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J A N U A
In order to do this, Sir, l must
hegin with a short examination of
the militia act we have now subsisting,
and with reSpect to it l mutt
grant that, if due care had bern taken
to carrv that law into execution,
our militia might always have
been upon a much hetter Sooting
than they are at prefent, but what
prevented the due execution oS that
law is now at an end. When that
law was pasted, and Sor manv years
aster, the dispute still Subsisted among
the people, tho' determined
by che legistature, about the power
of the crown over the militia,
which difpute had bern one of the
causes of the civil war in the reign
of Charles die First, and the maxim
likewise Subsisted, that the keeping
up os any number os mercenary
troopr in time of peace, was so
Inconsistent without constitution, that
the parliament ought never to consent
to it. Whilst such a dispute,
and Such a maxim prevailed, we cannot
wonder at the crown's neglecting
the militia, in order to render
the keeping up of a standing army
necessary But now, l helieve,
no man disputes the power which
the crown ought to have over the
militia ; nor is any man now So
wrong-headed as to think, that we
ought not always to have, even in
lime oS peace, with conSent oS parliament,
Such a number os regular
troops as may he necessary Sor pref'ering
onr internal tranquility, and Sor
opposing any Sudden invasion as may
be made with a Small number of
Hoops. A well disciplined militia
can theresore now no way interfere
with the power or safety of the crown,
but on the contrary will he an addition
to both, and consequently we
may expect that, if a proper lavs he
pussed for establishing a well disciplined
militia, the crown will take all
possible care for carrying it duly into
execution.
But, Sit, with respect ro the law
Subsisting, it is scarcely possible
R Y, 17^7. 21
Sor the crown to cause it to be carried
duly into execution- The intention
oSthe law certainly is, that none but
gentlemen oS character and fortune
shall be appointed officers in the militia
; hut as the lord lieutenant in each
county has an unlimited power ro appoint
whomsoever he pleaSes, it is not
possible Sor the crown to prevent the
appointing Some men oS low rank and
fortune, and when any one Such is
appointed, gentlemen of' Superior rank
and fortune disdain to Serve with Such
ossicers, and refuse to accept of, or
throw up the commissions they have
accepted ; by which means all the
commissions in our militia have come
at last to be generally in the hands of
men oS low rank, arid little or no fortune.
his is one of the chief causes
that has brought our prefent militia
into such contempt ; and another is,
a defect or omission in the act itself ;
for no provision is therein made for
continuing any foot soldier in the service
sor Such a time as may make him
any way master of his business ; and
the horse militia provided by that act
is ridiculous ; for there is no obligation
upon any man to furnish such a
horse as is trained to the service, without
which no cavalry can be of any
use, but must occasion confusion
wherever they are. The advisors of
the bill now before us were therefore,
I think, in the right not to provide for
any horse militia ; Sor such a one is indeed
impoSlible, unless you established
a riding house in every division ; and,
indeed, in a country so much inclosed
as this is, there is no great occasion
sor cavalry ; for a body of infantry
may always, by means of our in-
Ciofures, prevent their being liable to
be attacked by cavalry ; and for securing
a distant pass, a body of infantry
may be mounted on horseback when
great expedition is necessary.
I could mention many other defects,
^ir, in the militia laws now suba
fisting, every one of winch, as well
as those l have mentioned, are provided
for by the bill now hefore us ;
therefore,