Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-01-04
TUESDAY, DEcEnsER 81, 1850.

The Senate having proceeded consider tho following reso
| Iuton submitted yesterday by Mr. BxHrozG
Resolved That the Secretary of the Nssy be directed b
report to the Senate what advantages public service
would be derived from transferring the vey OF the soas
tional legislation, if any, would be necessary.
Mr.. DAVIS, Of Mississippi. have soma doubt Of th,
propety OF adopting that resolution The of the Sec
reay Of the Navy has been referred the Com ntee on Ma
val Affairs The subject is therefore before that committee
If they desire information the point it ID their duty to call
the Secretary for the information which hey may require
Hence necessity for this resolupn But II il be
desired to bring forth report be laid beop the Senate and
the public shall then offer an amendment the resolution,
calling upon the Secretary of the Treasury communicate to
us his why the work should be transferred from
the Treasury Department, now having charge of it. We
from his report that be does wish the transfer to be
made hope this resolution offered byhe Senator from
Missouri without his recoectng that the mter was already
before the Committee Naval Affairs. However if he
presses the resolution shall offer the amendment have in
| dicated.
Mr.. CASS. have had some knowledge VI this subject
do not think it very important to what Department the
coast survey should be attached In my opinion It ought to
be entrusted to board of scientific men d the army and
navy. who should supentend the whole matter The
to that the better Now no man is responsible but
the Superintendent The survey Of the should be
trusted to scientific board, who should be responsible for all
its dongs who should have the entire contrd Of it. The
head of of the Departments cannot be expected 70 enter
into these scientific facts This board should be responsible
to OF the Departments Of course but this matter should
tant to which Department the survey should be at
tached.
Mr. BENTON. Mr. President expected this resolution
to pass matter Of The Secretary Of the NAVY
has recommended in his annual report that the survey
should be put under the direction of the Navy Depsrmen
The resolution merely calls upon him give us the reasons
for that recommendation. The Secretary Of the Treasury in
his report has made an argument the other side Of the
question.
Mr. President moved this transfer year or two ago. but
without much hope Of success then. When came here first
and accustomed to learn wisdom from the lips Of wise
men, made some movement towards REFORM as deemed
it to be- Mr. Macon, of North Carolina told that mem
Der Of Congress could effect any reform in what
cened Department. unless the Department the Admin
israon went with him. have found that out and have
seen it illustrated for thirty years. Now find that the Sec
reary Of the Navy, from the State which Mr. Macon be-
onged has recommended this work be hereafter done by
navy and under the direction Of naval officers am
glad see it. revves my hopes And the Secretary
did give the which induced him make that re-
commendaton wish him to have opportunity Of do
ing SO.
The Senator from Michigan wishes have this matter un-
der the charge of scientific board. will that the Go
vernment which, Of all Governments in the world, has had
more coast surveyed than any oheI speak of the Govern
men of Great Britain which, besides surveying the Of all
its possessions in the four quarters of the GLOBE surveys
the coasts OF all countries with which it has at
war-has It done BY the navy and by the navy aoneby
that branch of the called "ordnance and hydroga-
ply The surveys there have been pursued by Rear Ad-
ma Beaufort for twenyo years. For twentyone years
by man And if any gentleman will take the trouble
look at the examination which he underwent before
mee of the House of Commons about year ago, he will
that he understands his work. and that those who nerro
gated him understood the business aso and that the
survey in Great Britain is carried skuly enough for their
thousand ships Of and their twenty thousand merchant
vessels, and all by their own officers
am not willing to admit that the British naval officers
do what American naval officers do, that they
cannot do what British naval officers do. Icanno admit
it. The issue is now fairly made up in the public mind in
regard to the competency Of naval officers to do this work
That issue presented here in the face of the fact that
wherever naval officer employed the work, his work is
celebrated by the head Of the whole survey. Why
but the other day read in all the newspapers
here Of the survey of the coast Of California by Lieut. Near
thur He naval officer He has done the work, and the
newspapers contain commendaton just and proper
daon of him by the superintendent Of the survey And
yet, in the face of this the American people to be told
that the naval officers cannot the work. but be put
der civil superintendent Notwithstanding the fact that the
British navy does this work. the American navy stand
before the country incompetent to do it. do not admit
that they incompetent want to what the Secretary
OF the Navy may upon that well upon other points
know how deeply feelings of officers of the navy are
grated by having it nmated before the public and the Con-
gess Of the United States that they incompetent for this
work. But it is their business to submit and carry out the
policy of the Government whatever it may be. There
will be, however, time for this whole subject
up. AT present the question is merely allowing the
Secretary Of the Navy have opportunity Of reporting his
for the recommendation which he has made in his
nual report.
Mr.. DOWNS. I shall vote against this resolution, be-
do not want the subject up. has been up
here before 1t has been debated ertenso. The
arguments used though extensively before. The
Senate deliberately to determination it, and
why this short session, when much to be
done and there little time to do in, should take up
that subject which has been beaten and hammered until it is
out, and decided long ago. do not pretend to say
which the best plan to be adopted whether would be
better to give this work to officers Of hena officers Of the
army, to commissions it is do not think that
the question presented. We have adopted different ss
tem has been going for years. and great deal OF the
work proposed has been accomplished The question not
whether shall adopt this system moi, whether
the work, which has been in great degree accomplished
and accomplished not only to the satisfaction of the whole
country believe but the world arge is the wises but
whether now in the midst of the work. shall set it asde
and adopt another The question is shall take
this work. which going the satisfaction of every
body and change the policy altogether do not see the
cessy for it. The Senate and Congress did not perceive the
necessity for it when the question elaboratey argued
before.
But the gentleman says ought call the Secretary
of the Navy for his views the subject. think if the
Secretary Of the Navy had any views Of importance to
muncate, was his duty do it in his annual report he
has not done 1t strikes that it is pretty strong pre-
sumption that he did not think the interests Of the country
qued the honor Of his department much involved
cate it and contend that its claims had been neglected in this
matter of the coast survey.
Besides although do not pretend have the information
myself to enable to discuss this matter fully, yet recol
ec some Of the arguments used BEFORE because
duty to vote it. And recolect Of the grounds why
urged this work should not be given the navy,
these surveys were not Of nature be done entirely BY