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Leader (1850-1860), 31st December 1859, Edition 2 of 2, Page 4, . ¦ -+¦ POLITICAL FOKESHADOWINGS.

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      140s T He Le A X> E R. -["No. 510. Dec- ...

      140 S T HE LE A X > E R . - [" No . 510 . Dec- 31 , 1859 .

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      . ¦ -+¦ Political Fokeshadowings.

      . ¦ -+ ¦ POLITICAL FOKESHADOWINGS .

      6a Wednesday Evening A Grand Banquet -Wa...

      6 a Wednesday evening a grand banquet -was given to Sir John Pakington , Bart , M . P ., in the Assembly Room at the Guildhall , Worcester . Upwards of 200 gentlemen of every shade of political opinion assembled upon this memorable occasion to do honour to the right hon . gentleman , and after dinner he was presented with a magnificent shield in oxydised silver ,, commemorative of his services in the various public offices he has held from time to time . In returning thanks , Sir John said : — "I cannot refrain from an expression of my wish that this day , so memorable and so gratifying to me—so memorable to

      Lobd John Russell has written as follows in reply to the memorial from the inhabitants of Glasgow as to the policy of Government at the approaching Congress on the affairs of Italy : — "I have received with great satisfaction the address of nearly 5 , 000 of the inhabitants of Glasgow , including the iJord Provost and the members of Parliament for the city The support which is thus given by the flourishing and enlightened city of Glasgow to the principles by which Her Majesty ' s Government have been guided , and the policy they have announced cannot fail to give encouragement and add strength to the just cause " they have espoused . "

      those dear to me— -should , if possible , be of benefit to others . I am one of those who believe that we may always draw a moral lesson from such proceedings as these . There are not a few of those who are here this evening , and there are still more who will read what has passed here to-day , whose course of life is still before them . I hope that you will not think that I am guilty of presumption or egotism if I venture to touch for a moment on those principles of action to which I mainly attribute the honour "which on this occasion it has been my fortune to receive . Have F attained those horiours through the exercise of any great or transcendent talents ?

      Certainly not . Have I gained them as the reward of extensive and varied acquirements ? Certainly not . But , if it has been my good fortune to merit in any degree that favour which I have received from my most gracious Sovereign ; if I have deserved any portion of that kindness which I have received in this my native county ; if I have been able to administer those various departments of the State which have been intrusted to me without disadvantage to the public service , and without discredit to myself , I firmly believe that I am indebted to the exercise of qualities and the adoption of rules which are equally in the power and compass of those who hear me , and

      of any man who is desirous to take part in the public affairs of the country . I am indebted for ¦ wh atever measure of success I have obtained in my public life to a combination of moderate abilities with honesty of intention , firmness of purpose , and Bteadiness of conduct . If I were to offer advice to any young man anxious to make himself useful in public life , I would sum up the results Of my experience in three short rules—rules go simple that any man may understand them and so easy that any roan may act upon them . My first rule would be—leave it to others to judge of what duties you are capable and for what position

      you are fitted ; but never refuse to give your services in whatever capacity it may be the opinion of others who are competent to judge that you may benefit your neighbours or your country . My ( second rule is—when you agree to undertake public duties , concentrate every energy and faculty in your possession with the determination to discharge those duties to the best of your ability . Lastly , I would counsel you that , in deciding on the line which you will take in public affairs , you should bo guided in your decision by that which , after mature deliberation , you believe to bo right , and not by that which , in the passing hour , may happen to bo fashionable or popular . Fashion has its uses , and is all very well when applied to the light and trivial things to which it relates ; but fashion in public affairs is out of place . Popularity in the lowest and

      compulsive measures : but he should say , notwithstanding that , if necessary , compulsion should be resorted to . He thought at the present time they ought to have a much larger force than in 1804 inasmuch as the population was only about half then to what it was now ; then the population of England and Scotland comprised about ten millions , now it was about twenty-one millions . The population of Ireland had not increased in the same manner , but , speaking in round numbers , the population of the United Kingdom in 1859 more than doubled that of 1804 . At the same meeting , the Rev . Lord John Th ' ynn ^ asked what is our condition ? Were they prepared to protect the country against an enemy ? Suppose had to be convinced that there

