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


control Of officer of the army. think that private
enterprise will carry the manufacture of fire arms 10
greater degree OF perfection, and will supply the govern
men even better than the government supply itself
But If il is thought expedient TO continue the armores
Tor the manufacture OF the arms instead OF obtaining
them we do obtain many now by private contract
would place them the footing of mechanical esab-
lishmens where private citizens are engaged in their
own private businesses their professional business, the
business OF their trade and that they may be under the
control OF suitable supenlendents selected by the Pres
ldent with reference 10 their qualifications supentend
ents would not conne the President to tie mere fact that
person is officer the army in making his selection
OF superintendent shall, therefore, in the first place,
vote Tor the amendment offered by the senator from Mas.
sachusetls, with which am content, and if that does not
prevail, shall vote for the provision It passed the
House and came from the committee.
Mr. SHIELDS. would suggest TO the honorable
ator from Massachusetts TO so modify his amendment as
10 leave il TO the War Department to investigate this mat
ter, and TO give 10 Congress the benefit Of It's nvesga
ton II there is anything wrong, let US understand II
properly and officially and not get our information from
agents who may be prejudced or interested am per-
ecy willing that the honorable senator should introduce
such provision as have suggested Let the War De-
partment, the President, make thorough invesga-
ton OF the matter, and II there is anything wrong let
understand it; but TO Jump at conclusions 10 the dark in
this way, il seems TO me- s wrong The honorable
ator from Connecticut is quite mistaken in thing
These gentlemen who superntend the armores edu
Gated o the very business which they called upon to
oversee. They ordnance officers He misundersands
the whole thing True, mechanics-good mechanics
are necessary; but it requires higher degree of scen
lhc attainment than most mechanics possess-a high
er department OF skill than mere mechanism. The
manufacture OF arms, OF shells, of cannon and the
science of pojecles all have to be understood by the
head of institution like that All this the superinlend
ent OF an amory ought to understand, and is the work
OF life TO learn it, More than that in army OF twenty
thousand men there cannot perhaps. be found ten
capable oil conducting that branch of business, which
requires such an amount OF skill II is more difficult
than 10 lead army in the field Why, have propo-
sltons every day Tor the adoption OF some change in The
muskets used These projects may appear 10 some per-
who good mechanics as useful improvements
them rpd offc
and they will tell you that they will not operate we'll
Why! You must make the arms Uniform and mus, have
the same kind OF ammunition.
repeat, that we have the best and simplest and most
manageab arms in the world under our present system
And we have the very bes, ammunition in the world
All this is acknowledged, for it has been tested If this
system be abolished, the whole thing becomes nuis
aace, and in two years the gentleman will find it such
nuisance that he will vote for abolishing the whole
am for abolishing it the moment this is stricken out
will state further that would prefer leaving the matter
with civilians rather than adopt the proposition
of the senator from Massachusetts, which would throw
upon the President the necessity of meeting the struggle
between the officers OF the army and civilians Does the
senator want that struggle thrown upon the President
party striving TO retain the position and the other
trying 10 gel in Is that scramble that ought to be
thrown upon the President Sir, the system is either
right or wrong. II II is tight, retain II is al all
events, continue II as 1t is until the who coming
into power investigate the matter thoroughly and give
us information the subject Ii it is wrong, abol-
| ish il al once But let us not shift and shuttle of
the responsibility of deciding this question upon the
IIfeblutn IOI purpose OF clear OF tDe dln
Guilty We will say to the President ave call upon YOU
TO settle the question between the army and the civil
lans" do not believe there be found man who
will 60 into that Office whig democrat, If be inves
gates this subject, who will not say that il the arms are
10 be manufactured at ALL and you keep up your
army, the knowledge and science, and skill OF the Of
hcers OF that army Ought 10 be brought to bear upon
the manufacture OF the which they use and
not leave 10 Tom, Dick, and Harry, anybody who
may come here trying 10 get their inventions paronzed
by the government, when there is not man who has
had any experience in the army who would risk army
with them IN the field The men who are now at the
head of the amories have tested many so-caled nyen
1 lions, and saved the army from having to what
would not have been efficient thousand projects
/ have been proposed not 10 make the army more ef-
hclen but TO get money out OF the treasury OF the United
States. They cannot get deep enough into the treasury
now the men al the head of these armores will let
them. But when they get more willing instruments ap-
pointed, you will see how it will be. would rather
abolish the armores altogether than 10 destroy the pres
| ent system.
/ Mr. BUTLER. | understand that the proposition be
fore the Senate is TO strike out the clause in the bill
which relates 10 the supern,endency of the amories
| Mr.. SHIELDS. will slate 10 the senator that a mo-
ton was made by me 10 strike out the clause proposing
TO change the sqpeIinendency OF the armories from
military 10 civil The senator from Massachusetts, has
moved to amend that, by leaving IT 10 the President
lect the sHperlnendents from civilians military men
Mr.. BUTLER. am satisfied OF one thing, and that is
that concur fully with the senator from Illinois in say
ing that the superntendency OF the armores should
be taken altogether away from military men. How far
might consent 10 allow the military establishments to con-
nnue with additional ones under the control OF civilians
am not prepared 10 say; but to alter system which has
operated so admirably since II has been instituted would
be UNJUST impoluc, and in my opinion pandering TO this
mania for getting money out OF the public treasury TO
which the Senate OF the United States should not Yield
why SIR does not the universal opinion only OF our
officers, but as understand OF European Judgment and
cHtclsm authorize me 10 say that for exceency there
are no arms IN the world compared TO those manufac-
ured IN America and by these armores under the super
lnsndency OF military men Who are interested in hav
ing the arms made well Those who have to use them
But It may be said that the made under the direction
OF civilians will be subject to inspection Do we not all
know that no one can inspect the and detect their
lure OF tbemt II is useless to tell me that he who i. en-
gagged ~ observing every day the process by which the
arms are made would not be the best Judge OF that
cannon, or muskel, and that his examination would not
be better than IT IL subjected to any other examina
| ton or criticism whatever
am told that under the old system when the arnores
were under the saperntendency OF civilians frauds and
abuses and evasons, and state OF things existed which
rendered II almost unsafe trust roops in the 6ed with
The arms made. How has been since under the snper-
intendency OF military Sir, my friend and consit.
uent, Colonel Huger, is guarantee He has made hi.
cannon speak voice, not in obscure corner of the
United States, but voice which has given him title 10
know something about the making OF arms And so OF
Colonel Ripley; and yet you to throw such m.n
as,de-men who have won laures in the field and given
reputation TO our mllitary-and put the business
the hands OF contractors and upon what ground Sir
is for the benefit of the who have their agents
round the Capitol mporuning they are for money for
Jobs | do think will be impolitc, as | have sand
and certainly unjust TO do it, will agree 10 retain tyo
guides and standards. leaving the armories in
other parts OF the United States to be given out TO con-
tract That might be done.
Mr.. CASS We have but two.