The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-01-13

port when made Ii viii rebuke their injustice hope
those who censure Mr. Mason, Lieutenant Lysch, and
those oheers Tor undertak ing this exploration will give
them all the credit for what they have done, and pot
hereafter seek TO rob them of that also Their account
with avidIty in every quarter, of the world and as
| much in Connecticut as anywhere else The senator
Mr. NnEs] will find satisfaction in reading it, hope
some senator will call for Lieutenant Lynchs report at an
early day. II not shall during the session. and hope
it will be published BY order of the Senate 1t will be
found that is creditable 10 the servcecredabe to all
concerned, and useful, too have had an opportunity
to know something OF this matter, and OF the mcrto-
rious conduct Of the officers who went to The Dead Sea-
deeply regret that any senator should have made them
unnecessarily the subject OF nvidous remarks.
Mr.. CLAYTON In this case, no committee recon-
mends this amendment; and the chairman of the Com
mttee on Finance has expressed himself in opposition
it Yet, under these circumstances the amendment is
still pressed The objection made BY the cemmittee
upon broad pleupOn the safey OF the finances Of
the country thiak it 10 important that the Senate
should sustain This principle; that is, that when
out sSs Il a. sr s ss sa% 70 n me-
that cannot be called upon afterwards for other aI
Popriations for the same purpose We know that we
this character, whchhave been stated to u.s. and stated
with that Recommendation that the sum demanded for
them would be small, and that stated specifically;
and we have SO often found that it necessary
double. and even treble, the former amount, that
we think it necessary TO lay down the principle that
In the first instance, the sum must be honestly sta
ted and il il is not those who obtained the grant shall
| abide by their mistake.
Now in regard to this matter it may be as is stated
by my friend IRON Maryland will say have no doubt
that there is existing nstitution-the Smithsonian In
stituon-to whose province it may be properly given
They will do everything the subject that ought to be
required OF the American government. shall be
tented with their act If the required sum had been
stated in the first instance. should have made no OBJ
OF making insufficient appropriations first. with the hope
OF obtaining an addition afterwards To do this, then,
we must s ,%ss against y Hs: the amendment
Mr. DAVIS OF mississippi. Mr.. President, regret 10
near the honorable senator from Delaware IMr. CLAY
roN] refer to the Smithsonian Institution in connexion
with this subject That institution is supported entirely
by funds arising from beques and is engaged in
erecting IFS buildings, so that all Its available funds al
present appropriated fo that purpose with the exception
OF a small amount Sir, look upon this question
one that was settled at the last session OF Congress as
| to whether the observations should be made not.
There no asking as understand it, for any increase of
appropriation for the object submitted at the last sessions
has only been found that they want the necessary nsru
mens What then, is our present position We have de-
iernined to make the observations We have made an
appropriation; and now It is found that perfect in
struments necessary in order make the observa-
tions otherwise they must be made in an imperfect
manner-a discredtabe 10 the American people
Will you abandon the law OF the last session OF Con-
gress and prevent the observatons If not let them be
made in credtabe manner; let the necessary appro-
prations be made to buy suitable instruments 1t 10 not
every year that appropriation be made which will
secure the advantages to be attained now. think ii
about the year i760 that the last conjunction occur
red favorable for astronomical observation, and it
will be somewhere near the close of the present century
about the year 1879 1880, when another will again
Nor was this appropriation hasty action of the
last session 1t deliberately considered and deter
mined upon, after having been approved by many Of the
scientific minds OF Europe, as well as OF America It
received the favorable consideration Of the Astronomical
Society of London and OF our own American societies
at Boston and Phadelphia Already have we been
plmented for this expedition; and now we for the
paltry sum of e,4Oo dollars, TO abandon the enter
prise! We have contributed too little in times past
to such purposes Even the nautical almanac of Eng
land has been used in the navy of the United States
Nor is this observation unmportant stated by
the senator from Connecticut, [Mr NILEsl The dis
astronomical calculations and we presented
with happy occasion for observations determine
distance more accurately than it has been
By observatory at Washington and another at Chilli
we establish base-another at the Cape of Good Hope
thus furnished with the of determining more
cuatey than ever IN times past the distance OF the earth
| from the sun.
But. SIR we stand committed in another form. This
action OF ours has already been submitted to the govern
ment OF Chilli and preparations have already been made
for the reception OF our rsate will be poor plan to
go without the necessary Instruments but poorer still to
abandon the project have fear of loss the pur-
chase Of these instruments They may be necessary for
be sold for their full value doubt, in Chill; for they
are about to establish an astronomical observatory
there, and have doubt that they will consider
great favor purchase them From these considerations
and from the fact that i is not the question whether
will make the observations or that decided at the
last session, y hope the bill will pass
Mr. ATHERTON. Were it not that | have been un-
derstood by the senator from Delaware MIR CLArToN]
as opposing the appropriation, would not say another
word. | understood the senator from Vermont [Mr
PHELPs] opposing the appropriation for the reason
that small amount was at first required, and alter wards
an additional appropriation wanted for the work
and concurred with the senator that this evil
think unfortunate that this should be asked for this
case Sli, under all the circumstances, shall vote for
the appropriation for the have suggested And
think Tiny duty say with regard to the Secretary of
the Navy that he was not responsible for the origin of
this projects but was fully discussed in the House of
Representatives after which this clause introduced
into the naval bill part OF the expenses OF navy,
and OF the officers OF navy TO be make
these observations. important for the purposes OF
Mr.. YULEE, (interposng) would state to the gen.
tleman that the matter originated in the House, and
in the NavyDepartment W. NJ t.'. ~.
| Mr.. ATHERTON Yes sir, that was what was
saying Twas supposed-and perhaps that statement
has been made in the papers well in the argument
to day-that the instruments hand in the navy,
would be sufficient for these observations But could
the small expense was reason for the expedition. That
might be argument for it, to be sure, after it had been
originated but the true the Importance OF
the observahons-the furtherance OF science con-
nected with the purposes OF navigation The smallness
of the expense might have been alluded 20, it is true
blu, my impression is that this expedition would have
been authorized at double the 1t would have been
mate made at the last session. have no doubt that the
expedition would have been authorized had the whole
been stated FIRST such the importance OF the
expedition. s 49,
1t seems to me. sir, if this expedition is to 90 on that it
highly important both regards the purposes be sub
served by the expedition, and for the honor of the coun
try, that the requisite instruments should be provided.
4 IL