New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-03-06
CANADA.

From Our Own Correspondence
TORONTO, Thursday, March |, 1855.
1t is now stated that the Sixteenth Regiment,
stationed at Quebec, is about to be withdrawn.
When this takes place, the only remaining I'm
perial Troops will be the Canal ian Rifles. In
this state OF the case. Parliament is to be called
upon to arm the old miitia with $4,000 stand Of
arms, to raise new one on rew footing and to
organize Marine force. The military commits
sion which has for some time been sitting In One
bee, has made its report. This report recon-
mends the establishment of volunteer troops Of
militia, cavalry, field batteries and foot companies
with companies Of infantry armed as rfemen
This force is TO consist of sixteen troops of
cavalry seven field batteries of artillery five foot
companies of artillery, and fifty companies OF
rifemen; in all four thousand and thirty seven
men, Nom Commissioned Officers and men to get
81 each for uniform, renewable every three years.
The sedeDtary militia is to remain pretty much as
it is.
1t is likely that Parliament will adopt this pro-
pOsal with only slight, If any alteration. Sir Allan
McNab, who occupies the position of Premier,
was member of the Military Commission from
whom these recommendations come, and it is pref
" well ascertained that the Government majority
is strong in the House-stronger than it was before
the recent reconstruction took place. The chances
are that Sir Allan informally submitted this scheme
to the Cabinet and obtained their concurrence be-
fore the recommendations came from the Commit
tee. All the power of the Government will doubt
less, be used to insure the success Of the PROPOSE
ton. The opposition will attack it, as a matter of
courses but they will not be strong enough defeat
the measure which the Government will dOutless
found upon the recommendations of the report. The
question has never been much discussed. The gen.
era feeling is unquestionaby in favor ofa volunteer
militia far that is concerned; and the proposal
10 leave the old militia it is, will probably ex-
cite more objection than the other propositions
The militia as it stands at present, is little more
than name. Every able-bodied man, between
certain ages, is required to meet on given day
in the year to - train" but, perhaps, not one liz
hundred ever pays enough attention to the matter
TO learn when the annual training day u.s. Some
times, out Of the strangest caprice, isolated " e1-
" amples" are made of absentees from the train
ing ground, and some one unlucky wight Is nned
for the common sin of being practically peace
man. These fines are few in number, and are
every year becoming less Wherever nnlctea
they are borne with impotence. Beyond lrrltat-
ing a few individuals, on whom caprice directs
them 70 fall they produce no effect whatever. The
militia has in sober truth, neither been IN action
nor under discipline for the last 10 years; and il is
easy 10 infer the state of its discipline at this
momeut. In the little discussion of the question
that has taken place, proposals have been made 70
hire Imperial troops; but am satisfied that this
would not be popular if it were possible; which,
at present it is not; for the same cause that leads
to the withdrawal of these troops-the necessity
of sending them to the East-wOuld render it i'm
possible for US to obtain their services, in time of
peace, (here,) though We were willing to pay for
them. England is herself in the foreign markets
Of the world seeking TO possess herself of the
raw material out Of which 20 make soldiers.
II am not misnformed, the local government
10 in negotiation with the imperial for the surren-