, 1861-02-11

1he second amendment to the Constitu-
tion Of the United States declares "well
regulated militia to be necessary to the
security OF n free statet This militia must
Of course have arms, in order TO become
accustomed to their use in military exer-
cises, and to be ready to fulfil their proper
functions tn times Of danger. Most Of the
small arms for cur army and militia arc
manufactured at the -armories ut Spring
field and Harper's Ferry. The arsenals
are principally depots for the storing and
until recently safekeeping Of the arms.
Atsome of the arsenals repairs and alter
,ations have been carried on to q considera-
bic extent, and some articles manufactured.
Great numbers of muskets have been
manufactured Some have been distribut-
ed to the States, and large numbers remain
IN the armories and arsena1s. Many of
: them hare been altered from flint to per-
cussion, and some ha.e been 1ifled to fit
them for the use Of the Minnie ball. But
all these are now imperfect weapons, md
need to be 7eplaeed, particularly for distri-
button to the Western militia, with rifles,
properly 30 called Unless vigorous ct:
forts 4are made we, who have heretofore:
considered the rifle our national weapon.
shall soon be c1cellcd by the European ar.
mics, 10 Ear rs our armed forces arr con
cerned. 49,, ~.
or the rifles made at the armories;
some have been excellent arms, well made
and servieeable. Others however, have
been defective, particularly in the mode Of
ritiingg, and hardly to be depended on for
that accuracy which Western man seeks,
and which, when found, makes an import
ant element in the confidence Of the SOL
dier: In the improvement of this class of
arms, much probably remains to be done,
and whea'v we consider the great numbers:
to be manufactured in order to arm our
militia prppe1ly, it seems to us that We may
fairly claim for the Northwest some share
iu the process. !: ::
In the great States af Illinois, Iowa and
Minnesota there is not even an arsenal Of
deposit Some years ago the attention of
Congress was called to the importance ofn
Western armosy, and y commission sent
out to look up suitable site for such m
institution. Since that time, things have
changed 50 much that hut little exnmina-
tlon Is necessary: "a. dstermine that point.
All the requisite spnditiona for the collec-
'tlon Of the raw material, and The ran,d
distribution Of the finished product are
found here IN our own city. The Govern
nient trnay safely trustsuch an establishment
to the loyal citizens Of the Northwest: and
If its location be in any sense mattrr of |
favor, We may well clairt it..
: Of the nrmories now in operation. Ma.
sachusetts has one, and Virgtnia one. Tho
arsenals are located, one ip Maine, one in
n Massachusetts, one in Vermont, two in
New York, two In Pennsylvania, one in
Maryland, one in tue Districs.o of Columbia,
two In Virginia, and one in each Of the
of The States Of North Carolina, South
Carolina Florida, Louiaiana, Arkansas,
Missouri, Michigan, california and Texas. |
Cpon this showing, is not the Northwest !
entitled to something in this line, and is not
our own city the best location for rits
Ne cali attention to this subject, as It is
interesting in its relations to the present
for more thorough organization
If our militia, and alse. IN its bearing upon
he prog1ess Of our city IN useful arts and
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