The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-18 00:00:00

tidittli
_

LONDON, TUESDAY, MAY 18, 1852.

Another adjournment of the discussion on the
Militia Bill postponed the ultimate decision of the
House of Commons again last evening upon that un
fortunate measure, which my be said to have been
partially borrowed by the present from the departed
Government. Whether or not the framework of the
enactment as proposed by the Right Honourable
Gentleman the HOME SECRETARY was found in the
pigeon-holes of the Treasury, it is, at any rate, certain
that for the original notion of such a proceeding
her MAJESTY'S Ministers are indebted to the
previous Administration. Borrowing from Lord
JOHN RUSSELL the idea that the re-organization of
the militia throughout England would be the most
rational method of securing the national defences, the
members of the new Cabinet hastily compiled a
scheme by which 80,000 raw recruits would by the
summer of 1853 be called out to practise themselves
(50,000 this year and 30.000 additional in the year
following) in the use of fire-arms, so as to be in
readiness to repel any attempt at invasion made from
the shores of the European Continent. Ar-
ranged in baste, and produced with precipi-
tation, the Militia Bill has naturally encountered a
somewhat violent and persevering opposition. Amend •
ment after amendment has been inscribed among the
notices of motion, and then in due course brought
under the consideration of the lower branch of the
Legislature. Hitherto, however, the obstructions
raised in the way of Mr. WALPOLE'S unlucky pro-
position have proved altogether ineffectual. The ma-
jorities secured by Ministers from the very
commencement of the debate have been gra-
dually on the increase, so that there appears
to be more likelihood, on every successive division, of
witnessing the ulterior triumph of the plan intro-
duced by her MAJESTY'S Government. The secret
of this increase in the majorities supporting the
Militia Bill would be altogether incomprehensible
but that the knowledge is becoming gradually more
and more appreciated that the panic about invasion
has neither subsided or even diminished. Some-
thing —it has long been generally admitted—
must be done with a view to increase,
and while increasing to re-organize the national
defences of Great Britain. About that there is no
longer any doubt whatsoever. Besides which, it is
admitted with equal readiness that that " something"
must be done, if at all, forthwith. Persuaded by the
necessity of these two movements in advance, the
House of Commons seems to be anxious, for a variety
of reasons, to relieve itself at the earliest opportunity
of the responsibility of securing in some measure the
stability of the empire, prior to the period of
the dissolution. Actuated we must believe by this
laudable intention, the representatives of the people
are hurrying forward one of the most delusive mea-
sures ever submitted to the judgment of the Imperial
Legislature.
Yesterday evening afforded rather remarkable
evidence that the Members of the House of Commons
are resolved to carry out the proposal of Mr. WAL-
POLE is spite of every antagonistic consideration. It
mattered not what might be the nature of the amend-
ment propused—it was an interference with the
scheme as submitted to the House by the HOME
SECRETARY, and therefore it was rt-jected.
The Hon. Baronet the representative of Evesham
suggested the propriety, for example, of enacting that
no married man should be drawn by ballot—surely a
reasonable proposition enough ! But no ! The pro
viso was negatived by a clear majority of nut le!s tha❑
106. Shall not schoolmasters and teachers at least be
exempted ? asked the Hon. Gentlemen the Member
for Manchester. Certainly not—replies a clear ma-
jority of 78, while a subsc quent majority of 66 declares
against the other proposal made by Mr. AIILNER
GIBSON to the effect that Peers should not be
exempted. Peers shall be exempted, says the House
of Commons, but not so schoolmasters. At least,
remonstrates the Honourable Gentleman the Member
for Finsbury, you will not render this military service
compulsory on medical practitioners ? What is the
reply of the Huse of Commons? Why, by a majo-
rity of ninety it decides that medical men
con be no more exempted than school-
masters. Other not less rational amendments were
subsequently dismissed as summarily by the imp-
porters of the Government, and, after a stormy debate
as to whether the Chairman of the Committee should
report progress, it was definitively resolved that the
discussion should be once more adjourned.

As a rather obvious indication that, throughout
their unanimity upon the Militia Bill, even the most
enthusiastic of its advocates have a secret persuasion
of its insufficiency, we have only to remark the
flippancy of tone which has characterized so many
speeches made in the course of the discussion. " I
don't know whether we bad much wit amongst us,"
said the Vicar of Wakefield, " but I am sure we had
a great deal of laughter." And so might Mr. WAL-
POLE observe in reference to the debates upon his
proposed enactment anent the militia. Conspicuous
amongst its supporters, first and foremost amongst
them all i°, of course, Lord PAUdERSTON, and never
has the Noble Viscount spoken more humorously than
in behalf of this extraordinary proposition—exciting
the risibility of his hearers by allusions to the Peace
Society, and fairly convulsing them with mock-serious
quotations from a pamphlet published by one of the
advocates of Arbitration. Yesterday, in like manner,
Colonel SIBTUOUP created no little amusement by
declaring that be should like very much to have an
opportunity of drilling the Honourable Member for
Manchester. Whether the Militia Bill numbers
amongst its admirers an eccentric legislator like the
Member for Lincoln, or an experienced statesman
like the Member for Tiverton, it is equally, we feel
assured, distasteful to the vast majority of the people
of England, as it is calculated, if carried into opera-
tion, to prove inefficient as a solitary means of defence
against invasion.

Prom the discussion, or rather conversation, in the
House of Lords last night, it would appear as if the
Emigration Commission was the great obstacle and
impediment to emigration. With a view, we sup-
Pose, of exhibiting extraordinary zeal and activity,
the Commissioners •
have framed a series of regulations
so very restrictive that comparatively few are enabled
to comply therewith. They appear to be so
Pn_anetourfbwle Board.
tho-
roughly .
taPisat,"' ltulhabtuedthe with the
ofsPittibteirof labours"red
appear to
in-
difference.
pro 8
sibli
be matters of the most perfect in-
ed they establish stringent rules,
it sig
which
nifieys
le.xclude the most meritorious ap-
plicants,supply the funds
pbaesab et tuleefitwhethered o intjhuer coloniesinjured.
Th
ewhich
.
be utterly
; crops may rot on the
vest time may
ground, or at least
" theystal)
mautterly lost to their owners ;
:e denominated, perish for want of necess.iary
whole flocks of sheep
manufacture"d of Eng-
lcaanrde
,a:sdi
tatiitvesnitt
be involved in
the utmost difficulties from ae' deficient
ulettsrhsanithss,roilidts, hy of the raw
material ; but all these results, ever formidable,
are disregarded by the Lin
yofh:vlicieh 173,0001.
The
apathy cannot be shaken off, or
any
greater expedi.
tion produced•
nilt2tt-eldaOp,
foproeooamrl.ssiitt,l:irealttiontrlagi
se, ,
and
wereihu te
th alsoi s
Some further sum
63,000/ from
Newhhaitra3db enseor!
Whereof
views, intend to distribute were
not specified. The Commissioners, however
sent from South Australia, the amounts
. _. , accord-
ing to their present
large amount over the entire season. In place of
making any additional exertion to meet the prssing
exigency, they propose to go on in their old jog-
trot style, sending out ten ships a month—no
more in the early part of the season, When,
the emigrants would indeed be a waloorue Addition to