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The following lines are published with a view of clearly explain- ing to the Members of the Legislature "the course adopted by the present Government in their administration of the Militia affairs of this Province, and the motives which have induced them to act as they have in their management of the Volunteer Force ; and if the remarks herein contained will throw any light on the subject, or have any effect whatever in bringing about improvements 'in the Militia System, the time and trouble bestowed upon them will not have been incuned in yun. I. THE MILITIA SYSTEM FROM 1855 UNTIL 1862. In the year 1855, when the British Army in this Province was withdrawn on account of the Crimean War, the Provincial Legisla- ture passed the first bill organizing the Active Force, which was founded on the report of a Commission appointed by the' then Govern- ment. This law was a wise and judicious measure, well adapted to the capabilities of the country, agreeable to the people, and advan- tageous to the volunteers themselves. Under its provisions the volunteer force was a reality , was fast acquiring discipline, and wai efficient as far as the organization went. In the year 1859 the law was amended, the force was considerablj reduced, and the amount paid to the different services greatly dimi- nished. Under these adverse circumstances the volunteer militia rapidly deteriorated, and was fast dwindling away, when, suddenly, the capture of ^fessrs. Mason and Slidell on the steamer Trent, startled the Province from her state of fancied security, and gave an unnatural impetus to volunteering, drilling, and soldiering of every description. 'J he spasmodic efforts of the inhabitants of this country to array themselves to resist the aggressions which, at that time seemed immin' nt, the well meant, but ill directed zeal which ani> mated them, and the chaos into which the whole militia system be- came at once inextricably involved, made manifest the evils of the short- flighted policy that had neglected the volunteer force on the score of expense and had considered it unnecessary to prepare for war until the foe wore actually thundering at our borders. The want of preparation and the deficiency of all organization or eystem in the militia, were so deeply felt at that time by the people of the Province, that the existing Government appointed a Commis- sion to report upon the best organization for providing an armed force in case of war. The report cf this Commission, and the law found d upon it, were brought before the Legislature during the last Session of Parliament, but, unfortunately for the Militia Bill and for the Government, when the vote was taken, the danger of war was not quite so imminent as when the report was drawn out, and the conse- quence was that many members of Parliament, who, two months before would have voted for twice as expensive a Bill, threw it out on the score of expense. And the Government, having resigned on account of their defeat, the present Administration taking their place, passed a new Militia Law, which has been in existence for nearly a year. Let us now consider the comparative merits of the different laws relHtingtothe Militia that have been passed and proposed since 1855. 1. THE LAW OF 1855. I I « This law provided for a force of 5 000 men, to be nrmed by the Government, and to be paid — the infantry and cavalry for ten days in the year, the artillery for twenty days ; the men to receive $1.00 a day, and an equal sum for each horse. Under this law the men had to provide their own uniforms, and if any corps was not pro- perly uniformed, equipped, and efficient at the periodical inspections, it was disbanded. The drill under this law was not bound to be consecutive, and the men were paid their allowances as soon as the drill was over. Under this system the force, although not mumer- ous, flourished, and was an efficient, compact and organized body. 2. THE LAW OF 1859. In the year 1859 the Provincial finances were very low, and, to reduce the expenditure, the Militia Law was amended. By this amendment, several corps were struck ofi" Class A, and the drill of the remainder was reduced from twenty days in the artillery to twelve days a yoar, and from ten days a year in the other forces to six days. The number of men in each corps was reduced from fifty and up- wards to thirty ; the pay for the cavalry horses was taken away ; the drill was necessarily consecutive ; and the men were not paid until December in each year. This law had a very prejudicial eflfect on the whole force, and many corps broke down and were disbanded. Others dwindled away, and the Prince of Wales' visit, and the ex- citement it created, alone held the force together, until, as before remarked, the Trent aifuir gave a fresh stimulus to the military spirit, .