26 ADDRESS. 



did not anticipate any decisive action on the part of congress at 

 that time ; and the committee, willing to promote inquiry, and still 

 further interest the public mind, moved a special reference of the 

 whole matter to the Navy Department. In this proposition the 

 House concurred. 



During the interval' between the first and second sessions of the 

 twentieth congress, the subject of the expedition, and the objects 

 to be attained by it, were often discussed in the journals of the 

 day ; and it is worthy of remark, that not a single press through- 

 out the country raised its voice in opposition to the measure. 

 The commercial portion of our community, and especially those 

 immediately interested in the whale fishery, the fur trade, and the 

 traffic with the South Sea Islanders, came forward in favour of the 

 enterprise as one man. It will be seen hereafter what reason they 

 had to complain of the tardy action of congress. They had been 

 long subjected to losses, and exposed to dangers from which such 

 an expedition would have saved them, and their memorials were 

 accordingly strong in its favour. Other memorials proceeded 

 from the legislatures of New York, Maryland, Virginia, and North 

 Carolina ; and their character and number were such as to claim 

 from congress the most careful consideration of the subject. On 

 their reference to the committee on naval affairs, its chairman 

 addressed a letter to the secretary of the navy, requesting the 

 opinion of the department respecting the expedition, and a pro- 

 ject of a law authorising it. The answer of the secretary, the 

 consequent report of the committee, and the other papers pub- 

 lished during the session, contain a full exposition of the objects 

 of the proposed enterprise at that period.* 



The secretary, in his reply, says : 



" I entertain the opinion that such an expedition is expedient. 

 My reasons are briefly these : 



* Document No. 2.5.6.7.8. 



