The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-02

sailors and soldiers, and field OF experience for GU
older officers in the branches Of science They are nov
the chiefs of parties and due merit is given to the sol
dier for what he does on the land and TO the sailor io
what he does the wafer II is not night to transfer
the land service 10 the or the water service 10 ths
army. The survey stands now in neutral depart
ment between the two hope and believe II will rs
main SO.
waive all the senator's attempts to rdicule and Jest
leave that with him. But tell hun that when he al
teMpts TO make say that our charts are delineaed
with more than mathematical accuracy, he puts IN my
mouth what he knew | never uttered He knew that 4
never entertained such idea-tha understood that
nothing could be more accurate than mathematics. No
member OF The Senate knows better than himself what
| a map is. He understand that soundings may be
laid of with mathematical accuracy and yet present but
poor charta mean map Let him 90 to the old charts
that made by coast survey when il was
in the charge of the Navy Department, and he will find
lines OF sounding there which one can understand
No doubt the soundings were all properly made and
correctly laid down but yet they utterly worthless,
because they would not lead vessel TO sale harbor
through channel of sufficient depth OF water.
The senator did not meet my argument falriy He
knew that not my proposition He knew full well
that chart might have mathematical accuracy, and YET
be absolutely worthless.
Now. do TO say---and would not deem il
necessary under ordinary circumstances thus to guard
every uttered opnonthat the british charts worth
less, than that meant TO say they were not
mathema,icaly accurate say they greatly inferior
TO own. II the senator will compare one OF our
charts with the best he get from the British
Ordnance Department. he will find the difference be-
tween them. And know his judgment to be too good
to doubt what his decision will be. | said nothing
about anything being more accurate than mathematics,
or anything being so PERPENDICULAR that It leaned over
Mr.. BENTON. ! take that back.
Mr.. DAVIS. am glad the senator does take it back;
for such Argument intended to reach grave subject,
will not say unworthy OF the occasionl thought it
But the senator proposes TO save $4OO 900 BE
membered always that this increase has resulted from
the survey of the coast OF California and the extraor
dnary price OF labor that coast He thinks this
will be saved by turning the coast survey to the
navy In the name of common sense. how Could you
dispense with the steam vessels you now use! Could
you dispense with the draughsmen you now employ I
Could you dispense with the clerks you now hire! Could
you dispense with the typographical corps you now have
Could you dispense with the delicate and expensive in
struments you use in your main trangulatons What
could you dispense with Then how would you save
$4OooOO. $2oO,oOo or $24o,oOO which was formerly
required for the work
You can only save it by abandoning the work And
when the senator thinks proper TO return to the old sys
TEN of nautical charts, then have only to say we
OF e
mands OF commerce by making them. We can make
thus better hydrographca chart than the Spaniards
made OF the Gulf OF Mexico. And unless inend to
make an accurate geodetic survey upon which the hy
biographical survey shall rest, will do nothing that is
worth the expenditure either the Atlantic or the Gull
That is the proposition which Mr. Jefferson had in
view when he brought Mr. Hassler 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 temper-that bad temper
which made every department anxious then to get rid OF
the work OF which he the head, but which now in
lis maturity and perfect organization departments are
science which was required for the work, and probably
the only in the country who was capable OF under
taking it, Mr. Jefferson, with his usual wisdom and fore
sight, brought him 10 this country where he laid the oun
daton Of this great work Though but little effected
in his time, he commenced great work, which has since
developed itself mach to the benet, and honor Of the
country 1t is now rapidly gong on under system
which do not believe can be improved BY transferring
eve you improve the present system OF typographical
and hydrographca survey, resting on each other Why.
then, transfer the work. Is the object TO change the
head OF the coast survey Then go and find man OF
more science at home abroad find man of purer
character of simpler habits, and more beloved by all
der his authority Find that man before you attempt to
change the character OF the work the mode by which
to dsplace the superintendent Ii such be not the pur
pose, know OF no real purpose why this transfer should
be made II the character Of the work is TO remain the
same if il is TO be conducted II II is to be a
Joint work of the army, OF the navy, and OF civilians,
why, then, ask, transfer il from department to
other, and, least of ALL why transfer from the Treasury
Department, standing neutral between the army and
navy, and throw il into the navy, and make that collision
between the two branches OF the military service which
we seek TO avoid
| stated before, believe, that the civil part of this
organization the permanent part and is necessary TO
MAINTAIN the work. And would say word TO my
! friend from Michigan bears directly his PROPOSE
ton Suppose he had board OF officers selected from
the army and navy, of the highest attanments. II war
should break out, would those officers be worthy TO
their uniform they did not belt their swords and
hasten TO the scene OF action II you had such board,
would they not, in the event OF clam the right to
exercise their commissions al the head OF their
mands or on the decks OF their vessels n
j The civil part OF this organization ~ the per nanent
part of il il that which remains through war, and IL
the nucleus upon which the army and navy portion OF
the work aggregate themselves the return Of peace
This is OF the great beE ets OF the present orgaDza
ton and which consider essential 10 the further prose-
cution of the work. We encountered the difficulty to
which baye referred during the late with Mexico.
The officers OF the army nearly all OF them, lett the
work II there had been maritime war, the officers OF
the navy would certainly have done the same thing.
| We may encounter the difficulty agan, and would
encounter with any scientific board OF officers unless
they lost the character of sailors and soldiers and became
mere
Mr. DOWNS think there can be stronger proof
of the demerils OF this resolution any wanting,
than the fac that the senator who defends should us-
tain il by stepping Of the way and nduging IN sar.
casm against those who oppose H. fo my part II II was
contest in which felt great interest, Dt the result OF
which had great DOUBTS should not be pleased 10 lay
aside any arguments reasons that governed members
and strike al individuals who suggested them. there
fore take for granted that this resolution has no merto
rous reasons in ts fsvorj for gentleman can better
marshal better enforce when there are any,
than the honorable senator from Missouri and as ne
did not choose, could not do H. but steps out OF his
way into another course, take II for granted that Il is
pretty strong evidence there merit ~ the subject
rhe gentleman seems exceeding anxious to make issues
upon this question in different iorms He makes an is
with the navy and the coast survey, and attempts To
raise the idea that there ~ opposition IN The navy "a
lit Again he seems think that those who oppose this
resolution have some very hostile feelings towards the
there ia nothing in my words TO Justify such concu
sion have the utmost respect Tor the Secretary OF the
Navy have the honor OF a slight acquaintance with
/ him, and so far have the report that he has