The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-26
PROVISIONAL CONGRESS OF THE COME
DEBATE STATES OF AMERICA.

afPoSased secretary o. the Navy
PROVISIONAL CONGRESS OF THE COME.
DEBATE STATES OF AMERICA.
FIFTEENTH DAY.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. Feb. 90 1851
The Congress met to-day at Prayer was offered
by Rev. Mr.. Heard.
The proceedings OF the previous day and con
drmed.
Mr. WRIGHT, Of Ga, said that he had presented 70
Congress few days ago communication from the Hon.
Mark A Cooper, in relation to the establishment Of
national armory at Etowah, Ca, for the Confederate
ates He asked leave now 70 present another commu
ncaton from the gentleman, and desired that IL be
read by the Secretary 1t may take, perhaps twenty
minutes TO read it, but he hoped would be respectfully
and attentively listened to- because it was on matter
OF great importance to the Confederate States at this
The Secretary directed 10 read the communication
and he proceeded IS follows
To rrn CoscnYss or rue cossspSHars
s1Aaas or AND ND "a
one q Your honorable body the subject srory
submitting The follow ing statement or asa 'as
a a.o, ss ssa q @ years Last subject
Congress Of the United States Al
JOHN % RsT asau ssa IL as sa
an e ss s hs
q that government OF the metal Etowah Ga
sew be sasfacory Il sundry times wisS Sn
Win ho ss ans time sSs
S sns, ., the Goyernor Appropriate committees Of the
The showing them 10 Be- an thss could ipS Sc
S 1s e
and ana po or In and
suit 5as proved most satisfactory win appear by papers
sam Colt q the skui and rsiiaSfs and
proof he me here ali Ss e ean Ss e.
IN e e e1sS for an s sn after finding
power IRON o. irei accessibity security from invasion
n % Be- &C e
@ 1 un ana % q the metal m must be mani
Eoxsh you have this proof furnished hand gotten
y.s ps s ~ p here he
fore beginning and here intends remain ne In Ss
sIsoS s h ays Sso T.
shape for making This preparation also has cost time
ssn IL G sas
Of ssS 'smn
han elsew here u yon greic have individual 70 maks
% sSssss s;sss acre
port Of the coneercy TO Chsredn syannss Or hc
STasd Junction il Mobile and New
m'ed ss the undersigned citizen e Ca: county, georgia
The ex,rac, Of the report of the committee Of the
Georgia legislature referred the above letter is too
long for insertion here, but We make the annexed
tract from it,
The Etowah river and its tributaries furnish the most
ample and never falling water for all
Icy within distance Of fifteen miles there are seven blast
naoes Tor smelling ron ore With charcoal They have
four ssa pa tsosanS .sas
per.on These pTodacis have until rens carried by
nd slipped Smennaa Nashville Decatur, 'I Ala, n and
na s S sns @ .fSn ssd ta1,s
pig or bar syn has bensaIyse on the road
wo blast furnaces fcs s metal rolling mill for merchant
operating and producing fS% eight 70 lem tons per
This rolling nil has been n operation about years,
made over 1000 Or 20 tons annua The supply Of
The srcIury then certificates from several com
petent and experienced gentlemen in reference the
quality Of the iron At Etcwah.
Col CoT said This iron evidently possesses great te
naey aud appears to DC as free from seams aud laws
any Of the brands of Norway iron, which
usmg In the manufacture OF our arms; and we should
say from the tcst have given IT, that compares ia
voraby in every respect with the best brands Norway
iron.
in relation % the adaptablity of Eowah iron in the
manufacture OF cutlery sample sent 10 Sheffield,
fieano 70 be made into razor steel The manufacturer
says in his letter
These razors manufactured of the produced
s iron sent me fer That and the result OF
avery god quality thus a,,esns the superior quality Of
ca b. @ o ST hs
pes Which pecaa agd adsrs Ho ss so Of pro
named purposes.
MIR. CoolrR concludes his communication thus
These testimonials establish that the Etowah makes
ssg dssrs SS?s'ss = that ~.
barrels ard ocs work Of Mr. COTS most reliable arms
and Sh lave noa ao s1e EomsS II
for asT %s 70 s %
shot Il "a so aftaned hat make Etowah metal
Be and there =.
Ioushing he csby OF this ocson Il viii in With prsereg
be submitted 70 commissioners apon,ed Cor that purpose
further are nseaea e55 pIGsss''
During the reading OF tho communication from H,a.
Mr. CONRAD suggested that the reading DO Suspended.
lie whole matter involved in the letter from Mr. Cooper
wiz be under the control Of the War Department.
as Is organized, and could only act upoa IL wh.n
that department recommends 1t 10 consideration.
lie moved that the communication be referred 70 the
Military Committee.
The i1prNr stated that tho Secretary had nearly con
cinted Tie reading ~ the paper and but page
mairs unread nc directed she Secretary proceed.
After which,
Mr. wmlr said--Mr President, am no iobbcr for my
state nor for fny personal friends nor yet for my con-
suen's n this Is not matter of interest 10 tho Con-
grcss, do cot know whit is. ff had not supposed
the memorial important 10 be laid before this body,
should not have rrgci IT, II IL not matter
coDd in importance TO none would not have troubled Ito
body with reading IT, but according tho position
take, Il IL matter OF great concern The
probabilities That within twenty days from this time
W may be involved in war IL our present condition we
not well prepared that contingency "a we SHOULD
be- Sir, II war should occur the most gallant people on
only moasuraly armed, and ace no preparation for
making arms wbcrevth 10 moro completely equip our
selves for war Within The limits OF the confectionery
there Ia not single manuacory Of arms IL there rs Il
has escaped my knowledge IN times OF peace IL il PRO
bahle that all arms necessary for any purposes might be
try. But in times of they cannot be bought in
either. The only resource have IA supply ourselves
al homo. II the probabilities such AZ have nd-
Gated and this be the only by which we can
supply ourselves with The Of defensive warfare
not Of aggressive, ask II thH Is moi question OF sum
Gent importance he hroght before ths bodyg II was
Tor that reason thai introduced the memorial and asked
Us reading us reference - the Military Com
mittCc
Mr. coSup-.If Nr. President the rcmnrSs Of tho gcn-
sman are intended p apply % tho observation and
lion made he Is entirely mistaken "a 10 my object IL
my Intention, In the sighcs degree, 60 under
value the importance of the memorial or the subject Of
which treats Ny motion simply % dispense with
thc reading and roer tho paper TO the Military Commit
tee. consider that reference tho proper course aud the
gentle himself has taken t. only differed with him
e. the propricty or uscfunc ~ havng tho comm.
npaton read. ADMIT tho very great importance OF tha
subject and hold that il should bc ref,rre to the Military
Committee for their advice Tho SUBJECT should also lbs
considered by the War nfartmun and ordnance Bureau
both OF which will be IN existence within very days.
After such consideration has been given IT, assure
Tho rnntlr I'M Ia. ....- hmm