      they reason was no danger of an immediate assault , they should bear in mind that , whatever enemy might come , whether French , Russian , Austrian , or Spaniard , they would come armed with all the advantages of science and skill , their rifles will reach as far as ours , and they cannot be met but by men prepared to meet them with ,. equal skill , thoroughly disciplined , and of equal science . How were they to prepare to do this ? Were they to levy an enormous army to defend the shores of Great Britain , or have a powerful fleet to move up and down the Channel ? But were they prepared to pay the extra taxes that either of these plans would involve ? Ought they not rather to put their own shoulders to the wheel , and by a

      little exertion on their part endeavour to meet the requirements of the present emergency , rather than force that additional service on the Queen ' s troops who were paid for their services . He addressed those who were not enlisted in the regular army or in the militia , but who had comfortable homes and families to defend ; these were called upon to give up a little of their time , to know how to move in companies , to know their right hand from their left , how to conceal and how to skirmish , and how" to fire their rifle with precision . But all who joined must be prepared to make some little sacrifice , and by acting together , as he had stated , they would be able to assist each other and more effectually defend their hearths and homes .

      At a public dinner at Newcastle , Earl Gket said : "I confess that it appears to me to be of great importance for the nation ' s safety that there should be efficient bodies of volunteers formed upon a very large scale indeed . I hope that we shall soon be able to reckon upon the services of 50 , 000 men—I should be glad if it were even double that number —but , at all events , upon the services of 50 , 000 men , well drilled , and well taught in the use of that formidable weapon , the rifle , ready at a moment ' s notice to come forward in the defence of our common country . I know there are some persons who throw cold water , if not absolute ridicule , upon the present movement in favour of the formation of volunteer rifle corps . I have hear it said , ' What is the necessity for doing so ? We have no near neighbour which

      who can possibly attack us , except France , by its geographical position" is the only European Power from which it is possible to apprehend any attack , and with France we are upon the very best terms . ' Far be it from mo to impute to the Emperor of the French , or the gallant nation which he governs , that he or they cherish hostile designs against this country . . 1 am willing to give him credit for those assurances of a friendly disposition towards England which we arc told are constantly reiterated by the Emperor , but still I say that within the last few years circumstances have arisen which make it expedient that this country should increase its means of dofencc . We have had very recently the strongest proof of how very great and sudden an effort France can niuko » for at a moment when we wore told that she could not

      carried except it was indispensably necessary to the existence of the Government . They who were listening at the keyholes of power heard mutteringa arid murmurings that both parties were now inclined to do them , justice . So much the better for them . He thanked them for nothing when he got nothing , but he would thank them much when he got a little . But it depended on the weight of the knock whether it would be heard or noCand he was for knocking loudly and incessantly till the door was opened . When they met last Lord Derby was in power , and nothing was then said to show any distrust of his government in this matter . But Lord Derby ' s government were unable or unwilling , or perhaps partly both , to pass such a bill as they could accept . It fell ; and so he hoped would every government that its

      foundered in broad daylight , and did not do duty to the people . What was party to them or to him , compared with the contentment and satisfaction of the people ? They saw that the people were ready to undergo fatigues and unusual discipline for the sake of defending the honour and glory of the country , and yet they were told that these mep , who showed that they were ready to sacrifice their time , their comfort , their money , and it might be their safety , for ' their country , were not entitled to have a voice in the imposition of taxes . If the next bill did not include Chelsea , it would be their duty to come there again . If their wishes were not complied with they should become extremely nasty , as Mr . Bright said . They should become extremely troublesome and noisy , if the Government , imitating the errors of its predecessors , did not do them ample , fullcompleteand speedy justice .

