PARLIAMENT.
The session of 1854 was not barren. The war occupied men’s thoughts, and engaged the time of the legislature; the reform bill of Lord John Russell was put off sine die; yet many useful bills were carried through the legislature, and much valuable business transacted in both houses, of importance to the country. The war debates, however, occupied most of the attention of the houses. In the beginning of the year their subjects were:—the want of spirit, preparation, and intelligence on the part of the ministry; the deference, and even amity, shown to Russia by Lord Aberdeen and his chief supporters, while the czar was deceiving them, and prosecuting his ambitious designs with energy. The financial schemes of the chancellor of the exchequer caused much debate. He propounded the doctrine that increased taxes on income, and other sources of taxation, must cover the expenses of the increased military preparations—that the income of the year should pay the cost of the year. Nothing could more clearly show that he had no conception of the magnitude of the conflict upon which his country was about to enter. Whatever might be Mr. Gladstone’s abilities as an economist, or a financier, he proved himself incapable as a statesman. On the 12th of August, her majesty prorogued the parliament in person.
During the session several changes in the ministry had occurred. Lord John Russell, who at the beginning of the session held a place in the cabinet without any office, was appointed to the presidency of the council, Lord Granville giving way in his favour; as did Mr. Strutt, chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, for Lord Granville. The Duke of Newcastle held the secretaryships, both of war and the colonies, at the beginning of the session. He was clearly incapable of filling both, and was ultimately proved unequal to either. He, however, resigned the colonies, a fourth secretaryship—that for war—being created for the occasion. The duke persisted in selecting that office, and Lord Aberdeen and the Peelite section of the cabinet insisted on conferring it upon him, in spite of the desire of Lord John Russell, the whig section of the cabinet, and the general voice of the country, that Lord Palmerston should, at such a juncture, assume that most important official position. The result was a terrible breakdown in the administration of the war department, disastrous to the ministry, the army, and the country. The vacant secretaryship of the colonies was given to Sir George Grey, who was certainly unequal to its requirements. On the whole, the changes gave dissatisfaction to the country, and prepared the way for the destruction of the cabinet. In the midst of such great dangers to the country, it was found that the patronage bestowed by the ministry, especially in connection with the army, navy, and colonies, was partial, unjust, and even, in some cases, disgraceful. A widespread feeling of indignation arose among the people, and a desire for the speedy fall of the Aberdeen cabinet. After the breaking up of parliament the ministry dispersed, and appeared to concern themselves very little about the fate of the country. Two men among them were exceptions to this—the Duke of Newcastle and Lord Palmerston. They worked in their respective offices with untiring assiduity; unfortunately, what the duke did had been, in the main, better left undone, but he industriously performed his duty to the best of his power. When the tidings of Balaklava, Inkerman, the bombardment of Sebastopol, the false news of its fall, the storm which nearly wrecked the transport fleet and destroyed vast supplies, were flying through Europe and stirring the heart of England to its depth, the ministers were amusing themselves, and showed no signs that they comprehended their glorious position as the leaders of a mighty empire at war with another. It appeared afterwards that Lord John Russell was watching anxiously the progress of affairs, although his particular office did not give prominence to his activity.
On the 12th of December parliament was re-opened by her majesty in person. The ministry was denounced in both houses for its incompetent conduct of the war, and made a feeble defence. Thanks were voted by both houses to the generals, officers, and soldiers, who had participated in the battles and hardships of the various naval and military campaigns. The foreigners’ enlistment bill caused much discussion, in which very little wisdom was shown by either house. The militia bill passed rapidly through the legislature. This closed the brief period during which parliament sat in December, 1854.