WHO IS TO HEAD THE NEW CABINET? AND WHO TO SUPERINTEND THE WAR?

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XII, Issue 826, 29 May 1855, Page 3

WHO IS TO HEAD THE NEW CABINET? AND WHO TO SUPERINTEND THE WAR?

From the Times. The Tesult of to-night's division is confidently expected, even by the adherents of the Ministry, to be a defeat, and under these circumstances, the question is not — what means can bo found to restore the suspended animation qf the ministerial body, but what measures must be given to give the country a Government more capable of dealing with the present conjuncture of affaira. Of Lord Aberdeen personally we have never ceased to speak with that respect to which no man is more entitled. His cool judgment, and his love of peace will be more fairly appreciated hereafter than they have hither-

. to been ; and if he is destined to receive from. Itife Sovereign the highest personal badge she is able to be- . stow, he has earned it by long and honourable service in all the highest off ccs of State. But, while we do not att( mrft to detract irom Loid Aberdeen's personal worth or rast services, »c regaid Ins administration as at an ' end. If then, -within a few hours irom the present time this ministerial catastrophe should occur, it is haidly prcmatuie to cijqi.he •what are the most prompt and effectual means of restciing a Gcrvemment to the countiy. This is no {Jme for finessing on such a sm\>jret ? we must copira^ht to the point, «nd Cndca\cn.r to obtained an roministiation equal to thopresent emergency, where ewrj 1 cur rr.ay be of vital impoitnncc- to the Britich army and to the cause of the allies. We ihtmu>s at ome, aid in fey, vnnda, the supposition t hi. t Loid Eeiby and his adherents can be recalled to cifice. The country saw in 18.32 who and what they wc-ie, and they ha\e lost lather than gained in strength and reputation since thedate of that melancholy exhibition, for the Protectionist cause, which v.as their only standard, has eeascd to be even a cry. Loid John Russell must Me think, be plated in the same class of useless and impossible combinations, ne is alike incapable of forming a Government himself, or of serving in the Go- , vermnent of another ; and his last act removes him ii r t the present from the scene. The immediate effect or* , this extraordinary blunder was to place Lord Paimclj ston in a position he had not before occupied ; and the | tone he assumed in the Hou«-e of Commons both on | Thursday and Friday evening showed that he was conscioxis oi the advantage he hsd gained. We cannot, of course, anticipate the steps which may be taken by truj Crown in the event of a dissolution of Lord Aberdeen* j Cabinet, but it is impossible to doubt that her Majesty's i judgment will be guided by the great difficulties we hu\e to surmount, and by the advice of her oldest and most faithful councillors . On these grounds and in the absence of any other serious competitor in the House of Commons for the highest office in the State, we can hardly doubt that Lord Palmerston would be called upon to recompose the Cabinet. Every one knows that the censure impl'^d by Mr. Roebuck's motion is in no way directed against the Secretary of State for the Home Department, or those ot his colleagues, whose services he would be most anxious to retain ; and, in the event of that motion being carried, it would be madness to exclude from office tha only men to whom the country can look $t such a crisis. But, although we desirod to see Lord Palmerstort from the first in the post of Minister of War, we wem j the public against the supposition that he is the fittest man for that post. Lord Palmerston,* in ith all the vivacity of his character, is, nevertheless, in his 7 1st year — he is, in fact, a little older than Lord Aberdeen — his habits are active, but not methodical, and the present administration of ths army involves an immensity of matters of detail with which he is unfamiliar. "We very much question whether Lord Palmerston would find the means to recognize the military department* at home, and to rescue the aimy in the Crimea ; but we have no doubt that in the capacity of Prime Minister he would immediately exercise a most beneficial influence over tha whole conduct of affairs. For the administration of the War Department after the most careful consideration of the names which have been mentioned, we cannot hesitate to award the first place to Lord Grey. His vast application, the attention he has given to miLtary affairs, both as Secretary at War and as Colonial Secretary, but, above all, his fearless indifference to all personal claims, fit him for a task which must be one of severity, if the relaxed system of administrative discipline is to be restored to its former vigour. The War Minister, moreover, cannot at the same time lead the House of Commons — a duty which would naturally devolve on Lord Palmerston, as First Lord of the Treasury, and this alone is a conclusive argument against placing Lord Palmerston in that or any other laborious department. In other respects the Government need not undergo any material change ; but, as the wholoMinistry would be reconstituted, many of the suborei » nate offices might be more effecthely filled, and tha basis of the administration somewhat enlarged. The test of this or any other political combination must, of course, be the degree of support it can command in the House of Commons ; but never was there a time when a strong Government might reckon with greater confidence on the general disposition of Parliament to support its measures. On the grand objects of our national policy at the present time, there is no difference of opinion. All are alike eager to carry on the war with energy, to act up to our alliances, and to restore the efficiency of our own forces. The question is simply, who will do this most effectually ? Any minister who shall satisfy the nation that ho is in ear teat by removing the incapable, by finding out and promoting the ablest junior officers of the army, and punishing the guilty as they deserve, will command the support of Parliament ; and our conclusion is, that these objects will best be attained by placing Lord Pahnerston at the head of the Government, and giving the seals of tho War Department to Loid Grey.