The daily union., 1854-07-25

files of this office The expenditures having been
general appropriations for repairs and improvements thu
armore and not from specific appropriations for the
Items separate accounts were not required by the Treasury
regulations TO be kept or rendered"
! What wretched pretext and subterfnge is this Nc
record kept of these expenses because drawn from
appropriation made upon specific estimates and upon the
implied obigauon that II would be applied to the purposes
/ Mr. DICKINSON would ask the gentleman whether
since the receipt of that letter. he has been furnished
with the items OF the cost of those buildings by the a
thorites Of the armories at Springfield and Harpers
4 Ferry2
Mr. STANTON. Certainly. / stated SO very distinctly
The items sent by Colonel Ripley make the cost of CON
sructing his residence $4,000 But that is by no
means the whole cost to government anything like it.
Mr. DICKINSON. Let Inc ask another question With
this statement before him. will the gentleman from Ken
lucky undertake to say to this committee that the cost OF
those buildings S500002 Whether he wishes to state
ana have the committee understand that the cost of that
house was $4,000?
| Mr. STANTON. do give it as my decided opinion that
to erect residence for the military comnandant Spring
field and TO enlarge and enbesh the grounds in the man
ncr in which they are has this government not
one cent less than $4,000 so stated before most e-
phaticay and distinctly and think justify and
prove the statement by the record do that the
brick and mortar of which the house is composed
the mere labor and materials expended upon ihave
that sum- But do say, that all the ouays for grounds
and improvements will reach $4,000.
Mr. DICKINSON. Let ask the gentleman a question
Does the gentleman wish the committee understand
bis statement that the of the grounds connected with
that building goes to make the $4,000? Or does he
that the cost of the grounds for all the public build
ings cost $4,000? wish he would state exactly how he
understands the matter for wish to say something by
Mr. STANTON. | will try and make myself understood
by the gentleman am either unfortunate my attempts
to be understood, he very dull of conprchension
say that the Of the building and the enlargement and
improvement of the grounds together have cost that sum
Now sir since 1885, the government has expended for the
purchase of ground at Springfield than $4,000
The larger portion of this if ALL purchased at the
request of the commandan and needed for other
purpose than to enlarge his grounds and to prevent
citizens from building in his neighborhood II the resi-
dence of the commandant had not been built there
would have been sort of necessity for nearly all this
additional territory It was expense consequent upon
the erection OF the new quarters and according every
principle OF justice should be charged to that account
The cost of the building the cost of these grounds and
the cost Of iron-ang TO enclose them gravel walks to
improve them, shade trees and shrubbery to adon te
will be as have repeatedly said before not cent less
than $4,000. hope have made myself understood
by the gentleman from Massachusetts | appeal TO him.
when he replies to my Speech see he intends do
show me how and when the erection of this building
ever authorized by Congress. challenge him to produce
the record and show that single granted
for that purpose want no statements from the Ordnance
department want the records of Congress- if they exist
Legislation is should be- done here at the Office of
| the Ordnance Board
In regard to the quarters nrpcrs Ferry find that
about the time $9539 asked for to build new
quarters for the commandan at that armory The
sity for new quarters was with great simplicity stated to
be because the old stuesd n the vicinity of the
shops, and therefore unsuitable for the commandments
dwelling Congress took different view of the subject
and rejected the application The next year it
ed i'll different shape, and $4,000 asked to build
quarters for the commandan the sorekeeper and the
master It rather moderate sum- and Congress
granted it. 1t was all Congress did grant and
yet upon this small appropriation intended for three sepa-
rate buildings the commandant proceeded TO erect for him
self house, the cost of which is stated be Slo-
333 and this too exclusive of the cost of the ground
thus sir that the public money is expended by the
military officers in command of the armores While the
wages of the workmen down to the very lowest
limit in order to exhibit small in the manufacture
OF the arms, immense thus avished without all-
thority OF law, TO enable themselves and families to
live in etyle Of magntcence and splendor almost
equaed in this country, II the efficiency Of the armores
were in amy respect increased by these expenditures
would not be so bad But sir the effect is exactly the
verse The comnandant sets example, by his style of
living we calculated to weaken the respect of the people
for the which fosters and encourages such
travagance. The in the armories who receive for
years wages scarcely enough to pay the expense OF gas
lights for the palace feel but tc prde in serving
government which deals differently with its citizens and
makes wide distinction between the workman and the
officer
1t does no. seem, from any testimony that have been
able 70 see that the military commandants with all the
money voted them, and all the advantages Of improved
machinery have effected any improvement in the fbrica-
ton OF arms commensurate with these advantages On the
contrary, muskets made not manufactured any
better as we'll as they were twelve years ago take it
therefore, that in this respect not thing has been gained
by the removal of the civil supenendents On the score
OF economy it is most papabe that the public interest
has suffered greatly II s then the part of wisdom to re-
turn to the old system, and trust this committee will
hesitate 70 adopt the amendment which have offered
Sir there cannot be the slightest doubt that men Of prac-
tca experience and high character for integrity and intel
gencc be found in civil life in abundance to take
charge of and manage these establishments The country
is full of them and public opinion demands your hands
that of them shall be selected for that purpose That
the public interest calls for If have not the slightest
doubt fyou would have them managed with less cost
the governmentifyou would have better produced
If you would respect the wishes of the people who
you hsre--remove the military officers send them off to
their military duties and place civilians in their stead
Gentlemen may affect to regard this movement in favor
ofsePaTng the military from all connexion with the civil
affairs OF government as matter of not much import
and not calculated long to disturb the public mind
beg them to indulge such delsion. On this subject
all over the Union the mechanics workingnen and Others
tally aroused. Every stride of the military power,
nfame and arouse them the They will not cease to
demand from your hands correction Of this evil until
every military officer is corfed to his legal duties The
question, with them Il above all party They regard il
involving the nature of civil Institutions and
viii giys up the contest only when they shall have ri-
amphed
Tue LATE GEN. TowsoN.-Thc following is brief bio
graphical sketch of the life OF the late Gen. Towson given
in the columns of cotemporary
Gen Towson born in Maryland in 1884 and at the
age OF Is removed TO Kentucky, and afterwards to Nat
chez in the then Mississippi Territory where he resided
appointed adutant in the 7h Maryland militia; in
March, 1872 he appointed captain Of artillery in the
United States army and in August Of that year joined
Lieut. Col. Scott nj phadelphia and proceeded to