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Untitled Article
^ lo didwto & ** * fc « * uow < regrett ^ that they dMso . ^ T kh «** naawd , tot fee- 'believed that scarcely a man l ^^ g ^^ P ^ iflionS - When lie bill i « S ^ Sw « d--S Lvin « Government creditor tf < , f ^ « as said they were particularly possessed of—. ™ S £ S £% p *<** y *** political foreaig ht- ^ it was ^^^ nRffll that they had the measure cut and dried for SSe . ope » tioii- Sfofcs ? . ; and even up tathis mo-^^ it ^ vat fciwwn Ifcow it was to be cara-ied out , and \!^ ri , « t AxrtHMPthose persons whose services were ac'Sd ^ wSoHe ^ laced . The , result was , that France Sbeen-eweaginginen , © ermaoi ^ had been placteg her ta
Irmics on ¦ warfooting—if * ot mobilising em , . placing iw in what was called a state of readiness for war—Kv wiieh all the necessary horses and -ambulances nrere prepared , so that-the asmies could take the field in 14 daysThus , than , , 1 *** country would be unable to net men at all , or , if they did get men , they would be ^ scum © f Europe . With respect to German cavalry , < tm or three months ago . a ( foreign geirticman suggested -to the Government where the best-horses could be obtained butnot a step had been taken , in consequence of tb * t inJbrjnatkra , and sow the difficulty of obtaining horses wa * greatly increased . The House was now asked to permit tbe Government to raise 14 , 000 men abroad , won which point he hoped some information would be given . Then , with respect to Asia Minor , they had
feeen told that large contracts would be made in that G outtfcry , but the very gentleman whom he ( Mr . iayard ) had mentkwed as best calculated to enter upon those contracts had written to him to say that unoaths ago he offered contracts to the Government , which they refused . He then went to the French Government , who accepted them , and that gentleman was -bow buying up all the cattle that could be got fox trana--port and consumption on account of the French Govern--TOieHt , sty that now it ¦ would be very difficult for this : eoaHtryt » obtain those supplies in that quarter . Last year he ( Mr . Layard ) suggested to the Government to Jtakemeasuresforthe employment of Turks , who were admirable material for soldiers , although their present
officers were bad . - Those unfortunate men who had been . employed with our army had been thrown into the . Crimea without provision for their wants—they had been treated by our soldiers and officers ma manner which he regretted exceedingly , and which was unworthy © JL English soldiers and English officers- " "they had heen driven almost to death by the treatment they had experienced in the" Crimea—they were regarded only as beasts of burden—were insulted—even struck by our men . Was this statement true , or was it not ? If true , was that conduct sanctioned by the authorities out there , or by those at home—and had any steps been taken to put ari end to such a system ? He was now told that 20 , 000 Turks had been engaged to serve under ¦
British orders , but he feared that measure would be too late . Such had been the past conduct—the " antecedents , " as they were called—of those who composed the present Cabinet ; and it was proper to inquire upon what grounds the House could be called upon to declare its confidence in the new Administration . Supposing Mr . Roebuck ' s motion to be carried out , the committee would be sitting in judgment on the present Admistration . It would again become a want of confidence motion ! The nliw Gove ^ the bottom of any existing evil , but merely sent out a commission of inquiry . We have sufficient facts before us to judge without commissions . At the head of the commissariat there was a gentleman seventy years of
age ; and that commissariat was in such a condition that our inea had been starved . Were not these facts sufficient to warrant the recal of the head of the department without further inquiry ? What had been done with regard to . the lnedioal staff ? Nearly three months ago a commission was sent out to inquire into its state ,-yet the same state of things existed . Dr . Home was at its head , and Mr . Lawson , instead of being removed from his post , had been sent to Scutari , where he was put at the head of the hospital , and was thence removed to Rhodes . Nothing had been gained by that . Ho believed that no man possessed greater or inoro eminent abilities -thtm Sir J . McNeill , who was going on this duty , because he believed it to bo a sacred duty
¦ to do so j ibutOhe was no longer a young man , and his health wa 9 ' so weak that he had hitherto been obliged to decline those high appointments to which his abilities entitled him . It was physically impossible that ho should go into every'hole and corner of the oamp , and expose all existing evils . The result would bo that , Wko every other man employed either by the late or tho present Administration—for they wore the same ( pfaerri ) —ho would lose a well-earned reputation ; he would nqt be able to cure the evils complained of , and the Government would placo upon hia hoad the blame-which
ought to fall tipon others . What need was thero for n commission tipon the transport service ? At the head ef that service was a Captain Christie , un old gentleman more than seventy years of ago , who could not leave his Bhlp after dark without endangering his life from catarrh , « ndwho for five or six days had been unable to land at Balttklavn . Was then the state of that harbour to be won . dored at ? Were they going to nend out a commission to Inquire how old Captain Christie was , and what was the Btato of Balaklava harbour ? , , There wa « not a boy in the streets who could not tell that . What -was wanted wa » not commissions , but men . The country was nick
