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

not know how 10 use them. we proceed on dinefcnt
system We depend the militia and on volunteers.
Every knows how TO gun, and although these
have been distributed widely they are not useless
Every is in the possession OF some sort OF gun,
generally public gun, and in that way he has the ele
mentaTy instruction in the art OF arms, and that Is The use
OF the gun itself So that perhaps we have not lost quite
so much as the senator from Michigan would seem to
suppose in this regard But feel the force of much that
he has said OF the accumulation OF made before the
Improvement of the arts in this regard and suppose
that the subject taken up at the proper time some
thing useful might be done in that way but should be
reluctant TO do anything this bill to change policy
with regard to the public armories.
Mr. CASS. The senator from Virginia misunderstood
did not mean to say tina, these arms were thrown
away, or that the expenditure useless or draw
any distinction between the public made by govern
ment and those made by private contract merely
to the expediency of adding such immense stock an
nually TO our present stock. That is all. would not
touch ;, the now % h Tor aImng the mi
fifty years, and would continue it. There twenty
thousand muskets added every year. But now, while
quire examination. rather intended by what said TO
give warning--as tar my feeble voice could do it,
those oicersas the necessity of looking
fully TO the expenditures that in three years there
have been spent IN repairs upon the arsenal at Spring
held about $4,000 The TACT is, the subject should be
examined.
friend that such abuses exists they ought to be
rected through the appropriation but that does not affect
the question before the Senate. SO far the superinend
ency concerned The question is not the ap-
pration No appropriation is proposed. but the question
is in relation to change OF the superintendency
did not strictly bear upon the s point, did not want 10
trouble the Senate again, and would say all had to say
on the subject
Mr.. SUMNER Mr.. President, | do not desire to
speak upon the general subject Of the manufacture Of
arms under the authority of the United SIates which
has been opened in debate by honorable senator's What
have TO say will be the precise question before the
Senate, and nothing else Tha,, question, as | under
stand IT. is the amendment proposed by my colleague
[Mr DAvIs,l according 10 which the act OF l642 is TO
"A hat ska ,rk -
may place over the armorles persons not OF the army
leaving therefore 10 his judgment to determine whether
the superintendent shall be military man or civilian
That is all
The Senate has been exhored not act precpitaely
but the character of this proposition excludes all idea OF
precipitation We do not determine absolutely that the
system shall be changed, but simply that it may be
changed in the discretion of the President This discre-
,on which naturally will be exercised only after ample
inquiry stands in the way Of all precptaion and this
is my TO the senator from Illinois, Mr. SHIELDs
Again it is urged that under military head the
mories better administered than they would be under
civil head, and that the better and cheaper
made; and here my friend from South Carolina, who
sits before me, Mr.. BuTLER dwet with his accustomed
glow upon the success with which this manufacture has
been conducted at the national armores, and the extent
TO which has been recognised in Europe But, sir,
the precise proposition before YOU the merits Of the
armories not involved We do not undertake to Judge
The military superinendens or their works. The deter
mnainn OF this question is referred 10 the President;
and this is my TO the senator from South Caro-
then, to disappear. But there two distinct
gumens its favor, which, at The present moment do
not seem TO susceptible of any answer.
In the first place, there complaints against the
stng system which ought to be heard. memorial
from five hundred legal voters OF Springfield, now
your table, bears testimony to them Letters addressed
myself and others, from persons whose opinions aG
bound regard, set them forth sometimes in very soRg
language The administration OF the arsenal at SPRING
field is commended by many, but there others who
Judge it differently AS conducted, it is represented
by TO be the seat OF oppressive conduct and the oc
cason OF hearbunngs and strlie often running into
the local politics In the eyes OF some this arsenal il
now little better than a sore the beautiful town in
which ii is placed Now, on these complaints and al
legations express no opinion | do not affirm their
truth or their untrulh What know of the superintend
ent makes il difficult for to believe that anything
just oppressive, hard could proceed from him. But
the whole case ushes inquiry a, least and such will DO
secured by the proposition now before the Senate This
is the smallest thing we can do.
Blu, this proposition is enforced by another consdea
tion which seems TO me entitled to peculiar weight.
have nothing TO say the general question of
ducing the army, or modifying the existing military sys
tenn But do submit, confidently, that the genius OF
institutions avos civil life rather than military life; and
that harmony with this, it is duty, whenever the
public interests will permit, TO limit and restrain the
sphere Of military influences This is not military
monarchy, where the soldier is supreme but republic,
where the soldier yields 10 the civilian But the law,
now stands, gives 10 the soldier absolute preference
in service which is not military, and which, from its
nature seems to belong 10 civil life. Now, the manu-
facture of arms is mechanical pursuit and for myself,
I can see no why 1t should not be placed in
charge OF one bred TO the business Among the nte
gent mechanics OF Massachusetts there are many amply
fit to be at the head OF the arsenal at Springfield but all
these are austeely excluded by the existing law from
any such trust. The idea which has fallen from 40
many senators that the superintendent OF armory
ought to be military man that military man only rs
competent or that he is more competent than CIVIL
IAN seems TO me allacious and illogical as the old
saying that he who drives fat must himself be
fat"
Mr. HALE move to amend the amendment OF the
senator from Massachusetts by striking out President,
~. a Sscr nj
Several SENATORS That is not in order.
Mr. HALE The amendment OF the senator from
Massachusetts is not an amendment TO amendment, VI
may be allowed TO answer the assertion OF gentlemen
all around The honorable senator from Illinois
TO amend by striking outa clause OF the bill Ihe
senator from Massachusetts TO amend that clause
before the motion to strike it out put Therefore IT -
not amendment TO an amendment IL Is an amend
ment to the original bill
hM Mr. SHIELDS II that is in order, and II meets tne
se vie WIS OF majority of the Senate TO make the change
ugees,ed by the senator would suggest 10 him to mod
fy his amendment to the amendment so as TO provide for
the appoipmept OF a commission composed OF civilians
and military men-taking the idea oil ihe senator from
Tennes.ee-with view TO ascertain which OF the two
sysems is the economical, efficient, and safe for
the management OF the public service, to report TO the
next Congress. | think any reasonable man ought to
be satisfied with that and then will have the infor
nation that may be necessary for action. suggea
therefore, to the senator to modify his amendment to the
amendment by striking out the proviso, and inserting
That the Secretary Of War be directed to the
ccssary and proper inquiries to be instituted through hs
medium Of a commission Of civilians and military mon,
with view OF ascersinng which of the systems IL
the economical efficient, and safe, for the manage
of the public srmores that formerly existed under
the superntendsnce OF civil officers that exist
l- -f slx ia