New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-04-28

ton of standing army was preceded by
literary conflict. The cOmbatants on both sides
were almost entirely Wings, and were generally
anonymous, although it was well understood that
among the foremost champions OF the malcon-
tents was John Trenchard, son OF the late Sec
rotary of State, while the most vigorous supper
ter of the Ministry could be no other than somers.
The pamphleteers who recommended the immediate
disbandiDg of the army had an easy task. They
had only to appeal to the historical clap-traps
and common places, which were sanctioned by
the authority of illustrious names, and which ac-
corded with the prejudices and traditions of both
parties in the State. These writers made it
fundamental principle Of political science that
standing army and free constitution could not
exist together. The inference was that the de-
tense of the realm should be confded to the
sailors and the militia. Out of respect and ten
derness for the person of his majesty, he might
perhaps be permitted to have guards enough l"
escort bis coach and to pace the rounds oeiore
his palaces but this was the very utmost lha'
should be conceded. Even the Tower ought 10
have no garrison except the train-bands oil tne
Tower Hamlets. The sophistry of these de-
Chalmers as they are styled by Lord Macauiay'
he maintains, must be evident to every Intelligent
and dispassonate man.
Somers was too shrewd to directly oppose the
current of popular feeling. With characteristic
dexterity he took the tone, not OF an advocate
but of q Judge. The danger which seemed SO
terrible to many friends. of liberty be did not
he reminded his countpmen that choice De-
tween dangers was sometimes all that was lett
TO the wsest of manknd-no lawgiver had been
able TO devise a perfect and immortal form OF
goyernment-and the duty of the statesman, there
fore, was to weigh inconvenience against each
other. and carefully observe the leaning OF the
scale. The evils on both sides of this question
were considered in a little treatise, once widely
renowned as the Balancing Letter, and admitted
even by his opponents to be an able and plausible
composition. His comparison between the eff
cheney of regular troops and the militia on the
battlefield was mastery argument. 1t was The
fashion to cite the great achievements Of soldiers
taken from the threshing-fOor and the shopboard.
Somers, who was one of the few at that time
who had studied ancient literature Ike man,
said that those instances refuted the doctrine
which they were meant to prove. He disposed
. of much idle defamation about the Laced9mo-
mans by showing that the Spartan commonwealth
was really standing army which threatened the
rest Of Greece. The Spartan, in fact had no
calling except war. OF arts letters, and sciences
he was ignorant. The labor of the spade and Of
the loom, he abandoned to men of a lower caste
His whole existence was one long military train
inr. The inhabitants of the other Grecian States,
on the contrary, were chiefly devoted to their
olive wards and their vineyards, their warehouses
or their workshops, and took up the shield and
smear only for short terms and at long intervals
Lacedamon consequently continued to be domi-
papt in Greece until other States began to en-
ploy regular troops. Then her supremacy was
at an end. She was great only while she was
standing army among mllitias, but when she had
TO contend with other standing armies, she fell.
The obvious lesson taught both by her ascen-
daDcy and her decline is that the occasional SOL
der is no match for the professional soldier.
Such were among the illustrations and argu-
ments with which Somers fortified his position.
lie drew the same lesson from the history OF
Rome. from the battles of the Middle Ages, aud
from still more recent military events. But 1t
was in vain. While the pamphlets on both sides
were in every hand, the Parliament met. The
King opened the session with words which
brought the great question to speedy issue. His
speech was well received, and, for short tee,
the friends of the Government were greatly
clntcd. During the following week 1t was hoped
that Parliament might be induced to vote peace
establishment of thirty thousand men. But these
hopes soon proved deusiye; and when the ques-
tion Of reduction was brought before the House,
il was carried by one hundred and eiehty-iye
votes 10 one hundred and forty-eight'
The Spanish succession is the subject OF vig'
orous discussion, from which We take the por-
tratnre of Charles III. delineation which is
hardly surpassed for strength of invec'ive and
.plendor Of coloring by any of the numerous
powerful sketches from the same hand.
Tho nrince on whom 20 much depended was The most
miserable of human beings. Ii old tunes re would
have been exposed soon az ne came mo tuc world
and TO expose him would have been klndheLS. FROM
/ his birth blight was on his body and on bis mind
With difficulty bis almost mperceptlble spar OF lie
had been screened and famed into Gin and ickenng
fame His childhood except when he could he rocked
and eung into sickly sleep, long piteous wall
Til no was ten years old bis days were passed on The
LAPS Of women, and lie was never once suffered 70
trnd on his rckety legs None Of those tawny little
rrcbns clad in rays stolen from scare-crows, whom
Mnrio loved to paint begging rcllingi9 the sand
owed lel TO education than this despOc ruler Of thirty
millions Of subjects The ostimpOrtsnt events in the
history of bis own kingdom, the very names Of PRO-
Ices and cities which were among bis mcst valuable
possessions, were unknown 10 him. IL may well be
doubted whether he was that Sicily was an Is
dot Ghlisnnhar CnlnInbns Ind discovered Amer