28 ADDRESS. 



committee felt themselves called upon to give it a more careful 

 consideration than had been bestowed upon it during the session 

 preceding, and their report will show that they coincided fully in 

 the opinion expressed by the Department. 



Indeed, their report was drawn* up with much labour, and was 

 characterized by patient and extensive research ; yet, great as the 

 amount of our commerce in the Southern Ocean was shown to be, 

 and important as were the interests requiring protection at that 

 time, subsequent inquiry has proved that they fell far, very far 

 short of the truth. The report was placed on the list of business 

 to be acted upon ; but, with many other important matters, at the 

 close of a hurried and excited session, could not be finally dis- 

 posed of. As the session was drawing rapidly to a close, it 

 oecame evident that the action of congress could not be had on 

 the bill; and it was at this time, 21st May, that the following 

 resolutions were drawn up, and being accepted by the committee 

 on naval affairs as a substitute for the bill, passed the House 

 almost unanimously but a few days before the close of the 

 session : 



"Resolved, That it is expedient that one of our small public 

 vessels be sent to the Pacific ocean and South seas, to examine 

 the coasts, islands, harbours, shoals, and reefs, in those seas, and 

 to ascertain their true situation and description. 



"Resolved, That the President of the United States be re- 

 quested to send one of our small public vessels into those seas 

 for that purpose, and that he be requested to afford such facilities 

 as may be within the reach of the Navy Department, to attain the 

 objects proposed; provided it can be done without prejudice to 

 the general interest of the naval service ; and provided it may be 

 done without further appropriations during the present year." 



Thus terminated the action of the House upon the subject of 

 the expedition. The specific character of the resolutions, viewed 

 in connection with the numerous memorials expressing the senti- 



