Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-01-24

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men at moments warning. But her muskets and p'
tolls though in good order are excapt few, flint lock.
Every consideration demands that they should be aere
TO percussion and threaded in the barrel to shoe
the conical ball, and be made sell-priming"
When the Senator from Fairfax the other day cite
this passage, gentlemen the other side sneered at
old message and therefore not entitled 10 weight
sneer, sir is weapon often used against an argumen
too strong TO be retuted by legitimate means. The the
Governor of Virginia. two years ago. said that we ha
arms for 100000 men at moments warning. Gentle
men cannot laugh away that fact for those arms hav
not in the mean time, away. We still have then
all with large additions procured quota from tn
U. s., and by purchases amounting to some $4,000,
the least made by Gov. Wise during the past autumn
So, sir, VIC are IN better position of defence than w
were when he made that communication, and posses
the means OF arming at the cost of moderate expend
ture far greater force than we will hope ever hav
occasion for.
But sir, as have before said, admit the necesst
Of procuring certain amount of arms and whilst thn
it far better to purchase such may be required in ad
ditiOn to those we should alter yet sir if the majority
OF this body have predetermined this matter If they hav
resolved what shall be the general means by which thi
armng shall be effected ask them least to allow sucl
amendments to be made to the bill as will remove SOM
of the objections that exist TO it.
have therefore, sir in good faith and with sincere
desire to improve the bill offered this substitute tina
guards may be thrown around the subject before
becomes a law. The changes propose leave the gen
era features Of the bill as they were and merely lool
to the proper working of the system
1t free from the objection raised by the Senator
from Amherst and Richmond, the other amendment
heretofore proposed viz of striking at the vital primer
pies OF the bill, they untouched trust therefore
that will commend itself the favorable consideration
of those gentlemen will now Mr. President, brief!
point out the changes propose to achieve through th
substitute under consideration.
The first sections of this bill and substitute are thu
In the second section of the substitute it is pro
vded that the Master Arnorer shall be removable at tn
pleasure OF the Governor, whilst by the original bill
when appointed, he is in the Office permanently and be
yond the control Of any one which is certainly objection
able propose further to reduce his salary from 81 5O
aud quarters to 81 800 and quarters being the amour
that the gentleman who occupies that position at Harper
Ferry, and who, understand is looked to to fill tn
post here receives from the T. s. Government for tn
same services, and see no reason why We should pa
more, for have heard that the United States d
pay for services OF this nature their full value.
the section Of the original BILL propose strik
the words under the direction OF the superinten
dent where they occur and relate only to the employment
of operatives, and insert few words back, the word
under the direction OF the COmmaudant of the Publ
Guard" Under the original BILL sir this superintendent
has control over the armorer except in the matte
of the employment of operatives propose TO give him
he should have, control the armOrer in directing
the operations in the manufacture and repair of arms
\
whilst some are satisfied that the superintendent
is intended TO designate the captain Of the guard yet
from what have seen, here and elsewhere, conf
dent that other gentlemen do not agree with them, an
by Supplemental legislation to create addition
al office in the State and egate out of this post tn
present most able accomplished and scientific officer who
for long years. has devoted himself to the duties impose
on him by the laws of the State regard to the armory
and for one sir will bind myself to any such schem
of decaptation
The next alteration propose is to add to the thir
| section this proviso:
Provided however that the cost of arranging the in
terror inserting the driving power and furnishing th
machinery for all the departments of the said armory
With capacity OF manufacturing ten thousand rifle mus
kets annually shall not exceed hundred and twent
thousand dollars; and that no sum exceeding hun
dred thousand dollars shall be expended in the operation
OF the said armory in any year. And the Governo
shall not under any circumstances, exceed the amount
specified pledge the faith and credit OF the State TO
greater sums, for the objects specified, than here
! specially provided"
This sir is to guard the expenditures under this BILL
As 1t now stands contracts may be entered into whic
may cost the State millions. There 10 limitation what
10 the expenditure that may not ensue. IL may
objected that this limitation may be regarded sur
| Gov. Letcher aud the commission. No such Is in
tended. Who the commission will consist of | do no
know. | doubt not they will be honorable and compe
tent men, and as for Mr. Letcher believe HIM fully en-
titled 10 MS SJbTYet 81 Honest, ana WOuid trust hlL
as far as any one but, sir would trust one with IN
limited dissection in of this kind Senators Gel
tauly would not do it in their private affairs and
should the caution il the affairs of our cons
ueuts. Nor is this original question, for | find SIM
lar instructions placed the Board Of Visitors OF tn
Military n,u,, "a body OF men OF the highest charaC
ter in passed few years ago, making an appro
priation for buildings At that institution.
The next amendment is TO place the commission j
purchasing arms under the direction of the Governor
and to give them discretion in the kind Of purcba:
/ cd oouGne them tho 'nnst approved arms,
which much greater cost, may not be suitable 70
our purposes.
The last amendment propose, sir, is to prohibit an
member of the present General Assembly from hole
ing any Office enacted by or in consequence Of this act
and however small the favor this amendment may NEE
with on this floor, it will with general az
proyal outside Of the Legislature, the members Of which
the people believe absorb OF the Offices OF the Stat.
Mr. President, in Offering this substitute, l have don
what conceived to be my duty to myself and my cor
stuen,s. am ready TO make concessions on this bill t
those who favor it, and ask then 10 meet in the sam
spirit thank the Senate for the courtesy with vhc
| 1t has received my rcmarks