The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-12-09

United. The whole Of these arms have beer
pnt to the proof; and it is to be lamente, :,
that the loss sustained by the public is ST
great as itturns cat obe; onesthird of the
inusSets, at least having tursted in the trials :
and YET 1t Is n consolation to reflect, how
! many inurie. have been prevented by the
discovery. The rule now adopted in the
| Arnory will. in all probability, leave no
| room Tor doubt or suspCioh, as to the quail
ey OF the arms; because those which do not
! stand the proof, are charged to the maker o.
them, thus securing his fidelity by making
1T his interest tobe faithful, as far as il well
Can be done, until 9 better discovery can be
made IN the progress of the work, which is
but IN ITS infancy In this Country. As soon as
the tMindery and boring machinery were
complicated by Mr. Fuxs,iI, agreeable TO
contract, 1t was deemed not Improper to
apply apart of the funds appropriated by
law Tor the manufacturing of arms, to cast
ing OF Cannon; the words of the law fully
comprehentiing all Kids of arms In con-
sequence OF WHICH thirty six Founders have
been cast and finis;,ed off neatly which
stood the proof. and iittle doub exists of our
being able IN the next year, to- furnish com
pleteiy all The Artillery companies in the
state.
The numher of muskets retained in the
arscna! is 1853; of pistols $50 and of
epce t" the statement of the Superintendent
herewith presented. which also exhibits the
number OF those distributed. The latter, it
- greatly teared, are consigned to destruc
ION, orgreat injury, if we Judge from what
mas happened, and what under Ike circum
stances. may happen agais; large proper
ZION OF the arms heretofore distributed hav
ing been lost or destroyed, and expenses be
ING Continually incurred for the repairs of
as rom Al, III,
/ hcsc circumstances induce a belief IN tit
would be sounder policy to compel every
militia man to furnish himself with arms by
Puf from tue country at as low rate
as possible; and then, and not till then
VIII ne ieel such an Interest in theal. as to
engage his attention properly to them
nose who are too poor to purchase ought
I" be furnished AT public expense, to be
judged OF by the respective county courts,
and their opinion cer,lied TO the Executive
I'D wnlch Case as many arms as may Se re-
quhe", should be sent making the Captains
Ga companies answerabe for che: safe keep
u'g IN that way they may deem best deli
'ering them Out OH muster DAYS, and hav
ing them returned as soon as the use of them
IS dispensed with. the subject however is
submitted with great Difference to the bet
ter Judgment OF Jne Legislature The sur
p'us water beyond the quantity required for
tHc boring mil, and now wasted, would be
'0tncieAI lor al the purposes If forge,
which am informed Can be established at
hti!e expense. There the scalps for the
gun barrels could be drawn to great advan-
cage, better in quality, and cheaper. than
can be obtained atpresent; but l mention
1hls saDJeCt with great deiicaCy, as the loss.
eS ana Charges, attendant on the institution
hitherto, have been unfortunately very
great An estimate however of the cost of
such buliding, shall be laid before the AS
sehioiy hrequrel.
a statement Of he Penitentiary concerns
10 also suo mlttcd to our inspection in which
.lt VIII b. found, thai exclusive of ev6ry ex
pence, prom Of SIS ga results to the com
mon " @aith, which ouaat to be applied TO still
greater improvements i'll THAT institution,
"hlch does SO much honor to humanity, bat
WINCH, ho.withs, anding the encomiums 1T
observes, Ia SUBJECT to- some objections as to
1"e mode vi PunlshmentS Fer, although il
is desirable, because just, TO apportion pu-
instruments to Grimes, as far as can be effect
Gu without mathematical standard, vet
mere are some offences besides those emu
hieratcd In che law, for Committing which
criminal ought to be subject IL death and
mat on sound political motives. Too much
discretion is LETT to the Try in most cases. by
"hcn means the object Of the law is def at
Gu 1t would be much better O fix the scale of
puhishthe nts, and leave nothing to tire Jury
OUT TO md the guilt y innocence Of the per
Soii tried. A highway rnbber or horse thief
IS equally so III every county !; and vet, as
'he la" now stands, the puniphment for the
same offence is often very unequal. The
Jaws being promulgated d, and the puu:shmcnt
hxed 10 every crme according to the degrees
oil It's atiocity, would form as Just criminal
Coae as Is consistent with public safety, and
Win those principles We so Justly admire.
ae distinction drawn between murder i'm the
his' aud second degree, is absurd in the ex-
IRENE. 10 constitute murder, there must
DC malice e1ltre6s or iHfHed, and here tue
punishment should be death for, whose
ever sheddeth mans blood. by nan shall
=" ms blood be shed :" but, III Consequence
OF TINS new distinction, relative to che high
est cflne la nature, all acts of murder, few
excepted, are softened down to the loves,
grade, and the punishment is by con6ne
ment fQf years, At the wnim or caprice Of a
jury. In the Penitentiary, there is now a
man hard upon seventy years of age, who
was sentenced for numbering an aged wife.
by whom he mas sevviai respectable chit
dreh: 4 he period Of this mars cout,ne'
ment IS eighteen ycars--Now, ACCORDING to
me ordinary course of nature, he can have
but few years to live: Here the punish
meht presently Ceases, and the exdmDie cels .
es wan 1t: And, as to reform alton, even III
lie were young man, should not cXuect
much change for the better by his keeping
Dad Company tor we always judge If a uiah