The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-13

joIneu III the vote OF censure the resolution might
not produce political change, but IL would place
ON record their opinion that astuteness was not
craftsmanship and that smart practice did not pay
IN the long
The Duke of SOMERSET thought that the govern
ment had acted wisely taking this question out OF
the hands OF agators and public meetings. 1t might
nave been better II little more time mad been taken
In issuing the warrant. but purchase must 20. anu
no other course than that which they adopted was
really open 10 the government.
Lord LONGFORD having voted with the govern
menr upon the Army bill, stated the reasons which
now induced him to vote with the party with wnlch
he always acted.
Lord RUSSELL after IA historical retrospect OF the
acts regulating purchase reatllrmed his opinion ON
the expectancy OF aboilshing purchase, but justified
his vote on the Army bill in the absence OF any plan
of army reorganization. Their lOrdsnlps would also
ne perfectly justified In visiting with their con-
demnation the undue nterpostlon OF the royal pre-.
rogatve, and course OF proceeding which tended
Lord MOTHERHOOD replied TO various points raised
by Lord Russell and other speakers
Lord CAIRNS insisted on the unprecedented nature
OF the course taken by the government and entered
upon legal argument TO show that the royal war
rant was not issued In the exercise OF statutory
right. Describing prerOgative as a power not con-
1erred by statute, he reminded their lordshipS
that both the Premier and Lord Granville assured
Parliament that the warrant was not an act OF
the prerogative but u statutory right, and 1t was
clear that the advice given To the sovereign was
IN issliinr the Warrant. The government. there
fore stood convicted on their own confession
OF having through ignorance misrepresenteu to
the sovereign the character OF the act she was per-
forming, which, instead Of being statutory act,
was, in fact, an act OF the highest and most strin-
gent prerOgative. The time was past Tor preroga-
tive, as such W overthrow the net OF vested inter-
ests sanctioned by the statute The government
had advised the Crown TO break faith with the
officers OF the army, and had seriously undermined
the dignity and independence OF their lOrdships'
House, and yet had not abolished purchase after ALL
of 1t. Admitting that he disliked the theory
OF purchase. and that he should be very glad to
get rid OF 1t. he nevertheless first wanted TO know
what to do Its particular work. II the abolition
Of purchase had been referred beforehand TO the
liberal party In the House OF Commons they would
not have consented TO see II accomplised by an act
should be decided by our Parliamentary system. II
discreditable scenes had, AS the Duke of Argyll
the manner in which that House was led had some.
thing to do with 1t. However this might be, he OBJ
ected to their lordships being made the victims of
coup d'6tdt for any such reason. RemarkinG upon
the singular coincidence that the royal warrant
taken for Her Majesty's signature by q nObeman
bearing the title and herein following in the foot
steps Of the viscOnnt Halifax who issued general
warrants, he concluded q powerful peroration by
saying that the government would get their bill.
but would take with 1t the Censure and con-
domination OF the House, deliberately approved by
the country, for having, at a crisis that demanded
the wisdom and iorbearance of statesmen, acted
with the petulance and recklessness of children.
They had obtained an unreal triumph, but they
had strained and discredted the constitution of the
country.
The LORD CHANCELLOR denied that the govern
ment had been convicted, either on their own con-
fessiOn or otherwise, OF having given advice to the
facts. He explained tnat which was really conveyed
to the royal ear, and replying in some detail to the
legal arguments urged by Lord Cairns, came to the
vote OF censure, which. he said, little justified
as any vote to be found in their journals. Quoting
words used by the Dixie OF Richmond In different
sense he said that defeat was more glorious to the
vanqulshed in such cause than triumph TO the
vlctOrs could possibly be.
Their lOrdships divided, when there appeared
was therefore, carried by majority OF SO. The
Army Regulation bill was then read second time.