Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-01-04

Senate there should subs most decoous ntecoure TAe
public service requires that there shall be intercourse and do
between the Senate and the heads Of Departments
While then, freely surrender to the Senator from Looi-
sana the privilege of treating my Arguments and opinions
with unmeasurey and contempt deny him the right
to do the ding with respect to the opinions Of the So
cretary Of the Navy.
my right, has said, "f this thing Is to be pressed
Well sir that gentleman and myself have not been ac-
quanted very long-six or seven years, Perhaps-but
do not think there s any thing in our acquaintance
that authorizes that gentleman sny other TO ntepose that
word elf" (Lsughtsr.] When make proposition, sir,
propose nothing what think is right; and when it 10
made stand to il till there is proper decision upon H. or
brought conclusion. Having met this extraordinary
opposition such there has been parallel to IN the Ae
rcsn Senate shall ask the Senate for the yeas and nays
before am done with it, viii show that am in earnest.
The Senator from Mississippi says our coast surveys are IN
comparaby superior to those OF Great Britain Wei %
that brings up the realization Of what have heard but never
saw II makinga thing perpendicular that il leans overs
for the British coast surveys made with mathematical ae
cuacy. want know what must be the character OF hos
then, that made with than mathematical
The British surveys mahemacaly correct and ours are
more so should like to have him give idea Of per-
pendicuarity which is than perpendcularwhch leans
over.
Mr.. President there was once word, accustomed to be
pronounced in this chamber and in the other end OF this Cap
toll which was very respectable word in its day. was the
word ECONOMY" And If cannot begin now 70 nink
about economy, take il shall soon bs in condition IN
which shall be forced to think we were in What
does this survey under the civil superintendent
has S406 coo this year, and $460OOO are asked
for the Now if the navy which costs US about seven
eight millions Of dollars annum can do this work we
enough to the ships which they themselves navigate
here is economy, saving of some three or four hundred
thousand dollars per Is ii not worthy of
sderation at any time to know how save such an
amount as this for country Is not worthy of consde-
ration any me and especially at this time, when we are
going to the edge Of precpce in our financial affairs
present this question under the double aspect OF ques.
ton between the navy and civil superintendent and in
yolying the ncomPetency Of the navy, and the Senator
from Mississippi understood when he replied to some
words by the other day, when was speaking on the sub
ect Of the Louisville and Portland canal will accept from
him whatever says be by the words he then uttered
Mr.. DAVIS Of Mississippi. Always meaning that the
navy not incompetent in any branch OF their appropriate
profession think they incompetent to sail over the sum-
NIT the Sierra Nevada mountain and why
they should be made to perform the service which belongs
properly to the land. That is the ncompetency OF which
spoke.
Mr. BENTON. Well, grant it would be some work to
sail one of their ships to the summit Of the Sierra Nevada
mountains twelve thousand feet high and take it. sur,
idea in the coast survey that chart TO represent
you mountain hundred and fy miles in the INTERIOR
and twelve thousand feet high had always understood that
the chart apply the coasts that gave the land and
water contiguous and much land as was necessary to
understand the approaches to the land
BY the under which operating the direction
is to ascertain the shoals and the islands which within
twenty leagues of the coast and to ascertain the headand
soundings bearings capes and points, apprehend that
chart consists Of exhibition Of the land and water that join
exhibition Of the coast and that there is necessity for
going into the interior Of the country in making out chart
But here we are Mr. President involved in question of the
superiority of department another in conducting this
business Sir precisely the question which we want to
get at Nor it absolutely necessary to the parallel Of
superiority The question is the navy do the work well
enough the business and Of the country and
the navy of the country That is the question: sir can they
do well enough, and they do it well enough, hold
that they should be put upon it.
Sir what does navy cost now Seven eight mil
lion dollars per annum. What is their employment We
know that when began navy there were pirates IN the
Mediterranean sea, that barbarous nations lined the shores
with piratica hode and small vesselnever larger
than gae-to protect the property and OF our c
zens. Even then, when the Mediterranean lined
with piratca naons and when captivity was the fate OF all
who taken by hem the bunderbus the only alter
native then had nothing but small vessels, and
they found sufficient for the purpose. Now the com
of the Mediterranean safe that OF the Chesa-
peske bay and that of the whole archipelago of the Black
Sea safe that of the Potomac river There was time
whom there pirates the West India Islands, and we
sent vessels protect commerce. and there are
no pirates there than there tho District of Coum
ba We have location less exposed upon coast than II
were living upon an island like that Of Great Britain and
liable tc Norman descent Spanish armada Our
navy has grown be age and the people are beginning 70
inquire what the which it is applied Where is
necessary protect commerce and to defend 1t
from pirates Our naval establishment has become large Is
costing about eightmons of dollars annually Here
piece of work for the navy do the appropriate business
of the navy and have that work done by others at
an expense of four hundred thousand dollars per annum
Sir, this is question to 60 before the country and it is
question which will concern the navy. For if after paying
eight millions of dollars to keep the navy in Or
der protect commerce. which needs protection
then have hire the Of four five hundred
thousand dollars per do their work, it time for
consider But do not admit stand up for the navyi
stand up for navy officers; and declare my confidence
in their entire capacity do whatever necessary to be done
in carrying on the survey The fact they doing
now, have Just sad far they employed to do
and my argument is that they should be employed to do
the WHOLE and that thus four five hundred thousand
dollars would be saved annually that is to another
establishment which has grown almost to the power and
influence of department. ask for the yeas and nays
the adoption of the resolution
The yeas and nays ordered.
Mr.. DAVIS, Of Mississippi Mr.. President, the Senator
winds in circle with his argument He begins BY making
issue for which nobody has made, and
theirs. plan-deang msn, who should come in and hnd
him in the middle Of his Speech would suppose he had offered
resolution Of inquiry and great opposition had been grau-
itously made to il on the part Of other Senator'S
Now the Senator will recollect that what said when
addressed the Chair and the Senate reply TO the Sena
tor from Missouri, from notes taken while he spoke.
brief reply to long address And yet from the remarks
Of the Senator from Missouri would infer that had
sprung this debate this resolution, and forced him into
defensive attitude. And this he calls extraordinary pro-
ceedng It is extraordinary sir, Senator can offer
resolution and make vehement speech it. and nobody
can reply. But enough Of this for the present.
Tais controversy is Of the Senator'S seeking.
answered Of his arguments in the first place. and pro-
pose Of them He cries aloud for
economy, and says that $40s paid for people do
the work the navy Can be conceive that topoga