The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-02 00:00:00

SIR ARCIIIBALDALISON ON RIFLE

CORPS.

The formal swearing in of the members of the
17th company of the Lanarkshire Volunteer Rides'
(the Stockbrokers' Corps) took place in the Glasgow
Stock Exchange, on Saturday. Previous to the
commencement of the proceedings all the corps
signed their names to the oath, which was adminis-
tered by Sheriff Sir Archibald Alison, Bart. The
hon. baronet subsequently addressed the oorpr, in
an able speech, from which we make the following
extracts :—" While I entirely disagree from my
gallant friend Lord Melville, who expresses an ad-
verse opinion as regards this movement—an opinion
which I know is entertained by many others who
take high rank in arms—l, at the same time, will
yield to no man in the opinion thar.sich, in
great degree, is not only erroneous,- hilt that the
more the matter is sifted, the More it will be
found that not only will the volunteer 'force
be of great service in the event' of danger, but that
the existence of such a force is .absolntely essential
to the maintenance hereafter of our national inde-
pendence. The volunteer force should not be looked
upon as a temporary effusion of patriotism or
loyalty, suggested, it may be, by the success of the
French arms in Italy. I would wish that it may be
a permanently established and a permanently or-
ganised force, like the National Guard of France,
for the defence of the Country, and that the know.
ledge of the use of arms may become an essential
part of every gentleman's—l may add of every re-.
spectable person's—education. And let me further'
add, as an. inducement to such a practice, I would
suggest that no lady in the country should ever re-
ceive any gentleman who cannot appear before her
in uniform. (Loud laughter.) I say this in sober
earnestness, because I feel strongly that, without the
formation of volunteer corps to support the regular ,
army, we cannot hope for any length of time to
maintain our national independence, situated at 4
we are, alongside of great military powers pos-
sessing five times our regular force, and who any.
day may throw a large number of troops upon our
shores. The use of a volunteer force lies here:
Any man practically acquainted with war knows
that one-half of an army that is brought into the
field is necessarily absorbed in other duties, which,
if there aro no volunteers to support them, must
detract from the principal body. If 60,000 men
are brought into the field, 30,000 will almost
be out of the way in the discharge of various
duties, and in that way a force of 100,000 on paper
will be reduced to 50,000 or 60,000. That was the
case with the Duke of Wellington in the Penin-
sula. Here is the inestimable use of the volunteers
—they are auxiliary to the regular army. They
take up the secondary, but most important duties of
the army, and enable that body to present a corn.
peratively strong and invincible front to the
enemy. T will pcmpinae with this remark—and it
is one of great importance—that, in the present
state of the country, we cannot rely on having such
a regular force as willbe necessary for the national
defence, if not supported by an equal number of
volunteers. We sea that India now requires 80,000
men to maintain these dominions, and the other
colonies absorb 40,000 or 50,000. There are thus at
least 100,000 men who must be always out of the
country. Great Britain should have 200,000
regular auxiliaries, and that is 100,000 more than
are now in arms; and yet, in the event of an inva-
sion it would be necessary to put one-half of the
army into our naval fortresses, which must be main-
tained at all hazards, for if once they were taken we
would be at the mercy of the enemy. But gentle-
men, if that regular force, though small, is sup-
-1-• orated by an equal number of volunteers, who
could fall upon the flanks and rear of an invading
army, and prove, as Napoleon said, a devouring fire
to those who violate the territory of the great na-
tion,' in that case they will serve an essential pur-
pose to their country, and if they are put into for-
tresses I am perfectly assured that they will act
just as well as any man to be found in the regular
army, and I know that the company now before
me will stand in the breach as valiantly as did the
Spanish volunteers at Saragossa. (Hear, and ap-
plause.) I look upon the present as a great public
movement, which I trust is to put the defences of
the country on a solid and permanent foundation;
and I must add that it is now the duty of the Go-
vernment to take the matter into its own hands.
(Hear, hear.) The nation has done what may truly
be called its duty, for it has furnished a mass of
magnificent material,' as Sir John Burgoyne says,
for an army,' and it is the duty of the Govern-
ment to come forward now and arrange it into regi-
ments and brigades, in which position alone it can
be capable of efficient duty. (Applause) I trust
that this organisation of the troops will be immedi-
ately effected, and that henceforward Great Britain
will be able to repose with no less oor,fidence on
the volunteers than on the bravery, skill, and dis-
cipline of the army."