Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-01-04

it b and have learned from no souree where the m,
have been Psrmed By each grade Of officers that the wo
ell persons IN ths community It is therefore, ia NV udr
ment entirely unnecessary present an issue here whstbs,
army or navy officers better competent 10 discharge his
service nave full conhdence in the officers each branch
service Each OF them either Of them, both combined
have no doubt will they have ever done continue to
tnat service both thoroughly and the complete sa
| tisfacton of the country.
think there objection to this resolution which i d
feren from that which appertains to resolution Of smna
inquiry. The Senator from Missouri (Mr BEsros) remarks
that the Secretary Of the Treasury has an n
avor o. the present disposition Of that service do not 50
understand it. regard an argument Il embraces
tam fac and may draw an intmaton of his opinions
from the facts stated Il mo- If we are to cali upon
Secretary Of the Navy upon any other of The Depar
mems, na1 can should be for certain facts allow us
TO draw our opnions from the facts which they may present.
this resolution Is to be pressed and il is 10 receive the
favorable consideration Of the Senate seems TO me that
would be proper there should added to it an additional
sa as wna number Of navy officers could be spared from
Mr. BENTON. They can all be spared.
Mr.. HAMLIN The Senator from Missouri saws we can
spare them all Now, am advised that demands upon
exists have been refused within the las. twelve months
Mr.. DAVIS. Of Mississippi. Within the last twelve
weeks.
Mr.. HAMLIN. Within the last twelve weeks the Sem
ator from Mississippi think it would be much more
proper shape the resolution call for facts and allow
Senators to judge upon those facts Certain ann If the
resolution to in its pesens FORM shall vote for the
amendment which has been suggested by the Senator from
Mississippi And if we are to have arguments from the
Heads Of the Departments let have them pro and con.
Let US have the argument Of the Secretary the Treasury as
that the Secretary ofthe Navy. to
Is novel proceeding to call upon the head of any Depart
ment Tor an argument in favor OF his VIEWS am not
aware that has been the of proceeding may be
So am willing always to vote for any resolution of inquiry,
or any resolution that elicit facts upon which may
undersandingly But do not think that il is desirable
The head
argument in any And believing do, in the
potency OF the service it at present organized, shall
vote with the Senator from Louisiana lMr DowSs,) and
keep the service it h undisturbed. With that view am
disposed to vote against the resolution in its present orm and
be pressed vote for the amendment which the Senator
from Mississippi has intmated be will present.
Mr.. BADGER. | know nothing of the presentation Of
this resolution, did know what contained until it was
read this morning but it that gentlemen have
not been exactly discussing the question which presented
for the consideration Of the Senate The Secretary of the
Navy in bis annual report has recommended that certain
change De made in the control of the survey This
resolution proposes ask the Secretary to direct the Sec
retay to give his for the proposed change It
seems to me that gentlemen look upon declaration
lnlmaon that the Senate entertain the opinion which the
Secretary has expressed. do not SO understand it.
Gentlemen say have already adopted system Hav-
ing adopted it will say, for one, that there be very
satisfactory reasons assigned before would change
But am not at all indsposed weigh and decide upon the
that may be offered for the proposed change. do
not although other gentlemen may understand this subject
with such uness Of nformaton such exact and clear COM
pehenson Of all its parts not only perceive the excel
ence Of the present system, but also to know beforehand its
superiority any other which has yet been presented and
considered and the reasons for it put
cannot understand why the Senate should refuse to call
upon this Executive officer for the why he has
tued 10 make Recommendation to to change this SYSTEM
But in voting for this resolution do not understand myself
inimatng in the slightest degree that in the
opinion which the Secretary has expressed in his report
only express this that willing to hear those reasons,
nf
hensve information which enables to determine before
hand that good be given for change Of this
system has been said that this subject has been heretofore
debated That is and voted against the PROPOSE
tion made by the honorable Senator from Missouri which
had reference to change, because not satisfied that
change ought to be made But am willing at all times to
hear the reasons that be assigned for the changes and
the very moment satisfied that the public utility will be
promoted by making the change, willing for it..
hold myself open to conviction that point. And know
nothing which connects itself with the survey which
makes that exception the rule of other legaseor adj
minsrative bodies that is, that it is possible changemay
be made for the better.
am glad this resolution has been offered. The Nav,
COMMITTEE have taken this subject up the of their
objection in the world any committa any Of po
icy by directing chairman to write to the Secretary Of
the Navy for the for recommendation he may make
confess, however, that greatly prefer that such call
should be made by the Senate than by committee.
This not call upon the Secretary Of the Navy for
argument or for speech The resolution merely calls for
his reasonor statement of facts, the exhibition of the
from which he draws the conclusion that the public good
will be advanced by making this change he makes
out the case willing to vote for the proposed change
But he does not make out the case, shall against
changing The present system. Until the contrary proven
shall presume and strongly that the present system
right shall vote for the resolution of the Senator from
Missouri but that does not commit consider the
for the proposed change satisfactory
Having said thus much would merely suggest to the Sc
from Missouri that in order that may be shown that
the Senate makes this call account Of the Recommendation
contained in the report Of the Secretary Of the Navy would
be better to insert after the word Department the words
recommended in his annual report accompanying the
Presidents annual message"
Mr.. BENTON. accept that amendment
Mr.. DAVIS. of Mississippi l differ with the Senator
from North Carolina, who last addressed the Chair in think
ing better to make such the Senate than by
miee. We refer these subjects committees for the pur
correspondence with the Departments and much more
simple mode of reaching the opinion Of the Secretary He
does necessarily throw all his opinions before the public
and in every respect think is altogether preferable have
the call from the committee Therefore, the beginning Of
this debate referred to the fact that the subject had been
feed to committee and that the committee would call for
the information which they required. The Secretary who
made the report and whom is proposed call upon
for the reasons OF the suggestion made by him. had been in
the Department but short time when the report wasmade
certainly he had not had time examine the subject fully
as many on this foo and hope from his discretion and
candor that, upon further investigation he will reract the
opinion contained in his report and will acknowledge that the
survey better under the present organization than would
be i it were transferred to his Department.
The idea thrown out by the Senator from Michigan is