^. THE REJECTED MILITIA BILL OF 1862. This Bill was intended as a war measure, that is to say, as a mca- 6 Buro that would have provided a sufficient force for peaceable timei and, at the same time, have organized such a system in the Militia that, in case of war being declared, the machinery for bringing a large army into the field would have been all arranged, so as to have applied the strength of the Province in the most advantageous and skillful manner fur the purposes of defence. 4. THE LAW OP 18G2. This law provided that the Active Force, Class A., should consist of not more than ten thousand officers and men ; and also provided that the men should be drilled twelve days in each year, for the same pay that they formerly received for six days drilling, viz., $6.00 ; that the drill should not be consecutive ; and that each volunteer militiaman should receive S6.00 a year in lieu of clothing if he was uniformed, or, if not, that he should be supplied with clothing at government expense. This law also provided for the appointment of Brigade-Majors. Having now briefly reviewed the provisions of the various measures that have been adopted for organizing the Militia of the Province, let us now proceed to explain how this last law of 1862 has been administered by the present Government. II. THE MILITIA POLICY OF THE PKESENT ADMINIS- TRATION. "Vir bonus eat quia? Qui consuUa patrutn, qui leges j uraquo servat. "— IIoraoi. The existing Militia Law, if administered by military men, or by those who understood military matters, would be a very good and efficient law, and one that would suit the wishes of the Volunteers and the people. But, unfortunately, the revolution of the political wheel of fate has pitchforked into office and power the present Ad- ministration, a number of gentlemen who are about as well qualified to have charge of the Militia or military affairs of a large Province, as they would be to preside over, and take charge of a college of Chaldean astrologists. The public, knowing what a difficult matter the organization of a Volunteer Force is, would not have felt half so keenly, or have so greatly deplored the mere military ignorance of the present Adminis- tration, were it not for the fact that it has been noticed with the rinoerest concern, that the Government have abandoned themselves to the pernicious course of using the Volunteer organization for party and political purposes, and of having exhibited the grossest partizanship in their management of Militia affairs. This favoritism and partiality has not been carried on in a legiti- mate manner. It can easily bo understood that a Government, on coming into office, should desire to aid, in jovery way possible, those supporters by whose votes and influence they were placed in power. But this aid and patronage should be distributed among their follow- ers with some show of decency. The rules of propriety should, at least, be acknowledged; und if officea in the Militia are to be given away for political reasons, a show of adherence to military custom and precedent should be made manifest. How has it been with the present Government ? Have they adhered to the rules of discipline ? Have they cared for the country ; for the Militia ; or for the people ? Have they made even a show of improving the defences of the Province ? No. They have acted directly contrary to this. They have sapped the very foundations of military discipline. They have enoouraged insubordination and disobedience. They have swept away all those land-marks of the greater principles of military orga- nization, and all those rules of discipline which for hundred-* of years in all armies have regulated the course of military resp visibility. And what have they substituted? Nothing. They have swept away the land-marks and rules that have hitherto guided officers in their duty ; and have left the force wandering about in a labyrinth of incongruous and conflicting on] ?rs, uncertain what to do, or which way to turn, who to obey or who not, and perfectly at a loss as to the correct method of performing their duties. It may be thought by some that these remarks are stronger than the oooasion oalls i'or, and that the danger is not so gi'eat as is apprehended. But let military men be consulted, let their ideas be ascertained, and see if their views do not support tlio foregoing opinions. Or, if the reader is afflicted with the absurd prejudice against uiilitary men or good volunteer officers, that it is said the premier labors under, then let war come upon us, let the enemy march through our towns and villages, and then see whether the armed mob, into which the Govern- ment IS fast turning the Militia, is the best style of force for defensive purposes. This unfortunate Province deserves, indeed, the oommiseratLoii of all people for the sad fate which has, in a crisis in her destiny, 9 placed at the helm of affairs one whose ignorance of military matters is so great that he does not even know enough to be able to perceive how ignorant he really is ; and whose personal feelings and antipa- thies are so strong, that for the purpose of venting his private spleen against au officer of his neighborhood, is willing to