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HISTORY OP PARLIAMENT. THE MII.ITIA. Me....
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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to which all the souvenirs tend . There can be little doubt that the Empire is fully ripe . Pretexts for its establishment will not be wanting , but the higher the man mountf , | he fl } Q *< e suddefl and the more violent will be his fall , OldJerdme ' s speech betrays-.. a latent respect for'the necessities of the nineteenth century . Billault , by no tneans ft silent member in the Constituent and in the Chamber of Deputies ,
recommends few words . He also says that the Budget and the Taxation will be grave and serious topics of discussion . Very true : but the Budget is already decreed and the Taxation settled for the year . The protest of the three Republican Members is bold and firm ; but alas ! from Cavaignac ' s lips the words " public liberties" come with an ill grace : Louis Bonaparte , the Saviour of Society , only bettered the instructions of the Saviour of the Republie .
The Emperor , indeed , is coming ; but faster than the Emperor comes difficulty and opposition . Ridicule , omnipotent in France , is daily gnawing at the parody with its thousand teeth ; and hi France , ridicule kills . The Salledes Marechaux was but sorrily composed at the installation . Veron and Granier de Cassagnac were there exultant ; but where were the statesmanship and the genius ? Signs there are of a reviving public spirit : Emile de Girardin ' s return to La Presse will be a Pharos
in the darkness . It is not easy for the keenest censor to find Mm tripping , and yet he will , in one form or another , say his say . The Empire undoubtedly alarms Europe , —not so much for what it may bring , as for what it may leave when the tide has ebbed away . The East India Government seem disposed to prosecute the Burmese war in downright earnest .
No less than thirteen war . steamers , the largest steam fleet ever fitted out , have sailed for Rangoon , and are now probably sending shot and ^ h ell into that strongly fortified town . Six thou ~ sand troops , drawn from the Bengal and Madras armies , have been marched to the enemies' territory . Hot work is cut out for the irascible Burmese . Gold in South Australia ! A reward was offered
by the Governor , to stimulate the explorers . Two days afterwards there were several claimants . The new auriferous region is Mount Gambier , about 288 miles from Adelaide .
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History Op Parliament. The Mii.Itia. Me....
HISTORY OP PARLIAMENT . THE MII . ITIA . Me . Wai / poke , on behalf of the Government , stated on Monday the provisions of the new Militia Bill . It will lie remembered that on the night of the 20 th of February last , when . Lord Palmerston defeated Lord John Russell , the House agreed to an amended form of the motion proposed by the late Premier , and on that question the late ministry resigned . As a matter of course the amended resolution remained on
the journals of the House as an order of the day , and was adjourned from time to time , until Ministers were in a position to bring the question forward again . The motion was fixed last week for Monday ; and leave having been given on the 20 th of February to bring in a hill to " amend and consolidate the laws respecting the Militia , " Mr . Walpolo moved " that Mr . Chancellor of the Exchequer , Mr . Secretary Walpole , and the Secretary at War , do prepare and bring in the bill . " Tliis motion was preceded by aiong speech , in which Mr . Walpole stated the reasons of Ministers for bringing in the bill . ' Ho considered himself aa obeying tho will of the IIouso in bringing tho measure forward ; but ho also felt that ho would bo neglecting his duty , and actually betraying tho intorosta of tho country , if ho shrunk from tho task . On tho topi « of our perils ho was prolific in alarms . Trusting that actual dangor was a n far removed as ovor from our shores , yofc looking tit tho state of Kuropo with , reference 1 to its governments— " I moan , " ho enid , " with roforonco to the olomontH of anarchy and confusion whioh ¦ oxisfc , ( ironical choors from tho Opposition and counter clioors from tho Ministerial benches , ) and then , correcting lum-Holf , ho continued— " I did not say anarchy and confusion ; but looking to tho olomonts of anarchy and confusion which mi ght easily break out not many months honoo , I _ think wo arc bound to boo that wo ar <) in such ft stato of Afr ^ fwnco as to bo ablo to resist any attack which by poesi-^ 't ^ xbilftV Wifrji bo madp upon us . " ( ITonr , hoar 1 , and 1 cheers . ) / f ., ^! GtmHii & t 6 * 'question previously put by Mr . Colons , ho ' // V > % mt \ y iMiaworod ; jtlmt Ministers had not received any m-^ A % X * M 9 nn « Hto respecting foreign powers , since thoir accession ' 4- $$% ¦ ¦! ' : ¦ V ^ teVV .
