Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-04-07

We give the following scrap from the his
tory of Col. Ripley, an account of the fact
that he is well known to many of our old cti-
zens. He was formerly commandant at the
L. s. Arsenal in this city. and went from here
to Springfield, Mass. Other events in his
life are narrated in the extract which we give
below:
June ed 1890 the traitor Floyd, Secretary
of War, sent Colonel Ripley to Japan, in
charge of certain arms and military stores
which had been prepared for presentation To
the tycoon. lie was instructed to return by
way OF the British overland mail route and
''visit and examine professionally the most
important arsenals and military manutacto-
res in Europe and England Possibly
Floyd had in view putting at distance the
second officer in rank in the ordinary corps
one who could not be slenced in any emcrg-
ency. But, though his mission had not been
accomplished. Colonel Ripley took his swift
est course for home on hearing of the out
break of the rebellion, and promptly reported
for duty, though At an age when he might
have asked to be retired. Your country
needs YOU" said an old friend as he landed
from the Persia. 1T can have me and every
drop of blood in me" he replied. He went
on duty as Chief of Ordnance, at Washington,
and began instantly the most systematic and
vigorous efforts to secure arms for a great
war There followed an interesting chapter
in the history of the war. Secretary Cameron
and his Assistant Secretary, Scott author
| lied contracts during the summer and fall for
the enormous number of l,976,240 rifle mus
kets and carbines, - 40 pistols. and II. 500
swords costing Si6,l 1860. \ large part
of the arms were miserahly inferior; many
| of the prices were cNhorbitanty high; many
/ of the contractors were shysterS with no
pos sibe connection with any branch of manu-
tacture. and the arms were of all imagin-
able kinds and cabres.
\ In 1862 there was a Congressional inquiry,
and A large volume of the official orders and
correspondence was published. On every
page the mistaken integrity of Colonel, soon
Brgader- General, Ripley is exhibited. He
was truth and duty incarnate. His reports
and recommendations were always honest.
They were almost daily overruled, but day
after dav and month after month the veteran
gentleman and soldier reappeared, the same
enemy of iobbing and fraud. He was bitter
| ly hated by the crew of corruptionists, and
their hatred was only surpassed by his own
| hatred and contempt for them. The matter
was much discussed in Congress, where the
General found appreciative friends The
Hon Mr.. DIN closed his speech as follows:
II undertake to say that amid this wide spread
corruption. and the hordes of sharpers and
brokers and ex-members of Congress and
bankers and stock ohbers and blood suckers
who gathered instinctively around the Secre-
tary of War for the purpose of plundering
this Government and robbing the people this
old man, Gen. Ripley. stood up like an old
Roman. pillar of virtue amid a wide spread
desert of corruption. He was a rock and
breakwater against a torrent of fraud. | wish
to God the Government was full of such men.
Amen: 1.-The old man" as they called him in
the heat of debate. deserved every word of
this commendation.-