of the govern
ment TO abstain from premature communication,
which would have been unjustIiabe AMI derchc-
ton nf duty their part. MIR. Dlsrhcll ana others
seemed TO believe that there but two abstract
things to be considercd--one peace, another war;
But the government had vowed the matter differently;
they thought penco preferable to war that satlhac-
factory terms might DO obtained and that liInita-
ton of the Russian fleet would furnish security,
though an imperfect one, that would justify a term-
nation Of the war.
When the propositions Of Austria were refused he
fell back upon hs former opinions, aud from the week
ending the 5th of May, the Cabinet was as united a
Cabinet as he had ever known, but the impression
seemed TO prevail that because he had takeu avo-
rable view of the Austrian propositions he must oe
ever after incapable of serving her Majesty during
the war. He WAS not of that opinion. Finding, how
ever, that impressions, founded either upon errors
that he had committed or upon misrepresentation and
misrepresentation OF his conduct, were 80 wide and
general that his presence in the Cabinet would be
disadvantageous, he had pressed hs resgna,i ion,
which had been rendered once before. Having taken
that course he did feel at all dscouteued at the
position in which he stood. He had acted on what he
believed to be for the benefit Of the country. and
with view to the public interests. He rejoiced to
have left sincere friends in the Cabinet, and although
there was another class Of friends who OF diff
fcrent character, he trusted they were few, and he
regarded them with nothing but contempt. He had
been slandered and caunniatcd. he said but so had
Lord Ahorp aud the gallant and good Lord Rag.
uu, who had been pursued by sIander 10 the verge
of the grave. Whatever errors he might have COM
mted, he had always endenvored to satisfy his con-