Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-01-04

eandOr.
An elaborate report with tables of the utmost
| minuteness, has been prepared by our present abe
and interchangeable master of ordnance, covering all
the details OF the business property, and eXpendi-
| ture of his bureau. Its expenditures have been
1852 4SS 30-of which S25l 339 SO were paid for En-
field rifles and S236l7 SO for English infantry equip
Inents. The balance is made up of American in
fan.ry equipments ordnance, ordnance stores of
every description, and wagons and caissons for the
battery companies, freight, repairs and the like.
All regiments, and companies, whether of infantry
or artillery, both for three months and for three
years SERVICE furnished by the state to the general
government, have, with the exception of one bat.
terry, received all their armament 'front.' the common
wealth. The horse equipments and sabers Tor the
cavalry received from the United States. OF
the troops in the three service fourteen regi
ments are armed with the Enfield rlned musket, Jour
with the Springfield Tifed musket, and five with the
Springfield smooth bored musket The smooth
bored with which the 18th and 2lst regiments were
at first provided were atteTward replaced by rfed
arms. OF the Massachusetts companies at Fortress
Monroe, about to be reinforced by three companies
already organized, and now recruited into regi-
ment 1.-THE 29th making our three years infantry
regiments twenty-four in number,) one company
ceiyed the Springfield and one the Harper's Ferry
rifle and the other companies the Springfield smooth
bore, which were exchanged for Springfield rifed
arms, taken from our third and fourth Militia,
leaving the Fortress at the expiration of their three
months service. Our five companies composing the
battalion on guard duty at Fort Warren in Boston
harbor, armed with the Springfield smooth bore.
Our two companies of sharpshooteTs carry rifles,
mostly with telescope sights, specially selected
der direction of committee of the Council
win the assent OF Ine Executive council, i as
sumed the responsibility of making, at critical
moment, loantf two thousand Springfield smooth
bores to the loyal authorities of Western Virginia,
concerning which there is an Interesting CORES
pondence upon the files of the Executive Depart
ment.
There is some loss of muskets and more expense
for repair occasioned by the want of proper handling
by inexperienced volunteers drill clubs and militia.
And the absence of proper accounts in the ordnance
ONCE during portion of the year. renders it as vet
impossible to trace them. There are now in the
arsenal, Tor out for cleansing repair,) including
all descriptions of arm $3.50 muskets and rifles Of
these 1909 are Enfield rifles, and 2078 Windsor rifles.
In addition to our original contract for Enfield
rifles, reported to the Legislature i'll May under the
advice of experienced persons, and in view of the
difficulty in commanding suitable weapons, caused
with the consent of the Council, new contracts to
be made for 5000 more Enfield rifles, of which 800
have arrived, and are included in the above enumer
alton 1t is hoped that recent events may remove
the British interdict against the export of arms and
munitions of war, and enable us to receive our
weapons But, whether this takes place or not,
have earnestly to recommend the employment of
our own domestic industry, and skill in the produce
ton of rifles, by immediate contracts for not less
than fifteen thousand stand OF arms. And ! trust
Massachusetts will never again see the day, while
aggression and wars are possible mstortunes, when
ever the country calls at least 25OOO well-trained
militia, full for ddty.
THE 1.-TWO YEARS AMENDMENT"
l respectfully but urgently renew the recommend
alton. that the initiative be taken for the
repeal OF the recent constitutional discrimination
between citizens of alien and those of American
birth, Familiarity known as "The Two I ears Amend
meut.'
Engaged shoulder to shoulderin one of the most
tremendous striies of history for the maintenance
and defense of the country, to which of
were born, and which others adopted, there is no
distinction of duties there has been of patTi-
otism and loyalty, and there should be none of
rights between those two classes OF citizens, whose
hearts, torn by common sorrow, beat responsive
TO tine grand appeal OF common duty. and who
gladly share a common danger and strive ill heroic
competition for the garands of glory, due not to
the blood they inherit, but to the blood they shed
and imperil.
If, for any reason, any persons have doubted
the loyalty or dstrused the patriotism of this class
OF our citizens, let the events of the past year adj
monish them that such doubts and such distrust
were not merited, and prompt them to concur, cor
daily and unasked, in the restoration Of equal
franchise.
RELIEF TO FAMILIES OF VOLUNTEERS.
