The National Register.
London, England, 1816-03-11 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

country to support. The lion. Baronet declared that in imait
of these sentiments he entirely agreed, most especially in those
which related to the Military Establishment and the Property
Tax. The people had supplied the wants of his Majesty's Mi-
nisters, without a murmur, for a long period : and if this mea-
sure was to be continued, it would be a tax on profits in war,
and as losses in peace.— fhe pcition W:IS then laid on the table.
Mr. Pnks•ros presented a petition against the Property
Tax from Ashburton.—Laid on the table.
N1r..1. St LLIVAN preserited a petition also front Ashburton,
praying for modification in favour of the agricultural interest,
which, if granted, would render the tax an eilicient and proper
means of raising 'Hooey for two years, to pay the present heavy
dentauds on the public treasury.
Mr. Buocc.ii ru observed, that these petitioners could not,
he presumed, be of exactly the right description tbr the Gen-
tlemen opposite ; for they prayed for the abolition of sinecure
places, although they might be friendly to the continuance of
the Income Tax. If they would have this tax, and their neigh-
bours wished to he relies ed front it, the question might be
settled between them, according to the rule of a well known
anecdote ?—let those who wish the tux have it; and those who
wish to do without it be freed from all anxiety on the subject;
and thus both parties would be gratified.—(!fear, hear.)
'the petition was then laid on the table.

Lord CASTLEREAGH gave notice, that on Alonday he shollid
MOST for leave to bring in a nil' for SEEMAIR the safe custody
of Napoleon Bitonaparte in the Island of St. lieicna.

MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT.

Mr. Cocas fully approved of the system which had been
adopted in making peace, and of the measures taken to pre-
serve it in our foreign relations; outwardly ht thought that
enough had been done to merit the approbation of the House ;
and he was only sorry that when he cane• to look at the inter-
nal military plan for the state of peace, lie kit himself called
upon to oppose it as unnecessary in extent, and expensive be-
yond onrmeans. . _

Colonel Posey contended, that the country should not be
called upon to maintain a single soldier beyond what was ne-
cessary tier its security. Our fathers had always felt consider-
able jealousy of standing armies; and he hoped that our chil-
dren would never be ashamed to avow the same constitutional
feeling. It was a poor argument to tell the House, that this
establishment wonid he wanted but for a short tune; the coun-
try has not a short time to lose; we must enter upon an inane-
diate system of economy, or we must inevitably be ruined. He
would clothe utmost iu his power to avert the evils which seem
to 1w preparing for the people; and he should feel it a duty
which he owed to the country to oppose this unwarrantable
military establishment.
Mr. I:pron.:set' observed, that when Members were called
upon to deliberate upon the plan of a peace establishment, it
was not necessary that they should come prepared to yield up
their judgments to the mistaken expectations of persons out of
doors ; they must look to the real merits of the question ; nail
if' it found that they ought to impose a heavy military esta-
blishment for the security of our possessions, they would not
shrink from their ditty, lie admitted that the Hon. Gentle-
men opposite acted with perfect propriety in refusing to go
into the Committee, if they thought the estimates were made
upon a scale which the circumstances of the times would net
warrant ; but, this was not his opinion ; and he thought the tx•
amination had proved, that the plan was a wise one, and not
more than adequate to the object proposed. The attempts
that had been made to mix up the question of the military es-
tablishment with that of the Property Tax, had wholly failed.
The necessity for that tax would not be done away by any
practical reduction of the military establishment.
Mr. C. Ga Aar said, the question of our military establish-
ment might be considered in two points of view ;---Virst, What
was the extent of our military establishment, of which Our
finances would admit and, secondly, What was the smallest
military) establishment that could be supported consistently
with the seenrity of the empire% Nothing could be more absurd
than to maintain an empire, the means of defending which
were wanting. That, however, was an extreme case, and had
been pet by none who bad argued this question. The distress
of the country was doubtless great, but it proceeded from tem-
porary causes, and, when these causes ceased, would case also.
At the end of the American war the eottntry was said to he ex-
hausted of resources, and yet Parliament had imposed new
taxes instead of remitting the old. But in the. present cast
there had been a remission of taxes to a large amount. It was
tutu said that the resources of the country were exhansted,
and one Gentleman in particular observed that the country had
been used up, and that the imposition of new taxes would be
fruitless. Bet the Parliament of that day had the magnanimity
to impose new toes; and Government was called upon now to
display the same magnanimity, as the distress of the country,
though great, could not be permanent.
Mr. W. WYNNE said, the security of the nation could not be
established by a lavish expenditure ; and it would be much more
advisable to tallow up a system of economy in all the civil and
military departments of the :state.
Lord Mit.ros said, the capital objection was to the increased
influence of the Crown; which was advancing, by the opera-
rations of its powerful patronage, to the destrection of the
country. Charles I. had put his hands into the ',copies pockets;
but the prescut power was acting upon a different principle
silently, but with as great certainty.
Sir J. Bea estanto, in explanation, stated, that what he had
said upon the subject of the Leeward Islands was, that it was
111111011,411 C, without the assistance of a military fusee, to give
protection to any of them.
Mr. WORTLEY recommended reduction, partienlar:y in the
household troops; for the present vast bodies of which there
existed no necessity.
Mr. WILBERFORCE said, he felt an impatience to oppose
sonic parts of the general statement upon political, financial,
and military grounds. He considered the vast extent of glory
by which the British troops were distinguished, and the illus-
trious consequences of their efforts to their own and users
other nation in Europe, with due seneration. He esteettiel it
a pledge of their fitture energies, to which his relimice was
firmly bound, that they had succeeded in breaking the chains
of the Contiuent, lie booked upon their Commander as Upon
one a hom an angel had protected fur his own, as well as bar
the world's sake. He participated in that feeling of affection
fire hint a hid' had sprung up among timbals, me! oillused it-elf,
blended atilt the spirit of liberty, which his very name was
calculated to regenerate. But at the same time that lie thus
applauded the army amid its commander, he could not forget the
Constitution; and he would say to the lace of that gallaat man,
who was Engli.linian enough to ft el the sennment with conge-
Mal delicacy, that he looked with great jealousy upon a great
standing army. It had been said that the dithisiou of k otos-
'edge and of wealth distite;uisheil the ease of this country from
ling or all others, in the records of a high the influence of pow-
erful military furce in times of peace was marked in I mu:11,1!..r
of cousternotos and affright. But what laid grown up with

