The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-05-19
Select nlisfcllanp.
From the London Times, April Is.
The Times Oh the Situation.

Every incident that comes to our knowl-
edge tends to Increase the feeling Of dismay
with which rejecting men of all shades OF
political opinion are disposed to regard the
present con unctnre of our affairs. There
is no longer the slightest hope that we can by
any means short Of the most extreme degra-
dation avoid the continuance of q war the
expenses of which We pay, but the opera
lions OF which our counsellors seem unable
to plan and our generals to execute. Our
Government is caricature of the weakest
and most selfish combinations of his friends
and faithfully realized the predictions Of his
enemies. Our Secretary Of War is a martyr
to govt, and our Secretary for the Colonies is
returning from the capital of a doubtful ally
to add to the Administration the weight &C
quired in futile negotiation, and prehaps,
to act again the same part as that which pro-
we'd SO fatal to the Government of Lord
Aberdeen. in the meanwhile, Legislation is
blank, and discussion on topics of public
interest is suspended, partly by the Crimean
Committee, partly by unwlllingness to add to
the difficulties of an Administration which
began to decay before it was completed, but
must still be tolerated till arrangements can
be come to for providing it with a suitable
successor. In the meanwhile, our only hope
should he in that palladium of our liberties,
that depository of the talisman Of our Consti
tuition, in whose hands all legislation of late
years has combined to place the supreme
power Of the State. 1t is not unreasonable
to expect that at moment so critical, the
House Of Commons will be a faithful reflex
Of public opinion, and that the topics which
are canvassed with so much energy and una
nimity in every coffee room, at every mar
kct, in every railway carriage, round every
hearth in this country, will find some feeble
echo in the deliberations Of an assembly
expressly called together to represent lis all @.
Why should the New Palace at Westminster
be the only place of public resort in the
present system, too scandalous for defence,
too abominablc for endurance. is not canvas
sed and denounced? Everywhere else men
are busy with plans, more or less we'll devised
according to their experience and opportun-
tiles, but all directed to the same object
the renovation Of our official system, the
reform OF our services, the refrigeration OF
our government in every branch. But it is a
pregnant symptom Of our present social dis
case, that while the country deliberates the
Legislature does not: while the conviction of
the necessity of change has penetrated
every dwelling, from the palace to the cottage
there at least it has found no entrance. The
paralysis of the body polite ifmore complete
than is; usually found in the body natural
1t docs not strike some members and spare
others, but assails at once the head, the
heart. Noportion ofthe machinery required
Tor carrying on great war seems to be in
force, except the functions ofthc tax gathercr.
We do not achieve victories, but we ay for
them. We have the loans of Mr.. Pitt with
out his vigor and policy; we have the sangui
nary campaigns of Wellington without his
prudence, his vigilance, or success.