Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1854-05-16
UNETTEESS OF MILITARY OFFICERS FOR LIE
CEANICAL PURSUITS.
FRoI THE sPRINeFIELD DAILY -.


The grade Of intellect to constitute a good
mechanic must be of high order. Perhaps
there is no one profession or occupation where
every steps call into play so much ofcaIculation
and judgment. Not alone must the mind
continually work independent of the routine of
all preccdents, but cases are ever occurring
where the nntrammeled intellect of the man,
from perfect knowledge of the principles of
his trade, strikes out a new and shorter road to
a result. Combining with all these Qualities
is knowledge which can be obtained only by
experience, and that acquaintance with the
material upon which he works; a knowledge
only to be gained by long practice, by handling,
by continually operating upon. There is one
point not generally appreciated OF understood;
indeed, if the opposite be the case, then is our
government more criminal than | am willing
to admit. ! refer to practical knowledge of
the use of the arms manufactured. Every gun
smith in our country, almost without an ex-
ception is an expert in the use of arms. Only
state 10 him the use to which gun is to be
put; suggest to him what you require, and he
viii produce it. Only exhibit to him a want
and ingenuity will supply the necessity. l
have only to suggest to any one doubling my
premises to spend an hour in the patent Office
at Washington. Perhaps the names Of Colt
ana CIaI lll [AiItlI, anu W CSoylA aux - LO9C
of others. will present more prominent cases IN
point which are within the knowledge Of every
one. These men, indeed all gitnsniths, are
skilled il the use of the articles of their own
manufacture; every apprentice; every work
man in their shops are experts from beng re-
quircd to prove tie arms they make.
will venture the assertion that the Spring
field Aimory, under the former civil system,
could have produced greater number OF ac-
compIisIIcd shots than could be matched inthe
country. Now it is in proof that there is not
one man in The Ordnance Board, more, hard
" one single officer in the army that Is skill
cd in the use of arms. l refer, Of course, to
correct actual practical skill in shooting
Provided that musket or rifle be we'll po-
lished and the soldier upon the word, han
dies it with mathematical precision, AID the
occasional firing of blank cartridges, there
\ all his knowledge begins and ends. Even IN
4zur war with Mexico the regulars never made
Rheir shots tell, saving at point blank distance,
while ali the terror inspired by our arms was
from the deadly precision of the shots OF the
volunteers. May l be allowed to ask what
knowledge the Ordnance Board possess Of the
.quaIity of the metals? Have 0ey at last been
scnablcL to att$in what has hitherto been more
doubted than Ahe existence Of the northwest
4IlilSS9E, VIZ .c TONitl IOttl " tfG
sthcy have not Systematically availed themselves
fof this imperial route, may be inferred by the
reply Of Il certain renowned officer in charge
/ Of one Of ou3 armorcs, to Il workman, who
complained thNt q lot of steel was rotten and
unfit for the construction Of bayoncts: 4" Sir, it
cannot be, for ;lhe steel has not been made a
fortnight
Nov no ma% possessed Of that degree Of in
telliecnce whi,:h has enabled him to attain to
excellence i'll his profession will submit to the
shoulder arms system, that makes it of more
importance that he stand erect at his vice or
bench, never sit down or speak in presence OF
the coEmaudallt, never dare receive a letter. or
even a a.telegrafhic message, perhaps informing
him ofzbe death Of one to him more dear than
au-ht else on dartl, than that he turns out IN
arm that is rersect in all its requisites.
Intellect IS the only aristocracy that We ac-
knowledge Men of capacity, while always
willing, from tie very excellence Of that rea-
son which constitutes their intelligence, are eV-
the most rcaslY TO submit to aproper control
and roycrnmcl! But when attempt is made
to exact the sci vile, serf-liIe fear Of a master,
setting at naughs the respect due man, and
citizen, every whit as respectable, to say the
least, both in Efain and character, as the ottl-
Ger placer ovcr ipim, then by their very excel
fence Is ultu SUDilliSSIp!l 'OSSIOiN' liNi -
ALWAYS q class C men in every community, the
necessity Of whijse lotis obedience [ refer to
those dependels upon others fer their daily
labor for their iaread, and who have not the
power Of excellence in them to command en-
plovmcnt by thi! good quality of their work
Want of power:5f brain here implies want Of
mower of thonrSt, and this last also constitutes
that leaning upon some severe master for pro-
lection they las'l power, and they yield unre-
resisting TO the Siespotc assertion of it in ano-
ther. Such nlelt will always supPlant excel
lpnce in anv anil every shop where severe
system prevals.t
If the suporlrtenGencc OF the government
workshops is to-; be continued in the hands of
ihe military. | s@G no remedy that can mitigate
ibc evils Of the present system but by estab-
,sbinr profass%sship of mechanics at West
Point that our officers may acquire a slight
shade of kuowledle of their new duties, enough
nj least TO save shem from the laughter and
scorp Of the men placed under supervision.
\ nrofessorship ii mechanics by which class
Of the cadets might be placed in the shop and
,,r,r,iralIv instrl}dted for term of some four
Years (otIier crcn Instances being equaD might,
rs have before said, alleviate, but could not
cure the evil.
+ IS the custom for boys who have ratn-
raj taste for mccahnlcs to be placed IN "o'N-
shop for term a years at continued work at
their art, before they are considered quaLlhed
to receive pay n journeymen. Out of one
hundred bSyts thusbPprenticed, perhaps noottwO
would be considered competent to take charge
of shop. Whether the young men sent to
West Poi,t are exeinptfrom the weakness and
wants of ,slmmon humanity, leave the pGoIic
TO Judge. fL have only to suggest that nothing
IasS tb3ti f:iis can save our armories from be-
;nr A cure TO our country and the govern
ment as f,jr as the manufacture of arms is con,
c,arncd. sto the effect upon our institutions
it seems Il be heopinion at Washington that
the peopIS were made for the support anu
amusement of the army. As able officers
thoronghl{ versed in all that relates to their
rrof@ssiont experience has taught that they are are
not 10 be 15urPassed. As leaders both for the
regular army and for volunteers, they cannot
bo equale,isas 10. courage and ability always
conducting: their men to victory or faliins AZ
- ,T,,;, noluu,De lNl1t their efforts at