, 1861-10-02
An Dff1c1a1 Phaftsae-Sharp Criticism
oE Gen. Ripley.


4 day or Two since 1t was te1egraphed from |
Washington as every thing is designed to add
to the p1e}ldiee against Gen. Fremont. that |
Ger. Ripley, Chief Of the Ordnance Depart
ment, had made report in which he strongly
censnred Gen. Fremont for his alleged extrav-
sgance in his purchases. This censnre would
have ccme with better grace from Z better
man than this Gen. Ripley. If re are correct.
u informed, his hands are not wholly clean,
whether Gen. Fremont's are or not. It is not
ulafe patriot, Col. Colt, 10000 Eafleld riaes,
for ten dollars each, On the pretext that the |
bore VAS 25th part OF An inch smaller than |
the regular army rifle, and for Which the Gov |
eminent has since offered Colt $50 a piece, but |
which be has I refused: They cannot e Be had
loss to the Government through the stupidity
or corruption Of this supereilious sud auperan7
nuated officer, Or one third as large aum as
| that for which Fremont had drawn upon the
| in st. Louis, and which Ripley is opposed to
| being paid, because the arms he was CON-
| PEELED 10 purchase by the necessities OF his
| position we're not inspected, and because he
| paid too high price for some oftheu-.
But Rlpley's sale Of these rifles for half what
the Government subsequently offered to buy
them back for, and less than half what It has
been compelled to give for similar arns, Is
not the only evidence he has given Of his in
competency or dishouor. NOT long ago, when
| Inc 0OFeIUulGuL Wd6 Ii PTCs8luS uEoA 11C
cannon, the Secretary Of War entered into q
CONTRACT, with the advice of Gen. Meigs, with
| one Of the most celebrated cannon mRuufaG.
tu1eEs In the country, for large supply Of
them. The manufacturer was to furnish ten
day, fye-ejghths steel and throe eigtths
brass, tWo-thi1ds Of the whole to be rlfled, aud
all the most perfect cannon ever mode. After
the contract had been completed and he or-
der given for them, the transaction came to
the ears Of Ripley, who At once Was seized
: with patriotic indignation at such violation
, proceeded to the Secretary Of War, declaimed
furiously against the set, declaring it to be
against the spirit and 1@tter Of the lsW Of Con-
grets, and a dangerous innovation, as al such
contracts should be made BY his Department.
| The Secretary informed him that he did not
> care who made the contract all he desired
: rms the cannon, and at the earliest possible
= moment; that the public interest demsnded
them, and they must be had. He was Willing
to vacate the order to satisfy Ripley ecruples
+ The order Was yacated, but instead Of re-
+ uew1Dg it, he at once proceeded to make
q drafts Of new gun, and he spent tWe
=. months upon them, during which not q eau
= non was made. TINS, IL order to gratif.
y his inocdinate vanity b.. identifying. BIZ
h to sacrifce the bsst interests Of the conn
II try, Just Is he had done in selling to
selfish speculator in the necessities and psi
. riot!em Of our country the 10000 Enael
rifles. We repeat, therefore, that this Riple
is not the man to assail General Fremont fd
ensayagance aud disregard Of law. II Fl.
70 mont erred 1t was from zeal for the publ
70 good. But Ripley erred without nttcssit,
y ard for no motive but personal vanity. dow
ID right incompetency, OF selfinterest Such
one Of he enemies ot ne westssn s re- Ssasta
y Just as little entitled to the public conhdene
y either on the score Of ability, character, or ps
riotism, as Ripley is. -.