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1204 THE LEADER. (Saturday,
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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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Foreign Knlistment Bill. In The House Of...
here were brought back those materials and that -n-ealth vbich were necessary for carrying on the -war against is . The principal part of the profits derived from he existing commerce in the Black Sea was passng into 4 he hands of the Greeks , because the English nerchants , when they heard of the establishment of a blockade , were foolish enough to put confidence in the Government , and to believe that a blockade would really be established . No English house there had entered into any business speculation , or shipped any produce for our 6 ] hores ; but the Greeks , more astute , and looking ¦ wi th more impartial eyes at the Government that held the reins of power in this country , after a short time finding that no blockade really was established ,
disbelieved the Government , and began to enter again into trade , and up to the present "hour they had continued the ordinary shipments that English merchants had ceased . It had been well said by a French writer that a war on a great scale became a waT of budgets . All the signs of weakness had begun to be shown by Kussia ; the Emderor had found the same difficulty as that found by his fiist antagonist , Turkey—the difficulty of raising money . This had recently been shown by BL Leon Faucher , in a very damaging article published by him in the Revue des Deux Mondes ^ describing the real financial position of Russia , how weak her resources were , how much she would require in order to enable ber to carry on the war , how he * loans had all been
rejected , and how her finances could not hold out for more than one more campaign such as that of ' 54 . When we saw those signs of weakness it became our duty to press on that weak point—not to confine ourselves to the blockade of SeTiastopol ^ but . to take care that no shipments should be made at any Russian port . It was unfortunate that we had not taken possession of the straits leading anto the Sea of Azoff , for in May last they were defended only by a few invalids . Every part of the Jtussian munitions of war all came down the Don and the Volga , and were shipped by the Sea of Azoff to Sebastopol , which was only about 100 miles off . It would lave been easy the n to have cut off the Russian supplies ; but since that time they had fortified the de " pot at which they debarked their stores brought from the interior . The Government must be careful what part of Germany they got soldiers froni , for he had seen
thousands of wretches sent from the central parts of Germany as colonists who were an object of thorough contempt to the inhabitants of the countries they were sent into . The German nation three centuries ago had . a struggle with their naonarchs like the struggle of the people of England two centuries ago with Charles I . The result of that struggle , however , was different—in England , it -was the people who were victorious ; in Germany , it was the kings . Prior to that time the German people were animated by as great a spirit of liberty as ourselves ; but since that they had degenerated both physically and morally . And the fatal system of hiring mercenaries had done a great deal towards that degeneration . If men belonging to that unhappy race were brought before the Russians , they would hardly be worthy of being chased off the field by Russian bayonets . "
Mi . Phillips thought that the Executive could judge of the matter better than he could—he should , therefore , support the bill ., Mr . Alcook could not consider the bill the only alternative . He mentioned moral force as compared to physical force in tho army , and urged that the Caucasians would flight with any nation against Kussia . Admiral Walcott considered that the introduction of foreign soldiers would tarnish the honour of the country . Some utterly irrelevant remarks closed the debate for that day .
The debate on Thursday was resumed by Mr . Connolly-, who criticised the opposition favourably , and thought Lord John Russell and tho Secretary-at-War had made a pitiable exhibition . "When Government wore asked for explanations , the Secretary-at-War or Lord Palmerston mystified them with details . He objected , in very violent language , to tho introduction of Gorman
merce-. Mr . Coulter , said tho only question wns whether tins measure , which he had rather not adopt , was necessary or not , Tho Government assorted it was , the Opposition that it whs not . Which had the best means of information ? Tho Government , although thoy might have reasons for withholding thorn . Tho Commancler-in-Chiof and Lord llnglan deemed this measure requisite , and he thought ho should incur a most fearful responsibility if ho rcfuBed to tho Government a moans of carrying on the war .
Mr . Nhwdiogatb obscrvod that , of all troops in the world , mercenaries were tlio most liable to corruption , and Kussia . was prodigal of treasure- for such a purpose . If an emergency existed , tho Government might in loss than four month h transport to tlio Crimea a body of disciplined troops from India , with no . Russian sympathies . Ho opposed the inoa-0 Uro because it was iutllo in itaolf , ami calculated to prevent tho country from putting forth Its energies "While an obvious resource was neglected .
