Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-12-29
For rnE ARGUS.
MAVUeAcroRY OF ARMS.


LATURS
| The pablo manufactnry of arms has al
really engaged 50 much attention, tha,
strong yeaSons cught to exist before az
attemp. sin ould be made, 10 excite soIici.
'ude upon any new matters Or propositions
Sensible OF this. l have deliberA ely .eSiec.
Fed upon what am now about to say ;
but before | proceed, deem il necessar,
u premise - That it is not les, the right
than the duty Of every citizen Of free go.
vernment, to nromuigate MS opinions re.
laing TO pub.ic affairs, whenever he can
,fIrd infocnation, which Otherwise might
not be given, and for the want OF which
injury might be sustained. This right
and du'y am now about to exc csc and
shall BE- cautious rot o impo. & moe upon
the readers patisnce, than may be neces
sary 70 impart what kapw aud believe
% he conducive - 3uDlc atiliy.
Having often reflected on the best means
1t Carrying Into effect the patriotic wishss
which relate % this subject, aud co,npar.
lag my experle1ce "a well as reflections
with the modes heretofore Produced,
have formed q variety of objections t,
hose modes. Some of which 1 will now
endeav 10 unfold.
My objections are as follaw
1. To the Situation.
2. To the enormous, expensive and
useless buildings.
8. To the complicated and useless
machinery.
4. To tho manner Of dividing The
parts.
5. To the modes Of 1r9curing gun
scaEbs.
6. To the expense o arrangement.
Before l examine ami demo strae M
reasons for these obiec- 0,,a, will can
fess that the whole NAY be obyated b.
direct contracts to oh. ain arms from in
d'vidrais. Such eoaTacs may be mad
"a either OF the two Ilowing mode
With persons, who will undertake . n1aks
he arms where they choose, or 10 cnn1ec
with the contract, the building with
the tools, utensils and com ponent pa
upon lerns, just and r=as II bic betwee
The psrtes.
If contract of the first description
should be made, il ought to emb- sce~-
The tools and component parts II Of the
secoad, he public agents would have NJ
more to do than to see that the contrac;
vas faithfully executed, a11 10 receive and
dispose of The arms acco ding 20 the will
Of the Lsgisla ure / shall nor hesitate
>nce to say that the reflec ions bestowed
upon che subject, induce me to recon-
mend, the adop ion Of one or the other Of
hese Propositions IF the srst shall be
preferred, the. the buildings nay be rem
ted or sold 20 manufacturers. II this there
will be no difficulty, because they are wei
adapted for various pursuits.
The arguments, which shall offer to-
support my various obiectoBs, will alsa
support the policy of adop ing the first Oh
the foregoing proposi,ion'. l shall now
proceed TO besoW upon those objections
such illustration as will enable the reade,
not only 10 comprehend my own reasons
but without much trouble to form salisfac
to v determinations for himself
OBJEcTToN THE FIRST, RELATEs TO
Tbs SITUAT ION.
In support OF Ibis objection l shall offer
several reasons. First, because i, is So
circum .cr'bed by private property and o
,her lmpedm:pts that thsre T. moi room 10
appropriate ground for suitable houses
gardens, sc for the persons employed
~ the works. This, upon Sigh, reflector
viii strike every one Wi h obvious force.
Were il Otherwise, and each workman
was prov idyd wi h domestic comic IS, ne
would fee, a local attachment to the
place * the dim u ti.ion OF expense pro !
cesding from this cause alone, would ius
'uiy and induce him, 10 reduce the prices
Of his labor. SecoHdy the amory bsne
row within the jurisdiction OF he Guy OF
Richmond and subject to its police, tn
wJikmeu are the eDy exposed 10 ks0mt
and Injurious duies and regulations, lto ON
whch in situation property chosen they
you'd be exempt. Thirdly In The pFesen
siluat ~, the public in .erestis moe ex
posed, ADD cons,q ien.y The Pubic desIgn
mo liable to be obs ructed by li-c, from
- ernal a. veil a, exc nal eau 49,, than
would be- The case " i. was 'emote from
o her bpildiug This is a serious cbjec- !
ton, eSiOcnS constant and encceasne
danger, not little heigh ened by the resi-.
dence Ola number Of lamI es within The
building. II here hed been Sdffic,eni
scope to ren; comfortable dwellings Tor The
WO, kWcn there .heu w0Gli b. no o. her