Star.
London, England, 1828-02-23 00:00:00

Other day, that the country was in no difficulty...that
there was a Sinking Fond of five millions—that there
was plenty of money, and no reduction necessary. Now
they had been told a different story from the Right Ho-
nourable Home Secretary, who had stripped off the
veil and exposed the delusion. He was one who thought
that the Treasury of such a country as this ought always
to have a bonofide surplus of a million or a million and
a half, and that its affairs could not be properly con-
ducted and its credit sustained without it. It was there-
fore time for them to stop when they found their finances
in the state admitted by the Right Hon. Gent. and see
whether they could longer continue an enormous system
which required such a force in Ireland, and which kept,
up such enormous establishments abroad and at home.
No man looked with a more favourable eye than him-
self at the resources of the country if properly managed;!,
but he would ask, whether any man could expect the'
-country to go on if we were to continue needlessly such
an extravagant expenditure in time of peace. He wished
to know what alteration there was in the state of the
'country sufficient to account for the difference of our
'establishments and expenditure since 1792. He was
-aware that the number of our colonies had increased,
'but not so as to warrant the increased expense of that
department. And that raised the question of how our
'colonies were governed. In Canada we had a force of
between five and six thousand men to keep up a system
hateful to the people, who were at variance with the
Governor, and whose representatives had been most
•improperly treated by that authority. How should
they lake the King of England, after they had
twice elected a Speaker, not to allow the elec.
t;on, and then send them all about their business?
Yet in Canada these things were to be upheld by a gar-
rison of 6,000 men—a force more than that employed
in the whole of the United States. He objected to the I
appointment of military governors generally, and the
keeping up garrisons to force their arbitrary rule upon
the colonists. He wasto be told that these things would
he investigated by the Committee of Finance; and he was
bound to say, that in that Committee every thing was
fair—(Hear)—and that the Right Hon. Gentleman
• seemed disposed to let them have every information for
the purposes of inquiry. But the question of the
amount of our forces,• was one which the House
would have to decide, and he contended that there
'was nothing before them to spew that the amount of
forces now proposed was necessary. He wished to ask
why 22,000 men more than we had in the year 1823,
was now necessary ? If this military force was to be con-
stantly kept upi then they must make up their minds to
have a military at:met-natant,. But he trusted. that al-
though they had.a-military Chief in the Government,
his good sense would lead him to see that the Govern-
ment.bl this country was essentially civil, But if it was
• determined to.keep up these egahliahmenti, the finances
..otuat break down, and they must rob the creditor to
arthe soldier. He trusted that the Noble Duke, after
being the first man of his time in militarY musters,
'")rrtliati now earn the better. laurels of .irelioVing, the
'country tram twelve millions of taxes, as be contended
...itiwas in his power to do. The Hon. Member moved
Ameadmenr;substituting 60,000.mett for 90000,
Sit S. MACDONALD.said, that as tie felt ichis duty
no acquiesce in the motion, be rose to. protest against
,Itireote being construed into any argument of support
the Government. So long as he saw. it Gotternthent
inWhich one portion of it was arrayed againatibeOther,
Aoki charges of the basest duplicity were preferred
by them against each other—whilst 'a Government
'VliSarolsitith this shameful stigma upon it,lt was'not
Age thatJte could suffer any vote of his to be given with
.
a view to its support. With regard to the question• of
iattiotio4 the number-of men, he thought his Hon.Ft iend
osficsmoved the Amendment, bad taken a clumsy method
!Of egecting.his object. They were nohow calledupon
to decide what the definitive number of troops should be,
until another general discussion, after inquiry, should be
had. It was useless to fix any particular number until
that inquiry had takes place. However, as the Noble
•lestd himself contemplated the possibility of reducing
A,olool,,there could be little dotibt but that such a
•eiiinction.. was practicable, apd: he therefore thought
that it would havebeen as well. to make that reduction
in the estimatrat once. With regard to-the sarcasm
Gentlethan has. bestowed upon
the speech of ,anHon, Aldermao,lie begged to say that
he heard nothing in that speech but what was manly
*ha, most cottetitutiorial, and worthy the popular rem-
lintetie'of >igraft City:. But he did not agree with
ahe.,Honouratill. Aldeiityan in his sentiments •to the
.Finatsce.Commitees.. Hs was og opinion with the Right
titiriitGetrtlettritii•that there were thorny questicnss of re•
duction affecting particular departments, of which they
would be more dieinte44l4lrasefficient-judges than
such departMenti theMselves..
Mr. Alderman WAITI4MAN said that he had not
expressed a- bad.opinion of a' Finance CAosmittee, he had only said
that the House ought not to give up its uwo'power.
Sir J. MACDONALD said, that when the main Vie*.
tint 'before them, lewould be met fearlessly and fully, and
that the House would resort to every means of economy which were-
found. practicable; without wantonly breaking down what was
seienthi for the rest service of the country—:Hear.)
Lord PALMERSTON contended, that the insertion
of the number of men sow proposed. lathe
.Mutiny Bill
woeld not preclude any reduction which ithe. House
en:ght hereafter think necessary. It had been asked
what itreonvepiente would result from taking the
smaller 'number of, meoa at reduction was ccuflellkt
plated ?. The answer as that-was, that on accounsref
the distance at which osaorof id's:troops were stationed
abroad, the 'time was not Calculated frOre the period of
the votes, but mucit.layer,is ;be' yesr,accerdihctq the
distance. The kloarrarable, Member for montrose,
now that the acumen of she Colonial troops were sim-
plified, fotind fault,' and taunted 'him :with not having
One it. sooner. Irje thpught tlija.w,as ¢jit bad encou-
ragement to those who wished to introduce improve.
ments when they.hed opportunities of doing so. But
the Honourable Member niight well 'be discontented
with Leery improvement of this kind, because it cut off
One topic of his speech. But however much he might
dislike it, he thought the House would not fail to
think him for this retrenchment in the Hon. Member's
Army Estimate speech. The Hon. Member had asked
for the necessity of the increase which had takeo place
in our forces since the year 182$. The HOlllll would
remember that the force of um had been brought
down from a much larger force which hid existed in
some previous years. The consequence of that reduc-
tion was, that they had representations from all quarters,
complaining of the inconvenience and injury done to
Ile service abroad. It was_ fowl. indeed, that: the
service of the Colonies could notbe done, without im-
posing upon the troops a degree ef fatigue which they
could not be expected to endure in time of peace. In
consequence of these representations and the difficulties
encountered in the service, the House determined that
an atiglnentation was necessary, not only to make the
service abroad effective, hut so as to have a number.of
troops over and above the. actual demind, so that a
little surplus should be kepj. as a disposable force at
home: He would ask whether that:pea:we of the last
two years had taught us that such a prevision was