The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-08

Is, e.
but for the most part the business had been we'll admins
tered, and the well ,rsde The arms made during
that time were those which the gentleman from South
Carolina has represented being honor to the coun-
try. They were arms with the of which we went
on so satisfactorily under that administration am not
about to say that a military administration may not be
better but what do say is that dissatisfaction exists
and wish 10 meet that in the spirit of fairness and for
that reason wish the amendment have proposed should
be adopted do not wish TO deain the Senate from
decision of this question:; but wish TO have il fairly
presented that these citizens shall be fairly dealt with
Tor do not believe there would be such constant and
continued complaints, unless something exists which de-
serves consideration. What il is do not pretend TO say
Mr.. BUTLER. | will make but remark. The
complaints entirely local but take any other part OF
look at this subject fairly and will not be influenced by
the verdict OF the vicnage, where the people of course
want these contracts, and will be fair tribunal Let
public opinion in every other part of the United States
pronounce lis verdict and it would be that this system OF
having the armoes under military superntendency is
me pest and we TO some extent must be the organ Of
ves ought to announce in favor of the intrinsic merits
q the system and not be governed by any local prea
dices which may exist
Mr.. CASS. shall vote for the amendment of the hon
orabe senator from Massachusetts, and do under the
belief that il will be proper to vest the power which il
proposes in the Executive believe it il proper
and as the honorable senator has we'll said. for many
years these difficulties have existed. | am willing, there
fore, to attempt TO apply remedy will say to the
ator from South Carolina Mr., BUTLER] that he is under
msapprehension in one respect, The quality Of the
muskes does not depend entirely upon the superntend
ent They inspected by officers appointed for the pur
pose and whether they be made by private contract or
in public es,abIishment-whether under military su
Ipernlendent or civil asen-he inspection will be just
as rigid and the arms probably good. therefore
peat shall vote for the amendment OF the senator from
Massachusetts, But rose principally for another pur
pose, and may as well say at this moment what have
to say though i may not be strictly appropriate to that
part OF the bill before the Senate.
There is pedsposition in all governments to into
magnificent and expensive establishments, and in nothing
is that more evident than in the system of armores
called for report from the ordnance bureau years
since. 1t at the close of the session, and did not
coms in time to be acted upon then. have it be-
tore me; and have ascertalned some facts from il. In
January 1851, the amount OF hand possessed by
this government not including those in the hands of SOL
ders and including the materials then hand, being
the amount OF thirty thousand six hundred and three
an appropriation OF $3.50 ,006 in 1851, and $250000 in
1852, making altogether upwards of 100000 AT ten
dollars piece that product would give you sixty thou
sand muskets more increasing your amount to something
like hundred and sixty thousand muskets hand ;
and the pending appropriation asked for, $25OOoO, will
make twenty-five lhossand more, carrying your muskets
up 10 hundred thousand Besides that, since
lS0s we have had an annual standing Appropriation OF
Tor the construction OF muskes to be distributed
to the militia OF the States The number now remaining
with the several States do not undertake determine
II must, however, withia every reasonable view of the
subject, be more than two hundred thousand.
Then this government with the State governments pos.
amount this time of probably more than nine
hundred thousand muskets | have before me report
made by the War Department in 1886, in which it is
SHOWN that the NUMBER owned Dy Gfeaf Britain In 1917
was about one million and by France in sll in the
midst OF the convusion of Europe, there were but six
hundred thousand excluding, however, the amount in
use 1t to me very improbable that this country
can want greater stock OF arms on hand than is in
the public possession.
shall not to reduce to strike out the appro-
priaon, though am willing 10 enter into that PROPOSE
ton but my principal object is 10 draw the of
the Senate and of the proper department to this subject
IN order that at the next session this matter may be pre-
sen'ed TO US with full view OF all the facts necessary TO
decision.
The evil OF the thing is this You go on and accumu-
late an immense amount OF small arms in store improve
ments are made from time TO time in the barrel, in the
breech in the lock, in every part OF the musket and
then you either adapt the new improvement TO the old
musket-and that you cannot always door you sell of
the stock on hand at immense sacrifice, selling for
bali dollar what cost you ten dollars. should actually
like TO know curiosity, the real number of muskets
that have been sold by this government in the last few
years. and the loss the sales have entaed speak OF
administration, and senators will so understand me-
allude 10 IN particular. allude TO the operation of
the existing system, and should like to know the num-
Der oil muskets that have been actually sold off,
quencc of the changes which are continually taking
place in the construction OF arms In report from the
War Department, in 1885, this branch of the subject is
thus alluded to:
Although the component material, Of these arms
almost mpershabe still is e1pedent TO keep stock
unnecessarily large hand because there not only
risk and expense in their preservation, but because like
every other article manufactured by they doubt
susceptible OF great improvement And may be, tina,
those now made may bs superseded by improved
model, which, once introduced, must be adopted at what
ever expense or Inconvenience, by all nations, And the
invention lately exhibited in this city, by which
series of balls, in separate charges are brought, by
atory notion common place ofdscharge suggests the
possibility OF a revolution in the form of our Firearms"
Since then the great changeo the percussion lock has
been added many OF muskets There is therefore,
necessity, propriey, no economy IN accumulang
immense quantity OF muskes not required by the
don, present possible Of the country, and liable to
be perfectly useless tomorrow, and sold, we are sell
ing them almost every day, at half dollar or some such
price piece have objection TO the accumulation OF
any quantity of material That another thing II is i'm
pefishable Let il 90 to the establishments and remain
there but let check the system which is leading TO
such unnecessary expense.
10 anything which have said do not Intend TO cast
the slightest reproaoh upon the supern,endsns Of the
mories hold them in high respect as able and faithful
officers, and agree fully with The senator from South
Carolina Mr. BUTLER in the testimonial he has borne to
one of them-Coonel Huger-whom know personally
and esteem highly But am speaking OF the operation
of a system and TO the merits dement's OF persons
which they Judged best for the public interest but we
cannot shu, our eyes the difficulties that have
and still going and am willing to vest in the Ex
ecuve the discretionary power 10 change the system 1t II
should be Judged best As to the ordnance department,
satisfied 1t is well administered and that great inn
provemen,s have been made in the manufacture OF the
pnblc arms Why air. one fact will show the ooseness
distributed TO the troops which had no ouchhoes,
and this defect discovered until they had got into
the hands of the soldiers Such thing could not hap
pen now in the improved condition of the public service
/ Mr.. HUNTER have only word or two TO say IN
relation this matter OF the manufacture OF arms
think il probable there may have been SOME VIII not
say abuses-but mistakes and IL would be very dlfhcult
10 execute this branch Of the public duties as 10 he ur-
nisbinp of arms without being liable to abuses IL seems
10 me- however, that II would be wrong 10 agree 70 tne