The Express.
London, England, 1855-03-02 00:00:00

our wars have been often comparatively fruitless and
onnemmarily prolonged for a series of years, owing
to the inefficiency of the executive °Seers who were filled
to the bead of our armies. (Cheery.) If that be true, it
Imeonsek a most serious matter to consider what is the

system by which the commanders of our armies are ob-
tained. I must say I think it is impossible to defend that
system. (Hear, hear.) Then we shall be told that
favouritism will hare more free scope if you abolish the

system of purchase. I fear human nature is such that
favouritism will slimy, have free soope ; and I believe
that under the purchasing system you give additional force
to favouritism. But surely, If there be any country in the
world is which favouritism eau be checked, it is this,

when the public eye is always upon the autho-
rities ; and where there is always a probabi•
litl of making them responsible for their actions.
I will not longer detain the house upon this matter, the
more espeeially as I believe there are other motions to be
brought forward connected with the staff appointments,upon
whit* I intend to make a few observations. There ls, how-
..

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awry •enbjeet which has bean referred to by one or two
Ms. tiemen who have addressed the home, which is
dmp personal to myself, and upon which I wish to say
stow words—that is the ease of Sergeant Sullivan. (Hear,
low.) I hope I shall not be accused of egotism when I gay
that I think a great mistake has been made by the suthori-
des in this matter. (Hear.) As commander of a division,
&strut only commander of a division but .as commander-
in-chief of the division, I recommended several officers for
promotion, and I also recommended one sergeant for a com-
mission. I was sorry afterwards that I had not recom-
mended three or four privates also for commission, whose
meritorious conduct I thought entitled them to promotion ;
but when writing the report it occurred to me, that if I did
so it would be thought a most terrible outrage upon all re-
ceived opinions, and I forbore. 1, however, recommended
the sergeant, and would say, as I commanded on the spot,
and witnessed the gallant conduct which I thought entitled
him to promotion, it was not correct that all the other re-
commendations, that is, as to the officers, should have been
acted upon ; and, of course, if they had not it would have
shows such a want of confidence in my discretion, that 1
must have resigned my command—it was not right
that the officers should have their promotions, while
my recommendation in the ease of the sergeant remained
--beaded to. (Loud cheers.) I certainly did think my-
self that it was • monstrous piece of inconsistency on the
part of the authorities, that it was by no means in good
taste, nor was it very decorous to me personally that my
recommendation in the case of Sergeant Sullivan should
have bout so slighted, and that he should have been emitted
hod the lit of promotions, at all events unless it was sup-
posed that the man was in some respect, or in some act, a
conlyirit. (Hear.) But there was not the slightest ground
fee sash a supposition ; be is a man of high character, be•
sides being • man of great gallantry and ability, and
he ban previously distinguished himself at the battle
of Alma. The noble lord the Prime Minister the other
might gave, in reply to a question upon this subject, one of
his usual dashing sort of answers, saying instructions had
bees sent oat to promote one sergeant in each regiment—
that had been dose and there was an end of the matter.
Bat why only one ? (Hear, hear.) And there being only
one, why was not Sergeant Sullivan selected ? The result
of the order in the way it was given was this—the commu-
nisation from the government requiring one sergeant to be
recommended from each regiment went to the commander
of the forces, and as it did not refer to any par-
ticular battle or any action, but merely stated
that it was intended to give • commission to one sergeant in
each regiment, Lit would be referred from the commander
of the forces to the commander of each division, and by him
to the officer at the time in command of each regiment, so
that eventually the patronage rested with the officer who
happened at that moment to be at the head of the regiment.
He had hardly a choice but to recommend the superior ser-
geant, namely, the sergeant-major ; and, of course, the ser-
geant-major being the moat prominent sergeant, received
his commission. That was useful and proper as far as it
went undoubtedly, but it did not meet the other question,
namely, was it right or was it not to give encouragement
occasionally to gallant actions in which great courage and
great presence of mind were exhibited, whereby the enemy
was effectually checked, and hundreds of lives were pro-
bably saved ? (Hear, heir.) The sergeant majors were
very meritorious and useful men, but if you say they are
to be promoted as a matter of course when promotion takes
place under such circumstances, then the adjutants who
stand is the same place amongst the subalterns as the ser-
geant majors do amongst the sergeants, ought also to be
the only subalterns promoted, and not those officers who
had most distinguished themselves by their gallantry. I
am opposed almost as much to seniority u a principle as I''
am to the system of purchase, far we will never get'
competent men to lead and direct the national
forces if you depend upon seniority, and I do not think
the regulations now existing on that point are satisfactory,
or eocducive to the interests of the country. With regard
to their naval and military commanders, a rule exists in
some countries which I think would be useful, and would
put an end to the complaints as to the injustice of seniority.
The body of senior officers are a most numerous class, and
I know you cannot advance a men who is a junior, as a re-
ward for meritorious conduct, without exciting some envy
and unpleasant feeling in those who are his seniors. But
