The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-08-03

parment profitable and economical than tneir ad
mnisration under what is called the civil system, but
which is really the system of partisan politicians Now
sir conceive, also, that il is duty public men TO
sustain that administration of the armores which most
profitable and economical unless it be necessarily
panied by oouneryailing disadvantages and objections
In connexion with this branch of the argument refer
to the able and lucid argument of my colleague on the
committee Mr.. Dickinson pass by the artificial and
palry camor about the right of certain class to govern
ment employment; for it eyinees much more profound
acquaintance with the lore OF the cuiote and red
publican than with the lessons OF the founders of
sttution. Nor sir do belong that school Of political
philosophy which eonfounds democracy with centious-
ness and decency with aristocracy Whatever is hurul
would rectify; whatever is beneficial would preserve.
II is unphilosophica and unstatesmanke to tear down
system to which habits have adapted themselves and
to which industrial machinery has been adjusted be-
of tncied grievances accidental and insufficient
evils There are sir running through the history of every
people, certain vital and permanent principles which are
preserved in every wise change and to which innovation
bows its naughty spirit The sudden change Of system,
in any material point should therefore conform TO this
perienee and be founded upon adequate causes II there
accidental evils, them; but do uproot
system because Of superficial and ortuitous defects Let
examine sir the given by the advocates of this
change. Public clamor it is said demands it. iormi
dabe array of petitions appealed to to this Sir
the appeal is unfounded The special committee raised to
consider this question appointed the 18th February
last and the FIRST petition dated the l4th Of the ensuing
March month elapsed after the creation of the commits
tee before the public mind was directed to this subject
The first petition too came from the District OF Columbia
the inhabitants of which do possess the franchises
and civil mmunties OF citizens OF the States Yes sir the
first petition comes from the very spot where the committee
raised and is in session. and is born month after the
baptism of the committee; and now ask if it is not more
reasonable infer that the action Of the committee excited
the public mind than that the public mind excited the
itee into being and action?
In journal published in this city, too {be Starr APP
pcared the form of petition with advice to the mechanics
class, to copy it, circulate it for signatures and then
return the petitions here to drive Congress from its equi-
libru and expe deliberation from its councils upon this
subject In this publication they invoked by the honor
and patriotism Of their class and by the ympathes of their
caste to demand special legislation for their benefit
class Responsive to this passionate exhoraon these pe-
itions have back to They gather around this
hall. But sir they show wondrous uniformity. They are
all fashioned, stereotyped and impressed from the same
mint And Is by this display OF public indifference gall
yanized by political gambling into mimic writings, that
Congress is expected to be alarmed and terrified into special
legislation for class My honorable friend from Mary
land Mr. VANsASr told too, that these superntendents
were naughty and exlctng that under their military dom
nation silent and uncompIaning submission the lot of
the stricken workmen. What sir patient and silent sub
mission their lot while his colleague the committee Mr.
STANTON demands the change because Of the perenptory
canor of these wokmen shaking the armores to their
foundation Sir leave this discrepancy be reconced
by these gentlemen hemseyesboth assertions cannot be
correct and in my judgment neither My friend from
Maryland Mr. VAssANT also charges the military supern-
tendents with social tyranny and asserts that they hold
familiar communion with the employees
Sir, in my section the honest mechanic eseems himself
the equal OF any man. and does not think it derogaon
cause of complaint that any is not familiar with iu
He thinks, and thinks justly that the who haughy
keeps aoof from him is much the loser he and he
bears himself with the mobility of his nature Yes sir in
my community the standard of excellence Is merit virtue
and intellect aud not adventitous circumstances the
accidental figure upon the coin Work Is honarabc SIR
The sentiment has been hallowed in Christian prayer
borars s and truly; for work If honest and truth
full and manly is God worship This broad universe and
the mighty solar systems consolidated above it all
erned by fixed and controlling laws Accident chance
only the imperectons OF human knowledge; and he who
achieves greatness in any department must
pore ascertain and adapt himself to these established and
fundamental laws of the moral and physical world This
bor Sir, the who SCOTS at and degrades labor bias
phemes nature, and strator to his own being Yes re-
deem the working from the imputaon of ineriorty
and rescue him from the charge Of modification because
gossip and newspaper speculaons not ntcrchanged
with him by those appointed to examine the results OF his
skill and labor But sir let il be known also that these
superintendents whose tyranny has been rhctoricay
denounced did invade the sacred franchises of the ct
zen, poison his rights and crush out bis individuality;
that they did drive the worSmen to the polls under
threats of dismissal and there under stringent moral
ercion, compel them deposit their ballots, and like
chimes discharge the high functions of the citizen Yes
sir under the administration of these armorcs by the Ord
department partisan warfare awed into quiet
and the citizen unwarped and unseduccd in the
ton Of his plighted trust
But, sir this preex of public camor is not thing
Mr. Bell when Secretary Of War; made the change and
he says, that while it was under consideration he
waited upon by deputatons from Springfield and arpers
Ferry who earnestly urged against the change that it
would withdraw the armores from party patronage and
the democrats had enjoyed the benefit of them their
time of the wings should do also in their hour
Of triumph There cianor then but it was akin to
that which we hear nowthe clamor of spoilsmen Pei-
tons also flowed in upon Congress demonstrating against
the change 1t too choice morse not TO be rolled
under the tongue Of party, and too rich reward for par
tsan services not to be violently struggled for Sir it
will always be difficult thing 10 cut down the patronage
of the government and in this instance great opposition
made to its reduction The Secretary of War triumph
ed this party opposition and he deserves great honor
for his patriotic frmness Petitions, have said flowed
in upon Congress- and they referred to the military
committee ask the attention of members while
read extract from that committee made through its
chairman Mr.. Goggin, in April, 1912:
That before these memorials were presented to Con
eres the committee had fully and maturey considered
the subject referred to, the having been presented
their notice by the and documents TO Congress
ing conclusion, the committee heard arguments against
the appointment of military uperntenden of the armories
of the United states both at Harpes Ferry and at Spring
field which Me of
The listened with patience to the statements
late superintendent (r Kobb) Springfield, well
others After hearing these and reading with the
care the reports OF the boards of officers who have examined
the subject together with the law which before the
mtee and which places these aories under the control of
the Ordnance corps, they the conclusion that the
views expressed by the Ordnance corps in the main
correct that there sufficient for the change
which had been made in the early 1871 by the War
Department or, at least that the sufficient
their opinion to sanction the passage of bill for perma
nent change the system these
The committee decided in favor of change accordingly
reported bill for the purpose which is hereby made part
of this report This bill reported receiving the sanction
of the committee, before the presentation
memorial aforesaid but desrous as the committee have
been have all the facts before them that could present
cd by the memorials they examined them again. could
forth therein with
force and ability by the advocates of the of the
alists when before the committee The committee therefore
recommend that the prayer of the memoras ought
be granted
Yes, sir, this report was made by Mr. Goggin OF Yr