The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-11 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT.

VOLUNTEER-RIFLE CORPS, PADDINGTON.
Last night a most numerous meeting was held at
the Vestry-hall, Paddington-green, to promote the
formation of a volunteer rifle corps in the parish;
Mr. Raikcs Currie in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN, in introducing the subject to the
meeting, said that some months ago the prelimi-
nary steps had been taken for the formation of a
rifle corps in the parish of Paddington; and it was
only to avoid precipitate action in the matter that
the object then initiated had not been carried out.
Since then a course had been taken by the press
which earned for it the gratitude of the nation. He
was contented to leave the question as it had been
put in the speech of Lord Clarendon, reported in
zihat morning's newspapers. Ile felt sure that the
parish of Paddington would not be behindhand,
and in proof of that he would mention that only
after three days' canvass nearly £l,OOO had been
raised for the purpose of aiding the young men of
the neighbourhood—the thews and sinews of the
country—to place themselves in a position to up-
hold in its integrity the liberty which they had
received from their fathers. (Hear, hear.) They
had a population in the parish of 50,000, possessing
as much energy, youth, intelligence, and property,
as any portion of the metropolis ; and with these
elements of success he felt sure they would form a
corps which wouldbo second to none. (Hear, hear.)
In promoting this object he felt they were initiat-
ing the very best peace league that was ever ad-
vocated, because it would prove to any potentate
or nation that might be influenced by the
blood-stained phantom of glory or ambition to in-
vade the land, that they were as a nation prepared
to defend it ; and he felt convinced that history
would have to record the repulse and punishment
of any such mad and unprovoked aggression.
(Cheers.)
Vice-Chancellor KINDERSLEY, in proposing the
first resolution, said it required no at gument from
him to enforce it, as the voice of the country had
already pronounced upon it. It was--" That it
was expedient to form a volunteer rifle corps in
that parish." That was a resolution which they
would all concur in, for it had, in fact, been already
carried by the people of England. If nothing but
the mere fact of organisation resulted from this
movement, that was in itself a great advantrge.
(Hear.) Leaving out of consideration all questions
of discipline—the goose step, the facings, and all
the rest—the simple fact of being able through
organisation to make oneself useful, when an emer-
gency arose, in the most effectual manner, instead
of running about not knowing what to do or where
to go, was a very great advantage. But that was
not all. Organisation was most valuable, but he
did not think that any words could express the
value of such an organisation as that which they
were then promoting. In Louis Philippe's reign
—in 1840, he thougt—there was a talk of war
with England, and of an invasion of this country
by France. There was a great stir about it, and it was
really expected. When the matter was talked of is
the 1~ rench cabinet, or salons, the Minister of Louis
Philippe, M. Thiers—an able man, whatever else he
was—said, ".Bah! male ee peuple." They might get
men by hook or by crook into regiments to defend any
country, but when men of intelligence, activity,
zeal, and capacity enrolled themselves as volunteers,
what might not be expected from them ? (Hear.)
It was the opinion of a military man of groat capa-
city and experience, that the materials of which
this organisation would be formed were the most
superb that could be brought together—that they
had all the spring, elan, and zest for the service
which were necessary. (Hear.) There was a word
sometimes used on this subject—the word panic.
(Hear, hear.) Paddington knew no panic. (Hear,
hear.) They had not been in a panic. Some, who
ought to have known better, spoke indeed of a
panic, but the country was no more in a panic than
the man who, being told that a fellow was going
to waylay him with a big stick, says, " Very well,
I shall get a big stick too." (Hear, hear.) If there
were any blustering Bobadils who said that they
should be invaded, it was no panic to reply, " Very
well, we shall be prepared for you." (Cheers.)
Even in times of profound peace, was it not a mea-
sure of wisdom anti common sense that we should
be prepared to prove that nobody should trench
upon our liberties, and that we were ready to hold
our own against the world? (Hear, hear.) Let
them take care not to make a mere holiday pastime
of this matter, or let it get cold when the novelty
of it wore away. (Hear.) Let them take care not
to become the laughing stock instead of the admi-
ration of others. This was not the movement of a
Government trying to raise 400,000 or 500,000
men—it was the people of England saying they
were determined to defend themselves. History
would look to it as a very remarkable and admirable
movement. Let them not therefore begin it in any
mere dilettante spirit, but promote it as a duty
which they owed to themselves and their country.
(Cheers.)
General DOWNING, in seconding the resolution,
said that, although he did not believe the Emperor
of the French would lay a hand against a country
which had protected him and showed him so much
hospitality in his need, he quite concurred in the
propriety of the present movement, and felt con-
vinced that au invasion of this country, if one were
to take place, would be fruitless to a degree, and
end in the destruction of the invading host. He
would put down his name amongst the efficients if
the movement was to be carried out. (Cheers.)
He was efficient, and had no doubt that lie could
handle a rifle, go on march, and do his facings as
well as the best. (Laughter and cheers.) He had
a lingering of military blood in him, and nothing
was more calculated to excite it than an invasion of
the country, when they might be called on to pro.
tect their homes and families. (Hear, hear.) He
would only say, in conclusion, that he would pro-
mote the movement in every way to the utmost of
his power. (Hear, hear.)
The resolution was then put and adopted.
Mr. E. JAMES, M.P., proposed the next resolu-
tion, which was to the effect that the corps should
consist of honorary and enrolled members ; that
for the honorary members the subscription
should be £'2 25., and the donation ,£IO 10s., and
that the subscription for the enrolled members
should not exceed £1 ls., with an entrance fee
of 10s. There was so much nneasiness and
mysteriousness abroad that England would be
deficient in dignity and love of country if she was
not prepared for any event. He should be sorry to
see the movement subside as soon as the dread of
invasion was gone. He desired to see them go
about this affair in a serious, studious, and business-
like manner, so as to make it appear that whatever
might happen they were defended within them-
selves. (Hear, hear.) One of the most sagacious,
and one of the most mysterious of men had made
himself the arbiter of the peace of Europe. He was
now at peace with, and he hoped that peace might
be lasting ; but when they knew that his single will
was unshackled by a press or by a parliament—
when they were told by Mr. Disraeli, then Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, that he was not preparing
for war only three weeks before he invaded Italy
—when, only two days before it took place, Count
Walewski declared that the Emperor did not con-
template war with Austria, and when the necessity
for disarmament had been denied, on the ground
that France was not arming, although shortly after
an army of 200,000 men, fully organised and
equipped, were thrown into Italy, it was time for
them, not to take a hostile attitude indeed, but to be