The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-06-06

mons OF longitude depend entirely upon the accuracy Of
atoms obtained the time OF the ranslts OF Venus,
now nearly century ago These rans's occurred only
about once in century and it known TO astrono-
mers that favorable opportunity Tor observing inns
transit would not occur again for thousand years 70
come There good reason to apprehend ihal ,ne
suns distance as al present determined is not altogether
accurate This suspected iron some oDseT Fabie anu
apparent irregularities in the motion OF the moon whish
might perhaps, be explained by eorlecnoi o. 'e
distance II was not likely that tune SO nPo[lan. or
astronomical observation would be neglected oy o'hei
governments and he hoped that IT would mol be allowed
10 pass unmproved by our own. L.
philosophy of the principle which he had referred lie
read this 10 call attention 10 the fact that Inc moon was
as the dial hand OF the heavens pointing 10 CERTAIN naeu
Stars whose distances measured, and so enapng nav
lgators 10 determine the longitude. But TINS sun us
lance was element in their calculations not yet aeoh
raely determined and though the heavenly CLOCK was
perfect still we REQUIRED more knowledge enable us TO
understand lis precise indications Whatever might ex-
tend our knowledge upon this subject, was legitimate
object of gov expenditure. II 1t was Indispensable
thai the government should purchase sextant or quad
for the n seanen, At was equally important
that this element of the SUMS distance should be ascer
tanned with the utmost certainty lie stated agan tha
the and all the translts OF Venus Tor Ihonsahd
years to come, would be so brefthe planet Wou' pass
over so small portion of the SUMS disk-hat u uii
Guilty accuracy the observations would be very great
To provide for the utmost accuracy in these observations
proposed 10 be prepared 70 take observations a
two points, upon the same meridian, and at the same
point of time, many thousand miles apart as at wash
ington and some point in the southern hemisphere We
Owed this enterprise TO the Old World, 10 which
were indebted for nearly all the elements OF science
Mr. EVANS followed in further explanation OF the
amendment He favored the amendment. though he did
expect that by the observations proposed the suns
paraIlax would be ascerlaned with more certainty than
already determined by observations taken al the
time of the last transit OF Venus IN 1864.
MIR STANTON desired to ask the gentleman whether
under the method proposed, with the hundreds OF obser
vatons that mghtbe collected the liability TO error would
not be dimnishedl
Mr.. EVANS Unquesonably
Mr.. STANTON inquired further, whether new obser-
M E WEN ady s not hnt the
dredh part of second was very likely to be corrected
Aztec further conversation with reference to these as
Economical elements, and full explanation OF the ques
ton by Mr. EVANS who supported the amendment, upon
the ground that hitherto this government had done aoso-
lueIy nothing for the advancement OF science
Mr.. CATHCART said, il gentlemen have any doubt as
to the correctness of their position it would be wses he
thought 10 restrict debate upon the subject 1t was I'M
safe attempt TO legislae, or make dsqulson upon
anything do not fully comprehend. he acknoWi-
edged his ignorance of this matter, and protested his
intention in what he had TO say, to come down from the
heavens, and conine himself to the earth HIS object
merely to submit TO the committee a few practical
views, hoping that members generally would concur with
him in his proposition to save to the treasury the hve
thousand dollars proposed to be appropriated we
told that this appropriation is necessary to the perec
on of the navigation of the seas-o the more perfect
understanding OF the subject OF navigation. But since
is acknowledged that the amount OF the error IN the
suns distance, as derived from the observations OF
1864, is not more than the three -hundredth part OF
second, he would ask gentlemen what practical ad-
vantage could result from the correction OF that! Mr.
c. said he knew something of navigation practically;
and he knew that, for the instruments which he used,
there was allowed OF five seconds; and II the
error of five seconds OF no practical importance ne
would like TO know what danger to be apprehended
from of the three hundredh part OF second in
the suns paraax 1t would be inapprecable, GER
ainly the fact whether the observations OF the mari
ner taken on deck or at the mast head, with an IN
strument graduated TO five seconds of an arc.
Mr.. STANTON said if the error in the observation for
the paraax be greater than the five hundrcdh part OF
second it would make an OF more than five hun
dred thousand miles in the suns disancean far
more important than that OF the instrument of which
the gentleman speaks.
Mr.. CATHCART had expressly disclaimed any know
ledge OF the effect OF an error in paraax.
After further conversation and explanations IN which
Mr.. EVANS, Mr.. STANTON, and Mr. CATHCART
Mr.. CATHCART resumed, and concluded by pro-
posing to compromise the difference between the gentle
man from Maryland and the gentleman from Tennessee
by way OF amendment to the amendment, Ut IN order,
declaring reduction OF the SUMS paraax to the and
a half huniredth part of a second
The CHAIRMAN ruled the amendment to be out Of
order
Mr.. CATHCART added, that he still considered some
such proposition to be about as Ineligible as any by
which the difficulty between these two learned gentle
men could be settled at present 1t the best he could
think Of and it would five thousand dollars of the
peoples money.
Mr. HOLMES, of South Carolina, said he feared that
The ridcue which had been attempted to be thrown into
this subject, would have tendency to defeat great
onal object Without going along with other gentlemen
upon this queston--ertrd fammeatta mana mundt-
lcres OF ORDER and translate it, beyond the flaming
boundaries OF earth-is the translation trust gentle
men will not say that is out OF order [Laughte With
going so far as this Mr. H. would submit that moth
ing could be honorable TO this government than the
proposed appropriation OF five thousand dollars, to enable
her men OF science now, In century, upon this
transit OF planet to fix accurately the element OF
the suns paraay. Should this country hesitate, in
century, to act in conjunction with others to contribute
her proportion to this vastly accommodating volume of
light. Russia, which is said TO sit in gross moral and
political darkness, still sends her astronomers abroad to
light up the pathway OF human science England, also,
will be prepared this transit shall take place, with
her base line extending into southern Africa to make her
observations and contribute her share to This great maya
zine OF information. And we in America-aer having
h-supped the edifce with the requisite instruments Of
the most perfect construction and nsh well calculated for
the most delicate and accurate observations, having,
moreover base line from here to Ch-shall stand
still Tor five thousand dollars and neglect this OPP
portuny to verify this important triangulaion He de-
sired to state matter in connection with this subject
which was deeply engraven upon his mind 1t
conversation which he had lately with the late venerable
member from Massachusetts, now gone from amongst
1t was one OF the last conversations which permit
ted to hold with that patriot Rising from his seat he
came up to me where stood, gazing upon the great
trog luminary OF heavenhis ever-acve mind looking
forward to the advancements of science which yet
result from observations of the heavens, he said to me-
81 have a request to make OF you" ! replied, "Mr
Adams, you can make request of me which will not
be most cheerfuy accorded ''Sir, (said he YOU are
on the Committee Naval Affairs and there is an app-
cation to be made to Congress by the American Phoso
phcal Society Tor an appropriation to deay the expense
almanac to be prepared; and beg of YOU sir, to give
this measure all yOur aid This fMr II