On this page
-
Text (2)
-
IfeBCSSBEBiaR 16, 1854.] TMTj LEA D IB I...
-
-In the House of'Xorda on Thursday, the ...
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.
-
-
Transcript
-
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.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
On .Wednesday, Vaftertho: Usual Formalit...
explanations would be impolitic , and would be complained of . as : they hadrtbeen before . ) He-then at some length defended the Baltic fleet , which he thought not . too , strong , and explained the number of troops sent out : " / The honourable gentleman referring to the Crimea had said , ' What , brought you to suppose , when you considered the great masses of men that are necessary to ccntiiietfche invasion' of a powerful country , that Russia could'fee dimply invaded byan army of ' 5 ^ , 000 V Bat ¦ w-boever-supposeiTthat Russia could be invaded by an army of 50 , 000-men ? The first landing on -Russian terr ^ toryiiaay'have been a landing of 5-0 , 0 d 0 men ; and I find'the'hon . gentleman includes that in : his-category that-nothing has been 'done . The" hon . gentleman thinks the ^ landing « f ¦ 50- , 060 men in the Crimea , the horses of cavalry-and artillery , and of heavy guns to carry on
the siege , was doing nothing . But the hon . member is wxojrg if he supposes that 50 , 000 men represented the number that could have ¦ been carried o ~ ver from Varna tcfchefOrimea , though a large operation that reflected the highest credit on the military and naval commanders . The hon . gentleman entirely forgets that even at that moment theforce-that was sent- 'to * the East by England and France did not fall short of 80 ^ 000 men . And howdo matters stand no-w ? My tight hon . friend acquainted the House last night that the British force sent to the East'is mow close upon 5 £ > , OO 0 men . I ' cannot give the same formal and official return up to the latest moment o & the . French , force , but I apprehend that I am fully justified ,, from the information in our possession , in stating * hat .. thelPrench force despatched to the East up to the present moment is , little short of tOO , 000 men—certainly notiiess than from 90 , 000 to 95 , 000 . "
JRespecting the Austrian-alliance , - "iThe treaty has not < yei been ratified , and until the ratifications . « f ; the treaty ^ a re ex changed , it would be a ^ ep & rture * both : from uniform practice and from obvious prudence if . the Government were to lay that treaty upon the : table ; * ait , x ) f course , it will be laid oipon the table the first moment that it is in the power of the Government to make it known to Parliament . It is open to ibe-right honourable baronet , after having voted for the present address , to express his disapprobation df it in any-manner'he pleases , and if he think fit—though I do not anticipate it—to move a vote of censure on the Government for having advised her Majesty to negotiate
-such a treaty . The address merely states , ' That we ¦ h ave heard with satisfaction that , with tlie Emperor of the French , your Majesty has concluded a treaty of alliance with the Emperor of Austria , from which your ¦ Mlijespy anticipates important advantages to the common ¦^ s anse ; ' We pronounce no opinion upon , the question whether the treaty promises to be greatly advantageous to- the common cause , but merely say we learn with satisfaction that her MAjesty enflertains such an expectation . -He'hoped that-nobody would say nothing : had been'done . v Let them remember that two battles had 'fapen won , and that Constantinople was no longer in ¦ danger . "
* Mr . Whiteside complained of unnecessary publicity of intentions . Sebastopol was not taken because , it could not be . in vested . . He complained of the want of cavalry : ¦ - < l I ^ e would oall attention to a passage lie had lately read tin the history of the partition of Poland . The historian , described Russia and Prussia as being about to divide the spoils , when , at that r moment , Austria interposed and obtained possession of all she wanted without striking ^! blow -or . . apettding a florin , and it was not unlikelythat she might do the same tiling again : " After some similar remarks from Sir J . Tr . ou . ope , the ; house adjourned .
Ifebcssbebiar 16, 1854.] Tmtj Lea D Ib I...
