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(00 was a loyal and Patriotie actor in the scenes of those days, threw eurseives during” nt annee Brie authority In le countrye aug et Eses during that

otherwise than as British subjects, and jn defence of British rights, and should any incroachment be made upon our soil bya foreign foe, from causes beyond our

with the Mother Country, then I say, (as an independent member of this House, anû

speaking for myself alone,) the s0oner that connection ceases the better for all parties concerned. ....(160)

Ici, l'orateur lit la dépêche de Lord John RUSSELL, du 3 mai 1841 (Voir pièce 6); et il reprend son discours :

RTS RTE +. Sir, for us to talk of placing Canada in a state of defence against the power of the United States Government, is as ridiculous as it would be for a mouse to assume an attitude of defiance towards an éme PTE PO Such being the Power of our republican neighbors, jt js obvious that for us to talk of defending ourselves against the Government of that Country, if disposed to

Government of the United States, I still adriit that the time may not be far distant, when we may be in some danger of inroads from armed bands of Marauders, acting in defijance of the laws of their Own, as well as those of every other country. Te ÆEuard against such dangers, is a duty elsariy devolving upon us as Canadians ; ft is our duty beyond question to maintain a sufficient force, not only to sustain the civil authorities within our own borders, but to resist lawless aggression, from Whatever quarter it AT US ORIS se (160-161).

Le 6 juin, le colonel Haultain Proposa, au nom du nouveau minis- ‘ère, quelques amendements à la Loi de la Milice :—

…6+.e He was sure that Canada would be always found ready to contribute her Aust share fer her defence.......,........ He thought there could be but one opinion as to our being rendy, éhould the time come, to make ali necessary sacrifices te Preserve our independence and our connection with the mother country. (Hear, hear.),,...,

érései In the explanation which ensued, the opinion was very generally expressed that in the event of war, the pay of the militia would be borne by the Imperial Government. (154-5-8)

Le passage suivant. est cxlrait du manifeste électoral de M. McGee, Publié à la suite des comples rendus des débats parlementaires : —

Mr. MeGEE'S SPEECH AT MONTREAL.............,,... The present is not

of our Colonial ‘defences. I Will only say for myself, gentlemen, what you, as my ced the connexion

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duty is to cultivate n 800d understanding with the United States — that having these maxims to steer by, on the right hand and the left, 1 am still of opinion, speaking 28 a Canadian publicist, that some recognised international status must be found for this country which will preserve her better than any armed force, from being made the battle ground of Quarrels, which she can neither make or avoid. (Cheers), I am not now about to discuss what that international status should be, but 1 may refer those who may be curious in such subjects, to the 30th chapter of the 7th book of Vattel’s “Law of nations’ on the rights and immunities of neutral territories. 1 speak, of course, for myself alone, but 1 avow that my convictions are daily deepening in

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of Belgium in 1839. (Loud cheers). With such An arrangement our own militia would be quite adequate for an internal defence, and Great Britain would be honorably relieved from the anxiety and outlay of her Canadian garrisons. (Cheers.).....(161)

ATTITUDE DÉCISIVE DU MINISTÈRE McDONALD-SICOTTE

Dépêche de Lord Monck, gouverneur-général du Canada, au Due de Newcastle, ministre des Colonies (:)

Quebee, 10th June, 1862.

1. My Lord Duke,—] have the honor to acknowledge your Grace's despatch, No, 119, of May 22nd, covering a letter from Lord De Grey, dated May 10th, in which his

nes and saddiery provided for the Cavairy Militin of Canada should be forwarded to that country.

2. I might have anwered this question by the last mail, but I preferred

supply of military stores to t''1 Colony, have the advantage of knowing the changes which the Legisiature of Canada might have made in the Militia Law of the Province, 3. I have the honor to enclose for your Grace's Information a copy of the Act for that purpose to which I Yesterday signified Her Majesty's assent. 1 also enclose a copy of the Act of which this Act is an Amendment. 4. Your Grace will observe that substantially the amendments consist of provisions

1st. For securing more correct muster Rolls of the sedentary Militia (the whole male Population of the Province between 18 and 60 Years of age).

2nd. For increasing the number of the active force from five to ten thousand men and the number of days’ drill in the year from six to twelve,

8rd. For enabling the Governor General in the event of war, to enlist regiments. independent of the Militia, for the Purposes of the war.

4th. Empowering the formation of Drill Associations amongst persons not belonging to the Active Force.

