278 PASSAGE OF 



with the merits of the measure in detail; others, because they 

 considered that the government had the power to keep a portion 

 of our vessels thus employed, without any special act on the part 

 of congress. It would be unjust, therefore, to put down, as opposed 

 to the expedition, all those who voted in the negative. 



In all legislative bodies, a great deal occurs which never becomes 

 matter of record. It was so in this instance. The bill, with amend- 

 ments from the senate, had been referred to the Committee on 

 Naval Affairs in the house. The sections providing for the expe- 

 dition, it will be seen, were so altered by that committee, as to 

 leave the whole matter to the discretion of the executive. The 

 friends of the measure adopted this modification, though much 

 opposed to it in form. They had no apprehensions of the object 

 being defeated, on account of its being left to the discretion of the 

 executive. They knew our interests required the expedition; and 

 that was a sufficient guaranty that it would be sent. 



It was late in the afternoon of the 4th of May, when the amend 

 ment was taken up. Considerable opposition was manifested. 

 The whole appropriation for the naval service was now suspended 

 on this item, and many public considerations required its passage 

 with the least possible delay. A delay of some ten days did occur. 

 It were easy to show, however, that the friends of the expedition 

 were not responsible. 



For the avowed object of expediting business, a motion was 

 now made to strike out the clause providing for the expedition. 

 Mr. Vinton, of Ohio, was the first to take the floor in opposition to 

 this motion. Messrs. Hamer, Storer, and others of the same dele- 

 gation, were on their feet at the same time, against the motion to 

 strike out, and in favour of the expedition. It was now apparent 

 that a full discussion was inevitable ; so- the house adjourned. 



Business connected with the District next came up as special 

 orders of the day, and occupied the house until the 9th of May, 

 when the subject of the expedition was again taken up. An 



