U.S. Senator [And later Chief Justice of the U.S. Court of Claims] Charles D. Drake, “he would, if he had his way, arm every loyal man in the Southern States with a Springfield rifle and cartridges, ad libitum..."

U.S. Senator [And later Chief Justice of the U.S. Court of Claims] Charles D. Drake, “he would, if he had his way, arm every loyal man in the Southern States with a Springfield rifle and cartridges, ad libitum, and so far as he was concerned he was perfectly willing for it to be written on this bill that these arms were intended for the protection of the loyal men at the polls.”, July 21, 1868