MILICIENS

4. — La milice se composera de tous les habitants mâles du Canada, âgés de dix-huit ans et plus, et de moins de soixante ans, non exemptés ou déclarés inhabiles aux termes de la loi, et sujets anglais de naissance ou par naturalisation; mais Sa Majesté pourra appeler au service toute la population mâle de la Puissance, en état de porter les armes, survenant le cas d'une Levée en Masse.

5. — La population mâle ainsi appelée au service dans les rangs de la milice, sera partagée en quatre classes :

La première classe comprendra les hommes âgés de dix-huit ans et plus, mais de moins de trente ans, non mariés ou veufs sans enfants.

La deuxième classe comprendra ceux âgés de trente ans et plus, mais de moins de quarante-cinq ans, non mariés ou veufs sans enfants.

La troisième classe comprendra ceux âgés de dix-huit ans et plus, mais de moins de quarante-cinq ans, mariés ou veufs avec des enfants.

La quatrième classe comprendra ceux âgés de quarante-cinq ans et plus, mais au-dessous de soixante.

Et l'ordre précédent sera celui d'après lequel la population mâle sera appelée au service.

DIVISION DE LA MILICE

6. — La milice sera divisée en Milice Active et Milice de Réserve :

La Milice Active comprendra la Milice Volontaire, la Milice Régulière et la Milice Navale.

La milice volontaire se composera des corps levés au moyen de l'enrôlement volontaire.

La milice régulière se composera: des hommes qui s'enrôlent volontairement au service dans la milice, — ou des hommes tirés au sort pour le service, — ou de ceux qui s'enrôlent volontairement pour servir avec les hommes tirés au sort, et des hommes tirés au sort.

La milice navale se composera des marins, matelots et personnes ordinairement employées sur les embarcations à voile ou à vapeur naviguant dans les eaux de la Puissance.

La Milice de Réserve comprendra tous les hommes qui ne servent pas alors dans la milice active.

APPEL DE LA MILICE

60. — L'officier commandant tout district ou division militaire, ou l'officier commandant aucun corps de milice active, pourra dans les cas soudains et inattendus d'invasion ou d'insurrection, ou d'appréhension imminente de l'un ou l'autre de ces dangers, appeler, en tout ou en partie, la milice placée sous son commandement, jusqu'à signification du plaisir de Sa Majesté; et la milice ainsi appelée par son officier commandant devra, immédiatement, se conformer aux ordres qu'elle pourra en recevoir, et se diriger sur toute localité, dans ou hors les limites de son district ou de sa division, qu'il pourra désigner.

61. — Sa Majesté pourra appeler, en tout ou en partie, la milice au service actif, dans ou hors la Puissance, lorsque la chose sera en aucun temps jugée à propos, en conséquence de guerre, invasion ou insurrection, ou d'appréhension d'aucun de ces dangers; et les miliciens, ainsi appelés au service actif, continueront de servir pendant au moins une année à compter de la date à laquelle ils auront été appelés au service actif, s'il y sont tenus, ou pour toute période plus considérable que Sa Majesté pourra fixer;

2. — Sa Majesté pourra, de temps à autre, ordonner à toute Division Régimentaire d'avoir à fournir le nombre d'hommes requis soit comme renforts ou pour remplir les vides dans les corps en activité de service;

3. — Lorsque la milice sera, en tout ou en partie, appelée au service actif, en conséquence de guerre, invasion ou insurrection, Sa Majesté pourra la placer sous les ordres du commandant de ses troupes régulières en Canada.

Débats sur la Loi de 1868, 0) Le 31 mars 1868:—

HON. Mr. CARTIER: — He expected, under the provisions of his

Bill, to provide that the number of trained men within the Dominion should not be

less than 40,000 If a sufficient number of volunteers should not corne for-

ward to complète the required number, there would be a ballot for the sélection of the quota necessary. If the population between the âges of 30 and 45 were not sufficient they would hâve to fall back upon the respectable (laughter) portion of the community, between 45 and 60 (149)

HON. Mr. CARTIER (after recess) : — In resuming said that if the uieasure which he now had the honor to introduce, had been the law of the land during the past three years, the defence necessary for the protection of the country would hâve been provided at a lower expense than that which had been incurred, and though he hoped that no such invasions would be repcated it was necessary to be prcpared to meet them, in the firm détermination of the country to remain British (150)

Mr. JONES (Leeds) :— Let us suppose that this prindple of vo-

lunteering for the defence of foreign powers should be carried out more extensively, and that young men of Ontario, who hâve received military instruction at the public expense, should engage in the service of Garibaldi, and leave Canada in organized bodies to fight on the side of political liberty in Italy, then we should behold the sad spectacle of Canadians educated at the expense of the Canadian public fighting the battles of contending parties on Italian soil. Now, is this what the people of Canada are to be taxed for to the extent of $110,000 a year to furnish soldiers for the service of the Pope and Garibaldi? What I contend for, Mr. Speaker, is, that we hsve neither men nor money to «pare to furnish soldiers for any power whatever; but that Canadians should be encouraged to remain in our own country to assist in défendis* Canadian soil in time of danger, and in maintaining British power on this continent (cheers). — (153)

Hon. Mr. DORION — thought the government measure ignorcd the volunteer and adopted the compulsory System. Still he believed that there was, or would be, no lack of men to carry out the principle (150)

Le 22 avril 1868:—

HON. Mr. DORION : — The battle [entre l'Angleterre et les Etats-Unis], if lt were ever to be fought, must be fought by sea, and not behind any remparts on Canadian soil. The only information which the mlnister would afford

(1) Extraits des Parliamentary Debatea, 1867-68 (compilés par le Times d'Ottawa). Le chiffre de la page est indiqué après chaque citation.

