12 SEPTEMBER 1829, Page 7

MINISTERIAL PROSECUTIONS.

TOPICS OF THE DAY. \

IMPARTIAL men must admit that no Ministry.- was ever more perse- veringly attacked, both individually and conjointly, both in their pri- vate and in their public characters than the present ; and that no Op- position ever was so slenderly justified as that which has been so furiously displayed against them. The sum total of the accusation against the Duke of WELLINGTON and Mr. PEEL is that they passed the Emancipation Bill. No other fault can be laid to their ministry than that they accomplished what PITT, Fox, CASTLEREAGH, and CANNING aspired to, and endeavoured to accomplish. The Free Trade system, and the various other counts of tile indictment filed against them by political partizans, they found completed when they came into office. These measures are no more theirs, than they are Lord ELDON'S. While we admit all this, however, we are by no means ready to admit the conclusion that the Ministers have drawn from it,—namely, that the only way to meet the violence and injustice of the Opposition press is by ex officio informations and indictments. There is little magnanimity in such a course, and little wisdom ; it can hardly be successful, and a good man will hardly wish it to be so. We can make large allowance for personal irritation, nor do we alto- gether deny to Ministers its indulgence ; but they are not entitled to such a degree of it as private men are. Opposition, keen, searching, even unjust, is an accident of office, which every minister of a free country ought to expect and tolerate. It is therefore with regret that we see a Cabinet generally worthy of every support pursuing a course which, if persisted in, will deprive them of all sup- port. We went along with Lord LYNDHURST in his attempt to vindi- cate his character from a foul and unfounded charge, more especially when we saw that charge coupled with a dastardly attack on his lady ; but we are at a loss to find anything like a reason for the proceedings of yesterday at the instance of his -Grace the Duke of WELLINGTON. Tile violence of the Journal is too well known, but in the present case the charges are so general that we do not see how they can possibly stand. It is not, however, their indefinite character that we object to, but to the system which, from what they indicate, it would appear Government are inclined to act upon. We must say that if the Cabi- net contrive to increase or to maintain its power by the prosecution of political enemies, then will it accomplish a feat greater than any it has yet attempted. Most sincerely do we wish for its maintenance, for we think it means well, and has done well ; but when attacks on the press are the order of the day, we cannot help feeling that we are part of the press. We are not given to the indulgence of violent declamation ; but we know not where, in a warfare so general, the desires of the as- sailants may rest satisfied ; and we may therefore be compelled to join in the defence of doubtful positions, lest by neglecting them we should hazard such as are of vital importance.