Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-03-10
From Tie Enquirer of Saturday.
TIE PRETENDED EXPOSURES BY THE CHARLES.
TON MERCURY AND TIE RICHMOND WHIG


The Richmond "whig" of the n inst, hss ATTEMPTED
sustain assault OF the day before the Presidents
administration, by the reproduction o article from
the CHARLESTON "heTcury" which protses TO give "nfcr
nation from good &c" as to what "the President
has done failed to do in relation to certain matters
conuec ed with the public defence
We propose 10 show, from Information which we have
received from more reliable sources than any TO which
tie Mercury has excess that all the allegations and
their various specifications msds by the Mercury" are
destitute OF fCu9dltiou in truth.
We do this merely in order 10 refuts the charges
contained in this article, but also TO show the public
how utterly unreliable the sources OF the "Meclrys'
information. To do this eff ctually propose to
publish the various allegations, s., iam, in the Aer
oury's' own language.
l. "The Pcovis onal Congress, at its last session
passed bill granting bounties to the setting up aud
establishing OF manufacture of arms salpetre and gua
powder. certain advance Of money was to b. made
20 the manufacturer OF these articles when be had nd
viuced tain stage In p1ng up the acories which
to be returned in the articles manufactured. The
President vetoed the bill, aad il failed"
The bill here referred was loosely drawn, ard
completely put the Government in the power OF spec
Gators that when the President gave his reasons for
not owing M the body which had passed it sustain
ed the Presidents veto by almost unanimous vote,
and 10 this hour no Injury or Inconvenience has resulted
from It's rejection.
H. The Hrpers Ferry machinery, for the manufac.
lure of arn was turned over By Virginia to the Con.
:ederac States when Virginia seeded from the Union.
T. was sent, to be put into operation, to Fayetteville
North CAROLINA month ago, ard not gun had yet
been furnished TO tue army. Il had not yet got into
operation"
This charge i5 utterly untrue from beginning TO end
u a simp, statement Of fdcts will show. Thc Harper
Ferry machinery consisted OF two par,sthat Tor the
mluuacure OF mutket5 aud that Tor the manufacture
Of rid ds The musket machinery was, after much nego
iG.on turned TO the Confederate Statcs in tho
month OF J.ly in the boxes in which was conveyed
i f. IN cIfv 1v
possible up ard put in operation and has been Tor
- versl months furnishing many muskets per month
as the number Of Workmcn which could be procured
could make. The ride machinery. 10 which the "Mer
eury" specially reftr-, has b. turned 10
lc Confederate St,tes. |; lent 10 ;hu State o.
North Carolina by Virginia to be put up at Fayetteville
Ia the former Sate and transported thher 10 ia!
list every aid bing given to the agent OF North Caro-
lila by the Confederate Government WEen il was b.
ing put up in the Confederate States Aseual Fayette
Vi IT, /, found that the portion for making locks
missing aud immediate steps were taken 10 supply TIE
defect by manufacturing the necessary machinery here
In tho meantime locks mace here and mt 70 Fay
stioYile 20 be attached 10 the Tss number OF which
! have been made monthly Tor several months.
I'll Three mauuiIctories Ct in Tennessee
Tler provretos aougnt make contracts for the man.
uflc'ure Of With tic Confederate Government -
Not beirg able succeed, Que ur more OF them to
Richmond during the sitting Of the late Congress- to in
crest the members Congress from Tennessee in their
lrLalf The War Office declined 10 make cOntraC5 for
the purchase of arms manufactured by these factories.
| Ola thc ground tta. Il had NO money On euqlhy be.
! II y made iuto tho cause why there va, no onry IL
ia ned out Lhat the Treasury Department could not
haze Treasury signed ias: enough. Five and ten
drar Treasury notes were ~ premium OF three and
rour Der cent a, New Oleans for currency The con-
tractors and creditors, Vt course, G=maEted The note
in.,esd of fifty or ono bundred dollar notes ard th.
Treasury most hboTiousy trying TO their de-
m nds II h,ugh bcInd b. to do Hsnco
ccotrsct TO buy these arms. The Treasury was ;wtlTc
m; ous in arrears 10 The War Department"
To this couut Of the "hercurys indictment, rep Y
~ hr fnpviag narrative OF the ccumst Aces 10 shc
1t has rsfer' ce:
6.ld etHc,r Of re lment of TsLna see youLtee :,
which had int been raised, acGompau % mtmb. -
of Congress from that State, applied TO the crerary o.
Wfr for arms for E+ On being informed that the
War Department c1ud not tneu grant hi4 rCqu,st,
ash cd TIE cresry vhy the ordr officer in Teunes
see did not cOnfct win the three minuibc;oe'
10 above to furash arms alleging that they eady
10 do 20 AZ lj per piece. Ths Secretary replied that lie
authorized him MAKE contract with them immediate
y and TO ensure speedy delivery fur. her author III
p,ymcnt of $50 per piece Thtse acs seie stiiGd ~
The above mentioned member OF the Pfoys ILal &, L.
| gress at a meeting OF the finance ComH.i c.. 9h
gentleman. stateInsn. subsequently, distorted jus
the "MeroGry" has mConstrGed ~ sni he rcjtea I'd
statement on the floor o the HOuse showing that u
War Department had done everything IL ts pOw.r ID
sscure the purchase O every that could b. iurn
ed The other allegations o. the "Aecu-y," IA rcaliou
20 Treasury notes. &c. I'll. with the charge which h,
| are designed TO sustain.
| ~ 'When the d,aS Congress OF the Confcderl,s
States met st Montgomery, II clear 10 every
| ths, war was not sn mpaobabe event Prudence re-
quired preparation. BY the Constitution, Congress
could make no appropriation Of money but at the tail
the Executive l. urged the Government TO cal
for several millions o! money, ard 10 send TO Europe
Immediately TO buy ann aud munitions OF war. The
Government would call Tor only money enough 10 pur
chase some fifteen thousand smal. arms and when the
srcond Congress assembled, and declared nc
agent had yet gone TO Europe to purchase even these
| Gm3"
When the first Congress- met in Montgomery, there
was much diversity OF option a. 10 the probahI'y o
war Many believed that there would be psaceable
solution of troubles and that there would be Lo
war with the United States. Among tba. Hunb6r nc
one was more emphatic in the expression OF bis opinion
thsa Mr. Rhctt, OF South Carolina, upon whoe author
iy these charges nov evidently made The fresi
d nr however, waa no. 20 sant ulne Of peaceiu
~, tioa of our difficulties and Immediately proceed
ed 10 take the necessary meOsurs TO prepare ~
country for war, ard, 50 Tar from The charges COZ
t.Lcd 10 TIC above paragraph being tue, at the meen'
OF the second session OF The Congress ~ April 1861
tis Government Ia second agent on hls way TO Europ
ch .fgei ia the purchase OF arms aud Ilols Z,
var the frat empJye for that purpose having
ter considerable delay, declined the service J. rtu
naty for the country AID its dttnc, the President d
not concur 10 the and convictions OF Mr.. Rhelt
to the nprobibity Of war. disclosure at th,s time
OF uh the President has done in reereuce to the pro
curing OF arms and material, from the commences
ment of the Government to the present day would sho'
the utter f ity OF the "Mercurys" charges but ever
int liyent man will perceive that such disclosure car
not be made without sehous deriment 10 the public
ter. g.. , =,
" "Private enterpri,, has imported eonsderabl
quantity Of arm aud Inidons OF war but what hs
Q lhe Confederate Government dolss The only sfor