Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-07-11
JOHN LErCuER.
TGEDr1AH IRoS WoYKs,
PIcuMpNp. Juno II. lSC!

.Jous LETcHER. Esq GorerM'r II Tgin!a.
Dear Strive observe .nat t:in !,,,. vcntion
have called m ynu for c '"p r c,A*ern,ng tho
lifting up the armory win :u'.ar;"c'y ID" m h
a. u,,i,kcls, ard az &c .l.;l iret ,..ri.'us II.
mors have prevailed in c'nr,.r'i"n wr:. MS
Su'i ci ccrY crrirroliS and ir::i ~ u SO
will :haaI YOU 20 c cmmunicair 10 ira :;HIvea.
i!un the fLllJwing sla:einGn;- III II: :ac!S
contained IN Ibis paper, are eiir:r known 10
yvu or may De sub,tan.;atc'i ty relsror:c. t. ps-
GERS in ins hands Of MIR Geo ". Randolph
one ol the A.:al3ry Commissioners.
srAri MEST.
In AugiiSt, 1860, we agreed with t!'c Armo.
ry C3nms uncrs, 10 III up tile Scat: Amir
with macuncry, for the ua"u'ac!lre q! H.
m.lskctS, on the terms ctTsr-d o. party 10
Massachusetts, AS cur written propor'tcn
VIII snow, we did not csnec: t, ba4b'9 - exc
cute mnre than half Of the wc!k in E.rgni";
but 10 dp this much. and reserve imp r.Ln!
control 10 our own citizeaE, Te used. among
others, rs reasons Tor conG ling thc work ~ ~
which we're accepted by the Commissioners as
sufficient
As The cansr.ct stipulated that no work
should be Iiib'lrt out Ut the Stale which c2nld
be done at honc in time, a;,,i then only bY the
authority Of the Commissioners, we called t'r
report on this auhjcc: fr"u our experienced
Engineer, Mr. Burton, who reported that the
whule could be executed In our establishment
to SIR p.cnaiiry & vlntase-!! being only q
,l;Ics..oll of the tine necessary TO get up the
patterns. THIS report WIS referred to the Com
luis.l nrrs, who directed certain parts Of the
work t. be ordered IN Massachusetts.
amounting 10 less than one hal: the Whole,
which vas acc ,rdingy done By us All Fec,
esSirr arrangements we're r3idc for the exc Gu.
tlnn of the residue OF the work kere, and hut
FIR he breaking out Of the war the whtle
would have brcn completed cy The time Stlpn-
lated in the contract first Uecembrr, 1861,
provided the buildings were in readiness at the
proper time.
Oae of the stpuIations made Ivy the Commis
s;,nefs was, that we were to take all the old Hint
ucK mu.kr,s OF the S:a.e, OF which, hoHevrr,
10 UuU were to be held in reserve until 5000
new muske,s we're inari. nnd in pursuance Of
this provision 5000 were delivered 10 us 10 be
DISPOSED of 10 NEE. our disbursements for the
State, we deposting in the Treasury th:rtlur
their full vaGe at the contract rric" N the
bonds Of the Commonwealth.
As seen as ;he . dnancc Of Secession was
passed. we requested the Governor 10 issue ali
the 1nuskets purchased b5 us) for the publ,
defence at his discretion, without any regard
whatever to our purchase. Subsequently, "
were sent for by the Council and asked on wha'
terms We would reirq1ish Our whole contract
provided il was thought best TO etcc; The Hal
pers Ferry machinery. We replied that sc
were wi9irg to relinluish the contra5t On Ie
ing cqu.taliy compensated for whs' "e h."
done, and being held harmless for the n.i't'
tions We had incurred for the State. We &
sire it to b. distinctly understood thai "e d.
not ask 70 be released from this contract, bl:
held ourselves ready to fulfill it in letter and