The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-23 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1854.

Well, the objects of the Christmas Session have
been accomplishtd. The Militia Bill and the
Foreigners Enlistment Bill have received the

Legislative sanction, and are now part and parcel
of the statnte law of the land. These measures,
which the Goverament declared to be essential to

the vigorous and energetic carrying on at the just
and necessary war in which the country -is en-
gaged, are of very different characters, and were
brought forward under widely different circum-

stances. The nature and object of the former
were clearly stated and canvassed in the public
journals long before the commencement of the
session. It was referred to in the Royal
Speech ; and when the anticipated bill was
introduced it found every member fully
prepared for its discussion, and well ac-
quainted with the views and wishes of his con-

stituent s. There was no mystery maintained—no
surprise con templ•ated. And why ? R2cause the
plan proposed could bear the most stringent in-
vestigation. There was nothing to excite the
disgust or indignation of the country—nothing

unconstitutional or impolitic. The more freely

was ventilated, the more general would be the
assent to its salutary provisions. Differences of

opinion might exist as to the details, but none as
to the principle. Nor could there be any coercion
practised. Although an overwhelming majority
of any particular regiment were not only willing
but most anxious to serve their country in
the delightful quarters indicated by Minis-
ters, not a single individual, even the most
humble private soldier, could be required
to leave the United Kingdom, or to under-
take any duty which he was not previously
bound to discharge. All that was required was
that he should be enabled to volunteer for certain
valuable but by no means onerous services, and
that his own request might be conceded if it
seemed expedient to the military authorities that
it should be so.

How different was it with the obnoxious pro-
position for the employment of foreign mer-
cenaries. As the one was all open and above
board, the other was all mystery and conceal-
ment. The very candour displayed respecting
the Militia Bill proved that its authors had con-
fidence in its justice and efficacy; they invited full
discussion, because they knew that discussion would
promote their object and disarm any factious opposi-
tion that might be offered, if any member of either
House of Parliament could, under the peculiar
circumstances of the case, suffer his party feelings
to betray him into such a course. But this
laudable behaviour only places the impropriety of
their conduct in reference to the other question in
a still stronger light. Wliat they courted in the
one case they shrunk from in the other. They
knew that it would not bear publicity ; that if
time were afforded for consideration, it would be
condemned by every free and independent con-
stituency throughout the length and breadth of
the land, and that in terms so decided
and unequivocal, that the most fawning
veader Oil PROVIDENCE," the most sup-
Ministerialist, could not venture to support
it
'Without forfeiting every hope of re-
election. It could only be carried, if at all, by a
COUp de main.
Great reliance was placed on the
servility of many
Ronourable Gentlemen, and the,
efficiency of the rod which has so long been kept
in pickle for refractory supporters. A resigna-
tion, by which they should forfeit all prospect of
obtaining the rewards
which they had earned by
their convenient versatility,
ors still worse, a di:-
w)lution, by which they would be brought face to
face with their constituents; and
even if they
suece,:tled in obtaining, a renewal of confidence
would most probably have to bear the expenses of
a contest,. A surprise is generally effectual, if tried
against sentinels prepared to abandon their posts
at a moment's notiv, and only desirous of a
plamible excuse to enable them to do so. Go-
'lmminent reckoned largely on this disposition,
the
wed it appears that the result fully justified
'calculation. Not the slightest hint was suffered
to ooze out respecting their intentions. There
Wcs not even any allusion thereto in the Royal
Speech, although it would only have given two
days' notice before the introduction of the