Me ! FRESH > -rKLD suggested whether , as the argument had been fairly worn out , and the principle of the bill had been affirmed by the House , the question of going into committee should not be at once brought to issue . Mr . Disbaeli justified the conduct of his party in the course they had previously followed , but suggested that the bill should then be allowed to pass the stage of committee , all further opposition being reserved for the third reading . After a few words from Lord J . RussELt , Mr . Packb , and Mr . Bright , the House went into committee , with the understanding that there -was to be a debate on general policy last ( Friday ) evening .
Mr . L . Kin & then proposed that the old system of half-pay for the foreign troops should not be continued . They should be paid well at once . Mr . Sidne y Herbert explained that half-pay was not intended , but he thought pensions for wounds desirable . Foreign troops would have no claim on the Patriotic Fund . Mr . Henley inquired about the wives and children of the enlisted , to which Mr . Herbert replied that , as for as possible , single men would be chosen . The wives of married men . might precede them to the colonies . Mr . Henxev said , as sure as fate the country would be overrun with their wives and children calling for maintenance .
In answer to Captain Knox , Mr . Herbert stated that in the last war the officers were principally "Germans . Mr . Ox way suggested that many of the half-pay officers should he employed , to which Mr . Herbert replied that nearly all who were fit were already in active service . With respect to quartering the men . that must be left to the Executive . After a great deal of discussion , daring which Lord John Russell , assured several members that there was no intention of billeting the troops , all clauses were agreed to , and the bill was " reported , "
MILITIA BILL . On Monday the Militia Bill went through committee in the House of Commons . On Tuesday it was read a third time and passed , and carried into the House of Lords , when the Duke of Newcastle , in moving the first resolution , suggested that it should be read a second time on Thursday , and passed thi'ough committee the same evening . The second reading was moved on Thursday by the Duke of Newcastle , who detailed briefly the
merits of the bill . It was highly important that , in thft spring , Government should be able to send to the Crimea those regiments now on Mediterranean service . The object of the bill was to supply their place by militia , indeed , they had already anticipated the measure , by drawing some of the troops from Malta . The enlistment . would be perfectly voluntary on the t > art of every individual officer and private . If they volunteered to go to Malta , Government would have no power to transfer them to the Ionian Islands .
" The noble lord opposite ( the Earl of Ellenborough ) raised an objection which was perfectly tenable , Although its intention never was such as ho described . He said that Government would be empowered by this bill to send all tho militia abroad , and might substitute other troops for them here . Undoubtedly this bill was first drawn in such a shape that all the militia might be sent abroad , although in tho working of it , necessarily , a certain proportion must have been left in this country , as was the caao with regiments of the lino . But , as the bill now came to their Lordships' House , not more than
three-fourths of any militia regiment could be accepted for foreign service , and one-fourth must remain to form a de * p 6 t in this country . Another alteration , a manifest improvement , had also boon mado in this bill . It was not right , perhaps , considering the possible duration of this war , that militia regiments should bo enabled , at once , to volunteer for foreign sorvice during tho continuance of tho war ; and there was a limit of fivo years , therefore , to bo placed on the term of service , for which they might volunteer to go abroad , that being tho limit for which militia regiments wore originally enlisted . "
The Earl of Derby objected to this bill , for it would rather impede the object intended , and would have tho inconvenience of totally changing tho character of tho militia . " That foyco wn » wionigmcd strictly to maintain domestic tranquillity and proaorvo tho country from invneion , and onablo uh to diMponno with the Hcrvicos within tho kingdom of tho small ( standing nrmy wo ponsoNsotl . Ho thought our jealousy of tho standing army had boon
of Into yoarn oaxrwd to mi unreasonable extent , and reductions , urged by a falso economy , hud loci \\» now into dilfiGultloH . Tho gurrisoDH of Malta and tlio Ionian lalandn had boon reduced by tho oHteers in command Micro , on thoir own roHponuibilily and to their ^ ratt credit , Bonding troopB to tho Crimea . II « npprovod of tho proposition , whioh vamo , ho Buspccted , rather from tho old suporaodod Horau Gunrdw than from tho modoru War Dopartmont , to form additional battallonu in every roghnont , and place tho additional battttllojxa in the