Enclosure, 5. I have also the hono

No- 2. mission on Militia affairs, appointed early in last spring, and of the Bill

Assentiy get FePort, which was rejected on its second reading De We Loue Assembly. The requisitions which 1 have made to

the Governor General (clause 61), to “call out the militia or any part thereof, whenever invsasion or insurrecticn or

7. The Militia Commission, which numbered amongst its members, military officers and civilians intimately acquainted with this Province, laid it down as their opinion

been organized under its provisions, but still, with the teers sanctioned by the new Act, they would be the only contribution which the Province would, under the law as it now stands, have in its power to make towards its defence

Loto, *e Bill founded on the Report of the Militia Commission had beso law, the Colony would have been entitled, under your Grace

a) Sessional Papers, 1863, march 2d, No 15, piece 3—Sessional Papers, 1868, No 68, page (2) Voir pièce 21.

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13. There are at Present in the Province (including the arms sent out in the Melbourne) in round numbers, 50,000 Enfield Rifles, either in store or in the bands of the Volunteers. My suggestion Î{s that before the closing of the navigation next autumn that number should be raised to at least, 90,000, with equipments and ammunition to cor-

H. The Militia Commission #issested that the number of Field Batteries of Arts lery, active and reserve, should be twenty of 85 men each. 1 am not aware that we have in store in Canada AnY Œuns for arming Field Artillery, There are a few in the hands

rial storekeepers, not for immediate issue, but to Suard against the evil which must ensue should war occur during the winter season, and find the Province

Dhave, &c, (Signed,) MONGK. His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, Dépêche du Duc de Newcastle à Lord Monck (:) (No 103) Downing Street, 21st August, 1862.

hitherto done, since the rejection of the Militia Bill by the Legislature of Canada, and

On the one hand, the Promptitude with which troops and stores Were despatched last wintey, with much inconvenience to the soldiers, and at no inconsiderable expense to this country, shows the readiness of England to defend Canada with the whole power

(1) Sessional Papers, 1863, No 15, pièce 9. — Sessional Papers, 1864, No 63, page 3,

cannot sometions, Reprein fact vhieh 1 mn Minnog ep grelares lnfer from the rejection of this measure, that clthar the Ca. à fes sen detenee, Data Canadian people are reluctant to mabe proper parer ner 0e Car calling constatons of date muse Fe87et (hat, at such à moment, both SMonId Le conne ir construction of their motives and not only by the people of England, but by re Mel those of the United States.

of the pole COST MMent disclaim both the right and the desire 10 intarters in he in that svhers 1 goqeonis 2nd they would evince no concera in (he lai, marrer ie le lo cor dem où bee pepe Mt Connected with an event WAR appears 10 Impnn en NON tism of her people, Arti) If L'urse upon you the importance of speedily resuming measures for some better e have military organization of the inhabitants of Canada than that which now exists, it must hands not be supposed that Her Majesty's ! is Influenced by any particular appreore Îîn y for prennrenieex on he Colony at the present moment, but und prie int, SPrSsity for preparation, which has from time been urged successive Secretaries of State, | men is greatly incrensed by the presence, for the first time on the American Continent, of t out a large standing army, and the unsettied condition of the States. Moreover, Impe the growing importance of the Colony, and its attachment to free institutions, make jt lences every day more essential that it should possess in itself, that, without which no free vince institutions can be secure —… adequate means of self-defence. The adequacy of those nnnot tueans Î{s materially influenced by the peculiar position of the country. Its extent of

vortion of the male adult population at short notice, ;; the dangers of Invasion by an already organized army are to be provided against.

feel en end. would be able to maks Canada safe without the efficient aid or Une e Canadian people. Not only is it impossible to send sufficient troops, but if there were four times the numbers which we are now maintaining in British North America, they must De pperrre, t%e whole of the frontier. The main dependense 0 sub ae #4 must be upon its own people The irregular forces which can be formed from the po. a pulation, know the passes of the woods, arc well acquainted with the country, its ronds,

It is not, therefore, the unwillingness, or the inability of Her Majesty’s Government

to furnish sufficient troops, but the uselessness of such troops without en adequate sé militia force, that 1 wish to impress upon you.

k In your despatch of the 17th May last, you informed me that there were then 14,760

- Nolunteers enrolled, besides others who had been more or less drilled,… 1e 3e far, indeed,

from my intention to discredit either the zeal or the efficiency of these Volunteers who

= nave, I hope, grently increased in number since the date of your despetch; but they

= constitute a force which cannot suffice for Canada in the event of war. might

form an admirable small contingent, but what would be required would be a large army. They might form a force stronger than js necessary in time of peace to secure internal tranquility, but would be inadequate to repel external attack in time of war.

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