Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-01-31

Isnct receive and deliver the arms and accontre-
\ nuts. In consequence whereof | deem it upy
4 ltv to make the following statement:
= After the passage Of the act referred to, had
I consultatiun with the Governor, and We de-
>Iternincd to purchase the arms, &c, of the Gen
ieral Government; because we concluded that
by so doing we could obtain better arms and at
more reasonable prices than if we should pur-
chase from individuals or companies Accord
Iingly addressed letter OIL the subject to Colo
Incl H. X. Craig, Of the Ordnance Department
He replied, under date Of April 1+th, 1860, that
2 had no authority to sell us arms that bill
sas then pending in Congress to give such au-
ftnority that when such IA law should be passed
he would afford US every facility. That bill
knuch to our regret, did not pass, and we were
compelled to look elsewhere.
Accordingly, we invited proposals for furnish
ng the arms and accoutrcments from the most
prominent manufacturers in the United States
rhe proposals were received, with samples Of
the articles to be furnished Not trusting tc
our own knowledge, we invited the assistance
of Lieut.. VIM. r. Magruder, a distinguished
officer of the United States Army. and Other
prominent and competent military men. The
samples were opened in the Executive Depart
ment, and fully and thoroughly examined. We
thereupon awarded the contract for furnishing
the muskets and revolvers to Eli Whitney, Of
New Haven, Connecticut, and the contract tol
sabres to the Ames Manufacturing Company
Chicopee, Massachusetts,. The contract was
given to these parties because they offered as
good and efficient arms as were offered by any
other parties, and on terms which we considered
more advantageous to the State.
In these contracts it was expressly stipulated
that all defective or unscrviceable arms should
1>or tl,o Inc
contra tors. 80 soon as they should be notified
thereof. SO that if any Companies have receiv-
ed such arms, it is only necessary to return them
to me, and good ones will be sent instead, I'M
less they have been injured by the carelessness
or ignorance of the persons who have used them
which believe is the case in many instances
where complaints have been made. And may
add that the complaints made to me have so fal
been of the most trivial character, and such as
are incident to the purchase Of large quantity
of any species of merchandise
In reference to the charge ofcolusion between
II. G. Hicks, Esq, and the contractors, have
to say that such a thing was impossible, for the
reason that Mr.. Hicks had nothing to do with
making the contracts further than procuring
samples Of arms, &c. The contracts were made
by the Governor and myself; we are alone re-
sponsibe therefor; and we hold ourselves in
readiness to exhibit the proper vouchers for
every dollar Of expenditure. For his ardous
services, Mr.. Hicks is to receive but 5000
sum, in my opinion, totally inadequate to com
pensate him for his labors.
In conclusion ! have to say that if any gen.
tlemen desire to know anything further in refer
ence to the matter, by calling on me they can
be fully satisfied that everything has been done
by the Governor and myself to the very best OF
our ability, to subserve the interests of the State
N. BREWER of John
Adjutant General.