      , , The Volunteer question has again , this week , brought out some men of mark as orators . At Bedford Xord Wensletdalb said : — " He could himself rely with confidence on the declaration made by that extraordinary man , the Emperor of the French , that he is friendly to this country . He did not believe the reports that the French people were hostile to England ; and especially the great body of the good and sensible had no unfriendly feelings towards us , but as in individuals so in nations ; an individual was subject to ebullitions of passion when he found his own interest assailed , so in the case of nations , though it was the interest of all , and particularly of this

      country , on account of her commerce and manufactures , to be at peace . But still he contended the country ought to be placed in such a condition a . s to be able to meet any contingency , whatever might happen . He was sorry to say , looking at the present condition of the country , whilst it had largely increased in wealth and power , it was more vulnerable to outward attack than it ever had previously been , and he believed that at this moment no country in Europe , was less defensive , and m liable to the conflict of a sudden invasion . He knew it might be said that the country had already a paid body of armed men ; but that paid body of armed men did not preclude the possibility of obtaining

      another body from the population , that they may be trained to arms , taught tho use of the rifle , and be made use of in case of need . He remembered the volunteer movement in 1803-4 . At that time it was proposed by the ministry to introduce a bill giving Government power to levy en masse ; the object of the measure was , in fact , to compel every able-bodied man to take arms , unless the volunteers came forward in sufficient numbers to obviate that necessity . The bill gave a right to the Crown to call upon the subject in time of threatened invasion . In former times all the people were trained to arms , archery for instance , as a matter of legal compulsion ; hence tho superiority of the English as archers , and

      the bow became a powerful weapon whether employed in foreign or domestic warfare . Ho should be very sorry to see any necessity for compulsion . At the time he alluded to the great political leaders of that day , Mr . Pitt and Mr . Fox , though the loaders of opposite parties , both expressed their opinions in nearly the same language , and ho had been very much struck with the application of what Mr . Fox said to tho presont time . He said ho gave his hearty concurrence to tho measure ; ho could not oppose a measure which tho state of tlio war made necessary . Ho could , conscientiously support tho measure , because it waa for

      disarm , becaxise she had never armed , in im - dibly short spaco of time sho was able to assemble beyond tho Alps an army of 200 , 000 or aoo . ooomcn . Now , gentlemen , I say that when wo seo all these measures we are bound also to look to our own means of protection . I am quite aware that when I speak of tho dofonco of the country every Englishman feols that tho first and greatest reliance should bo placed in our navy , ( cheers . ) I beliovo vo can roly upon it . I trust thnt tho Britiah navy » s , " ¦ " <* I hope that it loner will bo . in a state in which its do

      need not fear to meet any hostilo floot that mny brought against it . Gentlemen , iri these days of a town , andespocially when French steam transports have boon constructed on euoh a gigantic scale thattnoy can carry , wo are told , 2 , 000 men , ami tov a vory ^ snore passage oyon 3 , 000 men with a fair proportion ol nruilery—I eay in those days it uoos appear to mei tniw we cannot too confidently reckon upon its DO » n S impossible that a hostile expedition might oludo our navy and bo thrown upon our shores . I trust tnw suoh a contingency ia not Hkoly to happen \ but a do Bay tlmt such an attempt is fur inoro Hkoly to do made if it is known that tho party to ho attaoicou docs not possess tho means of promptly encountering tho force to bo landed . On tho othor hijna , aontlnmnn if it la Irnnton ( Imf n ImaHin nXnCUltlOHi

      tho dofonco of tho country more than for any object of offensive war . Ho rolled principally upon tho armed mass of tlio people to resist invasion . As to any regular force , he wished it to bo as gront a good as possible ? yet ho could no more think of placing his entire depondonco upon tho regular forces than on our navy \ both might bo excellent , yet subject to events j whereas tho mane of a groat people , instructed in tho use of arms , waa a aafo and permanent security , that did not depend on the event of ono battle , nor would by any untoward circumstances bo rendered inefficacious . Mr . Fox wont on to express a hope that an armament of this nature might bo obtained voluntarily , and without any

      most common sense is not worth the having . Do your duty to tho best of your power . Win the approbation of your own conscience , and popularity in Its best and highest sense is sure to follow . " At a meeting for tho enfranchisement of tho borough of Chelsea , Mr . Tokkwns M'Oui ^ aou w ' ns present , and said that tho pvomisos made by a XAboral Government were not much more to bo relied on than those of tho Tories , Tho recorded promises made wero so long overdue that lie confessed his faith was stono cold . Ho therefore praised , upon tho mooting most earnestly to rely upon themselves and their own contribution to tho power of public opinion , and on nothing else whatsoever , because in the presont nicely-balanced state Of p arties in Parliament no bill . whatever would 1 ) 0

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 31, 1859, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_31121859/page/4/