Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-01-04

now. What would be gained You would trcns6sr the
coast survey from the Treasury Department. which stsnds
neutral between the army and navy, to another Dspsmsp
draw the means Of prosecuting the work. to some extent
from another and rival Department This might generats
bad feeling which does not exist among the operatives
of the coast survey But would you dminsh the expense
Does any man believe that you the army navy
into work which is professional and reduce the expense
of the work below what would be If civilians or professional
men executed Does any believe he could send SOL
dies to execute photography cheaper than Sailors that
sailors could do topography cheaper than soldiers No
beieyesi VINO has any information the subject Men di
veed from their professional pursuits to do work would be
more expensive than Others There more believe
that civilians, regularly and constantly employed could now
be hired to DO the work cheaper than either branch Of the mi
ltary service
Economy is the argument and it falls to the ground wher
ever applied 10 works Of skill for young sailors and
soldiers, or works Of skill for older officers in the higher
branches OF science They the chiefs of parties and
due merit given to the soldier what be does the land
and to the sailor for what he does the water 1t is right
to transfer the land service the navy the
to the army The survey stands in neutral depart
ment between the two hope and believe 1t will re-
main so.
waive all The Senator's attempts to rdicue and jest
leave that with him. But tell him that when he attempts
to make that charts delneated with than
accuracy he puts In my mouth what he knew
never uttered He knew that entertained such
dea-tha understood that nothing could be accurate
than Mathematics No member Of the Senate knows better
he knows what map Is He understand that sound
ngs may be laid off with mathematical accuracy, and yet pre-
sent but apoor charts mean map Let him go to the old
charts that were made by coast survey when
in the charge Of the Navy Department. and he will find lines
Of sounding there which understand No doubt
the soundngs all properly made and correctly laid down,
yet they are utterly worthless because they would
lead vessel to safe harbor through channel Of sufficient
depth of water.
The Senator did not meet my argument fairly. He knew
that not my proposition He knew full well that chart
might have mathematical accuracy, and yet be absolutely
worthless
Now, did not to say-and would not deem
necessary under ordinary circumstances guard every
tered opnion-that the British charts worthless
than that meant to say they not mahematicay
say they greatly inferior the
Senator will compare Of recent charts with the best
he get from the British Ordnance Department, he will
find the difference between them And know his judg-
nent be good doubt what his decision will be. said
nothing about any thing being accurate than mathe
maic any thing being SO perpendicular that it leaned
ever.
Mr. BENTON. I take that back.
Mr. DAVIS. am glad the Senator does take it back,
for such argument intended to reach grave subject,
will not say thought it unworthy of him.
But the Senator proposes save 100000 Be remem-
bered always that this increase has resulted from the survey
OF the coast Of California, and the extraordinary price of
labor that coast. He thinks this will be saved by
turning the coast survey the navy In the of
sense, how' Could you dispense with the steam
vessels you Could you dispense with the draught
men you employ Could you dispense with the clerks
corps you have Could you dispense with the delicate
and expensive instruments you in your main iangula
tons What could you dispense with Then how would
you save S4O000O or S2OO0O or 10000, which was
formerly required for the work
You only save il by abandoning the work. And when
the Senator thinks proper to the old hydro
graphical charts then have only say have such charts
made by navy by the Spanish and by the British navy
We would satisfy Of the demands Of commerce by max
ing them We make better hydrographcal chart than
the Spaniards made of the Gulf Of Mexico And unless
intend to make accurate geodec survey upon which the
hydrogaphca survey shall rest we will do nothing that is
That the proposition which Mr. jefferson proved when he
brought Mr. Haser to this country and with great respect
to the Senator from Michigan, must consider him very
valuable acquisition to the United States know Of his bad
tempe-hat bad temper which made every department
ous then get rid Of the work which he the head but
which now, in it's maturity and perfect organization, Depart
mens are graphing for. But he was man possessed Of
that science which required for the work, and probably
the only in the country who capable Of undertaking
it. Mr.. Jefferson, with his usual wisdom and foresight
brought him to this country, where he laid the foundation of
this great work. Though hut little effected in his time,
be commenced great work, which has developed itself
80 much TO the benefit and honor Of the country III now
rapidly going under system which do not believe
be improved by transferring the work from department to
another. do not believe you improve the present
tenn Of geodetc and Typographical survey, resting each
other. Why, then, transfer the work Is the object to
change the head Of the coast survey? Then 60 and find
Of science at home abroad find of purer
character of simpler habits and beloved by all under his
authority Find that before you attempt to change the
character of the work and dpnce the superintendent If
such be the purpose know of real purpose why this
transfer should be made. If the character Of the work to
remain the same if is to be conducted as now if to be
joint work Of the army, of the navy, and OF civilians Why
them ask transfer it from department to another and,
least Of ALL why transfer from the Treasury Department.
standing Neutral between the army and navy and throw
into the navy and make that collision between the two
branches Of the military service which seek to avoid
stated before, believe that the civil part Of this ogani
zaoA the permanent part and necessary to maintain the
work And would say word to my friend from Michigan,
bears directly his proposition Suppose he had
board of officers selected from the army and navy of the high
atainments If war should break out would those Off
be worthy to their uniform if they did not belt
their swords and hasten to the Of action you had
such board would they not in the event of war, claim
the right to exercise their commissions at the head Of their
commands, or on the decks Of their vessels !!
The civil part Of this organization is the permanent part Of
it, it is that which remains through and is the nucleus
upon which the army and navy portion Of the work aggregate
themselves This Of the great benefits Of the present
organization, and whch consider essential to the further pro-
have referred during the late with Mexico The officers
of the army, nearly all Of them, left the work. If there had
been maritime war, the officers Of the navy would certainly
have done the same thing We may encounter the same
difficulty again, and would encounter it with any scientific
board unless they lost the character Of sailors and soldiers and
became mere
Mr. DOWNS. Mr.. President, think there be no
stronger proof Of the of merit in this resolution than the
fact that the Senator who introduces ii has sustained
its merits but has stepped out of his wsy attack those
who opposed it. therefore take II for granted that il has
merit that has in its favor for gentle
marshal and better enforce reasons in favor ea
than the honorable Senator from Missouri But as he