COMMERCE. 249 



respectful consideration, is small, when compared with other and 

 similar memorials, introduced during the same session, from tne 

 legislatures of Pennsylvania, Ohio, &c. 



These memorials having been referred to the committee on 

 naval affairs, on the 3d of March, 1828, a letter was addressed, 

 by order of the committee, to the honourable Samuel L. Southard, 

 secretary of the navy, asking his "opinion respecting such an 

 expedition, and briefly his reasons for it." 



To this inquiry the secretary replied : 



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

 My reasons are briefly these : 



" That we have an immense and increasing commerce in that 

 region, which needs the protecting kindness of the government, 

 and may be greatly extended by such an expedition. Of the 

 extent and nature of this commerce, it is not easy to write 

 briefly; nor is it necessary. It is better known to none than 

 to some of the members of the naval committee in the house 

 of representatives. The estimate of its value has been much 

 augmented, in the view of the department, by the reports which 

 have been made, under its orders, by our naval officers who 

 have commanded vessels of war in the Pacific, and which are 

 now on file. 



" The commercial operations carried on in that quarter are diffi- 

 cult and hazardous : they are correctly represented in the memo- 

 rial of the inhabitants of Nantucket, to which I would refer, as 

 well as to some of the many other memorials which have been 

 addressed to Congress on this subject. It would seem wise in 

 the government to render these commercial operations less hazard- 

 ous, and less destructive of life and property, if it can be done by 

 a moderate expenditure of money. 



" The commerce in the Pacific ocean affords one of the best 



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