Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1842-04-28

.lotf TIE public sersiea .a,s...s'.
% Meet days' notice wi,hon, 49, ~
i. eaarge of disobed;enee Of ords,s .s ~
) S SMeisi mfscondael whatsoeser 81 I. = =
n.gner cohtfol than TIA, IL 5 g "a
5 Ns IA asP q, over military ofses,ss
E 49,. - ne Powsrthe department ca,,,
f 49, could not do 50 much a ~, : =
.aser case. Again .itne nsce.... = y y
SO o. eeleTfnee 10 the orders 80 r
= ~ superior aaihori,y bas I'm 80 3
~. Difference 10 The ..o,ss,. IN. os .s.l
4 su'h.ofHly wasnanifested ta.s.lsi
-s.sszs & : ssssnds1ez. Is We are prepased 10
prove. Did the Secretary surely: know
that,ihis Difference was not feItr What
the ''t0ishss'' oi the superior authority are
:hat may'Hn not be embodied 10 ils orders.
and Difference 10 which military man
would .feel but civil officer would not
we are left 10 guess. 0neTeason assigned
Tor The change 70 military supennten-
dency Is, "lhe desired ana proper quail.
hcaiIons are rarely TO be found united in
the same person in civil lie, whose SER
vices canlbe eommau6ed 5v the Govern
ment." Then i: would seem they. are
somefi1es found united 10 The same per.
son in civil lifs. Are they eyer so found
among ordnance officers Even the Sc
cretary does not affirm This. That ths
services 81 properly qualified persons in
TcIyn HE, Cannot be com handed by the
Government, Is an origina idea. AGAIN:
some degree Of practical knowled ge in
The construction OF arms. Is an indispafr.
sable re qaisiie in a superintendent" Has
either Of The Prescott rhiliiafy incumSents
any such Knowledge / MIR Bell himself.
would hardly pretend that they have
Albeit, one ofthem sometime held the
office Of superintendent, OF inspeciinos oi
contract arms. We are plzzled 10 ac.
count far the impeachment q u superin.
tsndents by Secretary Bell. each Of whom
was destitute ofan indispensable requisite
But probably be could do 90 better IN
| der the circumsfaBees ter@ we do rot be.
ileye there is ore officer IN the ordnance
corps who. has any practical knowledge,
! Of he construction Of muskets, thai could
not be acquired by dandy in white kid
! gloves: where's, it was said Of the civil
othcer removed, I'VE use the ,crtfien Ian
gaage ofone Of the superior authority ~
MIR! Robb's experience at Springfield
is invaluable to the Government But.
| continues the Secretary. "a ,superiaen
dent must have some practical knoyledse
in the use Of. arms" Tmuskets, We SUP.
pose. What are the clsims Of tie off.
GER at Springfield 10 this qualification
lRs esaEfu hsAadi notice mem IL doe. Ii1,5
OF bis haIr.bre.dih ,scapes ID the INN; 4.
peDt deadly breach, no bulletin ID hds
brought report. But il active service as
an officer ID the regular Infantry. 10 the
several battles fought before New. Or
leapsS during the memorable campaign Of
iSl4Al5, be evidence or "practical
knoRledge,in the-use of arms, theu has
Mr. Bell7emoved from the superintendent.
'cy man who possessed st'leasi one Of The
Indispensable requisites" for The Office
Finally, Some degree Of science" Is
requisite. This is rather vague, 10 say
the least. The superintendent conducts
the correspondence Of the artnory, con-
tracts for supplies, employs Rorkmen, and
/ 6xesiih rates Of their wages. fwhen This
dutyFis not assumed by the superior au-
thority, makes returns and reports TO the
ordnance office, and manages the Frances
Eof the establishment (Another officer il
employed by law, TO attend 10 the m e.,
chanical operations Of the manufacture, ],
May not civil superintendent do these
i duties as well as a militaryi' As lolhe
individual removed. the prosperous con
dillon of~the finances Of the armory wher
!: he left il proves the skill 10 That depart
lmenl: the reduced cost OF the armsprove
| his Judgment and economyin the con
tracts: the improved quality Of The work
and the high charscter Of the vorkmen, Isl
testified on the foor Of Congress and else
where. eyincef his prudence 10 the selec
ton Of men, and appointment Of Inspector
of the work; and IL is believed The az
chives Of the department cannot furnish
samples OF returns Of equal extent TO bis
from any other eStablishm eUi !. Of superb
if ofequsl accuracy and beauty, or NOR,
closely comfortable TO regulations. W!
challenge the comparison. Whatever 0
science be had pr bad not he vas appointed
\ 10 Springfield after much official person
al, and intimate acquaintance. by Sc
cretary. whose science. military expert
enee, knowledge of men, and Of The want
Of The service. even Mr.. Bell ought no
10 question. sa..Efzz.
Il was gratifying 10 hear the Hon. Sc
crelary conclude his reasons BY saying
"if this military policy shall fail Their
will be no longer any PrsteEt for fu,ur
changes.