Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-03-11

tlmo u WoRt the Pre6ioeLt uAs coho Si0i
once to the procuring CT arms hnd war mste-
riel, irom the commencement OF the Govern
msnt 70 the present day, would show the
utter fslsity of tho .'Msrcury'o" charges; but
every Intelligent man will perceive that such
q disclosure canno: De made without serious
detlim ant to the publ:s %intcrest.
Y. Private enterprise has :G:?oslels c9n-
| sids's able qlan,:sy OF arlus sue na6's:HHs o.
va; but whas has the Confederate GoTsEaaeal
| dc5e2 Tie only tfF,rt, that &c are aware 81,
10 get af.ns Jfro@; EG-7ps - tas: CT LID o'a'
| distoy, which is soa!n Nssssu. Tha sr;1s
lately brought b the V!e:o:!s into Nv u
leans ERE sad TO be e part 81 nec cargo. ETeO
SITTER Tas was Certain, !5ere was aSP!e s.ihe
| to h.vs imported & !=-gs quantity c! aIns,
| before tie blockade was established HHo
since ,be blockade wss established, tbs sue,
csssiu! efjrts Of private cit'zsbs snow ina
the Government might have imported large
Quantities Of arms arG muEl.l2as Of var"
It would be highly improper to reveal what
veese's have arrived, where they arrived, TheIc
| f7o1, what Gmou1: 81 srns they had brough s,
aod what vessels a-e expected 20 arrive With
q ike freight. We shsii not therefore make
any such re7si.tior, though re can assure our
| readers that il would ~oonc!usiveI5 d!s2el The
bella which TIE "M,rcurY" desires 10 create ty
| accusations which are evidently made with
tho assumed incua!sy derived from q kaowl
edge that the Government ought Das 70 con-
trsdict them by specific exposition Of The
facts, I: may BE- aaic, however, TIA: the
amount q: arms imported by private enter
prise does not amount. TO = fourth Of that i'm.
ported By tie Government, The arms brought
By the Victoria (aboat l50) we're rot a part o.
the Gladis,or'a cargo. So much foT the Mar
cury's" specuiatioce and its isc:s,
VI. $50 necessary Was it for US IL have an
abundance of s7m:, that se7srsl CT our naval CT
GERS proposed TO the E.va! Committee to pr:
under their contro! one million G! 6oilaCE, enc
that they wouli 90 70 Europe xii, ::--3uy 60
iTon clad steanshi? ~conge7t her into e war Vea
sci, eli her with ARDS end munitions OF w21.and
if necessary, fSht their wsy scrcss the Allan.
| tic into q Confederate port. Congress fa7orsJ
/ tle gallant proposal, and passed ths bill ic
carry it into effect Tbs President pocSe:ed
it, aid It failed"
Ucou inquiry, addressed 10 hota she Exscr-
tive and Legislative Departments Of tie Pro
Visionsl Government, We ca7not G1t soy one
who has any recollection O. Inc psoPas!:;cnIa
ferred &c; tut il any such was msde aDd failed
to be acted or, it is attributable to TIE facl
The. every possible tfo-t it tbs direction bid
already been made, the details CT which, &c:
reasons already given, it is improper TO state.
VS. can further s6d, that The President las
never vetoed or "poekettd' any BIZ! a2DGoiri
sting money Cor the public defence.
vi. "We will mention ono o:hec fec:
amongst many o'heTs, going 70 snoS ila n.ii:a.
ry energy CT she President. Are= svita stes0
or lay Is Wilmington, North Carolina Oae
half Of i. oa!cr sed 70 Northern ci.;1cns.-
Certain citizens CT Wilmington desired to
convert this Steamer ;a;o q pc;va;eer; and.
il crier that good ;i:ies u;ga: 90 got icE th;s
purpose, they ge,itionsd Congress &c haze lie
steamer s1id, aoo the half Of tia proceeds CT
the sale belonging to Inc Yankees should %
paid inc lie Confederate Treasury. Congress
promptly passed rili 20 a~cco1rl:sc this oo-
jact. But tie President pochats1 &, Acc tie
bill failed"
At the close OF . session Of Congress a bill
OF the .a:uSs referred to vas passed. as i:
undertook 10 deeds questions Ct 5rrp:!ty
which !~eg;tinstsly belonged 70 he COURTS oi
Law, the biz WIS returned, and the Presidents
reasons for s. doing orally explained 70 Coz,
gress oy the Attorney General. I.vss farther
discovered liza. the t:ez ner &c which ~aliusioD
is made, was wholly u2a! ic- tas puT!2asss 5f
which it Was proposed to be use6.
We have ,brs met ard refu'cc ever? charge
aad allegation r.oe - ire Mercury, bg : plain
snd Simple ststsner. of !ac:s vA!cn will so
discFsdit E1J further ASSAULTS b. the. paper
Is to render future notice OF then sicily u1>
necessary.
/ We do not proPoso - discuss tie Zro:i7es
which induced this attack I: will os ;or :ir.
Rdet! to Justify before as o~a cons-;aucs cod
before the country lis violation Of :he i'jnnc,
:;ou Of secrecy which he Congress had piaced
upon its proceedings, and which he knows
that body refused 70 remove Tor coed and Pa,
trio!ic reasons.
No disappointed ambition, NO pr.vsts grisfs
can warIau: auy c;tisal i making an attach
ca the Government which, even ;:true, cou'5
only weaken ihs great CAUSE fjr Hhica he Pa.
triois Of the South are struggling, and gi7e
t'aid snd comfort" to tac enemy.