IfeBCSSBEBiaR 16 , 1854 . ] TMTj LEA D IB It . jLjg 3
-In The House Of'xorda On Thursday, The ...
-In the House of'Xorda on Thursday , the Duke of Biohmosjd presented a petition from the borough of "WakefieM , -urging the Government to use every effort to bring the war to a speedy and successful termination . The -noble Duke also seized the opportunity ; to recommend . the Government to issue some iwark of distinction to - the troops .. engagod in thcCrkaoa .
FORBIaif BNUSTMJHSNT . .. TheiDako of Nmwca ^ t ^ , in proposing fcheaecoml reifding of thCvBillfor the . Enlistment of . Poroigners , Ufc . iheJSritiah Army , remarked that the , plan , hud on ifcrmer ocoasions been . adapted , and with success . *' , "Kour Jordah t ips / Are ^ probiibly . awaro tho-t . until :, tlio y-oanli 8 » 7 , oxtiopt . under the . provisions of . a . special Act of JRwJJauncut ,. it . was . nulawful ta Wist foi'ftign -soldiers invE ^ lieh rogimonts . Wo do not purposo to . violate that Jaw on tho . preswt . ocaasipn . liy thonct of 18 U 7 , perwwabn was given ., t <> tho . lmritoil extent of udmUtiug < W > rfareigtf , er to . evory . fifty men in onohrrogiwiout ; ami « 0 .. tko > J » w , 'n © w . etun . < ifl , and bo wo purposo to leave it . WJojfjxurpoao that jmy . foreign troops whioh ishull bo laiafld ialuill , bo fonnod hi appiuatu battalions upart t ' xaui 4 ho kQu « on ' a rqgimonts . Your . lonlaUipa may perhaps 4 eairoi , to . know , from what countries wo expect , to raiso < rtn > fo * c « 3 . , j do not . think it doaicablo under tho cir-« OB 0 fltnn (! ea ~ , no . communication Juivlng boon nuulo to fow % i ^ govemmont « -t . t <> , M \ ontlon whouou those troops are U « Ojy < . to < o » inp , JUut your , lordflhh > 8 will bu uwaro of
certain districts of Germany and Switzerland and other countries wtiieh ate jnost likely to furnish troops to enlist in . the Queen ' s service . . In the late war the greatest , body of foreign troops who served u . s in those campaigns was the German Legion , and from 1807 to the fcattle of Waterloo , in 1815 , there was scarcely a siege or battle of any importance in which it did not take part . We have thought that in the present aspect of affaire it is desirable to take a considerable number , aud we purpose to limit the number to be drilled -and trained in this country at any one time to 15 , 000 men . "
Tlie Earl of Edlenboroogh . — When the . noble duke first announced the intention of the Government to introduce a bill of this- nature on the first day of the -session , * my impression , was that the Government intended to raise a complete force , and that all they wanted was the authority of Parliament to retain in this country the depots of two or three corps—an object for which the intervention of Parliament would be absolutely necessary . I confess I felt the greatest possible repugnance to even the qualified admission of two or three depots of foreign
troops to be permitted to remain in this country ; but when . I read tins bill this morning I was completely astonished ; for , taking this kill in connexion with the bill : brought into the otheri House to enable , her Majesty to accept the services of certain regirinents of militia for : the declared purpose of garrisoning fortresses in the Mediterranean , the practical object of this measure is . to substitute in this country . 15 , 000 foreigners -for . io , OQO ,-ESritish militianwn-v ? bx > are : to . be »« niployedia 5 > roacl . '' After arguing that the ¦ circumstances of the . last war were . very differeat from those of Uie present , lie said :
" ; It 'is understood that the majority—^ the iaftuential majority of the Government now in office represent ¦ the feelings , the principles , and the -opinions of Sir it . Peel —that the inaiitle of Elijah has descended upon ray noble friend riow at ¦ the head of the Government . ( Laughter . ' ) I -will not pretend that xny opportunities of intercourse vrith Sir B " . Peel were at all to be tornpared with those of my noble friend ; but I think I may assume that I am tolerably well acquainted with the character of'his mind and with the general view which he took of public affairs , and I say with the most perfect confidence that to this measure he never would have assented . lam . satisfied of that , because I know that , baying been fox ^ great length of time Home Secretary
