Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-03-30

o,binet aud dweis especially the inoopgrGity OF
p!acirg General Peel in position which renders
HIM at once tie official superior and the military
subordinate Of the conmanderin chief. Nor is L"'u
Sinney's position in his fathers cabinet supposed 10
scarl ith the liberal We've which he has heretofore
advocated. This mode Of reasoning, however 'f'
plies with equs. force to any coalition CABINET ahu ''
greatly predo,ninang tor, ism OF Lord Derby H' u"
isry render. such ncongruilies ess dangerous '"''
Il The opposite forces were more equally o'!'e"'
Undoubtedly the present Ministry comln"'''s "'
cidsd minority in Parliament, which can never We
converted into majority by an appe. 10 l''e ''u"
try This is sufficiently apparent from i'ie "'''"
menary history of the last few years. MOI long "s''
Lord Derby was Premier and Mr.. D'lsraei eecoh" IN
command After brief trial, the tory Ministry went
bv ,be hoard The free TRADE question slone at that
day. was sufficient to annihilate any number OF eao'-
nets such ss Lord Derby could call toge'"er' i'e
Aberdeen Ministry which succeeded went 10 pieces
on the Crimean war. Lord John Russesi uesefteu
the sinking ship. Lord Pelmerston sho"eu os''er
nerve, and sank with it. Lord Derby was dc
aired TO form a cabinet. FOrty.eight hours were
aufiicisnt to convince him Of the linpossioiA'y
of the task, which he yielded without strug'
gle TO Lord Pslmerston's successful accomplish
ment. Lord Derby could not even conceal mis-
modification. and openly attributed his own failure
to the mis- management fhs friends. Lord Palmer
son started with every prospect Of sucoessan over,
whslmiDg Parliamentary majority sustained him. and
be had the country at his back
A partial secession of his Cabinet was ih'
sufficient to shake his position. His own piundefs
served to add to his invincbty. This was especs''
ly signalsed at the opening OF the Chinesa war; Al
this time he was inceutious enough to oond the ~hoe
radical party and many of his own liberal supporters
nv a yeheaent opposition TO motion for the partial
assimilation of borough aud country franchises. The
D.besites seized the opportunity, and secured ma
:ority against him on the Chinese question lie ap.
peaed to the country and converted parliamentary
defeat into popular victory. 1t is not Impossible
that this maneuvre might have been repeated with
success, had bis late defeat involved an issue suti-
cieutly grave for the adoption Of the ultimate re-
source. Every fair trial before Parliament or people,
has demonstrated Lord Derby's weakness even more
apparently than it has exhibited Lord Palmerstons
strength.
The new Premier ia now obliged to avoid defeat at
the outset, by accepting all the prominent measures
of his predecessor. The India BILL the Chinese war
are both endorsed with harmless qualification, and
ev en- conspiracy bill Of more stringent character
than that proposed by Lord Palmerston receives
ord Derby's entire acouiescepce. The Premier also
promises q bill for Parliamentary reform, WHICH,
however, he cautiously pcstpones until 1859.
Judging from distance, We zee but one chance
for the temporary success Of the Derby Ministry.
When British Cabinet finds home affairs assuming
threatening aspect, it most frequently attempts to
divert dissatisfaction, by adrot coup in the man.
aoement of foreign relations.