The Express.
London, England, 1852-05-05 00:00:00

remosts. U. did not aspect that, in the present session,
they would be able to determine on such a cosine. He,
therefore, thought it far better now that the present bill
should pale, and that in the nest session they should con-
sider what was likely to he the best means of defence.
(Hear, hear.) If it were found that there were 60,000 or
80,000 men who could be relied on for the purposes of de-
fence, he should be glint that he had been mistaken ; if, on
the other hand, there should be a general sense that we
were not so strong as we ought to be, he hoped the evil
would soon be remedied. (Cheers.)
The house divided—
For Mr. Cobdon's amendment
Against
Majority against the motion -209
On the_qtiestion that the house pa into committee,
Mr. HUME opposed the motion. The noble lord the
member for London declared that the bill was bad and
useless, and yet he counselled them to give up all further
opposition to it. (Hear, hear.) It seemed to him that this
was vterry inconsistent in the noble lord. (Hear, hear.)
The sable lord wished to draw them into the same ineou-
sistesey with himself, but he (Mr. flume) would not row
hallo SIMI boat with him on the present occasion. (Hear,
and lewd Sato of " Divide.")
We. IL GIBSON wished to know from the right hon.
=the Secretary of State whether he would not go
Hee pro forma, with a view of introducing
esseber bill—(" oh, oh ")—in which all the laws relating
Is Igoe militia might be combined ?
Mr. WALPOLE said that amongst the amendments to
be illeaured in committee was ono which would raise that
tegetiors. Ile thought it would be most witle-s into
egitimittee pro forma for the purpose of inserting 141 new
einwsel to bo struck out again. (Hear, hear.)
Mr.BRIGHT wished to know how far men under
training would be brought under the provisions of the Mu-
tiny Act. He believed that, with regard to life and hush,
they were exempted from its provision; but he should
like to know whether during the period of training they
would be subject to the punishment of flogging, and whe-
ther, in C 460 they were called out, they would be wall-
drawn from the ordinary tribunals of the country and sub-
ject to punishment by martial law ? (Hear, hear.)
Mr. WALPOLE would give as fall information Oa he
COW with reference to that and all other questions when
the home was in committee on the bill.
Mr. BRIGHT (who was interrupted by cries of " Spole"
and "Divide") said he had asked the question, as the an-
swer upon it might possibly affect the votes on the question
for the Speaker leaving the chair. (" Oh !" and "
Mr. COBDEN thought the question a parliamentary ode,
sad one that should be answered. (Divide, divide.) Me
repeated the question whether men while serving either
under the ballot or ma substitutes were subject, while out or
in training, to martial law ?
Mr. WALPOLE believed that, according to the provi-
sions of 42 Geo. 111., militiamen for the time they w,.ro
embodied or enrolled were under martial law.
Mr. COBDEN wished to know whether they would be
subject to the loth ? (" Oh.")
This question was not answered.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER hopes tho
hon. member for Montrose, after the lengthened discussion
which had taken place and the division which bad followed,
would not insist upon dividing the house again. (Hear,
hear.)
Mr. HUME, considering it was important to have a re-
cord of the votes on the question must insist on dividing.
The house accordingly divided.
For the motion for going into committee 219
Against it 8.5-134
The house then went into committee on the bill.
Mr. BRIGHT hoped government would fix a long day for
discussing the two clauses of the bill. He urged government
to allow the bill to remain over, with the vote which had
been passed in its favour, until parliament met in tho
autumn, in order that the constituencies and the press
might have the opportunity of further discussing it.
(Hear, hear, and oh, oh.) It was a reasonable proposi-
tion to ask under the circumstances, that on an important
question like this—there being no urgency in the matter—
legislation should be postponed for six months.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was quite
sure that the hon. member for Manchester was quite
conscious that he had made a most preposterous proposition,
and therefore he did not think it necessary to argue it.
So far from complying with such a demand, he should
propose that the bill go into committee on Thursday, for
the purpose of going into the consideration of the clauses.
(Hear, hear.)
After a few words from Col. SIETItORP—
Mr. W. S. FOX said his constituents were alarmed at
the operation of the compulsory clauses ; and their hosti-
lity would not be allayed by being told that all who were
unfortunate to be called upon to serve in this militia
would be subject to the lash.
Mr. WALPOLE—With regard to the compulsory
clauses, he believed they would never be resorted to, and
any hostility on that ground was unfounded; and with
regard to bringing the militia under the Mutiny Act, it
was the same in the yeomanry. It was necessary for tho
purposes of discipline, and ho had never beard any objec-
tion urged against it.
After some discussion on the subject of delay,
The bill passed through committee pro forma, and the
holies resumed.
Onthc question that the Committee haveleavc tositagain,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER proposed
on Thursday next.
Mr. HUME moved Monday next, as an amendment;
whereupon the house divided—
For the original motion
For the amendment
While strangers were excluded a second division took
place on the motion that the committee sit on Thursday
next.
Ayes....
Noes 29-76
The house then adjourned at half past two