§ MR. SARTORISrose to call the attention of the Secretary of State for War to the common practice of purchasing Adjutancies of Militia, in opposition to the declaration which has to be signed by the incoming adjutant; and to move the annulment of the declaration. The declaration which the incoming adjutant made, upon his honour as an officer and a gentleman, was that, in order to obtain the appointment, he had not given, paid, received, nor promised, nor did he believe that anyone had for him, directly or indirectly, any recompense, reward, or gratuity, from any person whatsoever. It was well known that, in the face of this declaration, adjutancies were bought and sold, and the declaration was regarded as a formality. The growing importance of the Militia rendered it necessary to maintain the high character of its officers, and there were some who were so scrupulous that they had refused to append their names to the declaration. 139 The present rule resulted in this, that men were obliged either to sign a declaration they hew to be false, or else forego an appointment for which they knew themselves perfectly well fitted. He therefore moved that the order be annulled.
§
Amendment proposed,
To leave out from the word "That" to the end of the Question, in order to add the words "the declaration which has to be signed by incoming Adjutants of Militia ought to be annulled,"—(Mr. Sartoris,)
—instead thereof.
§ Question proposed, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Question."
§ MR. CARDWELLsaid, he thought he would be able by a very few words to induce the hon. Member to withdraw his Motion. The object of the hon. Member seemed to be to introduce into the Militia the purchase system, which most persons desired to get rid of in the Army. It was impossible to admit that a gentleman could make the declaration referred to, and yet purchase without tarnishing his character. Such a proceeding, in his opinion, was so reprehensible, that he was determined to do the utmost in his power to prevent the sale of adjutancies in the Militia, and he trusted the course this promise indicated would be deemed preferable to the adoption of the Motion before the House.
COLONEL NORTHsaid, he quite agreed with the right hon. Gentleman, and he was sorry to hear it so positively stated that sales of adjutancies in the Militia were of daily occurrence. A man who could read the certificate and sign it, and yet pay money for his appointment, would be a disgrace to Her Majesty's service and unworthy the designation of gentleman.
§ MR. O'REILLYsaid, he was glad to hear the hon. and gallant Colonel so express himself, but, nevertheless, he assured the House that the forbidden purchases were of daily occurrence. He trusted the Secretary for War would be most determined in his action in the matter.
§ COLONEL WILMOTobserved that it was the duty of those who knew of these daily infringements of the rules of the service to make the Horse Guards acquainted with the fact.
§ COLONEL BRISEsaid, he hoped the right hon. Gentleman would make the declaration more stringent than it had been, and would put down the abominable system.
§ GENERAL PERCY HERBERTremarked that if the practice complained of were frequent it should be remembered that the Secretary for War was not easily able to get evidence of the facts in a case. The Lord Lieutenants and the colonels of regiments should be applied to for guarantees that nothing of the kind was carried on among those under their command. He had heard of a case in which a colonel of Militia or Volunteers had received £1,000 to recommend an officer for a post. He was sorry to hear a Member of Parliament palliate the signing of a false certificate.
§ Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.