There has been endless talk all the week of the
necessity of Mr. Gladstone complying with the law by standing for his re-election at Greenwich. As we are informed, the best legal opinions exempt him from the obligation, and certainly common- sense does. The object of Acts on the subject is to prevent the Crown from buying votes with profitable appointments, and as Mr. Gladstone does not take the salary of the Chancellor, he is, at all events, within the spirit of the law. Is it not, however, nearly time that this absurdity were abolished? What earthly claim has Greenwich to interfere with a rearrangement of the Cabinet, or to stand in the way of changes intended for the national benefit? if Democrats had the least decent pride, they would insist that a representative should be as free to govern as a Peer, who may hold all the Cabinet offices at once if the country pleases. The Duke of Wellington did do it for a few days.
