The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-15
supsrinsendsnes Of Public work.
10 As EdaOr n me Union
MAsAIkeros Apnl il, ls5s

paper OF me sth shall not notice his hEgs any fur
hsr lhan say that his insiAuaoD, charge. OF my
being candidate for The ohee Of superintendent for
either Of lhe armoTes Is untrue. rs. however. True,
thai the close OF January last, friend informed me
that be had named The President Tor The temporary
manag enent OF the annory al Hapers Ferry; and il Is
true also, that. the next morning after learning thai
fact called on the President, and Internationally with
drew my name but whether my name was used On any
other occasion do moi know; bat do know that if il
used, il was without my knowledge or consent As
regards Col Henry d. Smith, the other commissioner.
10 whom Col Ripley doubtless alludes, has name was
presented the President by himself, by has
quest. bat BY me; and my Tor dong my
thorough conviction thai be every way qualified for
thai post When ! first named The subject to Col
Smith be objected, the ground that he Of the
commissioners; but, upon my consulting Hon Andrew
Stevenson and Chancellor Walworlh, they. each for
himself, wrote 10 the President, recommending Col.
Smith for that post and this, lar as know 10 the
amount al Col Smiths offence
As regards the conduct OF the commission while acting
commissioners, have nothing say, except calling
the attention Of the public 10 the record OF their abor
and asking them 10 Judge whether sought for truth
"only sought tor matter to sustain IN our foregone
conclusions lad srove TO suppress anything
opposed thereto. assuring the public that there not
a witness offered that refused 10 hear.
For myself. went to Springfield with strong pre-
possession in favor of Col Ripley. entertaining
even thought that man holding the high Office OF
colonel in the army, and thought worthy of being select
ed to command or control three hundred in
telgen mechanics could would descend TO petty acts
Of tyranny which would disgrace an Agerine despoi !;
and il mol until proof, irresistible proof stared in
the face, convincing alike my sight, to my understand
ing, and TO my heart thai / was enabled 10 the
as be s-and this entire revusion OF feeling may have
had the effect of carrying my Judgment beyond what facts
will warrant of this however, am entirely content that
discerning public should Judge. fully believing that after
all the facts laid before them, they viii give correct
Judgment In the mean time, viii proceed TO say thai
il may be that mistaken in ascribing the article
published ia your paper OF The Sin 10 The ordnance board,
OF 10 some officer connected Herewith; but i 50, Why
did yoa mol so say your introduction that article
AT any rate, you will give leave 10 say thai it re
CURES other and much more reliable evidence han The
mere asay so" of Col Ripley
II my statement in regard 10 the workmanship and
cost OF the nauskets correct. why did mol Col Rip
ley point out wherein erred This he has failed 10 do,
conentng himself with saying that my statement as
simply untrue. and referring to evidence he says,
snow before ibe select committee, prove IL" know
not evidences there may be before tia. committee
bot this much DO know-thai tar and open examine
to and comparisons Of muskets manufactured IN ls40
under civil rule. with those OF 1858 under military rule,
were made, and setting aside Colonel Smith and my own
opinions that comparison It'll have The testimony
arms and gave their testimony the presence Of the
heard and ia presence OF Colonel Ripley's master
armorer and Others under bis command and tsnog too
late 10 cavi or contradict that testimony for that
testimony correct. the proper time
tradlct il, OF show wherein those witnesses IN
error was then and there for be il remembered thai
those belonging 10 The amCry who were present were
moi competent, hs inspectors, whom told be after
wards assembled close a. hand Tbeuuih thai the
facts sci forth in Tie testimony before The board
visible sooysrahelnaing. that even Colonel Ripley. with
al his roud ng dare not fare IL bu after The
board had adjourned as have been informed &c selected
in what manner know not, from The arsenal else
where collected bis Wiling unwilling tools; and after
haranguing them The necessity Of conieractng the
hmony taken before The board ard assuring them that
their reputation, ssil his own, Il stake. be
induced some OF hen, all 10 sgn PAPER drawn ~
for hem, and ths paper j. probably The evidence on
which lie relies 10 contradict upset The evidence taken
before The board.
Ifnwas trus thai am seeking Tor votes public
punder- know not where to look for striking
example than IBIS honest Colonel has gwen for the
free rent Of be splendid quarer and the reeep, Of at
ea s35 gss 10 CENTS for twelve and fourth years SER
vices, would not be satisfactory 10 my ambiiioD then
indeed might 10 truth. be considered unreasonable
and with ihe gallant Colonel declare that the command
or saperiniendency OF snch posi- desirable and
il bis boosted books, which be - constantly parHding
before lhe public correct, and give true account Of
all he expenditures Springfield, bow haFpens il that
he large sum Of ss5 sss 70 nowhere accounted for in
the COT q arms And be thai those bosssd books
nowhere give full account of the entire cost Of those
splen,id quarters which. in my Previous Communication
stated ny belief having cost al least 1000 and
the grounds, &c, around them equal sum II they
90 WY uoi give tbeir actual cost and eavl a. or
pronounce ms statement un'raef- DO noi know the
TACT bot believe hs BsIthsr Colonel Rpieys books nor
the books q any department. Of The government vii ur
nisb true answer 10 The question, What did those
quarters actually Gosh am The more confirmed il ths
belief iron having, while Springfield, endeavored 10
ascertain from those boased books, an from The
spirit 81 he armOy, the entire Of that edihce bot
failed The cost was traced up 70 over s22 Ooo and tie
acsnow leagmeni male tha ina, did not cover he
entire cost
There are oibsf expenditures al Springfield which no
where appear the accounts rendered from that srmory
amounting. ny opinion, 10 large These il need
be- viii ID due time Be lard before The public In The
mean nns will not DO for Col Ripley 10 aiievyt 10
shelter himself behind ordnance orders. or screen
kussf or his conduct from Investigation by refer
ring or quoting former Investigations or be may rsst
assured hs, a in ierreng ali 81 those concealed
expenditures he vii fad that sbler PENS Than nine vii
strip bare the head, that now ike the cartridge
concealed undsr The leaf
If Col Ripley has rtioTRsd abuses which preriouslv
existed Springfield. lie essisly has introduced rules
OF rather orders, which high minded man could ever
have thought Of much less enforced know not uhai
yube yiunrr carried by the ciEilinns-no eyi
dence C ann such state Of sairs came before the cot
missicn-and must, therefore conclude thai Cal Ruls,s