Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1842-12-20

peske and the coast Of North Caroline, (which westhe
dangerous Of in the u. 81 anxious
survey should be carried back Long Island and thence
proceed northward. fifth class composed thoss
among Others, who thought Mr. HAssLxR incompetent not
only because he could speak the English language
rect but also because he the habit IL speaking hi.
mind pretty freely Of those whose practice
chise and question him. In his before
the committee. Mr. HAssLER would understand the questions
in different from that in which they were propou
ed, and would answer accordingly He CIR. W. had
however, been able understand him: had
not he had gathered what information he desired Capt
Godney. ll x
Mr.. MALLORY rose, and said he admitted the fac, Of
Mr.. HAssIEKs confused SO great his eonfu-
sion, that interpreter had be introduced He would
give his colleague for opposing the continuance
of MIR HAssLER- IL known that the typography OF tho
southern different from that Of the northern In
the former twas ha and in the latter distinguished high
lands The same process therefore, would for
surveying both coasts When questioned in committee
10 how he should proceed with his when arrived
the Coast Of Virgins and North Carolina he could give
satisfactory This could be proved by the
journal Of the committee.
Mr.. WISE ventured 10 assert that Mr. Hassler would
not answer as to the mode in which he pro-
ceed but the officers had told him how he would 90
the work. Their testimony, and that Of every man of SCI
enee was in favor Of the competency of Mr. Hosser.
Mr. MALLORY asserted the ground he had taken
and said the committee satisfied of Mr. Hasslers ina
bility to tell how he should proceed.
Mr. WISE resumed, and into description of Mr.
hassers personal appearance, mode Of conversation &C.
tee; when
Mr.. BIDLACK called him to order. and commended tbs,
ne was uanscending the rules OF the House. which forbade
members to detail which had in committee
The Chairman sustained the point OF order
Mr. WI then said he would what happened out
OF committee Mr. Hassler was charged with being men.
tally and physically Incompetent
Here MIR. MALLORY said, that when he made the re-
port OF the committee. chairman he did not deem IL
necessary to state all the facts which led him TO the concu
sion.
Mr.. WISE again denied the ncompeencv Of Mr.. Has
SER and said that had the committee reported il would
have been without evidence He then went into an aro
ment to prove this posion when
Mr. AfCRlGG remarked that the fact that Mr. Ha.slef
haa denied his own map, and was according his own
statement between eighty and ninety years of age was con
/ elusive, 10 his mind Of Incompetence
Slr. WISE Now, we have all the evidence
Mr.. MALLORY. No. not all. My-rol!easre has ask
ed for the witnesses of Mr. Hassers ncompetency saw
'hst he was witness enough against himself without any
other witness whatever.
Mr. WISE. Now we have the evidence Should tia,
map containing merely typographical error blast the
mental reputation OF man who stands before the world
philosopher He deed the introduction Of competen,
witnesses to prove his incompcency Mr. Hasser might
look odd and shabby in his dusty old coat but in the field
OF science he al home, and only nj home bur ms,
Jor domo He appealed gentlemen here who had bs. =,
college, If they had great mathematician who
Tas not an odd sort of man. He well remembered old
Jenny head oil Washington college, Pa and he appealed
TO the Representative of the Washington district 10 ssy
any one ever taught mathematics better little common
sense as ne had out OF doors man might have all the
dePtns OF Newons knowledge, and vet not know that
New Jersey petoggng lawyer could put him in s among
eions lie appealed TO gentlemen be preudced by
Nh Hasser's As his age-,rue he was nJ. 70,
he had an old fashioned constitution thar d Stand ,rSb
lie was an ocogenaran in with his faculties in
/ iul vieor.
MI HOLMES said this motion discourteous 10 the
Committee and disrcspecifu The House As neInb,r
oil the committee 10 which this subject had been referred no
he matter Principally 10 the gentleman before him
ir Mallory and the gentleman from Massachusetts M
Cushins) who, he would state seemed TO him 10 90 win
into the investigation And he woud saw
again. so tar from feeling the mental and h
vast nieroniy OF the gentleman they had assaied and
whose character for science they would pull down he had
~hen 'e answers were given to the interrogs-
uons put TO him. He had felt that the committee having
Just looked into the books and learned the alpbabe 81 49,;
ence, were displaying him, who was the g.eat mas,
@r IN SCIENCE, the little knowledge which they had
ana ne appealed 10 the gentleman from Virpnis yhe,
err when they into a collision of inteeet rbev
were not invariably put down. He Nh HI tb-gbt fhs
best way for himself was TO retreat and he bssysd ~
gentleman from Virginia Mr.. Wise did the same flaueh
teri and they LETT the other gentlemen carry on the cotss
Inc committee summoned Mr.. Hassler before thorn. rd
they took testimony; but they made report which
usht DC made after i examination, before they pro-
nounced judgment whose intellect had illuminated
moi TINS country aone-for it the admiration Of the
philosophers OF Europe Was il fair and respecti then
10 the House under such circumstances 10 ask tls m rs
on the iPse Dirt of individuals alone Mr. Has.l.r
mgh' have admitted error in Of the maps as the
from New Jersey had stated and the great mind of
MI hassler mightbe revealing the light of truth Who did
nor remember the story OF Gaeo, who when carried be-
fore tribunal of scientific men, confessed his error in his
hst the earth revolved around the sum- but who
whispered TO a neghbor, the same time Though do
confess my error the world will 20 around the sun for ali
mat And those philosophers would find tbst IN ,be
judgment OF posterty, IF they were canabs 81 Lro
aught about the things of this life the world does 90 onnS
the sun, for all that He hoped the House womb Ger n
i report from the committee, who made the Iry i'm
tne case before they ventured determine on sc an in,
portant subject and destroy on an appropraton hill o.
er Pdrte statements plan which commenced in tha
une OF Mr. Jeierson which had been prosecuted NJ va,t
expense which embraced the whole line of their coast and
not only the lives OF their marine but the passengers who
came to our shores and the great interests of
enterprise. y
MIR. CUSHING went into heightened statement of the
pioeeeangs1 me committee TO whom this investigation
was lntsed who, having been unable TO cornpete their
inquiries during the last session. were continued he 70
solution OF the House the day Of its adjournment 10 the
present session The subject divided into two classes
administrative and scientc the former Of which only
had they fully considered. And Notwithstanding the con
eusons OF his mind that branch Of the subject which
hey mad expored-feeng strongly the public importance
ana the deep interest to the country and commerce
ana 10 the learning and science Of the world Of this great
sclennc w0rk-he hoped would be prosecuted 10 com
pleuon He regretted that this appropriation had not
permitted To pass and he hoped the committee would not
agree to strike Il out SO high his estnae of the work
ma not only incompeiency but Encouragement should be
padoned 10 secure its completion He intended to vote for
tins appropriation though he felt bound 10 state the conc
sion TO which he I'm common with Others had arrived re-
spccung the character OF the superintendent The caa of
topics winch ne called administrative he divided into
branches; the physical condition and the mental condition
OF the person who had the superntendence Of the
Ana ne was the last that old and faithful
want who had discharged his duty his country should bs
removed for his inhnies; but II that fact put
to wit whether that had been unnecessarily
deayed whether proper despatch snd all prac teal economy
had been resored tom going into those Questions
would run their heads against the fact that Mr. Hasser from
e lhsmues o. age was deprived during portion Of the
year. OF the full ability superineud the work a. Young
or and more vigorous would do The work had been
delayed by the infmites Of age.
Mr.. WISE said that sickness had caused H. II WA
the fever which had produced delay
Mr.. CUSHING. Yes. and that connected with old
] AL h. LII IL. -.