MARCH 11.

that knowledge and those riches? The terrific patronage of the
Crown. The Hen. Gentleman lit re exples,,cd his approbation
of ie‘cral estabiblone,its, particularly that of the lICW larder of
knighthood, and the institution for the increase of mihtary
skill ; but he advise d, in the strongest manner, a general re-
trenchment. If we were to keep up so prodigious a peace
establishment, what could we do in the season of war? He
really thought that this country was too ready Co go to war at
all times, instead of directing her eye to France, which shou'Al
alone oceinl its alit ntion.

Lord PA 1,311-11,-TON stated, that the pecnniary advantages
arising from retrenchments in the estuhlishinents would not
be commensurate to the injury likely to be sustained. The
charge Ida deliberate intention on the part of 'l Misters to es-
tablish a military force, and thereby break down the constitu-
tional barriers, he was persuaded would not meet with many
supporters. Ministers could never shut their eyes to the eon.
sequence of such a pr,cceding. An improper military force
was the means by which legitimate Governments were over-
thrown. Fears had been advanced that a standing army would
become ahia to overthrow the Government, but before that
event could happen the people must be reduced to a state of
political degradation. The public mind iu this country %%as
strong and vigilant, and no reasonable apprehension could Le
felt on that acconnt.

Sir JOHN SEIIIII6IIT said, the present state of pewee did not
call for a standing artny. It ma-, I crimps, the hrst time sitter:
standing armies were Introduced, that the French were with-
out one ; yet this was the moment whin his Nlajesty's Ministers
called upon the country to support 150,000 men. lie could
not vote in f tour of Ministers.

The question Itas loudly called for, awl the House agreed,
without a division, " that the report be ,ww read."
Upon the question, " That the Report in read a second thne,"

Mr. WYNNE rose to move an Amendment, 't .dl the
words after the word that, be left out, and that the fellov•ing be
higerted—" thi, Report In. recommitted;' upon which a ui‘ i-
mam took place, when there appeared
For the Amendment - - 122
Against it - - 190
Majority in favour of Ministers tits
_

The CIi\NCELLOR Of the ExcitEUVER mentioned Wednesday,
next iis the day 'lima which this I ileHitle 'lax would come into
direct discussion.—Adjourned to Monday.

7'ITESDArs LONDON GAZETTE.
Crown-opr, Mardi 5, 1816.
MEMBER returned to sem in this present PARLIAMENT.
County of Statiiml—The Hight lion. George Granville Leven*
Gower, commonly called Earl Gower.

D.3NKR[TPTCY ENLARGED.

T. Jones, men. Greencrott, Durham, banker, from I'eb.3 to March 1.3.

BANKRUPTCY SUPERSEDED.
.1. Sparkes, Hampton, Middlesex, coach-maker—J. Clemson, Man-
chestel., dyer.