The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-12-22
BY THE SOUTHERN MAIL.

"u""ay "isu' IL contains the last portion OF the
amusing debate on the 'Coast Survey" reported
IN the true daguerreotyp- method-and though a
day after the fair, is still very rich:-l
Washington.
Correspondence OF the Heradl
WASHINGTON, Saturday Night
More Delay-Nothing Done I'm Coneress To-
day-The Coast Survey.
Besides the offering of one or two resolutions. and
the receiving of two or three communications from
the Departments, nothing has been done in Con-
gress to-day The Senate did not sit, and the House
was occupied all day in discussing the age and the
merits of Mr.. Hassler, the superintendent of the
Coast Survey.
As as the journal was read Bill relating to
the lands granted TO the Deaf and Dumb Asylum in
Kentucky was read a second time. Col. John
Campbell, of South Carolina, La man of fine talents
and high standing, and one of the most gentleman
y ever in the House, introduced his colleague, Mr..
Samuel w. Trotti, to the Speaker. when he took
the oath and his seat.
A member then introduced resolution that each
member of Congress should have copy of the Ca
talogue of the Congress Library, out OF the 500 still
unappropriated; this was carried.
Mr.. EVERETT, Of Vt-Mr. Speaker, move, sir, to
introduce bill for the establishment Of the public
credit Of the country. (Roars of laughter, from all
sides of the House, and cries of show are you going
to do il T. Everett has found the philosophers
stone!'')
The motion was deferred
A resolution then passed calling on the President
for all the details, of every kind, connected with
the penltentiary of the District of Columbia.
Mr.. FILLMORE then moved to go into committee Of
the whole, TO take up the appropriation bill. d.
vision was called for, when there were
A Ays. IS IS
100
SpEAKKR.-There is not quorum present
FILLMORE Mr.. Speaker, there is evidently quo
and vote MANY members were struggling about
Tellers were appointed, and there were
A Ass', Z So
I39
So the House went into committee of the whole.
Mr. ]. r.. INGERsoIL had the floor, and spoke TOR
an entire hour in defence of Mr. Hassler. He said
he came to America from Switzerland in 1866
having previously finished an important survey in
his own country. An act Of Congress passed Feb
ruary TO- 1907 to have the whole Atlantic coast
veyed MIR. Hassler had then been Professor of
Mathematics at West Point, and at the college at
Schenectady There was not an instrument men in the
country fit for the survey, and about 1863, Mr..
Hassler was sent out to Europe to get all the me-
cessary apparatus for the efficient carrying on
of the work He was absent five or six years,
and then returned laden with the rich fruits
of his toll and researches In 1916 this great
work was about to go into operation, when
the law was altered so as to allow no one to
conduct the survey who was not an officer Of the
army or navy. II was thus suspended for years,
until in 1892 the act of 1907 was revived and passed,
and the coast of Florida added thereto and Mr..
Hasser was again appointed to the entire superin-
tendence of the work, August 8, 1882 He gave
new life TO that which had lain dormant and dead
without him. Since that time he has been hard at
work on the survey, and year ago he presented
a report doc % Of the last session. by which it
appears that the survey then extended over IL 900
square miles from the east end of Rhode Island, to
the Chesapeake Bays there were 81 folio volumes Of
his own observations, 81 folio volumes of the OBJ
servations of his assistants "a folio volumes of cal
Department. the results of his labors and superin-
tendence. 1.-THE expenditure for the same has been
81 900 600 The harbors Of Bridgeport, of New
Haven, the Bays of New York, Newark, and many
and carefully surveyed. Gentlemen talked of his
age-why he was only ~! [Laughter] younger
man than the great hero Butcher was when at the
battle OF Waterloo; and that hero was laughed at
by those who did not know his mental energies be-
cause he sat In carriage, and wore old woman's
bonnet whilst giving orders to his army [Laughter.]
WrsE.--And Marshal SAKE once, commanded his
army, and won hard fought battle, when he had
to be carried on litter to the field.
INaERsoLL.-Why, sir, whe is the most active,
the most attentive, the most untlring, the most ex
penenced, not TO say the most intelligent member
OF this house, (here all eyes were turned to Mr.. Ad
dIIlS), ne WHO draws around HIN vast StOre-nOuSeS
of learning she advances in years, rich experience
and finely matured judgment, whose eye and whose
intellect are not dimmed by the natural course of
years--why, gentleman whose age is nearly the
same "a MIR. Hasser's, and yet the latter is declared
mentally incompetent from age. Hear, hear.] /
presume, then, sir shall not question the advan-
tages OF that inan who has the rich learning and ex-
perience Of age, over youth and inexperence. Mes
ellis of the sovereigns when they sat down to the
siege of Troy. Old Mr.. Charles Field Cor PeeD
said when he got to be hundred he should consider
himself an old man. Age, sir, depends infirmity
and not years. Let US therefore hear more of
Mr.. Hsssler's mental incompeIency owing to age
Mr.. lngersoll proceeded to the extent of his hour
in pretty much the same strain, defending Mr. Has
ser, and advocating the appropriation.
Ex-Governor REYNOLDS, of Illinois, then rose
MEMBER-Now we shall have speech look
out.
CHAIRMAN.-Gentlemen will please suspend con.
versation.
Cries of {" order,'' " order"!
Mr.. REYNOLDS proceeded.-My friend from Penn
syvanla, has been as warm, and as jealous an ad-
vocate of friend Hassler, as though friend Hassler
had given him good fee to defend him [Laughterl
which of course is not the case-oh no! [Greai
laughterl am told that friend Hassler is man of
science-a man of learning heerd here to-day
that he's philosopher lfreat laughterl I'm glad
Of it. daughter Now hain't nothing agin fire nd
Hasser don't object to him because he's TO-
reigner, tlaughter] because few years ago we was
all foreigners [Roars of laughterl and good many
on US act worse man any foreigners now. Laugh
teri According to the gentleman from PHILADELPHIA
if friend Hasslett is turned out, this great republic
will have to stand still!
A MBMEER .-He didn't say that
REyNoLDs.-Oh, Pve got the hull hour. and 7
mean to touch all the pints (great laughter afore
sit down. Why, sir, this work ,oas suspended from
1914 to 1882, and yet the Republic didn't stand still
I'm not man OF that sort as despses science, and
wants to put it down. (Laughter) One of them
barbarians as the gentleman spoke Of Uaupbter1
I'm not a barbarian great laugh,er,) to overturn
science; but still must object to the remarks Of
the gentleman from Pennsylvania He called ma
jority OF that committee, sir, fragment! (Roars
of laughter) BY what right did ne cali those een-
temen fragment? (Laughter) That's the worst
kind OF arisocracy SIR, that won't let the majority
aristocrats7 Laughter Although he does live IN
the fine city of Philadelphy, think il would take
better logic than his to show that two is majority
ouf of FIVE (R oars of lauohtar \ IIyl..