Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-02-23
,ettcrs from England.
No. XVI.
LONDON, FEB. ., 1855

LONDON, Feb. ., 1855.
To The Free Preu:
The present Ministerial crisis affords fit
ting opportunity for laying before your read
crs some general account Of the English Cab
met. Besides that there is now special in
terest fixed upon Ministerial organizations
an interest which | suppose may count upon
as extending to you-therc is another rea son
why the time is favorable one for our inquiry
In the sudden and rather awkward retreat of
the late Ministry, the Cabinet doors were
thrown wide open, and those of us who are
curious, have had an opportunity Of pecring
in upon the machinery of the Ministerial
conclavc.
You must first Of all understand that the
Cabinet is not the Pr,ry Council. 1t is very
true that the members Of the Cabinet are al
ways Priyy Councillors hut Privy Coun-
! cillor does not sit in the Cabinet unless he ia
specially summoned. 1t is true also that the
Privy Council is the only body recognized by
law as the advisers of the Crown; but in re-
! atty tho Government is entrusted to that Sc
lect Committee of the Privy Council, which
is known as the Ministry, the Government, or
the Kings Advisers, and the larger body is
the Cabinet, as a body. little concerned in the
Administration.
| am afraid that some of our good republi-
cans in America do not quite appreciate the
meaning Of the maxim of the English Gov
eminent that "the King can do no wrong. "
1t seems to many to SAVIOR of divine right,
and so forth. lsuppose it simply means that
the King himself cannot be impeached except
through his Ministers. They are responsible
for every measure proceeding from the throne
during their ministry, and may be called to
account for their administration by Parla-
ment, You will remember in the Fortunes
of Nigel" that when royal James made a
/ blunder i'll his latin, poor Sir Mungo had to
/ take a logging, IL an executive blunder is
made, it is supposed to be made by and with
| the advice and consent Of the Ministers, and
they must take the logging That is all that
is meant by the fiction that "the King can do
no wrong"
In the earlier history of the English Mon
archy, the Kings Privy Council consisted OF
all the great officers of State, and Others
whom the King might summon, and by them
every state measure was debated and voted
ON IN the Kings presence, ut could not
happen, gays Mr., Ilallam, "hut that some
. Councillors moro eminent than the rest
should lorm .untos and cabals for more close
and priNat" management, or be selected as
more confidential advisers of tlicirSoN creiSn. VI
This was the germ Of the Cabinet, as disting
ui,hcd from the Privy Council. This select
body at first submitted their measures to The
whole Council, but shortly after the Rcstura
ton, they began to take the government en-
tirclv into their own hands One of the ar
ucles of sot,lcmrut demanded of William II
that tho Old functions Of thc Priyy Counci
,loild h,I Est ere !, "a, tho cautious states
a.p| il.,l Vii 10 cold not brook sroh
diffusion ur nlul-t,lid tru,t, ard tho aru'l
WIS ref ea'eI ,iucc that tim" the Priv
Council. 'lous as a body always oAis'n'
bltt in law and in Fact, has been consulto
Only ON rare o.rasipus. All orders and pro
, cnmatious, however, are .t.!i issued in thci
name.