The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-01

and shall adopt another and change the policy al
,osshsI 90 not see The Necessity ios y The ssnats
and House oil Representatives do lie necessity oil
H. when ihls has been SO elaboiaeiy argued before
Il the sentleaan says We ought 20 call upon lhe Sec
Secretary OF the Navy Thought his views any par
tcuar subject so important TO be worthy 10 be sub
United 10 The special consideration 81 Congress was mas
duty DO il IN his annual report II he has not done
il stflk es me that there is pretty strong presumption
that be did not think the Interests OF the country
qsred that be should thus ntepose he did no, feel thai
the honor of The officers OF biz department much
Involved render necessary for him 10 before
Congress and vindicate them, and pretend that their
claims had been neglected in this OF the sur.
Besides, Mr. President, although do not pretend 10
have the information myself TO enable discuss this
matter fully, recoiect some Of the Arguments which
urged here before, because II my duty 10 al,
tend 70 them and TO vote upon the question recolect
that one OF the grounds upon which gentlemen opposed
takes part of duties which would be appropriately
performed by officers of the army very important por
ton OF the work is upon the land IT. compound sur
vey of the and OF the land Joining IL Is just
important and jus' natural Tor the officers oil me
army Ia feel themselves neglected because II WAS not
committed them, tor the officers OF the navy 10 en-
terrain similar feelings. therefore, see no heces-
sity in entering upon a new system, dseadlns an OLD
one, and Commencing anew. II The Work is not well
donef the officers have failed IN their duty-le us APP
point others in their placeset have an investigation.
But have never heard such suggestion made, On the
contrary, believe the coast survey has been approved
Of The work has been going on well AT this very
time an important branch Of the work is commenced
Officers connected with the survey have been detailed to
do very important worka work greatly Tor the interest
of Louisiana and other western Sates-to examine that
part OF the coast embracing the delta of the Mississippi
have no idea, when work of SO much Importance
going and when other portions OF the survey Of great
impo .ance progressing, the survey in California
that we will thrust hands into matter with which
we have no business, and interfere with il at this time
when the work is going on so well hope, therefore
that the resolution will not be adopted There is no
necessity Tor it. We have time for il now There is
reason Tor it. know it is ho customary 10 object TO
an inquiry OF this kind; but the gentleman who proposed
it has clearly indicated his object that may
just we'll come 10 II conclusion upon IL 10 wait
until the report comes from the Secretary for, however
long wait, the result Will be that the vote will be ex
the resolution. and f others. will sustain the
change, and nobody else We lave no ime now 10 dis
cuss it and hope. therefore, that we shall reject ii
Mr. HAMLlN. Ii seems 10 me that wrong issue
has been presented to the Senate, should regret il
very much, indeed if believed tina, any senator enter
tanned the opinion that either the army or the navy
officers were not fully competent 10 discharge all the du
ties that devoved upon this service We're the service
made up entirely OF army officers should have full con
6dence that the whole service would be amply performed
BY them. But the service is of that character that
ders il very proper that it should be composed of
both navy and army officers, it is | have
tany learned from source that the services that have
been performed by either grade of officers have not been
full and ample and to the satisfaction of all persons in
the community. believe it is So 1t is, therefore, in
my judgment, entirely unnecessary TO present such
issue as this-wheiher the army officers the navy
officers are more competent to discharge those
have full confidence in the officers of each branch OF
service Each OF them, or either OF them or both
bined, have doubt, will, they have DONE continue
to perform tia service most thoroughly and TO the salts
faction of the country
different from that which would exist il it simply
resolution OF inquiry. The senator from Missouri re
marks that the Secretary OF the Treasury has made
argument in favor Of the present disposition OF that
vice. do not so understand IT. do not regard il
argument 1t is statement embracing certain facts and
we may draw from them an ntimation of his opinion. Ii
IN ma hat yyaa IN tha
Navy or upon any department for certain facts and that
we are then to draw conclusions from those
facts which they may present TO u.s. IL that resolution is
be pressed and to receive the favorable SANCTION d
the Senate. il to me il would be proper that there
should be attached TO II additional call to the
Der OF nava! officers who can be spared from the naval
Mr.. BENTON, lin his seaty They can spare them all
MIR HAMLlN. They can spare them all the senator
from Missouri says. Now, am advised that demands
from this service, II now exists have been refused by
the naval department within the last twelve months
within the last twelve weeks the senator from Mssis
sppi before me Mr. DAvIs] says. Now, think would
be much more proper TO shape your resolution 10
call for facts and then allow senators to judge of those
facts as presented 10 us
Certainly if the resolution pass in its present form
shall vote for the amendment suggested by the senator
from mississippi. Ii TO have arguments from the
CON- from The Secretary of the Treasury well from
the Secretary Of the Navy 1t to me that IT is
novel proceeding 10 call upon the head OF any department
for an argument in favor OF his views | am not
aware that it has been The course of proceeding hereto
fore II may have been | am willing always to vote
for any resolution OF inquiry or Tor any resolution which
will elicit facts upon which act understandingly
but do not think it is desirable expedient call upon
the head Of any department for argument any
And believing, do, in the competency OF the service
al present organized, shall certainly vote with the
senator from Louisiana 10 keep the service is and
not to distract II by any change. shall therefore vote
against the resolution in It's present FORM and pressed,
foI the amendment OF the senator from Mississippi
Mr. BADGER did not know Of The presentation
of that resolution, nor did | know what it contained,
until il yead this mornings but il really seems 70 me
presented for the consideration OF toe Senate The Sec
reary OF the Navy has recommended in his report that
certain change shall be made in the control OF the coast
survey This resolution proposes 10 ask the Secretary TO
give his reasons for the proposed change. Now, IL
TO that gentlemen take IT up If 10 call upon
him for his either a declaration in
maion TO the Senate that they entertain the opinion
which he has expressed. | do not understand it.
Gentlemen say have already adopted system. True
and having adopted II, with me there must be very salts
factory assigned before would vote for change
in that system But certainly am not at all indisposed
listen, and TO weigh and 10 decide upon the
that may be offered Tor any proposed change. do not
other gentlemen may-understand this subject with such
fulness OF information, with such and clear APP
probation OF all its parts as not only TO perceive The ex
ceence Of the present system, but also to know before
hand its superiority any other which is yet to be
presented and considered and the for II weighed
cannot understand why he Senate should refuse
call upon this executive ofcer for the upon
which he has ventured TO make the proposition to to
change this system and in voting for that resolution,
do not understand myself intmatDg in the slightest
degree that in the opinion which the Secretary has
- AZ. \