The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-07 00:00:00

MILITIA BILL.

On the question " that the orders of the day be
read,"

Mr, HUME asked whether it was not possible to
consolidate all the militia laws by introducing a clause
to that effect into this Bill?

Mr. WALPOLE said it could not possibly be done,
but when this Bill passed it would be open to the Go-
vernment, next session, to consolidate the whole of
the laws.

Mr. LABOUCHERE suggested that under those cir,
eumstances it would be better, when they came to coesi.
der th© title, to omit the word consolidate.

Mr. WALPOLE said it was his intention to move an
amendment to that effect.

Mr. M. GIBSON again insisted, that in order that
Members mightunderstand the whole bearings of the ques-
tion, they ought to be furnished with copies of the existing
Act, as was done in 1842, when the re-imposition of the
income-tax was under consideration. By an order of
the Speaker 658 copies of the old Income-tax Act were
delivered at the Vote-office for the use of Members, and
he insisted that that precedent ought to be followed
now.—(Hear, hear.)
The order of the day was then read, and the Com-
mittee on the Bill was resumed, Mr. BERNAL in the
chair.
On the first clause being proposed,
Mr. J. BELL said he would take that opportunity of
expressing his opinion to the House on the subject of the
measure. He did not wish to offer any factious opposition,
but objected on principle to a militia under any circum-
stances. He was not one of those visionary individuals
who believed that universal peace would be established
in our time, but we ought to endeavour to encourage the
good, and not to excite the evil passions of men. Neither
was he going to argue that defensive war was not justi-
fifralle.oulr'hneerieghwbeoruerns.o groundsa
had in
r fearingt, anycommitteaggressiond an
aggression upon them by using every kind of word and
epithet which was calculated to arouse their passions.
The insults heaped on the French President and French
people in that House would do more than any-
thing else to invite an invasion on our shores. The
principles of the Peace Society would one day prevail
, e so
i
in the same way that objections to duelling ono
prevalent and almost necessary, had succeeded n putting
et u e
nts, Tiverton,that who declared
embodiedbaoypoinnieotns
down the practice. He was surprised that the Noble
iLno rad s
ptehee M
c h
would become more powerful than the
toehmibsecronsfoti
of infantry, the fire of artillery, and the charges of
cavalry, should have quoted the other night the pamphlet
of ridiculing
peace an anonymous idiot, for the purpose
peace doctrines. Seeing no necessity whatever for the
every
Bill, he should oppose it in every stage and by
constitutional meaus permitted by the forms of
thr-
House. 0
The first clause was then agreed to.
On the second clause being put,
Colonel SIBTHORP moved the insertion of the
following clause—"
That it is inexpedient to p l
m a
much or any part of the Act 42 George 111., c. 90,e50
or
any other subsequent Act, as relates to the qualification
of officers appointed to serve in any of the regiments
of militia in Great Britain ; also, that it is essential
lto
the constitution, as by law established, that th
respective appointments of all officers possessing the
g
re-
quired qualification by the aforesaid Act, G I eo. 11., c,
90, or any subsequent Act relating
to the militia, shall
be made by the lieutenants of counties or by colonels
commanding regiments in which each
regiment is raised
or to be raised from time to time, as
de-
mand, by and with the approbationoccasions may
of her Majesty.—That the
e and sanction
appointments of all
persons to serve in the respective situations
of adjutants, surgeons, assistant surgeons, paymasters,
madeb
or quartermasters, shall be .the lord-lieute-
nants of counties, or by the colonelsY or commanding
officers of each r • egiment of militia; and
this shall also
include all other ap • pomtments of inferior rank, as may
appear necessary for carrying
into effect the duties of
the same from time to ti • me• and this power shall con-
tinue in force until I'ed
repea ,or otherwise amended by
Act of Parliament."
The Hon. and Gallant Member said his object was to
restore the old law respecting the appointment and quali-
fication of officers, in order to secure persons of respect-
ability and position in the county.
Mr. WA.LPOLE said the old law respecting appoint-
ments of officers was not altered by the Bill.
They would still be made by the lord-lieu-
tenant, subject, however, to the consent of the Crown.
As to the other point, the qualification of the colonel,
lieutenant-colonel, and major, would be continued with
this exception (as we understood), that persons who had
held similar posts in her Majesty's army, or the forces
of the East India Company, should be eligible for ap-
pointment without the old qualification.
After some discussion the amendment fell to the
ground, not having found a seconder.
The clause was then agreed to.
On clause 3 being proposed,
Mr. HUME said that he had given notice of • his in-
tention to amend the preamble of the Bill by the inser-
tion of such words as shall recite all the Acts of
Parliament, in any way relating to the militia, local or
general, or disembodied; and that
repeal al
l those Acts, with the vie it is expedient to
law to be in force for the future regulation of
consolidating
the
e
ment of the militia in England. regulation or govern-
I
importance that the present t was of tho utmost
measure, if passed, should
be recognised as the whole law
every individual to be affected of the land, and that
ascertain exactly what his •by it should be able to
the risk of the penalties duties were, without incurring
Ile held in his hand to which he might be subject.
an index he had procured from the
library, in which there were three folio pages taken up
by the titles of at Acts
~ passed different times upon the
subject of the •
militia. There were eight of those appli-
cable to England alone. Nowßurn'sJustice
allude to
more than five. Under these circumstances he
submitted that they ought to have no doubt upon the
Elbjeel, 11l It law ao imperative oyerythiug ought to be