to office , which mbd ^ gp d th"e | iecessiiy for introducing the bill . In fact , our ^ jendly relations with foreign powers have increased , ^^ laiming all improper motives— -such as jealousy or fefrtt =-he based the reasons for the introdug « tjqn of the TpM ftplelyan the belief oj ifte . Gtoveriunenit ^ t 'fit is our flprstof ditfjefi to keepi' -fl & countryin a « ffct |» of seit-defencei . ' * Are W © in a state pf defence ? Certainly ncit . And then , he e ^ ered into ajong statement of reasons to proye his point , similar totffcose wl $ <; h ^ on the 20 th , qf I ' ejbruary , were inf # > to the ^ ouse fipoplsill sides ,--, ^ mounting to coi ^ tw-arguiiien |^ to the ^ . three prqpcta ^ tions : First , « Hhg . t our actual deferioe ^ are sufficieiit ;^' This . he met by stating that it was based on an maecurate estimate of pur disposable force ; those -who affirmed the
above proposition counting up among our « defensible forces , the ships and soldiers engaged in service in all parts of the globe , including the Indian army ; while , as a matter of fact , we have a total of nearly 160 , 000 men , yet there are not more than 25 , 000 who could be concentrated on a given point for the defence of the island . It was this same with our ships . Admiral Berkeley had said there were ships enough to cover the south coast . Granted ; but have we men for them ? On the home station there were nine ships of the line , five frigates , one sloop , nine screw and eight paddle steamers . He would not disparage that force , but supposing a hostile squadron evaded their vi gilance , and we had no adequate covering- army on land , We should
then be in a position which a great country like this ought not to be in . Secondly , it was said , " that there was no immediate necessity , because there was no immediate danger . " This argument he disposed of by quoting Edmund Burke , who said , that" early and provident fear is the mother of safety , " and enlarging generally on the advantages of being maturely prepared for possible dangers . Thirdly , there were those -who urged that if there were danger ? f we ought to increase our army and navy . " This he shortly demolished by asserting that the people of England will not endure a large standing army . Having so far cleared his path of obstructions , ne dilated on the advantages of the militia as a constitutional force , and laid
down the Government p lan . The greatprinciples of the proposed bill were to provide by means of voluntary enlistment an armed force for national defence , and to make that force effective by means of drilling and training . The amount of force permanently to be maintained was 80 , 000 men , of which 60 , 000 would be raised in the first and 30 , 000 in the second year . The period of service to be for five years . It was proposed to pay the men by bounties of 31 . or 4 * . each , paid at once or by monthly allowances of 2 s . or 2 s . 6 d ., extending over the whole period of service ,, the option to be with the men . With , regard to the officers , the high qualification fixed by the old Militia Act of George III . would riot be required below the rank of
major , but half-pay officers and persons-who had served would have a preference . The training would be for 21 days in each year under ordinary circumstances , power being taken to ' extend or reduce that period as might be required . The existing law ( for it was an existing law , being merely suspended by an annual bill ) in respect to the embodiment of the force , would be followed—that was , it would be embodied in the event of actual invasion or imminent danger of it . The payment of bounties , and the necessity of providing arms and equipments , would bring the expense in the first year to about 400 , 000 * ., but in after years it would be about 260 , 000 ? . a year . The enlistment would be voluntary , but in the event of any district not supplying its quota , power would be taken to put the ballot in motion . The objection , that to raise such a
force would interfere with recruiting for the army , would be met by adopting 18 to 36 as the eligi bl e ago , and 5 feet 2 inches as the lowest standard of height , the standard of our regular army being 5 feet 6 inches , and that of tho French army 6 feet 1 inch . He wound up by warning the House that if they refused to pay for this constitutional defensive force they might have to pay forced contributions levied by a foreign power ; and by stating , that if the measure were thrown out , Government would have the melancholy satisfaction of having done its duty , while tho responsibility of leaving tho country dofoncelosB would fall upon tho House . Mr . Hume opposed tho bill . He treated the