of comaussiojiq . He know it had been said that men could not be found ; 'but to say so v « 9 . an . insult to . the common sense of the couotry . If the fcesb of a -man was that he should be above seventy years of age , -should be a member of Brookes's , and should always vote for Government ,, it might be difficult to find such a one who could carry on business properly , but rdo not let him be told that in a country possessing such material resources as ours , and in which such great works were undertaken as he saw accomplished in England , they could not find a man to set in order Balaklava harbour , or to put the army into a state of efficiency . ( Cheers . ") " If you want the opinion of the army as to who ought to command them , why not let them go to the ballot-box ? If
you went to the Artillery , 'for example , and said , ' Koiv , every one write upon a piece of paper the name of the man whom he thinks most competent to command the Artillery , and put it into the ballot-box ; ' there would be but one name come out . I would stake my existence upon it . Why , then , send commissions to inquire whether this man is capable or- that man ? If you want to act vigorously don't send a man an implied censure , and then when yon are asked whether he is recalled , say that he is not recalled , when you have insulted him , and know that he must comehome . Is that worthy of the country?—Is it manly?—Is itEnglish?—No . If a man is incompetent , recal frim ; but if he is not inc « mpetent , have the manliness to say-that he is not so , and stand
by him . if you will do that , I undertake to say that the country will support you to a man . Well , such are the propositions contained in . the noble lord ' s , speech . I have perused it very carefully , and , with the exception of allowing Lord Raglan 1 o be a kind of bead scavenger , there Appears to be nothing else proposed by the Government . Yes , there is one other thing . You are sending out Geaeral Simpson to look after the staff and to waJse latterattoas and reports . That is a great mistake . You cannot go on with juich a -system , of divided authority . General Simpson may be the ablest miEtaFy man that-ever lived—he may be the man of all others whom you should have chosen for an appointment of this kind under other circumstances ; but , I ask , is . it fair to it to
at last , all agree to blame the House of CowimotuB . 'WvU , letois investigate the accuracy of that charge . If itifce the Heuse of Commons that is toJbLame , letrtb& pee £ le of this country force the House of Coaaomoos-toido its duty . I , for one , do not believe that the bbuneis to . be attributed to the House of Commons . I see % jr the estimates that this House has year after year voted sums of money almost sufficient to support the axmi 6 » jof Fiance , or of the other , great Continental Powers . Itis not , then , the fault of the House of Commons , bnt it as to the maladministration of the . money which has been voted that the real blame is to be attributed . I do not believe that the most urgent reformer has ever-objected to . a vote taken for a good purpose- —no-man . objects 'to
such votes ; but what is objected to is the system of favouritism and the generaj system at the Horse Guards . I will teH the House where the mischief lies . There is , in the first place , a general fear of taking any responsibility ; everyone is afraid to act with vigour , and , with the permission of the House , I will mention two anecdotes to illustrate my position : —One day , as I was going up - to the lines of the acmy , in company with a gallant officer , we met a number of carts containing men suffering from disease and wounds , some of whom I believe died on the passage down , and with that eonvoy there "were only two or three guards ,- ^ p riiyate 6 . of -lie line . I was astounded that there was so medical man in charge of so many wounded and sick men , aad I went to Lord Raglan , and . he was brought to see that convoy . Lord Raglan expressed that indignation which every honourable and humane man . -must feel . at such -a
oircumetamee , and he instituted an inquiry . It was found that the medical men and officers'had neglected their duty , and Lord Raglan published a general order ,-in which he stated that the- conduct o £ certain persons had been disgraceful , but he added that fee would space their . feelings and not mention their mames . ( Loud cries of ' Hear , hear . ' ) I can honour and reverence those feelings in a man , but I cannot honour or reverence such feelings in a general . ( Cheers . ") What was the result ? I will tell the House . Two days afterwards , some marines having been landed from the fleet and put under the command of the colonel who had the charge of JBalakl&va , they were employed upon the same duty as the troops of the line . At night , while on guard , one of the men was seized with cholera , and -was taken to ' the hospital , hut the medicaL man refused to leave his bed , saying that the man could not be admitted , as he was a marine . He was then taken to another
LordUagtan- ^ -is fair the public service—to send out a man in the position of General Simpson ? If you had in this country a regularly organised staff of which General Simpson was the : haad- > -h » ving risen through all the grade&of that staff , as the headof the staff in France rises— -that would be another thing . But you make a new appointment ; and you send out a man to look into the conduct of Lord Raglan ' s staff , the members of which he has appointed himself . Now , has Lord Raglan ^ assented to this , or has he not ? Does he admit that his staff is incompetent , or does he not ? If he does admit that it is incompetent , why not send home the officers who compose it ? But if he does not , how are you insulting hi ™ by sending out men to inquire into it ? '
hospital , where he was also refused admittance , and the poor fellow was left upon the , shore t < y die . That circumstance came to th e notice of Lord Raglan ^ and what course did he adopt ? He condemned the medical officers , but he said that he had recently issued a general order reflecting on the conduct of medical officers ^ anoTif he so 6 oon issued another confidence in the medical staff-would dbe destroyed . I do not want to say a single word against Lord Raglan . I believe Lord Raglan to be an amiable and good man , but what I say is , that it is not for amiable and good men alone to command armies . Thfi men * o command armies should be men of iron will