the public will insist upon the advantage they derive from
the promotion of the superior man notwithstanding. With
regard, however, to this particular ease of Sergeant Sulli-
van, I thisk a direct professional affront has been (uninten-
tionally, I am sure) put upon me, and I shall persevere is
my attempt to obtain what I consider justice for
him ; and, to show the want of willingness in
the higher dames to advance on this subject of
army promotion. lam sorry for the course which has
been taken, because I am sure, if you attempt to make this
promotion of non-commissioned officers a mere promotion of
sergeant-majors, you will altogether fail in obtaining the
beneficial results you expect from it. Men are selected for
sergeants major because they are good drill masters, good
disciplinarians, and men of firmness and strong character,
and they are undoubtedly very useful in their way ; but it
does not follow that they will be equally useful when trans-
thissil to the higher ranks of the profusion, when something
like festal accomplishment as well as courage and firmness
are squired. (Hear, hear.) This Sergeant Sullivan was
reMmemended by me for promotion for distinguished ser-
viette of which I, while he was under my command,
beams cognisant. I make no complaint that some other
ciosemmissioned officer of the same regiment has been
' poclaCed, but I complain that by passing him over my re-
Incoundation has been set aside by • major or captain
'perhaps, who might have been temporarily in the command
of the regiment at the time, and who was consequently the
penes called upon to recommend the one non-commissioned
aim for promotion.
Lard PALMERSTON—Sir, it is impossible to deny that
the subject which my noble friend has brought this evening
under the consideration of the house 11l oae of great im-
portance, and one also of great interest. It is important,
because it regards one of the great institutions of the coun-
try—an institution upon which rests the defence of the dig-
nity and the honour of the country. (Hear, hear.) It is
of gnat importance, because it concerns, I may say, all
classes of the community. (Hese ) I shall, in the first
place, however, beg to say that I differ from many of thou
who have spoken in opinion and in feet. The hon. and
learned gentleman who has just spoken has talked of the
great democratic movement which he says has been making
progress during the last twenty or forty years. Sir, I hear
a great deal about aristocratic progress and democratic pro-
wess; but, if the hon. gentleman means what I conceive
him to mean—that the humbler climes of this country have
during the last forty years made great and rapid progress in
everything that constitutes worth and value in men—l deny
that that is a democratic movement ; I say it is an aristocratic
movement. I am delighted tome the humbler classes raising
themselves in the scale of society, by cultivating those vir-
tues and those intellectual qualities which dignify men, and
which entitle them to the respect of their fellow men, and
to a high position in the community to which they belong.
Sir, lam net afraid of that democratic movement. (Hear,
hear.) lam glad to see it, and I hope it will continue.
(Cheers.) I differ also from some hon. members with regard
to feet. One argument of my noble friend (Lord Ooderich),
rid of others who have followed him, was that
the system which they endeavoured to recommend
is essential for the purpose of recruiting in the
army. My noble friend has contended that the pre-
emie system discourages and prevents recruiting. Now
dr, that is not the fact. So far from the recruiting of
Me army heels' been checked or discouraged by the pu-
tting seats of things, it never went on so prosperously as it
hosillsoe daring the year 1854, and the beginning of the
},scent year. Why, sir, in late wars, I believe the greatest
number of men ever raised for the army in • single year did
not exceed 25,000. In the year 1854 we raised 35,000 ; and
in the month of January, in the present year, we raised
6,00 J, being at the rate of upwards of 70,000 • year.
Ide not wonder at that. In the first place, the great in-
MOM in the population of the country must furnish •
/UM supply of men in proportion for the army ;
that there is also that In the spirit of the British nation
which leads the people of this country to court the dangers
of wer—(theers)--and when they hear of brilliant achieve-
EMU in the field, when they see their fellow-countrymen
severed with glory, acquired in combating the enemy, so
far from the martial spirit of the country being checked, it
is increased; and, independently of the consideration of the
sale and purchase of commissions, depend upon it that in
litOments of national crises the spirit of the people of this
sonatry will rise in proportion to the emergency, and you
will find them entering the army for the defence of the
wintry sad the maintenance of its interests and
Mawr. (Cheers) Now, air, with regard to the
el":of the purchase and sale of commission,
• matter which has often attracted and
engaged the attention of parliament and the public It
I is • question which is surrounded with considerable difficul-
ties. I have no hesitation in saying, that it we were conn-
ing an army now for the first time, no h_nnues being would
Ilrram,olfteullarratairliasaiore tali: tgertlo odierrehal.• whataa "rile.
will do when you are about to ostablirk a system ; tt is
another thing to deal with amitosis whith has keg (misted,
and which has grown and increased with time. (Haar,
hear.) I believe royal( that the purchase and sale of
commissions in the army is a remittal of an ancient
which has mossod with regard to all other things. trsesrlai
hoar.)_ An hon. lumber War " Yon might as well sub
the office of Secretary of Stath a matter of purchase eat
gals." Why_we all know that it was • matter of purchase
and sale. (Hoar, hear.) Ise the time of Charles II m
ancestor of Mae was unable to become Secretary of 11116%
imams he had not money wherewith to purchase theelMec
(Losikter.) We suit, Ulm fore, look ups the pouskeee