, 1861-11-09

The COMMITTEE appointed by the Com 1
mon Council and the Board Of Trade to ;
prepare memorial to Congress, asking !
that the new Government Armory and {
Foundry be located in Chicago, have per I
formed the task assigned them in an able
manner. If plain facts and unanswerable
arguments are to control the location, to
place copy Of the memorial in the hends
Of the members Of Congress, and to solicit
and secure careful reading Of It's all that
remains to be done He Is novice In the
mysteries Of Washington tactics who sup
poses that tie plainest facts and the strong
est arguments always govern the action Of
Congress- Our own citizens and the lead
ing men of the entire Northwest should
combine their influence and their energies, |
and they must work increasingly until the /
bill establishing these important public |
works in this city is passed, if they expect
measure so vita1 to our future safety to
lie adopted. The mere pecuniary interest
which our city has in securing the location
is S small matter, compared with its i'm
po1tance to the safety Of the entire North
west. On this point, the experience Of
the nast few months is conclusive. Had
an Annoy been located here, double the
men from cur own and adjoining States,
all well equipped, would have been in The
field fighting tho battles Of freedom. For
iii time to come the Northwest has 4
1;rlt 10 expect that she will bc spared the
iumiliation IN which the want Of arms a2d
the impossiblity to supply them have
placed Aer:
Il Pennsylvania politicians can SO far
control the action Of the Government as
p1ccu1e TIC location of an Ar1nory and
Foundry at Pittsburgh, the West will not
complain, provided cnly, that similar es-
tab1isbmtuts, with capacity commensu-
rate with tie wants Of the States surround
ing ard in the vicinity Of Lake Michigan
shall he so located as not to leave US in
our present defenceless condition. OF
course The citizens Of Chicago claim that
in every regard in which the sutjcc.
can be lai1ly considered, our city has su.
perior claims 10 all others; but if it should
be found that any other Western city will
best supply al the requisites for loca
ton, let these important public works bs
established there; bu. the West will insis
that Pittsburgh shall not he selected as
Western city. She does not properly he
long to tie West, and from the nature O
things cannot supply its military wants
What is now needed is that every Cit
zen in Chicago and the Northwest shoul
at once bring all his influence to bear t
secure recognition Of our claims a
Washington. Let every man who know
a Member of Congress. whether from tn
East. Or West write to him, settin
forth tie reasons for the localio
Of an armory here. Let the memoir,
of the committee be placed
the hands Of every man who can MAX
aEy influence, with personal request til.
he use the facts it contains where they vi
be most effective. The Board Of Trad
and the Common Council would do We
to have small but experienced commi
lee ut Washington-men disting guished f
her integrity, shrewdness and tAct wi
should devote their entire time to til
subject. Some such measures are esse
tial to SUCCESS. Convincing azgumen
and undoubted facts are Of no avail unle
they are pressed upon tie right men at Il
1ieht time, and by persons whose sterli,
character will command respect. eu'
efforts will be sure to win. It rests wi
our leading citizens to determine wheth
they shall be made.
We hope all our citizens will rememb
and if possible be at Bryan Hall this e!
nipg. This whole subject Will come
for discussion, and its importance shou
command the earnest attention Of eve
nsn who has at. stake the safety .
prosperity Of Chicago and Of the en1
Ncrihwest