The Ripley advertiser. [volume] (Ripley, Miss.) 1843-1897, 1856-03-27

While morning opes her golden gates
REMARKS or HON. J. 4. QUIT
MAN, OF MISSISSIPPI.
Is rss Hoyss o. RssarsEsrArrvEs,
February ~. 1856.
On the message Of the President O.
the United States, recommending
an appropriation Of $4,000, 900 fol
preparing armaments and ammu'
ni.ion for fortihcations, improving
small.arms. &c.
NJ. QUITMAN. have but little
to saw on this subject, for~l believe
that the House is already prepared
70 come to a favorable determination
Of tho matter, and will therefore
briefly present the points to which
! desired to direct the. attention oi
members. s."
did not make the motion TO refer
hi. message to the Committee on
Military Affairs for any reason per.
,onal to myself ss a member OF that
committee; but because | believed,
and now think a majority Of the
House will concur with me, that il 10
the proper and appropriate committee
to take charge OF the subject. For
the D irposc Of drawing the attention
Of the House to the points in issue,
| will read the Presidents message,
which, with the accompanying letter
Of theSecrstary ofWar, tits proposed
to refer 4; il il in these words:
To the House Of Representatives,:
herewith transmit, and recommend
to the favorable consideration Of
Congress, q communication from the
Secretary Of War. asking . special
appropriation Of o., 900 900 to prs.
pare armaments and ammunition for
the fortifcations, to increase tho sup.
ply Of improved smnll-arms, and to
apply recent improvements to arms
nf old patterns belonging to the Uni.
led States and the several States.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
Washington, Feb. 90, 1856.
Here an appropriation is asked for
three purposes, each AMI every one Of
which, no member Of this House will
deny, relates to subjects the consider.
alton Of which belongs most appro.
prately to the Committee on Militia.
ry Affairs. The subjects which gave
rise to this message come from the
War Department. The Secretary,
in the discharge OF his supervisory
'uties, ha, thought fit to report to the
President that, although the country
l'in the ordinary state Of preparation
ior defense, with the usual supply of
armj and munitions Of war in our ar
iaorics and arsenals, yet that the pol
icy heretofore adopted in the prepa-
ration of arms and munitions is found
loo gradual and slow to keep pace
with the receat improvements which
nave been made in arms and the kind
OF ammunition required in their use
and therefore to secure an additional
degree Of efficiency, he recommend.
''me more vigorous and active meas.
aes than the gradual and slow move
nents towards these objects which the
existing force in our armories, and the
means heretofore employed, will per-
init. In this he has done what it was
his 'duty to do--what might, even with
"ropriety, have been done heretofore.
even with profound peace and with
out anticipation Of war. Every man
N this House knows that in our day,
"Ith the rapid improvement that is
gong on in the making Of firearms,
and the adaptation Of ammunition
ana loading process to these new in
Nentlons, some more than ordinary
is necessary to keep pace
with them in our military prepare
lions.
We may learn q lesson from Europe
on this subject. Tho nations at war
mere, notwithstanding their old mil
.ttary prejudices, are not slow to avail
themselves Of these Improvements,
'aough they may be American inven-
IONS They are compelled to aban-
a"n the old prejudice against that pc
-, liar American wrapon-thc rifle.
ne old-style lnuske, has to a great
'Stent been thrown aside. and the
Improved rife. or grooved gun, long
'hown to our hunters, has been adop-
'ed as the most efficient weapon Of
earfare. Our people have not only {
''celled all Others in its use, but the I
h'entive genius Of Americans has Z
arried il 70 its greatest state Of i'm
'rovement. |,
by Transmitting and recommending 4
ne =, suggsstions Of the Secretary Of
ar, the Prssideat informs ~ that /
he estimates heretofore male did not Z
over the expenditarss necessary for .
als accelerated preparation now rec
nmcaded asa. thsrciore, IL Coa-
ress shall eoscar il the saggesdoas Z
The Secretary, hs Assires ~ nse- 9
''ary aPprepsissisa - carry ost !
Iese ,se changes aad i0pesvsmsaU d
ne amount required ny aPpeaf d
iryt' but IL sAoaA be rs9em6sss9 &
~ "''h c"'n .'igh' chs~sc in the q