New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-02-10
RESIGNATION OF LORD JOHN RUSSELL.

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RESIGNATION OF LORD JOHN RUSSELL.
Fyo- ns Ioa&oa Ts~es JIs q
The announcement made last night by the s.cre-
tnv Of ~. Treasury 70 the House Of Con noas ths,
Lord john Rw se has rendered kis stion 81 the
cce be 6lled in tie Government, and hat his resis-
n1ion has been accepted BY her Majesty cJn6rds TIE
rumort which had teen in circulation since Yesterday
morrirg and explains the Circumstance thst Lori
John Russell hsd net attended the C.bine, Colncl
since Tuesday last. Both houses OF Parliament upon
receiving this intimauon, a. urned 70 this day wAea
il expected at explanation OF this important oc
cuir.nce will be given by the Ministers Of the Crown
Under these circumstances We thsl not attempt 10
penetrate all the motives which have led TO this dec
eion but believe that the oetensiole fssson wnca
Lord John Russell assigned for addressing bis re-isns
tiop to the head Of the Government wabis
or inability 10 face the motion OF which Mr. Rosodet
had given notice. ibis motion for select committee
TO inquire into the state Of the army before Seyts,
pol ard into the conduct OF the War Departments Of
he Government was announced 20 the HJase Of On
mons on the reassembling of Parliament On Tuesday
afternoon.
The rext morning, and wi'bou. any further delibe.
raiicn with any Of his colleagues, Lord job issel
proceeded TO address his resignation {, Lord Abar
eeen thus virtually declining to appear in the House
OF Commons ae a representative OF Government IN
which he had borne conspicuous part and apparent
" at,eu sing 10 decline that response );hty which at
tsches it,. If 70 even member Of the Administration
In this re,peet the conduct Of Lord John Rasseu 80
for ss IL is at present known presents vide sai
painful deviation from the rules Of political con iut
which have usually been observed with hieI,y IA
this country. We perfectly a~sre that ord john
Russell hes throughout sho@n great iupatence OF ns
position in which the failure Of the previous Cabinet,
Of which be Was tte hesd, had placed him 10 the
present ADMINISTRATION, and that his immediate al
hrepts have not dessed from their efforts y recover
for him the postte bad ceased 10 hold. The pubhc
have observed that by his protrscted soseoce from
Loncon durir the whole Of the autumn, when raid
,sry events Of the greatest importance were ia prog
L .ayta-
cia lecturer he endesvored to raise distinction be-
tween himself the more assdnous me mpers OF tbs
Government; but, as hs continued to hold oih,e in
Lord Aberdeens Ministry aud hsd given no recent
signs of Withdrawing from IT, he continued 10 be re-
epot sble fer its policy and its acts and we can re-
n ember 10 example OF Mintter retiring from q
Cabinet the day tefore great Parliamentary dis
cussOn on its pact conduct Tha. sush discussion
must take lace on the meeting OF Parliament wa'
cerisn TIE motion OF which Mr.. Roebuck hiss gixen
notice is consistent with usage and precedent, for
similar inquiry made into the conduct OF the
Walcleren Expedition, not by select committee
but by a CO mmit,ee Of the whole House. Lord John
Russell mus, have anticipated such discussion, aud
if he not prepared TO meet it he might have re-
signed at moment less nconvenent 10 MS colleagues
sId lees Injurious TO the country; II would surely
have been more honorable TO f, with the other menu
bers OF The Cabnet then 10 consult his own pleasure
or interest by leaving them 10 the lurch.
This brings US 10 the ntxt and the more importint
question arising out Of this rapssctonthe effect of
Lord John Russels resignation. We do not hesitate
for moment ~ express our conviction that the loss
of 80 important me mber at ii ne when far stronger
Gov.rpint Mt would find il difficult to maintain iis po
81 OF il decisive b,os to the present Government;
ana ~ may add that ne do not suppose any MEMBER
Of that Government is dtsrods Ut prolongng ITS ex-
istepce Ii Is obvious % all tho world that tbs inter-
tsts of the country and the saety Of the army perenp
tory qure great and immediate changes Ia TIE con-
duet Of the war and IN the choice OF men to cry on
tbose duties But il is easier 10 elect those chsogcs
H.. lat, ,oftl a IAN Ia
act of authority which Lord Aberdeen and his cot
Iesgues could exercise. Indeed the very first cond
ton Of succ. ssul military administration Is the Pos
session of degree Of Inherent strength and external
cor fdeBce which they no longer enjoy. Goyern-
me NJ Engaged in a contest of this magnitude requires
the whole force Of the country at Its bsck. and tue
toser TO use that force with the utmost dexery aud
vigor. Better u thousand ii mes that feeble Gtvern-
mept should ease to exist hsn that il shou fail in
undertakings which so nearly concern the honor and
safety Of the country.
But altbsugh We have no doubt that These are the
sentiments Of the Ministers themselves ana that they
hold their Offices ct this momelt by very slender
tepur-if indeed, their reignations have not already
be teLdertd to the QUeenther surrender OF 9th, &c
10 Io degree rele the m fron the responsibility
which arises out OF the sent stete OF the army AMI
the past conduet Of the campNga They appear,
there fore, TO have thought tina, u more consistent
with constitutional principle and with their personal
hoIor to meet Mr.. Rotbuck 8 motion IN deb ito ~
best they can and dinghy Lord Pslmerston stat
cd last night ia the HOUSE Of Commons that the
ton for in quiry would have precedence OF all other
business except, of course Lord John RUSSELL per-
soDal explanation. IL Is needless for US to eniHgs IN
this place the causes which have rendered this Ia.
quiry at once necessary to the country and fatal
so The Government. Every fresh account from the
CIimea augmebts the overwhelming evidence OF neg
tct and Encouragement in one part or another Of
the public administration. II is the duty Of P.rlia.
ent TO Elf the Of these calamtiss And to take
care that those who the guilty authors Of them
whether o. individuals or as members Of vicious
system, be brought 10 the bar Of public opinion.
But while We think that the events Of the lat six
months demand searching Investigation, and that
the honor of the Government requires that such "a
investigation should be promoted rather than resisted
not the less sensible that the present condition
Of the army the future conduct OF the war, and the
immed reconstru ction of the Government are
u stters which pr.se upon us with urgent
necessity. 1t would be stigma on England aud on
English Institutions II, In this emergency, with Parhs-
ment sitting, and at moment OF extraordinary diff
Guilty in public affairs the Administration Of this
country should present the spectacle OF hope
lees anarchy as the camp before Sevastopol or the
hospitals of Scutsri The resignation OF indviduL
Minister at such crisis Is an act not easily to b. Jus,
fed any grounds thort Of absolute necessity. The
etc Of that resignation will probably be the desc
lu ion Of the Cabinet. But, II her Majesty il thus
tupeled to ntrust the direction of affairs to other
hands, We trus. that, m forming new Atninistrs-
ton the paramount interests Of the country the safety
Of the army the honor OF our alliances, and the ne.
cessities Of the time, will prevail all other
sideratioDs. he must be something worse than bad
Minister who chooee such q moment Of nstonal
calamity for personsl resent nent party intrigue.
The country looks to thing ony-he formstioa Of
a Government which shsll reOrganize the military
departments Of the public service and reetore the
credit of our arms. Upon tha condition any Govern
NEXT may command the support Of ParliAment and
the nation; but il these impending changes dsciose
only miserable rivalry between jealous factions,
or stme aTiifce Of private ambition, they will call
down the seyerest snmadversion on those who c an
rk the great interests Of the nation for motives Of