The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-08

wAsHlSeros. April 8. 1854.
To A, Editor Of the Union !.

WASHINGTON, April 8, 1854
10 he Editor Of the Union;
sR NV attention has been called to an article OF
too columns published in your paper OF yesterday
iny headed - Supervision OF Government Works" IL
i moi my intention notice reply that article in all
ia bearings, but simply 10 make few remarks bearing
on The management or superintendence OF our national
armories Your article, taken a whole, to me
10 bear The impress OF the ordnance board. OF officers
connected herewith. So believing, shall treat II
smanaton from that source and beg leave TO call the
attention oil the public to the startling doctrines there
in contained am aware, sir, that my feeble pen, If un
aided BY others competent will prove but feeble
agent in erreng out the many abuses and usurpaons of
mower which have for many years been silently and in
sidiously creeping into the management aud control of
our national affairs. is not sufficient answer for you
ar any one else say that any all OF those officers
are employed placed at the head OF purely cpiI iast
lions by express laws, without lifting the curtain and
giving us an insight into the influences brought TO bear
10 procuring the passage OF those laws A wrong may
be Done and fundamental principle violated, I'M
der the name OF law. and il will be time enough for the
military power TO justify themselves under The shield Of
law when they satisfy observing public that they
have not been The direct indirect agents in procuring
the passage Of the laws by which they fill their pock
cts and conrve 10 perpetuate their power.
In regard to large portion OF the officers named by
Mr. Stanton or their fitness for the posts they hold.
know nolhng bu, il they. any portion OF them,
no better fitted for their stations than is the supentend
emit beg pardon, the "commandant should have
sad-of one least Of national armories, then and
in that case, should be asonished-nay. astoundedto
find that you your normants should seek 10 bolster
up system so entirely rotten 1t is well-known fact
that our national aTmories established and con-
tnued under The SUPPLEMENTARY OF civilians up to the
year lS41 and that it in that year changed to mill
tary supernendency by the then Secretary of War; or
rather by the ordnance board, which was and fear is
yet the ruling power 1t is true, however, that the law
was afterwards changed to conform TO the previous
usGrpatons; but how changed! and by what means 7
The records OF that day. together with the recoecons
Of the actors therein. will go far if they do no, fully
veal the well as the object 1t is generally be-
leved that certain letter from the then head OF the
ordnance board, printed and laid before the Senate just
before the final vote taken, was the Of the
Senae's sanclioning that usurpsion. will charac
erize that letter by the terms which rightly merits but
ask you and your readers procure it, read it, and
pare its contents with the facts they exist may be
mistaken, but fully believe that more shameless lmpo
siton scarcely il ever, attempted by any public Off
Ger on any Legislative body II successful and from
that day to this there has been continued and untriag
effort on he part OF the military superntenden,s and their
head the ordnance department. 10 keep up the delusion,
Or in lruer words, the deception then practised.
This plain language, but no palmer than true; and if
q clear demonstration would be made For the present,
will content myself with saying that, instead Of the cost
Of the muske being Iessened, better maze under the
military than under the civil SUPPLEMENTARY, the
is the fact and that, instead of economical ex-
pendure of money, there has been wild and reckless
extravaganza substituted How far the present Secretary
OF War under the influence OF those who have formerly
misled the public, do no, know but that they have
hitherto succeeded in misleading former Secretaries Is, 10
my mind susceptible OF The clearest proof will, how
ever for the present. content myself with naming,
specimen of military economy, The erection Of the com
mandanrs quarters" Springfield That bulldog cost
at least $50 ooo and the grounds purchased graded and
osnamenied for no other purpose than for lawns and
pleasure grounds for the oil the inmates OF that costly
edhce, in all probability cost equal sum; and we
add to this the S35 800 10 (Which is known 10 have
been paid ou Of the treasury dunng the last twelve and
quarter years. ending June 80, 1851 TO the present
lcommandant,p sample OF military economy will be
seen.
Bat Tor the present. will foIbear, with the baie r..
mark that IL it il TACT you intimate, that The gov
eminent Of Great Britain is about TO copy Our example OF
establishing national armories, and placing them under
military officers il will only prove that American repub-
lcans have set an anti-republcau example. which Is
deemed arbitrary enough TO be copied BY monarchy
Yours, Sc JOHN H. STEELE.