The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-06-09

who may voluntarily place themselves under its
provisions; but, in the event of II certain contin-
geney its character in this respect will be entire
ly changed and Englishmen between the ages
of 8 and 35 are To find themselves after the
3lst day Of next December subjected with few
exemptions, to military CONSUMPTION.
Under the name and lite of a militia, $4,000
men are to be raised for five years service by
voluntary enlistment in the several counties OF
England 10 be differed partly from the half pay
lists and partly from The appointments of the
lords-lieulenant; to be drilled for 81 days at Il
time, and, in case Of need, to be embodied for
the defence OF our coasts in aid of The regular
army. If these men can be thus raised, and il
the discipline thus proposed is sufficient for ITS
purpose, the ques ion of our national de!ences
will have been practically solved. On each Of
these points, however, grave doubts have been
suggested.
1t has been calculated that, whereas we have
usually some $4,000 infantry and artillery in
Great Britain, upwards of 10000 of these
would be required 10 place even our most i'm
portant stations and srsenals ina position of
moderate security. The aid of 10000 or so,
900 militia would enable at least two -thirds of
these forces to proceed on field service, so that
the indirect operation of MIR. Walpoes volun-
teers would be of very considerable Importance !;
and we may look, therefore, on orr militia either
as valuable contingent force, if tire has been
allowed for their training, or, on the least favor
able superstition, rs d levy which will render
disposable the bulk Of our req lar army.
But we are now compelled to observe that
the retention, with the ndme of militia, of the
very worst feature OF militia service, is cacua-
ted not only to prove grievous error in itself,
but to act very prejudicaly upon all the more
polite arrangements. Ministers have determined
to reserve the power of Hitting for conscrpts
in case volunteers should not be forthcoming 10
sufficient numbers, and the house of commons,
by majority conspcuously small when COM
pared with the other divisions, has confirmed
them in their proposition.
The great and fatal objections to this reserved
power of ballot are, that it damages the whole
character of the force to be raised, throws inn
pedinents in the way Of volunteering, and ex-
tends in terrorem n menace which it is exceed
ingly doubtful whether means could be found TO
execute. A call for volunteers ia one thing, and
law ofconscription is another; but to enforce
the first of these appeals by a menace of the
last, is to destroy the best chance of its
Finally, it is always Undesirable in the extreme
for any government to take up position which
it may be compelled to surrender; and that
such contingency is highly probable in the
matter of TIL ballot, we are told by some of the
most cautious statesmen in the house. The
threat can certainly do no COED; it will as GER
tainly do harm; and it is not unlikely, in Lord
John Russel's words, to prove impossible of
execution" Under these circumstances, we
should rejoice to see, on the third reading of the
bill, that the decision of the ministry or the
house had been reconsidered.
FRANCE.
PARIS, May 24th.--The Partisan shopkeepers
have actually ceased to grumble, and actually
admit being satisfied with their receipts since
the grand military fete on the 10th inst. Con-
currently with that incidental prosperity and, no
doubt, one of the principal causes of it, is the
presence of great number Of strangers from
almost all European countries, and more than
one transatan ic region, who still appear to lin
ger with fondness amidst the various delights of
the French capitalists climate and its cookery
its balls and its boulevards--its theatres, from
that where R1chrl harrows the feelings, or LIE
vassor causes the rigid muscles to relax, through
ont all and every variety down to the causeries
of Pol;chinelle
The great manufacturers of the departments
have seldom been more actively employed than
during the present month. The house builders
oluiion of l848, are now indemnfying them
selves, for there never were more new buildings
and improvements visible han at the present
moment, and complaints are even heard, that a
sufficient number of operatives are not to be
procured. The corn trade is at present more
dull in Paris than it has been known for some
years past. The accounts Of the approaching
harvest are all favorable. Letters received in
Paris from O lessa dated the 81 instant, state
that there were then I56 vessels loading wheat
in that hnrbor, and that the price was still de-
cniug. The silk markets in the Drome and the
Ardeche remain quiet. The approaching crop
which promises to be abundant, notwithstanding
the frost on the night of the 2Oth of April, tends
to check speculation. The wine buyers refuse
TO admit to the demand of the proprietors, be
ing convinced that the accounts given of the
damage caused by the frost are exaggerated,
and that the vintage will at least be equal to
good average crop. Letters from Nantes an.
nounce decided fall in the price of wine.
General Bedeau has addressed the following
letter to the minister of war:
"MoNs, 18th May, 1852
"MoNsIEUR lie MINIsTRE: An order fixes the
time within which the oath imposed on soldiers
is to be taken. Placed out of the pale of the
law since the I'd of December, | might abstain
from replying to that prescription; but do not
wish that my silence should be falsely interpre-
ted. My acts have always had for principle and
objec. the respect and the defence of the laws
[ was for that sole cause arrested, imprisoned,
and violently prescribed Injustice and perse.
cution do not change honest convictions |
refuse the oath. "BEDEAU."
The Steele states that the convention between
France and the Porte, relative to the holy places,
has encountered unforeseen difficulties in its
execution; that Russia has interfertd and in
most peremptory tone demanded the manten-
ance of the status quo, which was modified by
the Lavslette con,e non in some points to the
advantage of Catholics.
A GRAND LOTTERY SwINDLE.-The court
in France have just ripped up grand swindle
in the famous lottery of LIngots Dor, and 10,
the President of France turns up from the bot
tom as the principal manager, for his own private
ON Olumpnt To the nmount of Soma millions