necessity for it as not proven ; and he argued that the forces existing would bo sufficient , if properly disposed , and tho navy adequate , if called home . Ho quarrelled with Mr . Walpole ' s estimate of our military strength ; and by enumerating our regular and irregular forces , the marines , the Irish and English police , ho made up a grand total of 232 , 000 men ; and undertook , any day , to call together 25 , 000 moil , without touching the regulars . He generally argued against the measure , on the grounds—that it would add to tho taxes , that and that it hostile
it would demoralize the country , was to tho doctrine of the division of labour . Sir De Laoy Evans thought no case of necessity had been made out , and that , relying mainly on our present army , we should encourage the formation of volunteer corps . Mr Mixneb Gibson suggested whothor it would not bo bettor to defer tho bill until tho mooting of tho new parliament . Ho appealed to Lord Palmerston for aid in stopping tho progress of thd bill ; and stated his bolioftbat " the people of this country would prefer tho increase of tlio . regular army to the embodiment of
tho militia . " In answer to the appeal of Mr . Gibson , Lord Pal-MBBSXON inade a shqrt and decisive speeoh . It was hia intention to givo her , Majcsty ' tj Government anv support in \\ i » power for fho purpose . of ( sarrymg tho biff . ( Cheers . ) Tho necessit y for it could not bo overstated- wo had not troops ' available for our doibnoo , and the arctunonti druwn from a caN (; ing . up of tho numbor of soldiers employed in nil ports of tlio world , and represent
ing theiotal afl q ^ o ^ po | able army of defence , was absurd . J £ | fce * $ mte h 6 scouted the idea thatburshins even if manned , WWd , as a matter ofcourse , intercept a hoa ^ ile fleet . p $ m * % * V & d we * % u £ 611 i fearing timelv information © jP thji * fmbarwition of ati fading anny from . France ; as the yety watching sMp ^\ brmging 3 nformation of the expedition having sailed , would not arrive- much before the expeditionifcselfi The present measure Was not to meet a ¦¦ ^ es erit ' ^^ ger , ^ i % Meh-lt '" wwid :. T ) e ^ ma 4 equate , fcut a , prospective danger , for whichit would provided Th ^ 'Opuntry wpul ( ft not bea ^ a permanent addition to the standing army , it would beat a militia . : ; As to the measure , he thought it generallv . a' vnnA
one . He had always been favourable to voluntary enlistment . There was some objection to paying the bounties at once , and he thought monthly instalments would be more secure . Excepting details , yet to be discussed , " he felt bound to state that the plan of the Government was one highly deserving the favour and sanction / of the House- So far from joining Mr . Gibson in takmg advantage of this measure to turn , out her Majesty ' s Government , he should be happy to afford her Majesty ' s Government every possible assistance in carrying a measure that he considered of the utmost importance . rto the country . (•' Hear , hear , " and cheers from the Ministerial benches . ) Colonel Thompson joined the ranks of the dissidents
opposed the bill , and counselled delay . His strongest reason was the assertion that "if any Continental States thought proper to cover their countries with a network of fortresses , that would not justify the addition . of a single man to the British army . " Lord John Bxtsseix was one of those who thought that an increase of the defensive force of the country was necessary . He enlarged upon theprecarious nature of peace , and instanced thei Pnfcchardmdeinnity case as one of those unforeseen incidents , which bring nations on the verge of war . He criticised the bill somewhat , and asked for explanations respecting the ballot , as he did not feel sure that volunteers would eome forward . He obiected to paying the bounty in a lump . Although
