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

House say That the result OF their investigation and
LEI il stand for what 1t is worth. would ask any gem
tleman who 10 so perlnaciously attacking what has
been placed This bill by The House of Representa-.
uyes-who come TO Il with such renewed ylgor after
every deeat-and believe they have been defeated two
or three times upon the yeas and nays-l would ask
them 10 poinl out any Improvement IN arms made under
The present superintendent.
MIR, BELL. Ii the senator will allow me, there
vote OF two-hirds OF the Senate the day before yeser
day Tor striking out this provision OF the House but al
Ter The lapse OF twenty-iour hours, when the bill was
reported TO the Senate, aud the question on concAr.
ring IN the amendment made in committee OF the whole,
behold, without any further argument or debate, the vote
OF the committee reversed This great change IN The
sentiment OF the Senate effected in one night There
lore when the senator says that we have had this ques
uon decided over and over again, in favor OF civil su
perntendence, say that my recollection IS the oihei
way, and that about two.thirds of the members OF Inc
Senate against the proposed change only SO late as
the day before yesterday.
do not desire 10 reply at length to the senator IRON
Texas, and therefore shall make but one other remark
shall attempt 10 reply 10 what he has read from Inc
report OF the House committee, nor to what he mas SAID
OF any responsibility OF mine want 10 say though, as
matter OF personal Justice to myself INA. nave ave seen
Springfield who want the changes IMAM nave seen oil
army officers
Mr. BELL. | treated them very civlly, and they
stated facts that surprised me, and said TO them
frankly that those facts true should be in favor
of the change myself, bat when came 10 inquire OF
others who were friendly 10 the military SUPPLEMENTARY,
found that those facts were disputed, and SO could not
feel well assured OF the truth of the matters complained
of, Ii upon the representations OF several gentle
from Springfield and HaIpes Ferry, suggesting that
was led into mistake when | made The change orgl-
nally that came TO the conclusion that II was best to
have joint commission OF civilians and ordnance OIL
cers and if the facts alleged true made up my
mind that would vote in favor of the change myself but
told those gentlemen that thought they were probably
labonng under some bias
In regard TO the report made by the committee Of the
House, say, without meaning any dsEespect 10 that
committee, or TO the House, or 10 any gentleman that
has tuta ppnt hat nna Iy1
cheapness from quality OF the arms manufactured now
those manufactured under the civil SUPPLEMENTARY
is totally unfounded in fact Such my judgment from
the best lights could ge and have taken some pains
TO inquire into the fact
Mr. RUSK. Mr.. President | know that This matter
has been sustained by Two three votes OF the Senate.
With regard TO the army officers, those individuals
living around HarpeI's Ferry and Springfield have had
but e conversation with either. They have not en-
vcons formed after consdeIablelength OF experience
in the matter In the first place, take il that these Of
icers are not mechanics. Ii they are good mechanics,
they are not good military men, and ought 10 give up
their commissions take II they are not mechan'cs and
to manufacture arms of all things, they should be me-
chanics, and good mechanics.
Sir, desire the friends OF military superintendent
for these armories 10 point out important improve
ment IN firearms that has been the result OF their man
agement | want named. There have been recent
y several striking improvements. want the friends OF
military superintendent to name one striking improve
ment IN the manufacture OF firearms that has come
from that superintendent. They have claimed all that
have been made. In some Instances have known
about the facts know that some years ago there
a gentleman here by the name OF Fisher, poor man,
mechanic, with large family He was employed al
the arsenal in this city, He was ingenious mechanic
aud inveAled machine for charging percussion caps
1t was Tor time driven out, and he was not permitted
to it inside of the public works. Ii after
time perfected, and he made application for patent for
IT, In that, TO my certain knowledge, he resisted
by some OF the ordnance officers, and lay long time
without his being able 10 procure patent The gov
eminent used the invention, however. went and
amined it, There it was, and they who opposed the
paten, could not deny the Improvement BY this nven-
ton three boys perform the labor which required TWEEN
weight men to do before. This was the Invention OF
poor mechanic in the employ of the United States
His patent resisted for long time; but govern
ment used the machine during the Mexican war, and
they could not have got along without II. They would
al an expense perhaps OF one hundred
thousand dollars, caps manufactured IN other places than
their arsenas There was an actual saving OF ex
pense TO the government by that single invention OF fifty
sixty thousand dollars. Fisher is dead His widow and
children are poor and believe they have never received
single dollar from the government from that day 10
this.
MIR. PEARCE | would like 10 ask the senator
whether either the military civil superintendent has
authority 10 direct changes 10 the manufacture OF arms
by their moon' Must either OF them receive
an order from the head of the department
Mr.. RUSk As TO that do not know.
Mr.. PEARCE. Them ii they have not authority they
are not TO blame.
Mr. RUSK Then, the whole thing ought to be abol.
shed if we cannot keep up with the improvements OF
the age, have not investigated the law on the sub
ect, and do not know whetherrhey make improve
Mr.. SHIELDS. That is So They cannot adopt any
Improvements in the regulation OF the army
MIR. RUSK. Then, we ought 10 abolish them alto.
getber.
Mr.. BUTLER. And keep up with the progress OF
the age"
Mo. SHIELDS. | have said already, and will not
go this point that when changes adopted there is
necessity for uniformity throughout the whole army
so that the arms may be all alike. Otherwise man
will have one kind OF gun and another with different
| sized barrels, &c
MIR. RUSK That is an easy thing 10 remedy They
make the bore of any size, either for pistol,
musket, rifle That is the easiest thing in the world
Mr.. SHIELDS. | merely state what The department
believes-hat ii is necessary 10 have uniformity
MIR. RUSk | know there have been Improvements
which have been resisted by the head of the ordnance
bureau.
Mr.. SHIELDS Yes, great many
Mr.. RUSk. There were improvements which he re-
fused use until Congress forced him 10 do it. He then
refused 10 put them in the
that bad been tested
Mr. SHIELDS The honorable senator knows as
not worth one pinch of snuff
Mr. RUSK. So do.
Mr. SHIELDS And that no man who has any
knowledge OF would risk battle with these fanc
full quixoc improvements, but would take the good old
fashioned arms.
Mr. RUSK Sir, one hundred men, with Colts and
Shap's niles will drive of five hundred with muskets
they form less ground will less, and do
much execution as FIVE hundred with the muske Sharps
rifle was another great improvement which was resisted
in the same way The man who invented II was poor,
and bis invention firmly resisted and has not gone
into use TO any extent 10 the army All improvements
have been resisted. There is improvement which is
there is necessity Tor expending Time 10 place per
ems upO he but the pnn prlmes itself