Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-03-08


question relative to the law of Congress which
places all the national armores, and Of course all
the aborers employed in them under military super.
iutendence. II is very natural that Iaborers and
others concerned should not regard this as precisely
the best sort Of superintendent. A machine shop,
backsmlth's forge, or any other room for ordina-
Wy labor, placed under military command, may well
become the OF some rather earnest queries and
complaints, in this county, though it NIGH be re-
ga'ded as matter OF course in Austria or Russia.
But do not propose discuss this question at
present Our only purpose is 10 quote two
things from discussion which occurrt in the UNI.
ted States Senate, the 23d u. The question rel
alive TO the military superintendent If aImores
introduced in connection with the Army Appro-
priaion bill. Mr.. Davis proposed to amend The ex
lstIng la 10 authorize the President to appoint
civil superintendent. Mr. Hale was among those
who favored civil supervision. Charles Sumner
spoke fullUws-
Mr. SUMEER.-Mr. President, do not desire
speak upon the general subject Of the manufacture
of arms under the authority Of the United States,
which has been opened in debate by honorable Sen
ators. What have TO say will be the precise
question before the Senate, and nothing else. That
question, as | unders and II, is the amendment
proposed by my colleague, Mr. Davis,l according
10 which The act OF 1912 is 10 be SO Ian modified thai
the President, in his dlscreOn, may place over lhe
arm1ries persons not of the army-leavlng it, there
fore 10 his judgment to determine whether The su.
| perintenden shall be military or a civilian.
| This is all.
The Senate has been exhorted not to act precip.
alely, but the character Of this proposition excludes
all idea of precipitation We do not determine alb
! soutely that the system shall be changed, but simp-
! " that it may be changed in the discretion of the
President This discretion, hich naturally will be
exercised only after ample inquiry, stands in the
# oil "A
the Senator from Illinois, Mr. Shieldsl
Again: it Is urged that uhde a military head, the
arm0ries are better administered than they would be
under civil head, and that the arms are better and
cheaper made; and here my friend from South Car
DINA, who sits before me, Mr. Butler, dwell ath
| his accustomed glow upon the SUCCESS with which
| this manufacture has been conducted AT the national
armorles, and the extent to which il has been recog-
| nzed IN Europe. But, sir, the precise position
before you, the merits Of The armories are not
involved. We do not undertake to judge The mill
tary superintendent or their works. The determine
alton of this question is referred the President;
and this is my answer to the Senator from South
! Carolina.
The objections to this amendment of my col
league, then, seem to disappear. But there are
two distinct arguments i'll its favor which, at the
present moment DO not seem to susceptible of
any answer.
In the first place, there are complaints against
! the existing system which ought to be heard. A
memorial from five hundred legal voters OF SPRING
| field, now on your table, bears testimony to them.
Letters addressed TO my self and others from per-
sons whose opinions am bound to regard, set
! them forth sometimes in very strong language.
The admmlstr. ton OF the arsenal at Springfield is
commended by many, but there others who
judge 1t differently. AS now conducted, 1t is rep
resented by some 10 be the seat Of oppressive con-
duct and the occasion OF heart bunngs and STRIFE
often running into the local politics. In the eyes
OF some, tins arsenal is now little better than
| sore on the beautiful town in which it is placed
| Now, Onthese complaints and allegations express
! no opinion / do not affirm their truth oF their
| untruth. What | know of the Superintendent
| makes it difficult for me to believe that anything
unjust oppressive or hard, could proceed from hun
| But the whole case justihes inquiry at least, and
such will be secured by the proposition now before
! the Senate This is the smales thin we can do,
! But this proposition is enforced by another con-
| sideration which seems to me entitled TO pecuher
| weight. / have nothing to say now ON the gener-
! al question Of reducing the army or modifying the
| existing military symtem. But do submit con-
fdently that the genius OF our institutions tayors
civil life rather than military life; and that har
! mony with this, 1t is our duty; whenever the pub
lie INTEREST," will permit, to limit and restrain the
sphere OF military Influences This is not mill
tary monarchy, where the soldiers is suprame, but
republic where the soldier Yields to the civilian
But the law as it now stands, gives to the soldier
! an absolute preference in sevice which Is not
| military, and which IRON its nature, seems TO be-
! long to civil life. Now, the manufacture Of arms
is a mechanical pursuits. and for myself, lean see
no reason why il shotd not be placed sin chOrge
! Of one bred 20 the business. Among the intolli-
gent mechanics Of Massachusetts there are many
amply fit TO be at the head Of the arsenal lat
Springfield but all these are austerely excluded
| by the existing law from any such trust. The
idea which has fallen from many Senator's that
the superintendent Of an armory ought TO be a
military man, that a military man only is cempe
tent or even that he IS more COMPETENT that
civilian, sees 10 me AS ialacious aud illogical as
the old saying that "He who drives fat oxen must
himself be fat"
In the course Of this debate, John P.tHale
made one admirable hit. Mr.. Pearce of Mary
land wea advocated the military command of the
armories, gave this theory Of the complaints of
laborers;
"Bui, sir, II IL not the nature Of man TO endeayor
TO escape from the just requirements Of labor7 What
else have we been doing, ever since first parents
were driven from the Garden OF Eden except 10
cheat that decree Of Providence, that man must
earn his bread by the sweat Of his brovl Men have
pretty generally been trying 10 get their bread With
GU. that sweat Of the brow, or Ut least with little