Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-03-05
CONGRESS.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1858.
IN SENATE.

the Committee on Foreign Relations ana ordered TO De
rinted.
Also from the Department Of War; communication
made in compliance W th resolution Of the Senate call
aS information TO the best means Of defence, &C.
Portland at the entrance Of Penobscot river IN Maine
which, motion by MIR. HAMLiN was lald on the taoe
and ordered to be printed.
LETTER FROM SUPERINTENDENT OF THE CENSUS.
Also, letter from the superintendent Of the Census,
stating that he had noticed in tie debates Of the Senate
certain charges made against aim, which i created
would fail affect his character, not only as an ON
Ger of the Government but man. and sohclting OF
the Senate that committee might be appointed TO in
yestgate his official conduct Gna the charges brought
against him.
Mr. WALKER moved that the letter be referred to the
select committee appointed TO investigate frau0s against
the Government; which agreed to.
Mr.. DODGE, of Iowa, presented memorial from Don
Juan Virgil, Of New Mexico asking Indemnity Tor large
flock of sheep taken by detachment OF the United states
troops during the war with Mexico.
CIVIL AND DIPLOMATIC BILL
Mr. HUNTER, from the Committee Finance, report
ed the bill making appropriation for the civil aud diplo
matte expenses OF the Government for the year enung
the Goth of June, 1854 with sundry amendments.
Mr. HUNTER expressed the opinion that unless some
mode adopted To- time there would be danger OF
losing the amendments but he thought he could suggest
mode by which they might be saved if the Senate would
consent it's doeton That was after the military APP
preparation bill disposed Of take up the civil and
diplomatic BILL and pass the amendments Of the Commit
tee on Finance in gross, and then eayf da Senate
any who chose might have separate vote if he de-
sired do So upon any particular amendment Unless
some such resorted TO, he thought the
amendments could not be saved One among the most
arduous and harlsspg days labor of his whole life was
committee Of conference civil and diplomatic
bil and the committee could not possibly have gotten
through had NOT been for the fact that the chairman of
the committee Of tire House and other member
familiar with the details When the Senate to
feet that it would take at least entire day for
mittee of conference act it be obvious every
Senator that the suggested would be the only
means Of saving the amendments.
The question then put on Mr. HUNTERS motion,
and decided in the affirmative.
ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL
The bill making appropriation for the support of the
army was takenu up. The question motion of Mr.
DAVIS TO modify the provso Of the House in relation
civil superintendent for the armories which Mr.
SHIELDS had suggested changes; and after brief dis
cussion il was modified to read
That the proviso Of the House be 30 modified that the
President if in his opinion the public interest demands
it. place Gs the amores superintendent who does
not belong the army the necessary and proper
inquiries be instituted through the medium Of commission
of civilians and military with Of ascertaning which
the two systems is the more economical ecient and gfe
for the management Of the public armoriesha formerly
listing under the superintendent Of civil officers that
now existing under the superintendent Of officers
ordnance"
On this question quite protracted discussion cnsued as
to the relative advantages Of the systems point of
economy, efficiency, order, and discipline.
Mr.. RuSh opposed II on various grounds 1t was
commission should consist; there might be three FIVE or
even twenty appointed; and after The inquiry had been
made there would be long report pro and con- perhaps
which would have 70 be printed by the Senate In
es brought in at the close of session where the Urea
ury was 10 bleed, it stood chance than the i
anks Of the Mississippi river did against It's foods He
opposed to throwing the responsibility upon the Pre-
ident Of deciding dispute between the civil and mill
airy. Officers selected for fghting not for su-
erintendng workshops; intelligent and practical
nechauic was worth thousand of your theoretical gen
lemen, who were generally very good at estimates. He
considered the army adverse to improvements and adj
uced instances TO show its backwardness in adopting the
improvements Of the age.
Mr. BUTLER contended for the superiority of system
IN the side Of the military superintendent, declaring
hose officers to be educated and scientific and better
suited from their general knowledge TO superntend.
Mr.. DOWNS argued against the whole proposition 1t
the duty Of the Executive branch Of the Government
aw creating mixed commission Of civilians and military
which would be quite likely disagree the
nunity.
Mr.. SHIELDS was decidedly in favor Of military SUI
but supported the proposition for inquiry
# that failed he should make it his business the
session to submit bill 10 abolish the whole system and
cave the manufacture Of open to competition and
ct the Western men have chance to test their mechan
al ingenuity and enterprise.
Mr. BELL cCntended with great earnestness in favor of
he military, but willing that the investigation
should be made lie went into long array of facts to
show the decided Improvement of the system the
other the saving Of labor the superiority of the
arms, &c; contendng that the complaints came from
outsiders until the Senators from Virginia had be-
infected with this mania for change from the eager
ness Of these outsiders at Harpers Ferry.
Mr.. DOUGLAS eyinced great zeal in favor Of having
vil superintendent over the armories Much had been
,aid about complaints from outsiders, requiring
;hange, reform in the system. He conceived that
remely natural Irsifcr, desired change, and
adverse to reform How stood the evidence then
The people complained and desired change; that was
sufficient for him complaints from the people were
always be listened to- The idea seemed TO be, if civil
superintendent in place they controlled by the
mechanic, but If military in place. then he
was to govern the mechanic. But it the that
civil superintendent the agents Of the labor
Was II TO be argued that you cannot get honest
among citizens for that would be
the drift Of some Of the remarks? TWAS congenial
to hghminded and intelligent mechanics be under
military control 10 their business He paid high tribute
to the value Of the mechanic and showed how much the
country was indebted to their skin and ingenuity and
how their inventive qualities had been respected abroad
Why was the superiority Of the American mechanic 50
manifest abroad IL because he was accustomed to
think freely to speak boldly and independently and
be was not willing by his place him under the re
straints which military superintendent would impose
Such system with the whole spirit and genius
of our Institutions.
Mr.. BUTLER was quite 8 jealous as Mr. DoUGLAs in
favor Of the opposite system lie insisted that the mill
tary the true that the operatives did not desire
the change and that the noise all made by interested
persons who wanted the change get the places or get
their hands into the public treasury He consulted the
public interest, and not that Of individuals and would
maintain in the face Of the world that the efficiency Of the
national arores better promoted under military tn an
civil rule
Mr.. JAMES complimented the speech Of Mr. DorGLAs
alike credtable to his head and heart and said il would
meet the response Of the hearts Of FIVE hundred thousand
Mr. Il .1c l,nrr