The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-06-25

The appeal to the English nation to form volun-
teer rifle copsfor the defense of the island against
invasion, does not appear to meet with any great
success. 1t is true, that meetings have been held
in various parts of the country, at which patriotic
speeches have been made and general spirit of
loyalty eyinced; but still the project hangs fire.
The reason why any difficulty exists is,
that the Government, while calling upon
the masses TO arm for purposes of local defense,
has hesitated to provide them with the weapons
necessary for the purpose In this stage of the
case it has been suggested, that the rife
corps should be composed only of persons able
to furnish arms and equipments at their own cost
the Government, however, generously agreeing, at
the same time to provide quantity of powder
and ball, sufficient to supply each so enrolled
withlthree rounds of ammunition on each field
day. Of course, under such circumstances, very
few volunteers have come forward, and of those
who have doneso, almost all are of that class which
would make the most Indifferent rifemen in case
OF emergency. "The reluctance of the govern
'ment to provide the volunteers with riles' writes
correspondent of the London Times ssrenders
The whole movement nugatory as regards the
'conntry districts, " and in proof of this assertion
he states that in the vale where he resides out of
population of eight hundred, he could find but
hve who would consent 10 find their own outfit:
yet he adds "there are fifty men in my parish now
who could hit rabbit running; who can choose
every coign of vantage in cover and hedgerow-
being all poachers or sportsmen more or less-wbo
''can cut off with one blow of bill-hook branch
"almost as thick as my wrist, and who can do
with spade, axe, and saw, more pioneering in
mali an hour, than the Line pioneers can do in
two" The writer very pertinently asks "are
mot these men to be employed?' AS this, how
ever is the very class of men which the Government
isreuctant to employ, it will require considerable
pressure from without before any arrangements are
made that will place rifles in their hands. 1t is
perfectly evident that the DERBY ministry, whilst
professedly DESTROYS of rousing the national fears
with regard to an invasion which no sensible
man believes will be attempted is really averse to
popularzing the movement. "Under the procla-
''mation," says the writer to whose communication
we have referred, ''the defence of England-so far
'fas sharp shooting is concerned-is to be COM
united to set of cockneys, shopmen and law
'yers' clerks in the great towns, whose helpless
''ness in any country worth defending would be
'1udicrous." There are but few men outside of the
larger cities of England who can afford to nav on
OF their own purse, the fifty dollars which it is
estimated that the outfit of volunteer will cost,
and as they must either do this or stand aloof from
the movement, it is predicted by another writer,
that unless the Government can be induced TO pro-
vide the necessary equipments, "the taiIors and
1.-THE spirit of red tape will soon put stop to any
further attempt TO organize rife-corpsn Mr..
JOHN BRIGHT, in his recent speech before the non
electors, at Birmingham, also strenuously opposed
the project. He argued that, as by ROYAL procla-
nation, neutrality had been declared there was
no necessity for arming in defence of a country
which twas not at all probable would be attacked.
But if it were invaded he asked-why was it that
England, "after spending twenty-five millions
"of pounds sterling annually to pay for
national defences in the shape of a standing
"army and powerful feet wanted more
'solders ?' We believe that the project of
organizing volunteer rife corps originated
with the London Times, and that the Government
rather acquiesced in the movement than cordially
approved of it. In endeavorng to restrict it to
those who could afford to pay for their own arms
and equipments it sought TO conciliate the patriotic
feeling that had been aroused by the appeals of the
Press, whilst it cautiously refrains from doing
what alone can give it any practical or ehec-
tive operation. The manifest distinction which
has thus been made in favor of what may be
termed 81 the middle class" or between those
who have money and those who have none,
shows how perfectly groundless is the fear of an
invasion, and exposes to ridicule ''the cheap de
fense'' of the nation thus proposed to be made