The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-11-30
From the Southern Literary Messenger
THE DEAD SEA EXPEDITIONS.

W.,
devoted TO the high cangs of literature of science, and
OF whatever tends ennobe the mind, or 10 advance the
prosperity and happiness, the honor and the glory Of this
The navy always has been, and we hope ever will be-
above the reach Of party. 1t has galany fought itself
into being few FIR built frigates, with bt of striped
bunting at the masthead, enacted deeds which the
admiration of gallant people; and since the war of
1912, the navy has been the pride and boast OF every
true hearted American, of whatever political faith
In former times navy matters and navy measures have
occupied prominent places on the pages of this Journal
Discussions Of such subjects here have always been free
from party They have ever been so conducted as to
leave the navy far beyond the reach of the political
battles of the day they found it. and for this have
been encouraged with the loud haoo OF many gallant
yeoman in the land
We have taken up this expedition with double aim
first, to snatch it away from party and the politician.
where does not belong on that page wherein
recorded those deeds by which the country has most been
honored by its navy
What is the navy for, and what are the duties of its
oease and The nsy \ 05 9sGn and Gey both n
egbly written the obligation to cultivate those branches
OF science and to undertake those researches upon the
results OF which the art of navigation founded and the
SAFE conduct OF vessels from one part OF the globe
other depends.
Pirates inest the sea; the commissioned vessels in the
navy wait for special law of Congress 90 and chase
them away A man Of war, while cruising on her sta
ton the other side of the world, discovers danger
navigation; she does not wait even Tor The lonalty OF
an order IRON home, but proceeds forthwith to survey
examine, and report upon 1t, as matter OF recognised
duty.
nay more; squadfons OF American ships are sent
abroad to make war; or maintain peace and the officers
do not hesitate when the nature OF the service admits
survey ots ana hafbos' ana even 70 make charts OF en-
Commodore Perry, while blockading the ports of Mex
leo in the gulf and waging war; occupied himself also
with the survey OF long lines OF foreign coast well
OF lolesh ports ana anu tsre has been no one
so capuous as 10 say ne had no right 10 DO such thing
because Congress had never directed if 10 be done.
Among other places, that othcer caused the bar and
mouth OF me Coalzacoalcas TO be accurately surveyed
le
projected canal OF lehuanepec no one ever dreamed OF
holding up Commodore Perry as an offender against the
constitution or the law Tor dong It, He did 1t without
any special authority or instruction whateyer he did
in consequence OF the duties and responsibilities which
attach TO hin merely IN virtue OF his commission as an
oitcer IN the American navy Nay. had The youngest
mIdshpnan IN the navy, the merest STRIPPING IN the
seryice been sent 10 mat river IN an open boat, and
while there, had he Of ms own head found II pac
tlcable 10 run lines and take sonndlngs without IN
terfeng with the SPECIAL duties which called hun there
not only would his right TO DO 80 have been acknowl
edged, but he would have lett his duty to do it, for the
regulations OF the navy themselves make it the duty OF
every officer to survey and map every foreign place visit
ed by them, provided the survey be made without
interfering with other duties These surveys honor
able TO Commodore Perry ana bus olcers cTcdtdble 10 the
country and useful to The world.
We should greve to see the energies OF officers damp
Ell, and the usefulness OIL Tue navy CRIPPLED, by any at
tempt to bring them and their surveys into disepue, Tor
party purposes, or Tor the sake OF connecting naval
operations abroad win the questions OF internal improve
ment at nome, which SO nuch VeX the rulers and law
givers OF the land. aja ~ i.l-# U 81 .s~H
ship cannot pursue her path across the OCEAN with
out running her lines OF soundngs and conducting Sc
RES OF observations OF high interest to science and OF the
fs Importance TO the safety OF The vessel ana the en-
enlargement OF navigation. Among those observations
me pressure ana the temperature OF the atmospheric the
force OF the wind and the set OF currents the depth OF
the sea- ITS temperature and the character OF its bottom
the height OF mountains the depression OF valleys the
co-ordnates OF place on the globe all that relates TO the
Per1ecuon OF hyuogIaphy or TENDS 10 Inc Improvement
OF geography win most OF DINER matters near OF KIN 10
tue science OF navigation, come within The sphere ana
exists ca necessaafe re' he mere law thal established
me navy, e APPROXIMATIONS Gill Whlcn anhna''y paSseu
congress lot le support ol Tue iasd SERVICE give me
Executive Inc power ana make y the duy OF olcers 10
try currents souhd the ocean, measure attitudes ana 70
90 a th9se mugs Whch are necessary ana cohVeheh
lot 1he slely o. iVgauoh ana me successful issue OF
present, aS wei a' lot we oeiielt OF future Wy
perceived tnal .he po"sI wncn rests win te navy o.
n'aAlie 5uisess ~ se t.ou''e nas oee
eNeieeu 2i.e VIZ 1'iFoi'i W"l VIZ 'ib aII ia"
e'e uio iouiua,o VI s ''u " ii na'
ne , oeLn eeu ~ lus'n t r
noulIe aVsu''iei uiie'' iio'i 'ii,t "ieleo o"s ie
poWel " pun W sa anu Improve 'le nav iea'io Vi our
OWN WI Ii'els anu 'I'i .a sedS: .,, nv,
ne power 10 40 ''le one 10 lncaeh'a, Inc mere ac
~ anu spio.' q may uieWs alc. ~ ts power
lollo"s tlle nav Al ii pairs "a ule "9u' LIS eNei
else necessary 20 Jug saley OF vessel anu crew ior
Mlhoul ohal.s, wiont ie results oi sGehct' wihoal
le PoWtl anu te l'sh. 70 Gohuuil seas ol soieuunc
oose sa,io i JUG navy Iouo nor DC maintained I'M
Soiu not oe JIu n rom r,aSe 70 pacesgas Eou
NC as npasspe as on poe, Vi liahe py sesseis on war
me survey VI snoai' ol 'he removal Oh wreck from
paNe III aea' teiius
sauoh' 90 asso uoes ie clearing oui 0! shiaS rom rhe
W., n,ar -, tb 'o a anpd ~ ~ la , ~