Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-02
virginia Legislature----EXtra Session
FRIDAY, MAKca 80, 1861.
SENATE.
TRaSsP oRTArloN cR GUNS FROM BELLoSA


TRANSPORTATION cP GUNS FROM BELLoSA
ARSENAL.
Mr. AUGrST from the Committee on Military
Affairs, 10 whom was referred a joint resolution
from the House OF Delegates, entitled " ReSo-
linton in regard to the movement Of troops and
arms within the limits Of this Commonwealth,
ard various substitutes proposed thereto, pre-
sented the following report
The Committee in ORDER to obtain full IN
formation Of all the facts in regard to the con.
templated removal Of cannon manufactured by
Or. j. l.. Archer, at Bcllona Foundry near
Riehnond, Tor ;hc Government of the United
States, and which he had been required to de-
liver at Richmond to be transported to Fortress
Monroe in this State, caused DR.. ). l.. Archer
to appear before them, ard in reply to IN
terrogatores propounded to him by the Com.
ui.tee. he stated, that in October, 1887 he
received a proposition from the Government
Of the United States for the manufacture OF
twenty eight inch Columbiads, twenty-five ~
FOUNDER guns, twenty-five 4 FOUNDER iron
howitzers, and supply of shot and Shell i1r
the same That this proposition was accepted
by him, and has, in part, been executed by
the delivery Of portion of the guns. That
the residue of said guns, fifty in NUMBER are
now in his possession, having been inspected
by the ordinance officer Of the United States.
That at the time the bill was introduced into
the Senate Of Virginia for the purchase OF the
arms he had manufactured for the Government
of the United States, thirty Of these guns had
been inspected and paid for by the Govern
mcnt of the United States, and he had been
ordered to ship them to Fort Delaware. That,
experimenting serious difficulty would nrlse II
ne a,tenp,ed to comply with the said oder, IN
consequence of the excited state Of the public
mind m Virginia he repaired to Washington
city, upon the advice Of friends, and bad an m
teryiew with The then Secretary of War, AIR.
Holt, in which no stated to tho Secretary, that
tho people of Virginia would not suffer the
said guns to be shipped and to AVOID all e*-
citemcnt and difficulty upon the suh]ect, ne
endeaTored TO obtain the consent OF tue
Secretary of War to allow him to pay
back to the United States the sum OF thirteen
thousand and twenty-four dollars, when hao
been paid under the contract, and 10 allo" MIN
to sell the said guns to the State OF Flrginla.-
But the Secretary Of War declined acceding 70
this request, upon the ground that he had Il, no
authority to sanction such an arrangement lne
Secretary of War then verbally dispensed WIN
the delivery of tho guns at that time sno as
surcd Dr. Archer that no removal OF lneli
should be- ordered until the public mlnd had
become tranquil, and quiet restored to the coun'
try, That the Secretary Of War then sent lor
the Colonel of Ordinance, and III his Or. Arch
er's) presence directed him 10 have the guns at
BeIiopa Foundry inspected and PAID ior, ana
to allow them to remain at Bellona Foundry
n,ti Quiet was restored to the country. That
acting upop this assurance of the Secretary OF
war. he tDr. Archer requested the Chalrnsn
Of The Committee on Military Affairs in the
senate of Virginia not to urge the passage o.
The bill Aforesaid providing for the purchase OF
these guns. That on the l4th day OF this
month I,he day designated b. DR.. Archer on
which IN. residue Of said guns would he ready
c,r rroof and inspec,ion) Captain kingstury,
of me Ordinance Department, came to bciiohs
foundry and inspected the residue OF the guns
manufactured under the contract with the uni
ted states. and approved them. That on thS
ssd dsv at this uuunIh hc DIR. Archer) re-
r,.;ee5 an order from f. K. Craig, Colonel Of
Ordinance, United States Army, Ill the follow
ing words and figures, viz
OHpSANcE OFFICE,
Washington, March %, loel.j
j. L. ARCHER, Esq, Belona Foundry:
Sir: You will please forward to Richmond
the cannon at your foundry, which nave neel
inspected for the United States, with us i'tue
delay us practicable; and, as soon as they ale
shipped from that place, the amount due on tne
last inspection will be paid.
The Quarter,naster's Department has autho
rized Messrs W. D. Colquitt Co., ship bro
kers, to receive the guns and attend to the re,
shipment, and the delivery had better be made