The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-05


artisans"
IL is little singular that at this very time England is
about establishing armores for the of small
and is endeavong model them after those the
United States. The proceedings OF Parliament during
the last few months will show how highly our sys.
TEN OF ordnance supplies is appreciated in England and
how anxious the government is TO copy il, particularly
in reference TO the very thing which Mr. Stanton con-
sidefs so great an outragenamely, having these
factories under the control of military men, who will be
interested 10 the perfection OF the which they may
be called upon 10 In France, and all the other great
continental powers OF Europe. the arsenals armones,
and ioundres under the control OF military or naval
men. In England the have heretofore nearly all
been made at private manufactures. and furnished TO
the government by contract; the consequence is that
England, at this day. has the worst in Europe and
just al the time that she has discovered her mistake and
has sent officers the United States for the purpose OF
examining and reporting upon amones and is about
TO change the civil for the military supervision. Mr.
Stanton would have us change the military for the civil
But 10 what we consider the main point
OF Mr.. Stantons criticism on the War Department.
There few officers, some three or four, whose
mentioned his list whose particular duties
not prescribed by law, and among them is the dsn
guished engineer who has been placed in charge of the
Capitol extension We presume il is this assignment Of
officers to do duty in where the laws do not say
that they shall be assigned, which Mr. Stanton styles
"agreat wrong,"" usurpaon OF power" and ga per-
version Of the very principles of civil liberty itself" w
do not know that understand Mr.. Stanon's ideas OF
civil liberty" but apprehend he will find 1t difficult
to convince the people OF this enlightened country, that
because the government has placed Of lis engineers
who were educated by the government. in charge of
some OF It's works. therefore the government has been
guilty of "usurpaton Of power" and " perversion
OF the principles Of civil liberty"
Mr.. S,anton's argument amounts to this the word
military relates to the profession of arms the word
ciuh to the policy and government OF the citizens Of
State the two ideas different therefore, military
engineer should not be placed in charge OF civil work
Let us examine this proposition The government has
certain duties to perform, and these duties must be per-
formed by its agents. where the duties of nature
TO require long of special study and training, it
is the duty OF the government TO provide for aordng the
necessary instruction This is particularly the in
reference to the military and naval service
Our government has Military Academy where young
men taught both the science and of war these
young men afterwards promoted INTO the army and
become its officers
Now, what is the profession OF armsi Does it con-
sst marching and counter-marchng, in facing and
fighting enemy, and in dying in defence OF ones
country when the country demands it These parts
OF soldiers duty, is true, but they only parts OF it,
and knowledge OF them forms but small part of the
education of military man. Among the many import
ant sciences which go TO make up complete military
education that of engineering fact the OF Con-
WI ted he NJ IN
it "a military academy" and declared tina, its officers
"shall be subject all times do duty in such places
and such service the President Of the United States
shall direct"
One of the strongest arguments for creating this corps
was The prediction that it would furnish body OF we'll
instructed engineers, who could always be relied upon in
time of peace TO direct in the best and economical
manner the works OF the government, eiul as well
military This prediction has been realized, and the gov
eminent has acted accordingly often employing It's odi-
OF engineers superintend its important works
of construction. We might illustrate this by citing The
history OF many OF these works-sueh the Cumberland
road the Improvement Of rivers and habors the coast
survey, sc
But il may be said that in these cases, and in most
others, military officers have been placed 10 charge OF
civil works, in compliance with the terms OF he laws
authorizing creating these works but 10 the case OF
the Capitol extension, and the construction OF custom
houses, this is not The laws do not require these
officers to be placed thai duty, and therefore, il they
are placed i is great wrong" "usurpation OF
power" &c.
The case is simply this: The government have large
buildings 10 erect and their construction will involve
the expenditure OF great deal OF money it is doubtless
the duty of the government to get the best men il can
find to superintend these constructions
Now, The government has corps OF engineers, and
among the officers who compose II are ID be found men
who have had grea, experience in the OF construction
who perfectly familiar with the management and
superintendence OF mechanics, and artisans who have
made architecture their study and who are, from
education and long experience, perfectly competent
to take charge Of the construction Of such buildings
These officers have dsbursed large sums of public money
and have faithfully accounted for every cent OF III their
qualifications unquestoned and their integrity is un.
doubted The works government works, and the
the subject OF who shall be employed 10 superintend
their construction il they do not direct that the govern
men engineers shall be employed they do no, prohibit
the government from employing them Under such
circumstances, we think it might be plausbly maintained
that il is the duty Of the executive department of The gov
eminent to place the construction OF these public build
lngs under the control OF It's officers; bot we will content
ourselves al present with maintaining that is the duty
oil the government 10 obtain The hest IN ~,