The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-06

..,,a,d That isom and after the ist day Of July next
nch Of the act Of Congress approved August 70 io4z
= places national aInoile' under sns ~
an officer OF the ordnance corps be, ana ne sale 10
o. s repealed and rom that day the said arrnories
ha be under that system Of whoh ca
S.sd nrior TO the passage Of said act oil congress.
m. .aset Of This provision is 10 take The armories
t under military superntendence, as they are now,
d 10 place them under the superintendent OF civilians
1aoye 10 strike out that proyso wish 10 leave II as
ma Isy now stands and 10 leave the armorles under
;l;arv observation-disclosures The object OF the provision
came from the House is TO transfer the armories from
he present military 10 new system OF snPentendenee'
md that too in an appropriation bill, without any pre-
vious consideration investigation. think that II is
an improper mode OF legislation.
Mr. DAVIS ! should Ike 10 near me senator IRON
Illinois give some reason for that amendment
Mr. HALE ] rise TO express the same wish when
has been expressed by the honorable senator IRON Mas
sachusetts This provision is one when mas oeeh ogoi
Congress for good lille in different shapes IL has been
here for several years and has been based On
charges brought against individuals VINO nave had .hs SUI
pervisions of these amones wiener oi nov 'ey
had any opportunity meet the charges do mol kaow
freely confess that my Impressions and my peJuaces
thew NAV be SO called, have all been IN favor OF me
change proposed by The OIL as comes ns q, confess that
sncr The subject has been before Congress al s session.
consderations have been addressed 10 me wncn nave
made me doubt some what the proprey 2, my Iome con
aus ,hs snbiect and am unwilling TO retain this
clause as il comes from the House II y IS an nPaA cen
sure and condemnation OF lhe oncsls VINO nave
baan IN charge of these armorles under appointments
from The ordnance bureau unless they have mai an OPP
noriuni,y of being heard. AS naked question: inde-
pendent of any matter OF repaauon connected WIN Inc
a;csT. who have had the supenendence OF the armo.
as am free TO confess that my opinions, my convic-
tong and my pre,udces are all N favor OF putting me
smores under civil superlntendence caAnot readily
e the propre,y OF subeclng machine shop to military
if this change be made proposed by the House.
hope that the Naval Committee VIII 80 sun lu.hef; anu
,hat ,hev will lake the work shops in the navyyads from
under The OF naval ofceTs and put them
under civil ssperin,endence. do not see any reason
why the mechanics who labor IN the ana IN
machine Shops turning wood and metal and all thai sofl
nj thing which belongs 10 the handicraftsmen should De
subject 10 the rigorous and rigid discipline OF military su.
pervsoH II the change IS made here, ana en-
and proper TO make ii here, why not IN regard TO he
navy .yaTds' Win a. a.
INDEPENDENT of the fact that it is connected WIN an az
tack upon the reputation OF genemeG wa1' nonon,u
to answer. should be in favor OF ths measue, snu
should be in favor of carrying 1t out mere are as many
mechanics who work a. me navy thsss armorss Il
the mechanics who labor in armoes under Inc ordnance
bureau shall be freed from military snperntendehce
Certainly hone that the measure OF justice VIII De
sY,ended 10 those who work in The navy-yads who are
far more numerous than those who work IN Inc ar
mories. . ~ c,,.,o. ~
Military Affairs will TO the Senate fully and freely
his views on the subject for confess II IS one OF the
very few subjects which have been before the Senate
s;nce have been here, upon which | am desrous OF
having some remarks made. | am IN doubt am 10
difficulty do not know how 10 vote, and want lISht
from the chairman OF the committee VINO mas lnves.
gated the matter, and who is prepared 10 ehed ighl
Mr.. SHIELDS. really believe that shall no. be
able 10 give the honorable senator the information Whlch
h. seeks; because in my humble opinion, the nforma-
ton should come from the side which asks ior Inc
change There ought to be reasons shown Tor Inc ne
cessity of the change before II rs proposed ms IS
radical change tar this single branch oil 'he ser
vice is concerned. So far the parties MO seek the
change are concerned they have never yet gwen me any
reason for it, have never heard any l can STATE
All ,hnlon nh hc 6HrV
or naval so lar as am acquainted with II, no portion
has been managed inlegeniy, wisely, and itagaiiy
as this portion which is intended TO be cnahged y he
provision which has come 10 us IRON tue rouse lhete
Is but one feeling in the army on that point so lar as
understand it, SO unanimous is the feeling that no mill
ary officer, Secretary OF War or President has ever ye'
made recommending TO change the anories IRON mil
,ary 10 civil supernendence On the Contrary every
application OF the kind that has been made 10 me var
Department has been resisted on the ground that ns
branch OF the service most faithfully performed py
the officers who were charge OF II. Consequently
for nv life any other object IN his change
than this, that there are some men VINO prefer gsuns
these places for themselves they want TO gel Inc ohatge
of these armoes and therefore they want 10 turn Out
the officers who have charge OF them Tor that pur-
pose. -, a. .;I;,.,
service, am as certain in my own mind as am OF my
own existence IL will be detrimental to the economy
and 10 the efficiency OF this branch OF The service ha
il may be an advantage 10 spectators VINO intend 70
convert these aImores into a matter oil speculation,
am also satisfied They have an interest IN this prop,
oson and think that Is the interest winch mas pressed
this matter
should like to know upon what ground the armorie.
are 10 be taken OF The control OF the ordnance bureau
Since they have been under the control OF maj bureau
thew have been coniessedly well managed why should
thew be taken from it, and placed under the control Of
men, we know not who There Is no charge, as IN
derstand agains, the fidelity the honesty the capaby
or The efficiency OF the present officers Va the contrary
this is Of all the branches of the public service lha
which is best managed, 10 lar as | understand II IS
Confessed by body that II never was 40 Well man
aged az il has been under the superintendent oil inc
ordnance corps II under the superintendent OF CIV
ilians formerly, but the department was compelled &c
make change Since then II has been retained IN The
ordnance corps under wing and under democratic admin
sratons and for the simple reasons that these men u
The position which they occupy resist every attempt 10 IN
iroduce speculation and wild expenditures should re-
gret very much any change made, Tor the reasor
that see no necessity in the world for III but, on h'
contrary If the change made, for should prefe
10 abolish the afmores altogether, and keep them out
thia yortex into which they about 10 be plunged
II we are to adopt the proposed change, lei us leave To-
matter open 10 composition all over the country Let u
purchase our arms wherever we can Ind lbem-puchas
The best and the cheapest for see what is coming.
this change be made there is not new project Tor arm
OF any kind which will not be before us asking ior appo
priaiona nj the next session.
Mr. MILLER Mr. President, am in favor OF To-
amendment proposed by the honorable senator iron
Illinois As the law stands, the armores are unde
the OF gentlemen great skill and OF hg
character speak particularly OF The armory at Spring
field The urmories under the control and supetvls
ion of officers OF the ordnance corps. IL proposed
the bill m came from The House, 10 take the armoIe
away from military superintendent and transfer hem
civil superinendenee. have heard no reason LOT I'M
change assigned in the Senate out OF the Senate,
in committee, except objection 10 the Individual VIII
had the OF one OF these afmores Ihei
has been general principle OF obecuon urged and