( Loud cries of Hear , heaa \ ' ') Do not send out all these commissions . If you must have inquiry , send out a man in whom you have confidence ; and if he will not dine every day with the officers of the staff , but will do as I did , and go about and mix with "the regimental officers , I will warrant that he will learn in a very few days where the real evil exists . So much for the actual measures suggested by the Government , for—I—see no -other-definite proposals—beyond -these . There is nothing said about the Horse Guards . I thought everybody admitted that that was a great sink of iniquity ; yet there is nothing about its reform in any proposition of the Government . I don't want to look at mere facts alone , but I want to look at principles—not that I wish the Government to say that in a few hours
and unflinching . determination—men ready to sacrifice relations , private friends—even all they hold dear in the world , if it be necessary to . do so , in order to perform what is an imperative _ duty . _ C ^® ? r * : ) - - Send out a man of vigour who will cut at the root of the evU , who will spare no one or nothing if he deems it to be bis duty to cut it down . If you do so at once , there may be a chance of saving the survivors of your gallant army ; if you do not , they will all perish , and on your heads be their blood . ( Cheers . ) I am told by the right hon . gentleman the Secretary for the Colonies that the British army is not accustomed to great campaigns , and that wo cannot , therefore , do that which can be done by the French . Well , sir , that is not true . I do not mean to
they will carry out those principles , but that they will be prepared in a general sense to act upon them . Depend upon it the country will not bo satisfied with -the appointment of 60 sergeants . They are no longer in a humour to take as a concession and a privilege that which they demand as a principle and a right . Unless a radical change is effected in the Horse Guards , depend upon it that the country will not be satisfied with anything that you may do . The Government themselves admit that tho state of the army is desperate . I saw with considerable surprise a passage in a speech made recently by the right hon . gentleman who till lately held the office of Secretary at War , and which is so remarkable that , perhaps , the House will permit mo to read it . The right hon . gentleman says : —
impugn the right hon . gentleman ' s veracity ; tout what I mean is , that the assumption is false . Are not our campaigns and battles in India greater than those of tho French in Algiers ? Has thero boen a battle in Algiers greater than that of Sobraon , or a campaign greater than that oil Afghanistan ? A » e the services of men engaged in such campaigns to be surpassed by those © f men who have spent their lives in idleness ? Through a mean and paltry jealousy you do not employ men who have saved your colonies , who have maintained the dignity of the country , and who have safely extricated armies from situations of great peril . And why not ? Beoaueo th « y are not in the service of the Crown , but take pay from tho East India Company . And for that reason you pass by men who have led their troops to glory , who have 70
' We have had tliat war to wage by the instrumentality of an army which is ono of tho finest and noblout that ever left the shores of England—which nover met the enomy except to conquer , but which , I regret to say , has mot with an enemy more fell and more dangerous to it than the actual foe , —that is , disease . ' Is there nothing el « e which it has met with ; is there -no neglect—no mal-administration which it has encotintered ? Ho then goes on to insinuate that it is to the
seen groat campaigns , ond you send out m « n of years of age , who have never seen war , and who scarcely know how to put a regiment through its evolutions , but who happen to possess Parliamentary influence or family connexion . " Ho was told the Times excited all this outcry . What a notion ! Was there any magic , how , in Printing-house-square ? Ho dared say , in like manner , CharlOH I . " used to accuse the Puritan preachera of exoitfntf the Revolution , whereas it was the spirit of tho Revolution that miido the preachers influential j nnd it wan not Voltaire and Roueseau who made the Revolution in Franco , but tho feeling that aftorwarda effected it was that which made Voltaire a » d tEousseau . So it was the public indignation of EngJandwhioh made tlio Tivtes M-luit it now was , * hefeeling which roUtgovernjmonthftd produced in the ooiwrtry . ( £ *«*• . ) Ifininirters
House of Commons refusing to support an army , equal to the emergencies of tho public service that this state of things is to bo attributed . Now it is very easy to throw tho blamo from one person to another . The general in command says that ho Jh crippled by tho authorities at home . Tho Government at homo say that ho does not pursuo the instructions which are sowt out to him . He throws it upon tho regimental officers . Tho right hon . gentleman says that the soldiers are to blame . Everyone concerned blames everyone else , and ,
Untitled Article
^^ 817 ^^ 24 , 1855 /] _ TIEMABtt "HI . .- , „—— —¦~~ T ! ^ ^ m if q —^^ a ^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ m ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ p ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ w ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^™ ¦¦ ¦ ¦ ' ¦¦¦ — --II--I " ^^¦^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^¦^^^ ii —^—^^^^^^¦^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ai
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 24, 1855, page 171, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2079/page/3/
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