Mediterranean . It would be infinitel y better to feed the army thence than to send the militia to the Mediterranean . And if the militia went out there , how could the army be recruited from the militia ?" Instead of sending the militia out of the country the men should be induced to enter the line . ' " It was said that this would be a purely voluntary service ; and no doubt it was so in a great degree although it was scarcely consistent with the voluntary principle that every militia regiment should bfe required , as the noble duke said , to send 25 per cent , of its men to the army . The noble duke had laid much stress on the voluntary character of this proceeding , and had said that there were more offers from the militia than could be accepted to volunteer for foreign service . "
No doubt this was the case , but they had "been entrapped step by step , which would prevent the militia supply being kept up . " A noble friend of his suggested the question what was to become of a man of small means in the militia who had insured his life , and who would forfeit his insurance by going abroad , and to ask him to do that was pushing the voluntary principle to its utmost extent . He was reminded that by the proposition of his right honourable friend in the other House the number of militia going abroad was limited to three-fourths of each regiment , and there was much amusement caused when the question was asked when three-fourths went out how
many would remain , and it was answered ' one-fourth . ' Now , the fact was that the provision of the bill was that only three-fourths of the ' establishment' of each regiment should go . The numerical strength of the establishment of such legiment was 1200 men ; but if 900 only were enlisted , and you co \ Ud by the provisions of the bill send three-fourths of the establishment , that would be three-fourths of 1200 , and , there being only 900 enlisted , none would be left at home . If that were so , the Government had acceded to the amendment in letter only and not in spirit , the intention being that there should always be one-fourth of the actual strength of a regiment left at home . "
The noble lord then adverted to the case of the medical officers , most of whom had local connexions whkih they would forfeit by going abroad for five years , and who would receive no half-pay on their return . Earl Grey repeated generally Lord Derb y's arguments . He , however , would not oppose the bill . Lord Den 3 ian and the Duke of Aegvll defended the measure- . Lord ExLENBOROtJG h then repeated the former objections . He urged strongly that a larger body of militia was to be employed than would be required , and contrasted it with tho provisions of the bill of 1813 . He thought eleven regiments for Mediterranean services all that were required . He was willing to grant that number , and would move an amendment to that effect in committee .
The Earl of G lung all expressed a wish that compensation should be made for wounds as it was in the line . The bill was then read a second time , and the House went into committee . Lord Ellisnborough then proposed his amendment , which was subsequently negatived , and all the clauses agreed to . The bill was then committed , and ordered to be read a third time on . Friday ( yesterday ) .
AI > BTIKISTIlATrON OF THE WAR . Previously to the second reading of the Militia Bill , and during the debate , some discussion ensued on a question from the Marquis of . Samsijuiiy relative to tho inefficiency of tho blockades in the Black and "White Seas . Tho Duke of Newcastle objected to explain without regular notice . Lord Dehby said , as the admirals had been thankod , he supposed they were not in fault , but had merely had no orders . The Earl of Haiuvwickk inquired into the particulars of tlio exchange of tho frigato Thetis for two gun-boats from the Prussian Government . He chatin
racterised tho exchange as almost criminal , Thetis being worth 40 , 000 / . or 50 , 000 / ., ami the gunboats worth only dOOOl . each . Tho Kurl of Ci . amsNJ > ON jocularly replied that Prussia proposed to exchange- thoir boats for what they called " donkeys "—but her Majesty ' s Ministers hurt no donkeys thoy-wished to get rid of , and tliey therefore-, made the arrangoniont complained oi ' . lhc gunboats were much wanted by Govornnicut last June , but since then thoy had endeavoured to get oil thoir bargain , to which , however , Prussia hold them . Ho contended that the exchange- was by no inciino n loss on our aide , and tho Earl of Hurchvicke wns quite mistaken in Ins estimates .
The Karl of Hakpwiokk then wished to know who wore tho responsible officers at Kalokhtvn , u » l 1 how it happened that , according to tho accounts of h correspondent of tho Times , there was nobody to tau « tho least euro of such a vessel as the Prince , which wts of inimunso value . After commenting on the wttiit <« knowledge of tho captain of tho l ' rlnce , lio wui-
1204 The Leader. (Saturday,
1204 THE LEADER . ( Saturday ,
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 23, 1854, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_23121854/page/4/
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