The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-16

| believe TO be a great ntefest-and why3 Sir we
have only four working days OF the session before
and we have all the appropriation bills yet To act upon
and here we commence with much fervor and rs much
zeal TO debate this question as II we were IN the first
week OF The session Tie question now is taken 10 be
whether this is TO be given to The mechanics or 10 the
army and that to be debated both sides OF the cham
Der. Sir no mechanic Will ever be pat at The head OF the
armones. That Is out OF The question. The mechanics
have nothing TO do with this, nor has thesrmy. These
hcers do not care one cent whether they are IN or not
They get their pay independent OF that II imposes new
duties upon them But know my colleague did not want
10 do any injustice aay one and certainly the
officers, 10 their friends, or TO us who conscenously
believe that there ought 10 be some little investigation be-
fore act We may be wrong in that. / believe we
are for far as can Judge, we act more rapidly with
out Investigation than we do with investigation. But,
Mr.. President, am chairman of the Military Committee
and presume that they would come 10 me If they would
come 10 any one; and can say that not sngl man,
either officer or friend OF officer, called the
subject until sent Tor them 10 and give inior-
nation on the subject So that. far am concerned
can exonea,e these gentlemen from anything of that
sort But know my colleague would not wish to do
Mr.. DOUGLAS | do not mean 10 do any injus-
tce bnl Is my colleague ignorant OF the fact that there
are within the range OF his eye now, in this chamber
elecioneerlng Tor this very measure on his side OF the
question know them. see them. They respect
able gentlemen. They have right 10 be here and we
know II is So and senators them all around.
There is no use, therefore, in making issue upon any
such question
Mr. SHIELDS see good many gentlemen in the
range of my eye but cannot any whom | know TO
be such my honorable colleague alludes 10.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Then know more about II than my
colleague does-lhat is ALL
Mr. SHIELDS. have not risen 10 reopen this argu-
ment repeat, that the question now stands, 1t is
only whether we shall have an investigation and exam
inaon not do not wish to enter al length into the
question All that would do now IS 10 call tor the yeas
and nays, and hope that the vote will be taken.
Mr. RUSk, There has been an investigation. The
Senate will hear witness that have been forced into
this debate, spuTred by the senator from South Caro-
lima and others, who have said is the outside pressure
OF persons who want these places that is made 10 have
uHp rhay ia huah anp ~
burden OF two or three speeches. There is influence
at work | have about many army Off
here Others but have conversed with them,
have seen heard anything 10 justify imputaions
any ofhcer or citizen. The senator says there are
great many men here. Ttefe are many men, and many
ladies about here too The ladies' have not attempted 10
influence me. They could have Influenced me consider
ably they had tried. tLaugherl have made an in.
vesugaon OF this natter SO Tar as 10 satisfy my mind
that is right and proper 10 put the armoes under the
direction of civil superintendent. am not al all aston
ished al the OF the honorable from Ten
nessee, Tor he is to extent responsible for the M
PRODUCTION OF the military system This subject has been
before the Committee Military Affairs the House OF
Representatives and report was made upon il on the
18th OF August 1882 by the chairman of that committee,
IMT. GoRMAN, gentleman OF high intelligence. This
is what the report says:
"a short time subsequent to the transfer of Colonel Tai
four officers OF the board of ordnance designated
by The Secretary OF Was proceed to Europe, and visit
the most important arsenais cannon ioundres and
in the discharge Of The duties assigned them. they
turned and made their report in November ls40 From
the purpose have been systema caly and peril
nacous pursued by the head OF that department place
the national arnoes OF the United States under the
administrative system which found prevail in
what similar establishments in of the despotc
nonarchies Of Europe. liany effort made, doubt
less was influence the then Secretary OF War the Hon
Joel r. Ponse % favor this change, that effort proved
"on The An Of March 1871 a new administration came
ia power when MIR. Bell, yielding too ready an ear 10
The suggestions and accommodation OF the ordnance Off
cers,'-
As the committee say ; | do not say So
ION nc lN Of April lsii, Within few weeks alter his
appointment Secretary OF War; dismissed the civil SUI
pefinenden's from office, and appointed military officers
take the charge OF these establishments. How far this
atop IN accordance with, in violation oil law, the
committee will not stop here TO inquire.
Ia the session Of lSili2 the attention OF Congress
invited 10 the SUBJECT and II Is much to be regretted that
was not brought forward independent measure OF
policy, instead Of being blended with the provis-
ions oil bh Tor the general reorganization OF the army
And YET even in that form, when first submitted tile
Senate, that body, by vote of after de
bate, struck the section egazng the military supern-
tendencies. change OF opinion subsequently pro
facts repaired and signed by the head Of ordnance
partmen and placed the desk Of each the
and which statement it confidently believed aud assert
ed could not them and cannot be sustained by impair
tiai evidence la the House Of Representatives the
opposition 70 the introduction Of the military system into
national armorles decided firm, and unyieding,
until differences between the houses reached that
point that became necessary yield this feature OF the
Senate's bill, or lose altogether an important measure OF
# was under these circumstances that this SYSTEM Of
which precedens can only be found among the most des.
potc mona rches OF Europe, caned-a which
resulted in driving from employment hundreds of the
intelligent and valuable mechanics which this government
had In its employment, and which now operates with
crushing and deadening influence. upon the spirits and
enterprise OF those whose necessities still force them
the service OF this branch Of the government
The oomnttee, alter the careful examination,
has been derived the government from the substitution
OF the military for the civil supefincndency.
=" II has not reduced the price Of the musket-
The committee say il has not reduced the price of
the musket-
"but, on he contrary when the large outlay fer new
machinery is estimated; when the price OF labor aud ma
terias under the systemsihe substitution of the
ousson for the flint lockare considered the price be
regarded under the present system greater than II was
under the former.
at has not promoted economy the general c1pondi.
tuTe OF these establishments"
hope the honorable senator from South Carolina [Mr
BU1LERl will listen TO the reading OF this report The
Collins line of steamers furnishes him knock-down ar
gument to anything that say the subject OF
omy, and he even proposes TO institute a comparison OF
votes with me IN that respect Well, will submit TO IT,
II will he remembered that day or two since more than
amillion OF dollars appropriated, and that too If
remember Alright, IN this appropriation BILL for fortifoa
tons which are a dead expense 10 the county
Mr. BUTLER. did moi vote for that, so that the gen.
tleman has not got me there tLaugbter.l
Mr.. RUSk. | saw good many OF the gentemans
associates who did vote for these amendments
Mr.. BUTLER And you thought that birds Of a feather
always fooked together
MIR RUSk. ] voted against them The appropriation
for Notifications dead weight and dead expense in
my opinion, while the Collins steamers were active,
energetic establishment However, will 90 on with the
report OF The committee relating 10 the economy of the
course pursued at the srmores Perhaps the senator
VIII axe mat as he does not seem disposed TO believe in
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