was that some vague conversation of himself or his colleagues had pledged the country to unknown undertakings, the particulars of which he deçHned to furnish, but which, with his militia propositions, would absorb ten per cent of the resources of the whole country (182)

Le 23 avril 1868:—

Mr. MACKENZIE — said that it was impossible to consider the subject of the defence of the country without taking into considération the proximity of the United States, and the probability of aggressive action on their part. He did not regard the United States, as a nation, as hostile to this country, or Great Britain. The wealth and intelligence of that country were opposed to anything like hostilities, but he was sorry to say that there were a class of politicians, some of them even in high positions, who would not hesitate to embroil the two countries in war, if by doing so they could further their Personal interests. The policy of Great Britain, he had sometimes thought, had been too conciliatory towards the United States, but England was a great power and could go a long way in conciliating a foreign nation, which a smaller power could not do without humiliation, and he believed this policy would préserve peace. He would pay a fair amount per head for défensive pnrposes, but there was no comparison between the ability of Great Britain and Canada to pay a war tax per head. There the property was of a personal nature which was easily converted into money, while hère our property was in farms, the occupants of which could not sustain heavy taxation. He thought England was bound to afford us a fair measure of protection. Canada had already spent 116,000,000 in completing canals and $20,000,000 for railways, which gave the Impérial Government easy transportation for troops and munitions of war. It appeared to him that the report of Col. Jervais, and ail such reports had had but one object, and that was to provide facllities for the eacape of British troops in case of disaster. He could not consent to such a misappropriation of funds, and believed that fortifications, if of any use, must be erected

for the protection of the people residing- in the country He thought that

volunteers ought to be specially favored, tastead of discouragement being thrown ta their way, as was proposed by this Bill. He was prepared to support the Government in the production of a Bill which would provide for the necessary defence of the country, as satisfactorily as the past volunteer system had done, but he would be compelled to propose many modifications in the présent measure. — (185)

Dr. PARKER : — He thought the matter of defence should be

settled by treaty between this and the Mother Country; and if it were known that England would défend us, as she was bound to do, it would do more to repel aggression than the training of 100,000 men. If the force proposed by the Bill, was to assist the civil power and repel such invasions as that of 1866, it was altogether too extensive and costly. If it were intended to défend the country against the power of the United States, it would be utterly inadéquate, and could not be looked upon as anything but a monstrous folly (186)

Au Sénat, le 18 mai 1868:—

HON. Mr. SANBORN : — We should look at it as Canadtans, because we

cannot disguise the fact, that we may be left at some future period to our own resources. We hâve been often told by metnbers of the Parliament of Canada, when they were seeking to bring about Confédération, that we were verging towards a nationality, and that this Confédération was a first step towards making as • nation. The whole ténor of the remarks of British statesmen leads us to the conviction that the responsibility of our becoming something great — or less great — according to our ability, dépends upon ourselves, therefore it is onr dnty to view Canada as Canada alone. We hâve hère a home, a nationality — something of which we hâve reason to be proud. We bave also reason to be proud of the country to which we are attached and of the Government which extends protection over us, but we must bave pride for Canada too. Viewing this matter we must not only view it from an Impérial point of view, as for the interest of the Empire, but we muât view it in the lient of our own interest. The Postmaster-General (1) has told us of the amount expended by Great

(1) Hon. Alex. Campbell.

Britain in keeping soldiers herc. He (Mr. Sanborn) believed tliat was not an increascd cxpenditure for Great Britain, as those soldiers must be kept, and they could be kept in Canada as cheaply as anywhere else.

HON. Mr. CAMPBELL : — Every additional colony gives the occasion for the einploymcnt of so many additional troops, thereforc we are tlic occasion of so many additional troops being employed.

HON. Mr. SANBORN — did not think any larger number of troops was kept on account of Canada being a possession of the British Crown. If tliere were, it was for the maintainancc of British power on this continent, front an Impérial, and not from a Canadian, point of view. Suppose a war takes place between the United States and Great Britain, it wonld not be on account of any grievance which we hâve, as Canadians; yet the resuit would be the dévastation of the most beautiful and productive part of our country. Should we not then assert our own peculiar position, and show the state in which we would be pla?cd by the contingencies of war. Then look at the importance of the colonies to briiig power and prestige to Great Britain. Let her be shorn of them, and where would lier naine be in the estimation of the world in comparison to what it is now ? (259-260)

HON. Mr. MITCHELL :— The number of those in England who wish to

throw us upon our own protection is very small ; ail the British people ask of us is that if British treasure is to be spent in Canada, wc should pay our just share to maintain the rights and liberties of the country. He did not think there was a single man on the floor of the House, or any maii who wished to remain a British subject, but was willing to contributc lus fair share for the defence of the country. Thèse Hills will be an évidence to the people of England that we désire to maintain British power on this continent, and it will be an argument against the reasoning of those who désire to sever the connection between us and the British Empire (261)

Dépêche de M. Cardwell, ministre de la Guerre, à Lord Gran ville, ministre des Colonies 0)

(Extraits)

(1) Extract of Letter from Mr. Secretary Cardwell to Earl Granville.

War Office, 25th January, 1869.

"In looking at the document, of which I enclose a copy, entitled "Distribution of Regimental Establishments, 1868-9,' I find that of the whole number of men voted for the current year, 50,025 arc entered under the heading 'Total for the Colonies,' which includes the force in Japan; of this number, viz., 50,025, no less than 16,185 are entered for British North America, under the several heads of Canada, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland."

"Of this last number, 3,592 hâve already bcen recalled, and I hâve had submitted to me a letter from the Colonial Office, dated the 8th ultimo, stating that in the opinion of the Duke of Buckingham and Chandôs (2), a further réduction of the troops servin-, in the Dominion of Canada might take place, so as to Ieave —