upset the whole discipline and organii^ation of the Militia, and to place brigade majors on the staffs of oiBcers in all parts of the Province, with powers suffi- cient to destroy tho esprit and obedience of the whole forco. The Militia is a subject that should be free from all party or political relationship, and should bo considered solely with a view to the benefit of the Province at large. Unfortunately, it is not so with us at prosent, and it is to be hoped that the Legislature will not allow this session to pass away without settling the affairs relating to the defensive force of tho Province on a more satisfactory basis. Having thus alluded briefly to the subject gencrnlly, we will pro- man, or a hiwjer be compelled to obey the directions of his copying clerk, as for a colonel to bo placed under the inslruo*ions of his own brigade-mojur, Further discussion on this subject is superflous, as the shallowest intellect can perceive the absurdity of the brigade-majors' instructions. It may also be re- marked that the premier seems to have been obiigeJ to eat his own words, for when asked in the House whether the colonels were to correspond through the brigade-majors, h*^ distinctly said they were not, although the instructions to those officers expressly state that they shall be the sole medium of communication with headquarters. To sh i.w the evil of the orders given to the brigade majors it will only be necessary to call to- mind the effect those orders have occa- sioned. The first thing that occurred was the resignation of Col. Camp)ell, (I.B. whose su{)eiior niilicary knowledge caused him to be unwilling to obey the instructions, but, at the same time, made him also unwiilii.g absolutely to disobey the orders of his superiors, and who, thcrefon', took the only course open to him aj a soldier, and left the force in disgust. Col. Sir E. P. Tacho resigned next, upon the same grounds, and in these two officers the militia service lost tWJ of its most efficient and most worthy members. Others, perhaps, not so well putted in military etiquette, or, perhaps, know- ing the meaning of the dodge to get rid of them, still retained their commissions, and either openly refused to obey the instructions calling upon them to communicate through the brigade majors, or, on the otlicr hand, quietly evaded them, trusting to time and the n 12 oommou Fense of th« community, or the chances of the game of politics to bring about a more reasonable state of affairs. One colonel, it is trell known, stood up in his place in the Legiblative Council and declared that he had never obeyed the orders, and openly boasted of his disobedience. The common sense of the reader will at once show him the pernicious eftect on the discipline of tbd force that such an example must necessarily entail. The next thing that occupied the premier's attention was the necessity to do something in the Militia to show the Legislature, at the next Session of Parliament, that his Militia Bill was not a failure, and that he had been very successful in raising new corps without drafting. The Ministry, therefore, sent circulars to the leading members of their party all over the Province, requesting them to raise volunteer corps, and also wrote privately to their leading sup- porters, telling them it was necessary, for the sake of the party, that volunteer corps should be organized, and that if they would send down fifty or sixty names they would be gazetted, uniformed, armed, and equipped at government expense. After an immense deal of correspondence, a certain number of men send down lists of names, and the Government, without even knowing whether there are such men bona Jide willing to servoy without even caring, immediately gazette them, and send them arms, greatcoats, and equipments before, even, they send the uni- forms, and carry on this principle to a great extent. And then/ when the House opens, hs,y a report of the progress of the Militia on the table of the House, and show that so many thousands of names have been sent in, that so many corps have been gazetted, that an immense number of valuable arms have been scattered broadcast all over the country, and that the volunteer movement has been imminently/ (?) successful ; while, at the same time, they know, and e of One ative and ader th6 sup- that send irmed, 80 do we know, and so do the whole of the old Volunteer Force know, that not one tenth of those men will ever he paraded, drilled and uniformed fit for seryice, and that only a proportion of the arms that have heen so recklessly distributed through the country will ever be returned into store, or recovered by the autLoritios. There have been many instances of gentlemen who, at the time of the Trent affair, could not be prevailed upon to raise or join a volunteer corps, and would not even drill when the country was in danger, who, having lately had the party whip applied to them by the ministry, have, to the astonishment of their neighbors, declared their Intention to raise volunteer corps, and have