The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-08-11
ARMY BILL-PorNsrrr,s QulapLlNo.


Murder will out. We felt thorough con
viction that the Secretary of War, in the letter
in which the attempt was made TO exonerate the
President from al blame in respect 10 the Army
project was guilty Of shameful quibbling and
unmany regeneration. We avowed this OPT
MON at the time of the publication of that letter
We thought there was dsingenousness apparent
upon the face of the letter and we, moreover had
reasons TO believe that the impression sought to
be conveyed by the Secretary, was contradcted
by the facts. He stated in that letter, that the
Army Bill which he submitted to Congress on
the goth of March, tnds reported 10 Congress-
upon a call Of the House''-"was sent 10 that
body, aoiHtom being previously submitted 10 The
President" "Uuh Il or is details, therefore,
he had nothing TO do, !" &c.
The facts begin to leak out. 1t appears from
the following letter from Mr.. Phelps, Senator
from Vermont, to Mr.. Rives which we find in
the Petersburg Intelligencer, that bill, IN all
important features identical with that commu-
nicated on the goth March, on a cali Of The
House, was laid before the Senate's Committee
early in the session. We copy Mr.. Phelps
letter, and the pertinent comments Of the Intel
lgencer Is there man who believes that
Van Buren, knew nothing of this important bill
on the goth Of March, which had been submit
ted to the Senate months before, and who will
venture to acquit the Secretary of War OF pre-
varlcaton
HARPER's FERRY, June 20, 1910.
Dear Sir In answer to your inquiry, have
only time TO say, that very early in the present
session of Congress, a bill in form, emanating,
as understood, from the Secretary of War, was
laid before the Committee of the Senate on the
Militia of which Committee ! am a member.
That bill, which suppose accompanied the
annual communication of the Secretary Of War
to Congress, was, in all important features,
Identical with the plan communicated by the
Secretary to the Committee of the House Of
II representatives under date of the goth March
last. The bill to which | alude, was for some
time, the subject OF inquiry by the Committee.
What has become of ii, or why il has not been
printed know not-but that such a bill was
reported and submitted with the annual report,
is not to be questioned.
! would explain further, but having already
made written statement, which is now in the
hands of the publisher, and which will probably
be published refer you to that when il shall
appear.
In haste, yours,
SAMUEL S. PHELPS.
To the Hon. VIM c. RvEs.
Here we have statement, from an honorable
gentleman, positively affirming that EARLY III
the session, bill IN form, emanating, as he UNI
derstood, from the Secretary of War was laid
before the committee Of the Senate, of which
he was member, and that bill was, in all i'm
portant features, identical with the plan com
municated by the Secretary to the committee of
the House of Representatives. What then be-
comes of Mr.. Poinsett's statement that the plan
was sent in obedience to call of Congress, and
without being submitted to the President Mr..
Phelps states that the plan submitted to the
Senate accompanied, as he supposes the an
nual communication of the Secretary If this is
true, and there is reason to doubt il, the Sc
crctary is convicted of falsehood, for he says ii
was sent in obedience to call of Congress-
When it is remembered that during the last
summer, the President and Secretary were ex-
aiming the military defences Of the country
with reference to the boundary troubles and the
Canadian ifficulties-when it is recollected that
plan for organizing the militia, identical with
the plan afterwards submitted was sent into the
Senate at an early period of the session, it will
require a stretch of credulity which we are not
equal TO- to make us believe that the President
was not infinitely informed of all the details OF
the Secretary's plan, Mr.. Ponseu's statement,
and Mr.. Ritchie's guesses and wishes TO the
contrary notwithstanding - Pet. INTEL