The Republican journal., 1872-03-28
About those Arms.

About those Arms.
1t is doubtful if ever there was an in
vestigation by The proper authority OF any
government into the conduct of its ser
wants, which disclosed such glazing VIC
lations not only OF national honor but of
common honesty, as that now progressing
concerning the sale of arms to the French
There certainly never before was any
thing like il in the history of this govern
ment. Notwithstanding the conrse of the
radical majority in the Senate, in the
most shameful violation of parliamentary
precedent and law; their attempts at con-
cealment. evasion and subtertuge; the
fragrant outrages in the composition of
the committee of Investigation, and the
trickery employed to take possession of
and direct inquiry into the alleged fraud
ulent sale of arms; the mean artitce
which was invoked to deprive Mr.. Schurz
Of parliamentary right and exclude him
from the committee, in the hope of cover
ing the oriminalify of their masters
despite all the efforts, the examination
has proceeded. and the charges have been
established. The testimony of the Secre-
tary of War and the Chief Of Ordnance
proves that the bid Of Remington tor a
large supply of arms was accepted on the
18th of October, 1870, and that on the
same day he was informed OF his appoint
ment as agent of the French Government.
His letter OF acceptance was written on
that or the day following, notwithstand-
ing which the contract was executed, In
other words the Secretary Of War allowed
those arms to be delivered, with a full
knowledge that they were purchased by
an agent OF the French Governments
With the telegraph and mail at command
to stop this palpabe violation Of neutral-
ty, there was not only no interpositon Of
authority to prevent it, but direct c0unte-
nance and cooperation on the part OF The
War Department. The testimony of Gen.
oyer III equhIIy instructive ana uatuaglug.
He admits that the act Of 1868, requiring
thirty days notice before sale. was not
regarded, or, in his own language, I'VE
advertised through letters That mode
of ''advertisingn is peculiar to the War
Department, and dates back beyond The
invention OF printing or the era of news
papers. At all events the law was ignor-
ed and desplsed, for some purpose which
may appear hereafter. That much is
demonstrated. Thus, two of the original
counts in the indictment against the AL
ministration, have been clearly proven
! by their own witnesses
Ten years ago not less than million
muskets We're considered necessary to be
kept on hand, even when free from all in
ternational complications; but at present
Gen. Dyer says there is less than oue-half
| OF the stock required to be in the arsenals
in 1860. When asked,
If war or rebellion would suddenly break
ont, what wonld you do for arms:
A. Well. we would be pretty hard uu, |
suppose, though we could raise - 900; Reming-
could manufacture 10000 in sixty DAYS.
z. Then. with AN army OF 5000 men. we
should have to wait six months
4. We would.
Notwithstanding these startling facts,
this very officer and his associates strip
ped the arsenals of their standing supply
of arms, converted them into French cold,
and lett the country comparatively de-
tenceiess and unarmed. His very last re-
port says, Now there are less than TO-
/ 900 breech-loading muskets in the ar
| senals for use ~
The Senate investigation showed that
| there must have been some motive for
this shameless violation of neutrality in
these sudden sales. and the unusual facili-
ties extended to Remington and his con-
federates; and it is equally apparent that
there must have been some unseen and
controlling power to accomplish such re-
suits, like that which protected Leet and
| Stocking, in the face OF the most damning
exposures. There is reason to believe
that this mysterious influence will be dis
! closed in good time The actors behind
the scenes must be brought forward to
the foot-iights and compelled to rehearse
the parts they have played in this dis
graceful drama, where the obligations of
national honor have been sacrificed to the
greed of gain.