Respectfully recommend that the 2221 chapter of the
Acts OF 1871 be So amended as to neude in its provisions
for The aid Of the families of the volunteer Militia
peod in e wan Of dsay and nd sfy
for service marched from the commonwealth, and be-
whose volunteers they are consequently enumerated
Earnest but unsuccessful efforts h,ve been made to
doubt that the Legislature will gladly restore these
companies composed of good soldiers whose behavior
has done credit to the state, the benefit OF statute
whose equity reaches heir case.
diers, who were recruited by irrePu in this
state and part of them assembled at camp in Lowell
and others at camp in ttlsdcld, whose coudltion in
similar appeals to the General Court for cosdera
ton Although they were needessy enlisted and
brought together contrary the orders and directions
of the department of and the authority commune
10 governor OF STATE, ana general
promulgated from the commUnM ealth headquarters,
issued al time when strainng the enlistment
ment ard four artillery batteries once besides fur
nishing recruits to older Iegim nts in the field of
opinion that tie majority of these soldiers mised
into the belief that they enlistng into regular
menls ot Massachu etts volunteers They have march,
ed or will march, believe into actual service when
their conduct will doubtless ente them the honora
BILE and sympathetic remembrance accorded by the
state to citizens in other corps respectfully suggest
an inquiry into the condition of these BODIES; and
objections shall be found to exist that the proyi
OF the Act be extended to their families alsS without
informed by the state auditor that he cannot state
the amount OF AID given TO families of volunteers which
expended bv the CITY Of Boston which he reports
to be $50 O0O and he estimates that likely TO
of all the cities and It Will be necessasy for YOU
10 make special legislative provision for to refund
SERVICE OF PROCESS or VOLUNTEERS.
beg o call TO your attention the present condition
of the laws with regard the service Of process in civil
suits in its relation volunteer Each Of the
armies and naves of United States is liable to be
prosecuted to final Judgment in suit the only notice
of which to the defendant may have been by leaving
summons at his last and usual place of abode Il IS
opinion, legislative ouy to provide further safe
guards notice to these men and respectfully present
the subject for the consideration the General Court
providing that certain actions of tort shall not be
brought against volunteer, either in the military
from the commonwealth on duty, under his present
lisment and OF modifying the statute of limitations Tor
such cases.
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
It will be for additional legislation to be had
BY the result Of the last national it appea
the next decennia period this commonwealth will be
titled to but ten members of the lower house losing
Der from its present prop rtiun To this inevitable
result Of inc OF the great western states in pop
ulation, Massachusetts yields cheerful acquiescence.
she recognized from the beginning that her narrow lin
its and less fertile soil would prevent successful compcti
ton with her younger sisters the great for
rial strength hut se still trusts L. the intelligence and
enterprise of her people retain that degree political
power which once she welded by right also of predomi
nance Of population.
Respectfully suggest the expedency no longer in
sstng by statute that each representative in congress
he ia
elected. This is simply restriction the freedom
of choice to be exercised by the various constituencies
who ought all to be treated by the law of Massachusetts
capable OF selecting from among y citizens of the
commonwealth their best representatives. our limited
territory land the homogeneous character and interests of
each oter by means of their network OF RAILWAYS, the
numbers whose legal hsbitations in town city,
while their daily business is from five to fity more
miles remo'e therefrom AL tend TO render desirable
that each constituency shall be unettered in its freedom
to select the wisest and abest citizen at its command to
sit in the national council especially in this grave
gency of our public affairs.
And the law, it stands is subject to the grave OBJ
lection OF unconsttutonaty The eligibility Ci person
law under which the Office created, and by which its
jurisdiction and functions are prescribed The office of
representative in congress created by the constitution
OF the United States, by which also its powers duties
and incidents are determined And the constitution
hxes the conditions Of eligibility by requiring that mo
person shall be representative VINO shall not have at
tanned the OF twenty-five years, and being
citizen of the United States, and who shall not. when
elected be an nhabiIant Of that state in which he shall
be chosen The question of the right of state TO add
new conditions thuse Of the constitution examn
ed III the thriourh congress by both houses, in the
exercise OF their respective to judge OF the ell
tlons and qualifications of their members II
elaborately discussed and with great ability, and was
settled IN the negative bv both houses by decisive
Jort1esi and senator and whose elections
were contested on the ground that they ineligible
eleeteu Though not not so by the constitution Of the
United states retained their seats. Conspicuous in