Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-01-21
RICHMOND WHIG.

.
ment of an Armory
Mr. Rves rose aud said that he deemed this appro
pirate occasion 10 trouble the Senate with his views
on this bill This motion offered for consideration the
proprey expedency and necessity at this time OF es
abshng an armory in this State for the manufacture OF
arms As the question OF providing armSor our vol
unteer corps of such descriptions shall be recon-
mended by competent military men, there seems to be
general concurrence of opinion in this chamber. But
upon the proposal to establish armOry diversity OF
opinion has already been manifested in the Senate, and
am glad said Mr. K that have an opportunity
upon the motion OF the Senator from Greenbrier to vote
upon that separate aud distinct proposition. had no
ntimatiOn from any quarter that such motion would be
submitted Indeed from the indications Yesterday APP
pretended the chance would be denied of Offering fur
ther amendments this bill But little did it enter into
mind conceive that such practices the yenera-
be Senator from Greenber has alluded TO- would be
sorted to for the purpose of forcing this upon
Senators who have shown reluctance to embrace it
That gentleman who from his age and public services,
might be looked to the Father of this Body informed
the Senate that he has been threatened with excommu-
uication from his party-the Democratic party-ior his
opposition this feature OF the bill; and with commen-
dabe warmth expressed his indignant sense OF all such
attempts to control his action here Surely sir nothing
OF this sort has been heard the floor of the Senate;
and il has TO be reckoEed among those secret appl'
ances by which that great motive power 10 modern poll
tics, the Of parV-is applied to urge men where
neither conscience judgment nor feeling would lead
]
of Democracy like the Senator from Greenbrer, not
to be deferred from his well considered duty 10 hisSnte
bv such influences or such idle suspicious OF his party fl
/ deity.
For my part | dsclaim al partizln feeling this
question: nor do discern how il can be affected by our
differences federal politics. or how the most ingeni-
ous can here detect the lines Of parties, unless Mr. Pre-
sident the lines OF the parties OF Union anu ni'unon.
have already alluded the proceedings Of yesterday.
Il will be borne in mind how every effort gain time
of
where amendment could not be gdusaid-to attempt a
rtconcemeut of conflicting views was time after time,
remorseeSsy defeated and last to give the finishing
blow TO the struggling minority and deprive them OF
their representative privilege to act and 20 hc heard
the call will add sir the uigrdciouS call oi the pre-
vious question was made and only Withdrawn at the mo-
| meut of adjournment.
| cannot bee wrong Mr. President in ascribiug these
manifestations, so uncommon and 80 extraordinary in
| the Senate to undue hnpaticuce and excitement The
members of this body have ever been distinguished for
their courtesy and beraty each other and the pain
l proofs Yesterday Of departure from this diguiied
bearing must naturally the apprehension that We
are about 10 lresle under panic OF some sort know
ull well sir that the advocates of tins measure dclam
for themselves all such excitcments aud contend that
they were never cooler deliberate and dIspasson-
/ ate.
But Mr. President, there is page Of our Legislative
history somewhat similar to the present TO which we
nav apy revert on this OCCASION for instruction aud
]
OF the Assembly Immediately after the Southampton iu-
-urrection. At that time at this the advocates Of
extreme measures iunOcenty Thought themselves acua-
ted only by the careful conclusions OF calm and deber
ate reflection and Shrank not from the responsibility OF
the most astounding propositions. The remarkable de-
bate of that session the grand repository and
mOrv from which the most rabd abOtOnsts draw their
weapons and the speeches Of own leading men on
that occasion figure largely in the vile book OF Hell
per aud the supplement OF Mrs. Stove have been in
] t.r-r q r.FIt 90
these diarbes against slavery have TO plead for
their excuse the then prevailing excitement and the dis
/ temper in their own minds and publicly 81 mourn IA
-achcloh and ashes the sentiments they have 10
retact then deprecated and resisted the Wild extremes
OF that day, with all the energy and determination that
| Uoath commands
Now sir, Of maturer years and clothed Nth 4eprs-
sentative Obligations lstand eIe to resist may, the
excitement OF the present day and TO hN II possible
the igyye, of Senators upon the steps we are about
to- take God knows 10 easy enough 10 fall into the
heady current of passion that sweeps through these
halls but il requires elEmlstcry escape it, and
TO maintain that cooncss which, in my humble judgment
was never more necessary than amid the dangers which
now threaten us To this latter task,that OF preserving
and pursuing calm aud serious reflection upon the trou-
beS OF our distracted contedeacy, have carefully and
irxiously applied mvsef;-bU with what success, must
be determined by those whose wishes and interests
would ian represent with fidelity on this floor.
