GENERAL SIR WILLIAM WILLIAMS ON THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 189, 12 August 1859, Page 4

GENERAL SIR WILLIAM WILLIAMS ON THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT.

At a meeting held at Liverpool on the 19th of May, to take steps towards the organisation of a volunteer corps, General Sir W. Williams, of Kars, spoke as follows :— "Gentlemen, the cause which we are met to advocate is that which must be. the , first in the heart of every man—that is the protection of his hearth and the sacred honor of his wife and family. You may depend upon it that never can be done the moment an enemy lands upon your shores—for on that moment every one of the men must go. and fight, and those that are left behind must be taken care of as best they may. If I told you of the hcrrora of war—of the scenes that I have bf held, you would believe me when I say that the very first movement of a man f9 heart is for his wife and children. (Hear, hear.) Now you have in this great city every means of establishing these institutions which we have now met together to advocate. You have a population of perhaps the most robust men in the world—of the most loyal and attached people to the institutions of the country I will not enter at all,into the details which have been so well laid down by the gentlemen who seconded the first resolution ; but I will say a few words with reference to the establishment of rifle corps—a subject that I have myself advocated in Parliament. There was an idea afloat then that Parlia- | ment would be placing a weapon in the hands of those whom it might have cause to fear. Now God forbid that I should for one single moment harbor such an impression in my breast. (Loud cheers.) lam sure; that every rifle placed in the hands of an Englishman will be used for the defence of his Queen and for the honor of of his country. (" Hear, hear," and cheers.) Having expressed my opinion and recorded my fervent prayer for the success of this movement, I shall leave the details entirely in the hands of those who are so very well able to carry them out both as regards the rifleman and the artillery arm of the service. A few words, hcwever, as regards yonr estuary, or river. You have hundreds, nay I might almost cay thousands, but, at any rate you have many hundreds, of boats cutting about your waters in every direction." Every one of these boats is capable of baing armed for the defence of your estuary in a most efficient manner. I won't say that you should have Armstrong's guns put into them, but you could put an iron gun into the Idow of every one of them. Place a mantlet around the sides, for the protection of your riflemen, with holes to fire through, and then only fancy the hornets'nests 3'ou would place around the head of an enemy who dared to come into your estuary. (Hear, hear.) These things will be heard and read of in other ports of England, where there are estuaries, such as the Thames, Portsmouth, and Plymouth. I therefore throw out these suggestions as mere hints, hoping that these words may- be read there; and I trust in God that the bright example which I hope you will bo the first to set, may be followed by many other cities. (Hear,^ hear.) Now, with regard to these institutions, do not let me mislead you. They are auxiliaries. Believe me riflemen, no matter however adventurous and skilful, will not stop an army (Hear, hear.) Remember, you must have an army, too. I do not mean an enormous arm)', to eat up your resources, but one that you can move in any direction, to be the nucleus ronnd with those splendid corps and irresistible forces can assemble. I will take any part of England, or go upon any gentleman's estate if you are a general officer, you can always see there many posit'ons which you could take up of vast strength. It is the inclosed, state of England whxh so wonderfully adapts it for the action of those very corps of riflemen which your called upon to-day to form. But what I want is to guard against this—only look upon them as great auxiliaries, and don't look upon them as your defences (hear, hear); for if you do, I can tell you that those who have witnessed scenes will know that when you see columns of dragoons, and vast batteries advancing upon you, you must have columns of dragoons, and batteries too, to oppose them. (Hear, hear.) If you, have these united forces that you propose to establish, then you can snap your fingers at the united world: you can take ray word for that. (Great cheering.) ;