in this country , he would primarily have looked to the extreme inconvenience , the extreme difficulty , the extreme danger which would have arisen had 15 , 000 foreign troops , or any portion of them , been © n any occasion called oiit—as they must have been , r— for tlie purposeof preserving the peace among- the people of England . ¦ M y lords , we ha-ve to prevent riots at elections ; we cannot prevent disputes between masters and workmen , but thejfrequently render necessary the intervention of troops . In every , case tliat would happen , and depend upon it , if such an unfortunate occasion should arise , the result would be that th . o Government would be called upon and compelled ; to assent to the extradition of the foreign troops from this country . One of the advantages of the
war to which I liave always looked forward as compensating in a groat moasure for many of the sufferings which the people must endure daring its continuance was this—that when peace returns we mig-ht havo distributed through the country , as officers and as retired soldiers , a . vast immber of persons accustomed to war —men of military habits , who , during any lengthened periods of peace , would constitute the great source of the security of the country We have been told—and I thinlc a somewhat exaggerated view has been takcu of the subject—that there has been a very groat improvement in the moral condition and
character of her Majesty ' s troops . Now , my lords , considering tliat the troop , s havo been acting in a desert ¦ where there is no population , where there is no property belonging to anybody , and that the only persoiiH with whom they can by possibility have , communicated were their own comrades , I do not think , up to this moment , that any very material argument can bo drawn from that tirouinstance . . But 1 will assume all . the advantages which . are understood to bo : derivod 'from the good conduct of the troops , and < I afilc , > wliat eocurity have you for tho conduct of German recruits ? : Does the recruiting sergeant look to : aiiy . moral . qualifications ? No ; he only regards tho physical qualifications of his recruita . "
ThonoWe lord concluded by urging whi \ t he had -urged nin « months ago , that a numerous-polioo force should bo established as tho best basis of a valuable army , and which ( suggestion had been disregarded . ThoJDukoof KroiiMONO paid u high tribute to tho behaviour of tho German Legion ( luring tho lust war . Tho Eitrl of Damnv thought this waa a measure dangerous both in principlo and policy . " Tho no > l > lo duko who lutroducod it had pjisaod liglitly ovor tho constitutional objoutiona to such a flchonic , and seomod to have forgotten that , on formor ocaiuiioiii ) when nuoh foroign forces voro omployod , Knglnnd and Hanover wore united under one novoroigu , and that llioso llu . novorians wuxa not foroignorH . It vrnn very ( Icmiroblu that tho llouso should bu informed whence thotio niorcouarici vrvxo to oonio . Wcro they to bo l'olos , far in
that case the force employed would have , . a . common interest in the struggle ? He thought , : tap , i . thatASUch a . propoeition-Avas : a >\ eiy humiliating , confassion tijor iJEn-. gland ; to , make , and that it ; was , tii . e greatest . encouragement that .-could' beugiveaii to , the Emperor ofiBaiBsia . jffe could not help coqpling this scheme-with , the . bill for sending-, the militia out of . the country , though that . measuce-was . not yet before the House . . Jf . foreigners were , cequired , ' let ' . tkem be , enli 6 ted . for . foreign -service , hut- do not say . that . we -were forced , at tbis-iearlyystage of the war , to employ , them at . home . A . British Minister should have blushed to , make - * uch ; a , |> c © position , and , he trusted that the . Housewo . uid xefuse to ^ aaactioa the bill . Tlxe . Earl of . A ) MS 3 iDB £ N . tlxeniros ^ . andsaJd :
" . My Lords , this bill is one of the first aaeasuras ; which have been introduced by her . Majesty ' s Government this session as an evidence of their intention' to carry , on . the war with determination and vigour , but the manner in which it has been received is , I must say , not very consistent with those exhortations we have heard 'front noble lords opposite to follow such a course . The noble earl who has spoken last , in his representations of . this bill , has given a description of the measure in which I think he will hardly feel Justified . He talks of this being a measure in which we -ave—retteeed to keep our own people in order , and he talks of the militia , being "dragged" into foreign service . The object of this bill is to introduce into this country for a limited time , for