boasted how easily it was to be doDe, as all they had to do was to send down lists of names (whether bona fide or not) in order to be gazetted, uniformed, armed and drilled at government expense. Sad, indeed, must btf the fate of a country defended by an army commanded by such patriotic and enthusiastic officers How different were the rules under which the old force was raised. The officer had first to get the names of those willing to join, he had then to get a recommendation as to his capability from the oolonel of the district, he was then obliged to have his men inspected, and his corps was gazetted. It was afterwards necessary that be should have all his men uniformed, and inspected in uniform by the in-^ specting field officer before the arms were issued. Now^ however, no checks of this nature seem to be required ; no care seems to bt) taken by the Government that they should be bonajide corps. The only solicitude of the Goverutncnt appears to be, that they should be able to have the best possible excuse for gazetting the largest number of volunteer corps, and for scattering the largest possible amount of government arms or stores throughout the country. The working of this policy is such that let any supporter of the I •> party in power ask leave to be gazetted in command of a rifle corps, and no matter whether he is a tinker, shoemaker, cobbler, or black- gmith ; no matter whether he is able to read or write or not ; no matter whether he is a cripple or is sound, so long as he only votes right he is sure to be gazetted. While, on the other hand, let a Conservative raise a corps, let him be ever so well qualified, let him learn his drill and teach his men, and let him apply to be gazetted, and bis application will be reserved for future consideration, and will, in all probability, be laid on the shelf, having, in the style of the Norfolk Commission of the Peace, the words " Violent Tory," or " Strong Partizan," written on its margin, in the ill-spelt handwriting of some village politician in his neighborhood. i!; This picture is not overdrawn, for it is well known that instances have occurred where the recommendations of colonels of battalions have been sent to storekeepers and tavernkecpers in their neighbor- hood to be revised as to the political character of the parties reeom- mended. There is another subject to be noticed, which, although considered last, is of the greatest importance. We refer to the allowance, in lieu of clothing, granted by the Act. Section 3. of the Militia Law, directs, ''That each Voluntser Militiaman shall, in the discretion of the Commander in-Chief, be supplied with uniform clothing while on drill or service, or receive such sum not exceeding 8G.0() per annum in lieu thereof, as may be directed by the Commander-in- Chief." Under this section, the Active Force expected to get the allowance mentioned. But how did the Government act? They could not bear the idea of doing anything for the old force, Class A., because that force was raised by the late Government, and was, as before remarked, mainly composed of Conservatives. They therefore granted the allowance of $G.0() to Class B., but, in defiance of the law 15 of the land, tibsolutely refused to give it to Class A., although the act Bays distinctly that eah volunteer militiaman, without any distinc- tion as to class, should receive the allowance. But the Government did not even stop hero. They waited till after the beginning of the year, and, in the early part of February last, sent a circular to the Class B. corps, telling them to drill twelve days, and they shou d receive another S'j.OO allowance for clothing, while Class A. will, in all probability, not receive ordors to drill till late in the year, as was the case last year, and then will not be paid until December. The reason of this gross partiality in favor of Class B., in spite of the act of Parliament, is also the efifect of political feeling, as it is well known that tho government supporters arc all in the new force, or Class B. It is greatly to be deplored that the parties in power should destroy the faith of the Militiamen in the Government, and in the laws ot the Provi'ice. The men belonging to Class A. know that they are entitled to cevt.iin rights under the act of the Legisla- ture, and they c mnot understand how the statute book of the Pro- vince oan coiit ii;i a law Grivinir thcai rights, and that there can be any power that can deprive then of those rights. They have universally characterized the proceeding among themselves as a swindle and a ohiselliog operation, and no one can imagine what disaffection and insubordination it has caused, not because the men care so much for the paltry sum in dispute, but no British subject will tamely submit to have the rights which he is entitled to under bis laws, trampled upon. The Legislature, it is hoped, will enforce the laws it enacts, and punish those who break them, no matter what their power or what their influence may be. JUNIUS, Jr, Hamilton, April, 18G3,