Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-04-11

-SAe1 -hoS7'
The Richmond Bellona Guns Plug Mus
Below we print an interesting letter on this dis
graceful affair, from reliable Richmond cores
pendent. It's statement of facts, from the record
will carry conviction to the minds of all that the
excitement was generated wholly without foun-
dalton, for the benefit Of the disunion cause, and
was attended by circumstances showing that the
disupion leaders in the Virginia Legislature care
a. little for the true honor Of the State their CO.
laborers in the bad cause further South care for
the liberties Of the people whose local govern
ments they have usurped The speech of Senate,
Segar In exposure Of the whole affair, when re.
sisting the passage of the resolutions referred to-
was an able vindicstion indeed, of the entire I'm.
tegrity and propriety Of the War Departments
conduct with reference to the removal of these
guns, as well as an equally able exposure Of the
reprehensible character Of the effort to make cal
tai for disunion out Of the order to that effect.
We have for some days past been endeavoring
to find room for Mr.. Segar's speech, but, SO far,
In vain:
RICHMOND, April 4, 1861.
THE BELLoYA GUNS GREAT Cay AND LITTLE
WOOL
The secessionisss here and hereabouts have been
Tor several days past " In great stew, about the
guns at Bellona Arsenal, manufactured by Dr. ]
L. Archer, the proprietor Of the arsenal in pur-
| suance Of a contract made by Gov Floyd with DR..
A. as far back as 1857. twas said, publicly that
the removal OF the guns to Fort Monroe wonld be
resisted III ct armis; and the Legislature thinned
| of by the departure Of many members for their
homes, and the absence of others In the Conven-
tion, caught the Infection from the outside mob
and passed resolutons-utterly degrading to Vir,
ginia-requiring the Governor to call out the pub
| lie guard and militia to resist the movement of
| them, should IL be attempted by the Government
IL turns out that there was not the remoest cause
Tor the excitement, as the facts Of the case will
plainly evince. 1t seems that DR.. Archer, having
completed the guns, demanded payment Of the
| Government The Government being willing and
ready TO fulfil Its contract with DR.. A.. PROMPTLY
through the Ordnance Department desired DR.
TO forward the guns 10 Riohmond, at which
point according to the contract, they were to be
delivered. The letter written by Col Craig the
head Of the Ordnance Department In reply 10 DR.
Archer's demand, bears date the 22d and is in
these words:
4" To DR.. J. Areher-You will please forward
| to Richmond the cannon at your foundry which
has been inspected for the United States with as
little delay as practicable, and as they are
shipped from that place, the amount due on the
last inspection will be paid"
There was herein nothing to indicate any inten-
The Government owed DR. Archer money for tb.
guns DR.. A wanted and demanded his money;
ana ,he Government, owing the money, and
wishing to pay it, directed the movement Of the
guns In order that the party to whom the money
was due might get It.
But, SO soon as the Department was apprsed OF
Ine excitement arising from the removal Of the
guns, DIR. Archer was advised mot to move them
1or the present. as will appear from letter adj
dressed by Capt. Kingsbury, of the Ordnance De-
partment, to Hon. A. NJ. Barbour, Of the Conyen-
hon and bearing date the 2sth of March, and
which Is as follows:
" Dear Sir: Col. Craig wishes me to say that DR..
Archer Will be directed to-day not to remove the
guns al present. he movement has commenced
In order that the citizens Of Virginia might receive
their dues from the United States and as the con-
uaes was com pleted, II seemed fitting time to
The reason for sending forward the guns in thus
apparent ana none but those bent on mi hef can
discover In the transaction any hostile or improper
purpose 1t was but an ordinary business M after
More than this: soon as II was ascertained
toat the movement caused dissatisfaction and
| pahlc-grounoless as they were-the Ordnance
Department forthwith issued countermanding
directions.
Gen. Scott had stated, also, in a letter. TO a
| member d the Legislature, that the guns were
not at all needed at Fort Monroe thus showing
that there could be no hostile motive in the r; oy
| eminent In ordering the movement of the guns to
| that post. ii was only a matter of deposite and
| Sdie-keeping and yeta wild excitement sprang
| up IN mis- Metropolis, in which some OF the most
| respectable gentlemen In II actively warmly and
publicly participated. And the Legislature
catehing the delirium actually passed resolutions
| directing the governor, by an armed force TO
| seize the property of the United States and pre.
vent Its removal to United States depot where
/" R EePG.ise and Gu custody properly belonged
proud old mother Of States and statesmen - that
| the resolutions SO deg radng to her honor and SO
/ Inconsistent with her past renown, were passed
| through her House Of Delegates by bare uorum
the vote having been IS for to 81 against, making
| N-exactiya quorum, and no more Had the
| vote been postponed until the following M onday
| The resolutions would not have been passed But
| the secessiontsts kept up the vote the whole OF
Saturday night, and by sending the sergeant at
arms Tor members, and having them walked from
| their slumbers, succeeded In getting quorum.
and with bare quorum put through resolutions
ana measures which, but for the loss of all moral
weight by the circumstances attending their pas
sage, would have put upon the escutc heon of Vir
GINA foul and eternal stain.
| Ihere being no Union press here, and Il being
proper Tor the honor Of the State that the facts Of
the case should be known, [ send them for publ.
| ting journal.
need not add, that all the miserable fuss gotten
up ABOUT this very small affair, was designed 10
ada 10 the popular excitement and to help 10 pre
cipitate Virginia into secession A large marty
here, and throughout Eastern Virginia. arc ali
agog for practical rupture. They thirst for
blood, as the best initiation Of conflict that will
put Virginia and the border slave States alonpsde
the Gulf seeding States; but the Administration
may, by prudent action, help the Union party 10
defeat these unholy Vaccinations. Yours, truly,
The WKAIHER.-The follow ~ r.port nj tbs