he could form only an imperfect notion of the measure , yet as it was one for the defence of the country , " he should think it most unjustifiable if he offered any obstacle to the introduction of the bill . '" ( Cheers from the ministerial benches . ) From this patriotic remark the transition to the conduct of Lord Palmerston was easy * "He was glad to find that the noble lord , the member for Tiverton , supported the introduction of the bill . ( Hear . ) It was his ( Lord J . EusseU ' s ) misfortune that the noble lord did not approve of his bill , because it only applied to England , and Scotland and Ireland not being included the noble lord said it would be presumed that jul . the Scotch were cowards and all the Irish were rebels . ( Hear , hear . ) But the right hon . gentleman : had made the same proposal
in tha , t respect . ( Hear , hear . ) He proposed a bill for England , and whein tibey "were eibbodiga they might be sent to any part of the united Kingdom , and that was the measure which he ( Lord J . Eussell ) had proposed . ( Hear , hear . ) But the objection of 4 he noble lord did not apply to the right honourable ^ gentleirianr ; - (| iear > hear , and laughter)—and though the proposition was the same , the noble lord had not made the same objection . " ( Laughter . ) In reply to some questions from Lord John Russell , Mr . Wai ^ oxe made the following useful statement : — - " It was intended to . t « Jfo tlxc . Itejf isferaT-Oeneral ' s districts as the districts that would furnish men . On reference to the census of 1861 , it would be found that they different
could fix the quota of men to be supplied by the places more equitably by going to those districts than by going to the parishes . ( Hear , hear . ) With regard to tho question concerning the ballot , it was a necessary consequence that they should fallback upon it if they could not procure a sufficient number of mon , by voluntary enlistment , and it would also be necessary that substitutes should be allowed . ( Hear , hear . ) In regard to the next question of tho noblo lord , ho should lay before the House a calculation which ho held in his hand with regard to the expense . If 3 ? . a man were paid as bounty , the sum requu-edtor tno first 60 , 000 men would bo 160 , 000 * . 5 and the 30 , 000 men to be raised next year would cost 9 O , 00 OJ . Of course , " tho bounty was 4 ., the expenditure would be somewhat more . The pay and allowances to 00 , 000 men , with ofiicera , would bb for 21 days , 87 , 129 / . ; warching money formo » joining and roturn & g , 6250 Z . ; carriage o ? baggagei 60001 .,
clothing , at U . Us . a man , 93 , 663 * . J ^^^ K innkeepers , 15 , 000 * . ; making a total for 1862 of |> 7 ^ Tho 80 , 000 men proposed to be enrolled for lt *» wow entail an additional expense of 38 , 027 * . 10 * - «» tto ** days' training ; -vdth 3825 * . for marching money ; ^ . for innkeope ^ allowances ; clothing ( at II . 16 * . V *^' 5 S , B 50 l . ; making , with some allowances for ***™ % ff a total expenditure for the two 70 ( irB 6 f 91 i , Vb ^ , ^ ing tho cost of clothing provided in 1862 ( 93 , 60 * ^ total cost of 80 , 000 toon , for 1868 would be , 218 ^ i ., ^ again deducting the cost of clothing >* i l 0 5 0 3 7 ( B % Z * % & for cost of training for 1864 wou ^ d bo ^ l ^ SS * . ^^ Z flvo years ; ho Relieved , might be taken to" stoitt " " ^ For l 85 Ji ; 200 , 000 * . ' * for 185 § , 210 , 000 * . ; for 1854 , W" ^ for 1865 , 160 ^ 000 ? . ; for 1856 , 160 , 000 * . " Aftor M * ri ) WK hft < l decUoi-od an un-Eng lish g fcronco for a standing nvinv , Mr . CobdbN rose opt ) osod the measure from the " poaco at any ¦¦
point of view : ¦' • .. ' . f « under-The rrioro ho'hoard' ^ he moro h 6 Was afc ft loS 8 / ° ^ aoy stand why our forces wore to bo to ™*™* ' ™ thi > nty to . Evans had ghw * thorn the , wmU of »" JJ ^ country show that it would bo jmposeih ^ fo * aWJ ° * tout having to got a Wo invading army together without ou * . n ^ timolv notice of it / " if ; Lord ¦™« J ^ l 8 ? fflttirtif » questfou in a miUtary ^ V ^ y Atm ^ bU m « » J «^ w Aaughtor ) jbut ho contradicted tho fg ° ™™ concurred " kv % > Laoy Ev < vn « , and Lord , John ™»^ £ >* oUty * ^ w , on such a ^^ . ^^ MS'toll ^ i to defer to their opinions . Beeves , ho dul not jg ^^ y any real approhonsion waa tolt . vvo *» , v
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), April 3, 1852, page 2, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_03041852/page/2/
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