The daily union., 1854-07-27

under the superntendency OF military officers OF the gen
eal government delivered ia the House OF Representa-
ves, July IT. 1854
Mr. VANSANT said;
Mr. CHAIRMAN | am indebted for this occupation of the
floor to the courtesy OF the honorable gentleman from South
Carolina Mr. KEiTP; and time for the discussion of
tbe amendment to the bill before the committee
sarly be limited shall proceed at once without any effort
at establishment to give my views, synoptealy, upon
subject interesting and important to great industrial
class of our citizens than many may suppose be The
memorials eanating from thousand of the honest
mechanics Of this country imploring Congress relieve
their eow-laborcr from the degradation of military
troll whilst engaged in civil employment but lie low
and soft whsperngs OF the thought and the sentiment
which live in mighty bosom.
Those memorials are not from men who live on govern
iayors they are not an eanation from that class
which contrives to obtain preermen in public places
where little is to be done and much is to be received
they proceeded from those who inest the corr
dora yestbules, or obbes of this national hall, to the
noyance of the representatives of the people in further
ance of unworthy of public support they
from the idle and the prohgate the vain and avar
cous from those who iaten fraudulent specula-
tions but they come from class that has unalterngly
sustained national institutions and our national
Union from the beginning and still clngs to them for the
sake of eemans heragea class that has contributed
to national wealth and national independence and which
the civilized world in its divided histories has acknowl
edged to be a creditor in a social organizations.
The select committee of this House appointed under the
resolution of the 18th February 1854 80 inquire into and
report this House whether the appointment OF military
officers superinend the manufacture of firearms in the
national armories &C. is compatible with the public inter-
est and consistent with the nature and character of our
civil government" and to which these memorials re-
erred has carefully and imparay examined the subject
and the report OF the majority Of that committee has been
laid the desks Of the members Of this House The hon
orable gentleman from the Springfield district in Massa
chusetts Mr. DICKINSON in his speech before this House.
indicated that the friends of military superintendent
the committee not fairly treated aud that the door of
investigation was too early closed to allow full opportun-
ties for the appearance OF witnesses who supposed to
be opposed to the civil superintendent OF the national
mories. The honorable gentleman from South Carolina
Mr. KET has in effect reiterated the in his minor
y report charging that the minority of the select commit
precluded from presenting what they regarded
important testimony and that the investigation $50
far partial and one-sdedh Mr.. Chairman certainly
gret that must make issue with both of these honor
able gentlemen to the conduct of the committee Of in
vestgatiOn They have not been able adduce tes
mony disprove the principal facts set forth in the report
of the majority they have not been able 10 aside the
credible testimony condemnatory Of the military system in
the national armores and hence they seek hloody the
stream they have not the power to stay" by assang the
action of the committee To show, Mr.. Chairman upon
what tickle reed these gentlemen of the minority can
will facts evidenced by the record and others from
recolleeon which will be sustained by the testimony Of
my colleagues they should be doubted by any of
this House,
On the 18th February 1854 the committee was appointed
under the resolution of that date and organized the 18th
of the month. 1t held three meetings between that
time and the 9Th Of March. At the latter date Mr..
Faulkner moved that the committee report the House.
and ask to be discharged from the further consideration
OF much Of the resolution submitted to it relates to
the national armories for the that the subject is
now submitted by law TO the President who has the re-
ports of the commissioners and testimony taken SPRING
field before him. This resolution supported by Messrs
STANTON FAULKNER and SAPP and opposed by Messrs DICK
RsoN VANsANT, DAWSON and KETT. The motion was, of
course lost You will thus perceive that the Hon. Messrs
DICKINSON and kErT were anxious for the investigation
The grounds taken by those who opposed the resolution
of Mr. FAULKNER that the resolution Of the House OF
the 18th of February virtually asked suspension Of the
opinion of the President OF the United States in reference to
the report of the commission which investigated the armory
at Springfield that the COMMITTEES had to believe
that the House ignorant Of the effect Of said resolution
and
ton, of its members to call the Executive for
the report made by and the evidence taken before the
commission which held its sessions at Springfield in 1853
motion was subsequently passed at the same meet
ing to proceed forthwith in the investigation of that
part of the subject relating to the national arlnoes and
the chairman of the committee requested the members o!
the to furnish him with the Of persons whom
they desired should testify Thirteen persons accord
ngy summoned eight Of whom testified in favor of civil
superinendence and five in favor OF military authority.
The request referred to reiterated from time to time
to the period of the adoption of resolutionlSth May
to close the examination OF witnesses and 10 make up
report upon much of the subjects of inquiry referred to
it as relates to the national armores The committee held
ortysix meetings II assembled about four days in each
week between the 9Th March and the 18th May-an inter
val sufficient to have enabled the committee to send TO CAL
ornia for witnesses if it had been deemed necessary The
resolution adopted the 18th May for closing the eyami
nation in reference to the amores had been presented on
the 10th of the monhaction thereon having been
postponed in order to afford members still further opportu
mites of citing witnesses, if they so desired had asked
for the postponement because understood that the mi
nority of the committee desired have witnesses
summoned, Notwithstanding thai the matter
OF investigation had been delayed of the
bers composing that minority They spoke frequently of n
list OF names to be given the chairman of the committee
in addition to those which they had already caused to ap
pear before that commttce but the minority member
members present the meetings had list present
At the meeting, the 10th May the committee full
and yet the longtked-of list did appear On the 18th
May the day when the investigation closed, the Hon.
Mr. DICKINSON, of the minority handed to the chair
man the names of three persons residing SPRING
field, whom he desired 10 be summoned but the
lory had determined to keep the matter open longer
was agreed that the testimony of those three gentlemen
rs ~ mad been taken by the commission which Spring.
held IN 1903 should appear with the printed testimony,
Whch would be reported TO the House on the subject
the national armories If had not known that the hon
eraoie gentlemen composing the minority of the commit
e were incapable of effort to accomplish object by
uhnur management would have coujectured that their
essh was 10 defeat the result OF the legation the
purpose of the resolution Of the All Eor,,r Nv
tnaton, - - r-0-
The examinations before the committee Mr. Chairman
were not @ Poe There appeared rs have said thirteen
Witnesses elght OF whom testified in Of the civil
perintendency and five in favor of military control And
you nave Also IN the printed testimony of Joseph Weather
@ oh Vnse ana David legro, three in favor of mill
ay superinendency whose evidence Was taken in ernso
before the commission which at Springfield in 1859 This
Scs e'gn witnesses on each side the question Does
this look like ca porte testimony or untairness? :?
nce lSa at which time the armories were placed under
iu'ry superintendence the efforts of the military arm Of
e government have been unceasing TO prove thai nnc-
dent to that period there neither dsni, onc;anc
nor economy In the national armores but the most udu-
pipe teslnohy taken before the commission which con-
eneu at Springhed consisting Of The Hon Andrew Ste
yenson oil virginia, Hon. Chancellor Waworth of New
s;,I uosernor oeeie OF New hampshire and Henry d.
n Oh Conneccut civilians the last two practical and
experienced mechanics and Col r F. Andrews and Col
D. Steptoe of the army and also before the select