Il Is the establishment OF an arnogy for the manuiac-
er than by contract with individuals is this PROPOSE
lion which resist contest It's necessity and propriey
under every aspect in which can view 1t. As TO pro-
yding arms for our volunteer corps, that is matter
agreed among us all As TO the number of that
lIely to be enrolled in such corps or the number OF
kind Of arms be furnished them ann unable to speak
on that subject must look TO the military committees
and military for instruction and direction. have
shown my readiness by my votes 90 to any extent
deemed necessary for placing arms IN the hands OF com
| panies-suCh volunteer companies usually are-wcll
drilled disciplined and practsed in the use OF them be
cause believe such corps will be ready and sufficient
defence the State in every emergency, and at all
times an ornament and honor to IT, Now what is on
supply for this purpose, aud the best of supply
! elsewhere? The State has already am told som.
fifty thousand stand OF muskets which at a tring
NAV be converted into Of the most formidable
! known TO the service; it would from the letter
of the present Secretary of the Governor of North
Carolina which is before me, that this may be done
I'm the L. s. armOres, without cost to the State. How
ever that NAV be- the cost seems of altering them
the rifle bore and percussion lock- will scarcely exceed
| 81 so each Aud when altered, we have the test
mouy of Col. RObt Lee, of the T. ). army-a gentleman
of high military science aud reputationlor saying OuT
! present musket will be Of signal efficiency and
second Only to other weapon known to the service
namely the L. $ Minnie rifle. Besides this dependence
we are offered by the Ordinance Department the United
States most seryiceable guns 8 81 each specimens
which have been shown Butt spite of these sources
seems that our military COMMITTEES demand the purchase
of other arms-arms of "the approved" kind this
bill terms them-and without being myself aware of the
necessity Of this specifications am inclined defer
far az | can to the Dc mands Of these committees.
With this supply hand, and the proposed purchase
of additional arms to anv reasonable extent what is the
uecessty present or prospective of this armory? The
estimate of its cost in this BILL seemsi be 1920 900;
and the annual appropriations tor its operation are put
as understand at about 100000. | submit sir that
such expenditures when State debt is thirty
millions of dollars serious enough to challenge Obser
ton and provoke reflection. And in this connection,
NAV notice one provision of the BILL to which feel
special repugnance Ii is the one, proposing to meet
th. expenditure by sale of State bonds; and at any
sacrifice as We are told by of the advocates of this
bl-the Senator from Chesterfield (Ar. JOuesG-we are
thus to proclaim the world in the midst Of profound
peace we provide for the defence OF the State,
without hawking our bonds about the streets of New
YOrk-the great centre of capital and trade-socitng
the money OF Northern capitalists to resist the nroads
or assaults of Northern fanatics am not willing, sir,
TO place the State in what seems to me- so humliatng
attitude do not the financial necessity for II.
As understand her finances this amount may be drawn
directly from her treasury in the two fiscal years the
first of which already far advanced; and if not
would make the appeal to the people by tax for that
purpose.
But return to ask Mr.. President what is the mean
/ mo of this incpient military establishment? | would
even HOw sir, gladly give way and take my seat il
any Of its friends would vOuchsaie explanation
defence of it. but Inferred from the tactics of yester-
day that their design to press to its passage with
out debate but now trust sir that the dawn Of anOth-
er day has brought with it better and moderate
counse and that if my proposal be not now accepted,
we shall at another stage Of proceedings be favor
ed with their views. But in the absence Of them,
cannot answer this pregnant question except by contem-
plating the contingencies in which this indefinite
acture of arms NAV be of practical use Let us pro-