Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-03-12

Remarks of Hon. VIM. #. Avery,
OF Tennessee,


On Military Super izendeRcs Girl H6rEs deire4ed In
the House OF Representatives,, Ee5rUury p, 1859
! Mr.. AVERY. move TO amend by aiding to the
item for the Post Office extension the following
provisO;
rorded, That part pf money herein appropriated
expended under the direction any OF the army
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: l Offer this amendment 10 good
faith, and sincerely hope 1t will pass l wish, sir
put upon record my protest glinst what seems
TO be growing policy of appointing army officers
to supernten end the erection and construction of the
public buildings Of the country Whilst entertain
high regard for the army, aud the officers of the
army, as any gentleman upon this fJor | must say
that am opposed to their being appointed to those
positions the practical mechanic the architect
who spent his whole life in the study not only of
the theory, but the practice of his profession Off
GERS educated at West Point schoOed in the arts
of wsr, in the construction Of Notifications in the
erection Of fOrts but what ask do they know or can
they know about the construction and erection of
cOurt~houses, custom bouses, post Offices or any
other building of this character, without practic
experience? This policy, in my judgement works
great hardship upon the rights of the great me chani
cal class of this country. They superseded They
are shut out from having any part in these highly
important and responsible positions. They are thus
cut off from opportunity Of distipg gushing them,
selves in these great national fields OF their peculiar
profession Sir there mechanics, civil engineers
and architects in my district, in my city, far more
competent to fill these important Offices of Lublic
trus-tO superintend, direct, and control the
ton of public buildings be they great Orsmall-than
any army officer can possibly be Those gentlemen
educated at West Point learn only the theory of
profession which the enlightened architect civil
engineer knows by practice As well might the plan
ter, In employing an overseer 10 manage his plan
tation, discard all applicants who were farmers by
practice and employ only such as know theory, and
no Practice book farmer What would be thought
of such planter? am for opening this great thea
ire for the development of talent, Skill and genius
wide 10 the free competition and advancement of the
working, practical mechanics all over this patton.
Sir, they are everywhere in every city, and in their
hehalf protest agCinst their being superseded by
army officers.
There is another idea connected with this subject
The profession of the army, the study of war and
the arts Of war, naturally iGcucates q notion to
der, to command imperstively, which to the undis
ciplned civilian smacks of tyranny which the honest
industrious, intelligent mechanic, with his Unborn
American notion Of equality and independence, cans
not brook
l am for the army in i IS place am proud of the
American army, is officers and its men. II has
shed immortal lustre the American name But give
unto the army things that are the armys, and unto
the civilians the things that the civilians did
not intend, Mr. Chairman, to detain the committee
It this late hour but moment. l hope the amend
ment will be adopted.