The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-22

the duy OIL an olcer OF The navy. man may be mos
admirable ofhcer OF the navy but yet may be totally un
qualifed to discharge this duty. question whether any
oil our captains who have signalized themselves and
sfed TIE country with glory 10 the late war with Eng
cent OF Nelson themselves would have been competent
TO discharge the duty OF superintendent OF the preparation
OF thus Nautical Almanac. This matter OF science il
isa matter OF skill is matter requiring large attain
mens IN department not necessarily connected with
the ordinary duties OF a naval officer.
NOW, SIR, the intention OF Congress, therefore, when
they passed this was that the Secretary OF the Navy
should look through all the various grades, from euen-
ant up, and find man who had the scientific qualities
that would enable him TO discharge this high and I'M
poftant duy a1d then made appropriation for payi
him as superintendent in order that he might be respect
aDly and sufficiently remunerated.
Now, sir the honorable senator from New Hampshire
Nr HaLE] says that, acting upon the process OF inter-
peiaon adopted here, he ought to have been paid a
salary OF ~ 500. How does be make that out Why,
sir, this very respectable and intelligent gentleman has
statedand this IS the first paper o his That ever sawit
was clearly the intention OF Congress that he should be
pad as superintendent. He not TO be paid as Of
hcer OF tle navy. Though he retained bis commission,
he was or the time detached from the functions that be-
onged TO an officer OF the navy proper and placed in
position 10 discharge the scientific functions OF supern
endent of this Nautical Almanac and such he TO
be paid and not Otherwise The amount OF is this
Congress did not think it right or generous to require
highly soenltc and accomplished officer oil the navy when
they placed hm IN the discharge Of this duty TO throw
up his commission in the navy. Sir, il would have been
an affrona upon his honor to propose it. Now, in time
OF peace he might without any lmpuaton upon him oil
being at all dereici TO the duty he TO his country
devote himself to the discharge OF this scientific duty
to the accomplishment of great and important objects to
the country But If war 10 occur, doubt he
would-as every gallant officer would-present his
claims toihe navy to be employed in his proper and inn
Poant frncton-to sustain the honor and vndcate the
rights of he country And Congress determined leave
him in that sltuatlon a scientific man, and paid as
but still having the right reserved to him
TO call upon the proper department when the country may
need his services upon the ocean, and maintaining his
right 10 be allowed to discharge what every high minded
officer colsders not only as duty but privilege.
NntEa hon bIa kpnal III thaaa
mates as being stuffed away in the Navy Department,
some sucl expression. as if they had been concealed
unknown,and not communicated. Where Is the authori
ty for tha2 There Is none, sir, none.
The Comptroller, therefore, think, not only fully
JUSTIFIED, b required put this construction upon the
clause He was Obliged to say that this appropriation
nendent and that he could not be confined 10 his pay
an ofcer, because that was provided for in the bill and
ous but being detached from the discharge of his proper
duties as al officer OF the navy il was contemplated by
the law that he should be paid superintendent OF this
work, Just exactly il he had been private citizen
Mr. President this involves no violation of the policy
OF The act OF l535not at all By passing that law
did not surrender our right 10 judge in what particular IN
stances, and under what parcua circumstances, might
be proper allow officer of the navy discharge du-
ties not appropriate to his profession 1t intended TO
cut on these extra allowances which had been ordinarily
made IN The department IN the exercise OF departmental
authority and some under the provisions OF general laws
and to hx scale OF compensation which should stand in
lieu OF those aIowances and Congress- have
from time 10 time allowed and permitted officers
ceive such additional compensation they deemed right
The evil they intended to correct was lis being done the
departments without their authority. That The evil
Mr. HALE. Gin his seat) Exactly.
Mr. BADGER. Now, sir, the honorable senator on
the side, and The Comptroller and myself on the other
are al ssue upon the question what the meaning OF
this appropriation. The senator has, think, in vain
endeayored 10 make il bear meaning consistent with
requiring Lieut. Davis TO receive compensation off.
cer and that only and until be succeed in doing that
il is In vain for him to aege that il is abuse that this
sum OF money Is paid 80 much with regard TO this dis
cussion.
Nov, Mr. President, think that this amendment is
highly Objectionable. II seeks strike of from this ad.
dtiona compensation certain oneefs OF the navy, OF
whom believe It is true that everybody, with perhaps
the exception OF the from New Hampshire, [Mr
HALE has supposed that the compensation which they
received was just and proper Here is the distinguished
gentleman who is at the head OF the Naval OBJ
servatory He is OF that sort. believe there was
difference of opinion 10 the Senate when il pro-
posed TO give him compensation suitable 10 the position
he occupies, and suitable 10 the high and important du
ties he discharges There but few men in this world
who competent TO discharge those duties in such
manner. He has given Just consciousness OF pride and
superiority 10 every American IN having placed himself
and with himself his country in higher position in the
scientific world than she had occupied before he had
hibed himself and his discoveries 10 the world.
So. SIR, with regard to Mr. Dahlgren--a gentleman who
had this allowance BY an express vote Of the Senate; I;
that is by refusal OF the Senate to strike out the allow
ance inserted by the House Why should he have this
compensation taken from him And So SIR with regard
TO the gentleman charged with the supernendence OF the
Nautical Almanac. He is one OF the most gifted and
eclentnC men IN thie country or IN tnts world. why
should under this general idea OF breaking lance
against abuses strike of allowances OF this kind, which
are not abuses allowances made with the sanction
OF CongTess-allowances eminently useful and hon.
orabe country, and furnishing the only by
which can accomplish two objects OF great importance
the naval service, where promotion OF every kind is
exceedingly slow-furnshng to these gifted who
the navy, who nave high and distinguished powers
OF usefulness and eminence, opportunity Of exering
them for the honor and credit OF their country, and 10 fur
nlsb them with reasonable compensation therefor Sir
hope the Senate will not agree 10 the amendment.
Mf HALE MIR. President II the honorable senator
from North Carolina Mr. BADeKRl supposed that enter
taaed the remotes idea that could make any impression
upon his mind, induce him to 60 with in reforming
what believe 10 be(and what believe, II have not,
will demonstrate by documents IN my possesson)to be
great abuses, he exceedingly msunderstands me ! had
such vain hope.
fne undertakes TO illustrate the absurdity OF this
position by audng 10 former effort which made TO
rect former abuse He says that he believes that that
discussion ended in my great dscomftmen substance
that in the position which took everybody satisfied
that entirely wrong Now, sir, | do not know how
anybody felt after that discussion except the senator from
North Carolina Mr.. BkDeERl and myself | was salts
fed, sir, that had exposed to the Senate glaring
abuse. know did not satisfy the Secretary OF the
Navy know that the Senate did nothing to remove il
but knowing that the abuse had existed for years,
not asonshed 10 find that the Secretary OF the Navy
raising salaries upon lis simple motion from 500
to 80 900 per year, and that the Comptroller OF the Treas
ury was sancuonng H..
But sir, when the Secretary Of the Navy, n 10
communication addressed to him by the Senate gravely
tells the Senate that the authority upon which he pay
point you TO law, notwithstanding the constitution Gays
that money shall be drawn from the treasury except
by law-noiwithstandIng the provision OF the act OF
March 2, ls35-when called upon to point out bis au-