The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-24
THIRTY-sEC0ND CONGRKss.
SECOND SESSION.
Senate.

Senate
WASHINGTON, Feb. %, 1858.
THE PRESIDENT NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. FOR TIE INAUGURA.
TON, ETC.
Mr. HUNTER, (iem.) Of Va, from the committee ap
pointed to wait the President elect, made report
that the President had accepted the Office to which he
had been chosen.
[The Presidents reply will be found at length in the
House report1
Mr. BRIGHT (dem of Ind, offered resolution, direct
ing the appointment of committee to make arrange
ments for the Inauguration of the President elect
4th Of March.
The Senate bill granting pension to Mrs. Thompson,
returned from the House, with amendment grant
inga pension to Mrs Lomax and was taken up, and
amendment added, granting pension to the widow Of
Col Dade, massacred in Florida
ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL
taken up, and number of amendments Of great
public Importance, proposed by the Committee
Mr.. SHIELDS, (dem of Ill. moved to amend the bill by
and after the first day Of uy next 80 ch Of t5e ro n
of Congress of August 1872 places the national
mories under the superinendencc of officer of the
ordinance corps be- and the same is hereby repealed
and from that day the said armories shall be under that
system Of superntendence which existed prior to the
passage Of said act of Congress-
Mr. DAVIS (whg) OF Mass, asked for some reason for
this motion.
Mr. HAZE Gree soj of N H. said he desired informa
tion the subject He in favor of placing these
armories well workshops, in navy yards all under
civil superintendent. He reason why these
workmen in armores and navy yards should be subject
to the rigorous discipline Of the army and navy. While
in favor Of this change he would hesitate to make If
were any imputaton the character conduct of any
officers in charge Of the armories.
Mr. SHIELDS said the for the change ought to be
given by those who sought iwho sought to disturb the
present law, and establish civil superintendent. The
system, while under military rule, had been the best
managed branch Of the army expenditures. He saw
reason for making the change unless that If they
under civil superintendent there would be a better
chance Tor spectators to engage in government work
If this change made he would be in favor of abolish
ing all the armories and leave the manufacture of
to private competition and allow the government to pur
chase its and ordnance wherever could get them
best and cheapest.
Mr. MILLER (whg) IN j. saw no reason for the change
and would vote for the amendment.
Mr. DAVIS said he did not KIN enough Of the contrO-
versy to decide either side Whichever way voted
he might do I'M ustice to side another The work
complain that the rgors of military discipline
dstasteul to them. He thought the President could de-
eide this matter better than the Senate and therefore
moved to amend the provision BY so modifying the act Of
1S42 to allow the President, If in his opinion the pub
lie service required it. 10 appoint superintendent who
is not an officer of the army.
Mr.. PEARcE, (whg) Of Md, said that when the policy
of employing civil superintendents of armories
menced the army was in its infancy and there
ordnance corps. In 1872 when Mr.. Spencer Secre
tary of War that corps we'll organized and Congress
placed the armores under it's charge. commission
before that time appointed, who made able report,
showing the manifest proprety Of putting these works
under the superintendence of army officers. 1t
singular fact that before 1872 of these national
mories under the suferntendence of minister of
the Gospel.
Mr. BADGER (whig) of N. C.--where is the snguarity
of tha2
Mr.. PRARcE said he thought there was something
strange in this combination of empoyments though per-
haps not strange the army and the ministers
of the Gospel both deal in ''canon" law. Oaughter)
That the only similarity between the two professions
The minister's name Robb, and whether there
anything in that name indicative of the proper bust
Of either profession he would not saw Taughter)
He for leaving these armores under the charge of the
and doing Congress would have the guaranty of
the superintendency being competent which would not
ha hn ri 0pNnn fp1pn mad tn pnNf
these superintendents from civilians would IL is true in
the patronage of the President but he thought
without any corresponding benefit II would tend to in
the lust for Office which had become almost
universal as the elective franchise and dsgracefu to
the country 1t would increase the occasion for impor
tuning members Of Congress for aid to get Office which
had become annoying that If they attended to half the
applications made to them all Their time would be thus
consumed 1t was indeed, making members Of Congress
mere Office brokers. 1t was said these workmen com
planned of the exactons made of them by the rgors of
military discipline as administered by army ofccra but
ary OF War would interfere and protect them from
just exactions Ever since man was turned out Of Eden
he had been endeavorng to cheat the decree that he
should earn his bread by the sweat Of his brow. Men
always endeavong TO cheat that decree by expend
ing none or as little rs possible of the sweat Of their
Mr.. HAIp-Ycs that's the reason why we had negro
slavery. Uaughter)
Messrs. BoRIAND SHIELDS, BUTLER BELL an PHELPS "a
yored striking ont.
Messrs ToUcEY DAVIS Hale and SUMNER, supported the
motion referring the matter to the decision Of the Pres
Mr. MASON (dem) Of Va, was in favor Of leaving the
provision as IL stood in the bill.
Mr. Davis amendment rejected
Mr. HALE moved to amend by providing for commits
sion TO examine and report to the next Congress the
exfedency Of changing the appointments of superin
tendents from army ofcers to civilians Lost.
The question recurred Mr. Shields motion to strike
out, and II rejected
Mr. SHIELDS submitted large number Of amendments,
which agreed TO- they being reported BY the CON-
mittee on Military Affairs.
Mr. SHIELDS said he considered this the only opportunity
to pass any thing for the national defenses which were In
q most deplorable condition Ho therefore moved to
amend the bill by spproprating for the forthcaton
Of the harbor Of San Francisco for forts JEFF
ferson and Taylor ON Tortugas and Key West in Florida