Mr. Secretary Windhammoved the order of the day, for the 2d reading of the Volunteer Officers' Rank bill. On the question being put, that the bill he now read a 2d time,
§ Mr. Alderman Combewished. to be informed, whether the operation of the bill was to extend to the present officers of Volunteer Corps, or to be confined to those who might, hereafter, be appointed?
Mr. Secretary Windhamreplied, that the provisions of the bill were to apply to all officers of Volunteers. The bill was to enact a regulation which, he was sure, no gentleman could entertain a doubt of the propriety of adopting, namely, that no yeomanry, or volunteer officer should command a field officer of the line. It had been, at first, his intention, to provide, by a legislative measure, that no volunteer officer should command a captain of volunteers, provided that captain was in the command of a corps; but, in consideration of seine suggestions made on the subject, he was disposed to recede from that intention. It appeared to him a Matter of such obvious necessity, to provide against the possibility of field officers of the line being commanded by volunteer officers, that, he was confident, no such officer would feel any objection to the measure.
§ Mr. Alderman Combeadmitted, that it would be right to adopt such a provision, if the rank of volunteers was now, for the first time, to be adjusted; but, as they derived their rank from .an act of parliament, he should feel it his duty to oppose this measure, which was to deprive them of it.
Mr. Secretary Windhamobserved, that this bill was intended, merely, to correct an unadvised grant of rank,contained in the act of the 44th of the king. The hop. gent, admitted, that it would have been right, in the first instance, to withhold this rank. What ought not to be granted at all, ought, certainly, not to be continued, when unadvisedly granted.
§ Mr. Percevalasked, whether it was intended to apply the same regulations to militia officers; or, whether they were to stand, on the same footing with the regulars?
Mr. Secretary Windhamreplied, that this bill was not to apply to officers of militia, in the same manner as to volunteer officers. There were different descriptions, and different degrees of discipline; and the nearer any one approached to the perfection of the regulars, the less. necessary it was to resort to such precautions as that contained in the bill.
§ Mr. Percevalthen added, that there were many persons colonels, commanding regiments of volunteers, who had served 1021 in high rank in the regulars; and who were as well, if not better, qualified to take the command of officers of the line, than any militia colonels.
§ Mr. Holt Leethought the effect of the measure would be, to produce a degradation of the commanding officers of volunteer corps, in the eyes of those they commanded He wished to know, whether the operation of ale bill was to have force only in the event of the volunteers being called out into actual service?
Mr. Secretary Windhamreplied, whenever the volunteers may be drawn out to act with the army; unless in that case, the provision of the bill would be a mockery. The bill was then read a 2d time.