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

not make II out, | shall hold TO the present system
VIII presume the present system TO be right and vii
presume strongly that 10 and require clear conyc
ton 10 the contrary am not willing 20 close my mine
10 The reasons for the recommendation Having said thu
much, will merely suggest TO the senator iron Missouri
10 order 10 show why the Senae makes tins call, ant
assumes that the Secretary OF the Navy thinks sucf
a change ought 10 be made, TO insert alter the words
= navy department" the words las recommended IN h
report
j MIR BENTON. l will accept that suggestion.
MIR DAVIS, OF Mississippi differ with the senate
iron North Carolina, who last addressed The Chair II
thinking II better 10 make such calls IN the Scnae thar
in committee We refer these subjects 10 committee fo
the purpose of examination. The members OF the com
mttee directly in correspondence with the heads Of
the depa tments. Ii is 4 much more simple mode oil
reaching the opinion OF the Secretary is necessar,
to throw all his opinions before the public, as call Of
the Senate will DO | think il altogether preferable to
make The call through committee and therefore, in the
beginning of this debate, referred TO the fact that tn,
subject had been submitted to committee. and sup
posed the committee would make the call Nor do feel
the reasons tor this transfer. He had been but a shor
time in the department when be made that recommended
ton and certainly had not had good opportunity ex.
anime the subject fully many on this floor; and
should hope from further investigation, his candoI
would induce him TO etFac and acknowledge that the
survey Is better IN Its present organization than would
he VI transferred 10 The officers OF the navy
The idea thrown out by the senator from Michigan it,
10 my mind, much more acceptable than that of the sena
Tor from Missouri. His proposition is, TO form board o
scientific officers from the army and navy That PROPOSE
ton contains many recommendations which a simple
transfer of this survey to the Navy Department does
contain; but il contains also fatal objections
In the first place, board thus organized would be
composed OF rival elements constantly struggling against
each other Ii would have no harmony OF organization
nor executions and if it should, it would be when these
officers OF the army and navy had lost all military feel
ing become civilians, and surrendered their commission
Then you would have scientific corps or board-jus
such an organization as now exists. They would have
become disqualified as officers for performing the eg
mate duties OF their station and been rendered mere
and civilians You would then have board just like
the one organized think, therefore, the objection
is fatal one.
But the senator from Missouri tells us that the sur.
very OF Great Britain is made by the navy alone, and
ne refers to rear admiral whose report to Parliament
showed such ability. Now, the survey OF Great Britain
y not comparable TO our owns and if the senator from
Missouri VIII examine the charts made by the British
survey he will that they very far in our rear.
SO far as precision OF execution is found in them and
he will go back to the old charts in country
made by the navy, he will find they will compare
with those executed the rude danb Of some sign
painter might compare to of the chef dGuUre OF Yves
They are incomparably inferior. So likewise the
best charts made by the British navy Our corps
honor to the country. 1t has done much to the general
advancement of science Il has at its head American
be the only man who could conduct the work. He has
developed the whole system as it originally organ
lzed and has advanced upon il and made now, be-
lieve the best organization of the kind in The world
1t is absolutely necessary for the proper administration
OF the coast survey composed it u.s. Jointly of officers
Of the army and navy, that il should have civil head
the two branches of the military service. No chief
could be taken from either branch of the service II
would be watched with jealousy by the to whose
side he did not belong A civil chief standing be-
tween the two, permanently attached to the work con.
stues The very bond which holds this work together
But the senator from Missouri on this as On former
occasion endeavos to make issue with the officers Of
the navy The issue is his own: OF the friends oil
the coast survey have made IT, No friend of the coast
survey has charged the naval officers with ncompe,ency
to do anything which belongs to their province. Under
No hau thu yhpar
the hydrographical part OF this work The topography
belongs not TO the navy. The autobiography is now
Quoted by the navy, and delay has recently occurred
because they could not afford officers to command the
work How, then, when the photography alone is turned
I,ss 70 ne navy Which ybs al 81 = y M
whole OF the work-a of the scientific investigation la
boous computation and added it. the bydrog raphical
labor which they now have, when in fact they be,
hind IN that! The position defeats ITSELF and the slight
est examination shows il will not suffice.
But sir, coast is changing because the washes
away The auvial depostes from one end TO The other
You require something TO fix upon, to which hydro
graphical survey may be referred 10 point and that
the typographical survey OF the lands along shore.
That belongs TO the army. The navy has proper
nexon with IT, That is the fixed and permanent part OF
The work, upon which the photographed part hangs
waving line attached 10 certain point, Now sir,
assumed that the officers Of the navy do this land
work better than the army that this change OF the hys
BILE than the Typographical survey made by the army II
not then would we not with greater proprley send TO
Tue secretary OF dhG Wuelbef lUt WOfa should
be transferred TO him rather than TO the Navy Depart
ment II there is before the people involving the
ncompeeDcy OF the navy is not made by the friends OF
the present organization OF the coast survey. ii II has
been made by officers OF the navy, they have been
those with whom have been conversant, nor such as
are engag Al upon the work. Some OF the most scen.
hc officers OF the navy have been engaged in the work
and not of them believes il should be turned over
entirely to the navy, tina, any naval officer is compe
to take charge OF the work The gallant sailor who
is surveying the coast OF California is of the
friends OF the present organization OF the
survey. mention him because he has been specially
referred TO. II there officers OF the navy whose feel
ings grated by the fact that the typographical the
astronomical and the Autographed work is conducted
by certain officers OF the army and navy, and civilians,
they must BE those whose palms itching 10 perform
work that they could have brought 10 its present
perfection and those who have been engaged in this
work and have acquired reputation for II is fact in
ceved due credit for the work he has performed The
charts show by whom The soundngs made, and
reports OF the coast survey giving they do from
day to day. and from week to week. every increment OF
information, show by whom that atom wa. communi-
Gated Therefore there IS IN my opinion, ground OF
complaint, no reason for changing the work. do not
see, notwithstanding the arguments OF the honorable
senator from North Carolina, why who have been
examining this work from year to year should call
upon the Secretary just installed in his seat and ask him
tor the reasons why he would make the change
fro ooETIsUgD,l
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.