Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-03-10
NUMBER SIS.

'lat we are aware OF, 10 get fsa Europe is ,la'
OF the Gladiator, which is 10 Nassau The arms
lately brought by the ctora into New 0lerus are
said to be part Of her cargo Estn after Cal.
iaiD, there ample time TO have imported large
quantity OF arms bsjors the blockade established
and since the blockade established the successful
CfJrts Of private ctz show that the Government
might have imported large quantities Of arms and mu-
nitious Of war"
1t would be highly improper to reveal -hat vessels
have arrived where they arrived, where from, what
of they had brought, aud What vessels are
expected 10 arrive with Q like freight. We 81 all rot
therefore mSks aIy such revelation though xe can az
sure our readers that would conclusvey dhpe the De-
lief which the Mercury" desires 10 create by aeeusa'
lions which evidently made With the assumed lnpu-
nifty derived from a knowledge that the Government
ought not TO contradict them by epec b; exposition oi
the facts Il may be said however that the amount oil
arms imported by private enterprise does not 10
a fourth Of that imported by the Government. The
arms brought by the Victoria (about 1907 nat
part Of the Gladiatos cargo. So much for the hercu
rgs" speculations and lie facts.
VI 80 necessary was il for 10 have abundance
e arms, that several oil naval Ulcers proposed 10
tue Naval Con mittee put under their control one MIL
oa of dollars aud that they would go 10 Europe with
buy a. iren clad steamship, convert Ler into war
vessel, er with arms and muuitions OF war; nd u
necessary, hgnt their across the Atlantic into Con
ederate port. Congress favored the gallant proposal
ID passed the bill to carry il into feet The President
pocketed it and il failed"
Upon inquiry address ed to both the Executive and
Legislative Departments Of the Provisional Government
c cannot tad uuy one who has any lection OF TIE
proposition referred but If any such made nd
failed TO be acted on il is attributable TO the fact at
very possible EFFORT in this direction had already be-
made, the Getas OF which, for reasons already given,
improper 10 state. We urher ADD, that the Pre-
dent has never vetoed or pocketed" any bill appropn
ng money for the public defence.
VII. "Ne will mention other fact amongst many
others, goug 10 show the military energy OF the Pres
Dent. sNi!t steamer lay at Wilmington North
Clroliha One half of l. belonged Northern ciiIers
Certain citizens OF Wilmington desired convert this
into prisatser; and In order that good titles
might be got for this purpose they petitioned Congress
have the steamer sod aud the half OF the proceeds
OF the sale belonging 10 the Yankees should be paid in.
the Confederate Treasury. Congress promptly passed
bill to accomplish this oil jec:. But the President
? 'cketed il, and the bill failed
At tie close Of sion Of Congress- bill OF the na.
tire referred passed As iE Undertook to decide
q Ies.ions ot property, which egmately belonged TO
courts of law the bill was returned, and the Pres
nts reasons Tor doing oral explained TO Congress
b. the Attorney General IL further Discovered
at the to which ausion is made IVES wholly
u1i for the purposes for which 1t proposed 10 be
u.s. d.
We have thus met and refuted every charge aud allie.
CATION made by the Mercury, by plain and simple
statement of facts which will discrtc dit any further as
saus by that paper TO render future notice OF them
EuGlly unnecessary
We DO no. propose to discuss the motives which in
iucsd this attack l. will De for Mr. Rhett 10 Justify
fore lis own conscience and before the country his
ilen of the il lou OF secrecy which the Congress
hli placed upon It's proceedings, and which be knows
body refused 10 for good aud patriotic
sons.
No disappointed ambition, no private giefs,
r.nt any citz,n in making attack on the Govern
IH.nt which il true, could only weaken the great
isa for which the patriots of the South struggling,
d. give aid ard comfort " TO the enemy.