The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-01-21 00:00:00

WZDNICIDAT, JANUARY 21, IRIB.

LONDuiv:

Paris Papers to the 18th hive arrived. There
is not aseeh of novelty in them. Tie Project of the
Law for Recruiting the Army has not yet passed the
Chamber of Deputies. Several amendments, respect-
ing the duration, aliment, locality, and governinent of
the.Departmestal Legions, have been proposed and
debated.---,One, as we have before noticed, for voting
the army annually, and another for substituting the
words "in virtue of a Special Ordinance of the
King," in lien of " by virtue of a Special Law,"
thereby 'depriving the Departmental Legions, or
Mid
litia of the country of their locality, and enabling
the Government to march them to any point oUthe
kingdom it might think proper. This maser% a
repugnant to personsktiberty and the tuincipluAt
voluntary service, has obviously originated in ati:
solute necessity, from the unpopularity of the
Boualsotis ; but whether it will avail them as al
sufficient protection when the Allied forces are I
withdrawn, remains to be seen. Many have ergot
as au objection to the law, and certainly on constittl.
tional principles, that it resembles the old system et
Conscription ; while others maintain that it is not a
violation of the Charter, being only enforced Mons
voluntary enrolments have proved insufficient. If,
however, the priticiple,be radically bad, it cannot but
rendered good by any change of circumstances. The
Courier, we observe, bas undertaken to justify tide
Conscription for the service of the BOURBONS, and
I excuses are now made for this compulsory measure
which could never be found in BONAPARTE'S time.
The Courier now thinks it unreasonable to condom
the only means by which the principk of France, er
tether, we suppose, the Bonesona, having an army,
eau be practically adopted. France was never at 4
Wes for en army till now ; and now we bate thst
amusing novelty of the Courier arguing for a large
French military force. His arguments to this effect
are really ala Courier. The wheel is right counter
to the first order, and in the true tactics of the school.
".Voluntary service," he says, 66 Ma always be pre-
mien sod limited. Mee who have any regular oc-
cupation, are not likely to abandon it, for a military
life, especially in time of peace." Is this true ? We
think, and probably so do many, that the safe and
" piping time of peace" is the most likely to ex-
eke a desire for this sort of " idle ardour."
As, however, martial ardour has no such powerful
excitement as it used to have, Conscription is a most
justifiable measure to be resorted to, in order to
make men abandon their peaceable professions and
become soldiers to the Boy anon Government. The
argument smells of Bon 'mow necessity, but what of
that ? It is the only means by which the principle
can be justified. If, however, we may be allowed
to add, proceedings so repugnant to personal liberty
are pronounced excusable on the ground of expedi-
ency, then all the abuse and vituperations uttered
against BONAPARTE were unjust and inexcusable,
for this was the only plea on which the Conscription
and other unpopular measures were attempted to be
justified.
The Committee of the Peers, in their Report On
the Law, which rather whimsically professes to be
for the Liberty of the Press, have proposed to admit
the amendment of the Deputies upon the Bth Article,
Testified, however, in such a way as to autbetise the
seising of a work during the deposit, but without sub.
jectiog the authors to any process. The Liberty of the