The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-02-03
From the Nashville American.
Portxr's BeIf-LosdI.g Gua

we have not as yet referred toihe report made by
Joint select committee OF the two houses of the assembly
OF which Gen. J. w. Whitfield and D. M Currin. esq 4,
were charmen in regard to the sell loading gun OF Col
Z. w. Porter, OF Memphis.
The memorial OF the ingenious inventor sells forth
THAT, after several years of severe labor he has sue
ceeded IN bringing to perfection Gfe-arm which both
loads and fires itself. and for which he has obtained
patent from The United States His gun pistol per.
fectly safe, is free from complication in its machine
ry susceptible OF being loaded and fired least forty
times in minute, shoots with as much accuracy
as any rlie, and propels its ball with greatly
force than the ordinary rifle Taking for granted that
all Iennesseeans know something about firearms, ask
leave 10 submit specimen OF my gun to the examination
this memorial 10 ask your honorable body operate
with his excelency Governor Campbell in calling upon
the War Department at Washington purchase for the
State OF Tennessee such number of my fire arms as the
Stale IS entitled 10 receive under the appropriation made
for this purpose by Congress under existing laws If your
examination should be satisfactory TO the merits OF my
Campbell by the adoption OF resolution calling upon
the authorities at Washington TO make the purchase be-
sP W. PORTER"
The joint committee have reported as follows
"The committee have had full opportunity OF exam.
lining the regun submitted to them by the inventor and
they have witnessed its operation, and have carefully
veslgated its machinery and Its whole construction They
satisfied that the gun better guarded safety
and avoid accidents Than any which has come a.
liable become deranged the machinery OF the ordinary
rife IL will require but short time the the gun
to become familiar with It's management The invention
can DO applied TO auy species Of fearmeher the ps-
ol shotgun rifle The gun be fired with much
accuracy any rifle, and, consequence the mode
riding 1t, propes the ball with much force than
common rifle. IL will answer for sporting gun for
target shoong and in battle 1t necessarily be the
most destructive tirearm used Ii be fired with
certainty at least forty times in a minute, and without
danger of accident explosion.
The committee fully satisfied that this invention
will in short time supersede all other fire. arms and they
are strongly inclined TO hope that account OF the de-
suctve character OF this gun weapon, IL will
have powerful influence in preserving the peace OF
nations II is matter OF no little pride with the committee
that the inventor Of this reur citizen of Tennessee
Believing, the committee do, that is OF the inn
poant inventions OF the they regard the prayer Of the
mcmoalist entirely reasonable, and, the
into effect, recommend the adoption OF the following
buttons:
Resoived by the General Aseby Of The Stale Of 1smnes
That the ofthe State is hereby recommended
to call upon the department Washington for such a
number OF Porters selfoading and seEprimng rifles
State be entitled to under existing laws Tor dis
button OF arms amongst the States.
Resoped That, in the opinion of this assembly,
inventor the right manufacture and the selfoadng
Rs.oiuea Thaki6e governor Of the State is requested to
forward copy OF this report each OF and
representatives in Congress"
We have had the pleasure of seeing the operation Of
this formidable instrument OF war; and cordially bear
mony 10 its power. Its adoption by nations would do
more TO hasten the coming of lime I" when the lion and
the lamb should lie down together" than all the
that could be preached upon the horrors of for the
next hundred years. The government should by all
means bring il into requisition.