the purpose of drill , and for drill only , a sufficient number of foreign troops , and , as soon as they are in a condition to be einploye * d in our service , then they are to be sent to the seat of war . That surely is not the same thing as maintaining a foreign garrison in this country . The presence of these troops here is merely for a temporary purpose : they will be ¦ limited as regaids number , and they Trill be limited also as regards-time , until they are fit to be employed upon foreign service'The whole representations of noble lords opposite appears to me to rest on a fallacy . They suppose that this is a force to be raised and employed in lieu of the militia . Now , that is not the case . Undoubtedly , --we take the voluntary offers of sucli a militia force as may-be
necessary to liberate our garrisons , which are indispensable ( however reduced they may be , and very much reduced they are ) for the occupation of our important possessions in the Mediterranean . For these garrisons we accept the voluntary offers , and only the voluntary offers ( they will not be " dragged" into the service , as the noble earl opposite said ) of suck militia regiments as it may be thought fit to employ for . this . garrison duty ; and . by releasing the regular regiments . hitherto stationed there , we thereby . obtain at once a valuable reinforcement of veteran troops for active service hi the liast , not ; at all interfering with the future recruiting of the army from the sources of the militia force at < 'home . This measure is in fact . requisite for the . purpose of
emabhng . the Government to make what we consider to be a necessary addition to our effective force . You may have volunteers from , tlie nulitiu in a greater or smaller degree , but . all this will require time , and such volunteers caunot be . made available in the same manner and to tho same extent , as troops raised upon , tho principle of this bill . . 1 cannot at all admit tho accucaoy of the description which refers to- tlie employment of this farce at home , where it will not ha employed at , all , and still less , at this time of day , ' can I regard it as subject to a serious constitutional objection , that we should raise such a force under the circumstances wliicli I havo
described , having them in ibis country merely for the purpose of being drilled before they are sent out upon foreign service . 1 Buy I cannot think that there is any . good ground tor the opposition which the noble earl opposite has so unexpectedly raised to thia , the first lnooaure designed by her Majesty ' s Government in order to carry on tho war with vigour . Thin measure , intended to nc ~ complish such an object , has , I . must say , bean but illreceived by . noble lords opposite , although they do profess auch extreme anxiety and impatience that her Majesty'a Government should exert every moans fur vigorously prosecuting the Avar . "
'lhc Earl of 1 £ lusn ; uor , ougu reminded the Earl of Aberdeen that this introduction of foreign mercenaries was what had rendered tho Earl of Chatham ' s administration odious to tho nation . Tho Earl of Malmesruiiy , while disclaiming any wish to throw impediments in tho way of tlie Government , thought that the Goveriimont wcro bound to show inoro respect for the opinions expressed by those who felt bound to differ irom them . Ho certainly was rather surprised that such a nionsuro should have been introduced so early in tho war . After somo observations from tho Duke of Ahoyix , who defunuou the bill because tho war might bu called a European rntlier than a national struggle ,
Lord Qkky said tluit though lie regarded tho raising of such a foreig-u forco with jealousy , , it appeared desirable to augment the military foroo of the country as speedily us possible , and for that reason he thought tho nioasuro might bo justified . In saying this he reserved to himself tho full , right to express his opinions freely on this as well ns tho Militia Hill . After soino observations from the Earl of Glencuix .
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 16, 1854, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_16121854/page/7/
-