MR. H A M E R. 291 



had acted a prominent part with regard to this subject. He 

 alluded to J. N. Reynolds, Esq., who, at the request of the Com- 

 mittee on Commerce, and by permission of this house, had deliv- 

 ered an able and eloquent address here, some weeks ago, in favour 

 of the expedition. He did not believe the gentleman from Ken- 

 tucky had heard the address. If he had, most, if not all, of his 

 prejudices and objections would have been removed. Mr. H. said 

 he had known Mr. Reynolds from his boyhood, and knew him 

 well. He came from his neighbourhood in Ohio, where he was 

 educated and studied the law. He was a man of as pure princi- 

 ples and fair character as any man upon that floor. His efforts in 

 this cause had been wholly free from any selfish considerations ; 

 and in all he had done for the last seven or eight years to promote 

 it, he had been actuated by those feelings of patriotism that should 

 animate every American heart. He had no doubt, if the expedition 

 were authorized, that Mr. Reynolds would be employed to accom- 

 pany it; for he possessed more information with regard to those seas, 

 and was every way better calculated to make the expedition what 

 it ought to be, than any man within the circle of his acquaintance, 

 He was in possession of all the facts which had been collected in 

 reference to that portion of the globe which was to be examined 

 and explored, and he possessed the entire confidence of all who 

 knew him. His writings had attracted the attention of men of 

 letters, and literary societies and institutions had conferred upon 

 him some of the highest honours they had to bestow. Still this 

 gentleman, who was an honour to Ohio and to our whole country, 

 might not accompany the expedition. But that fact would have 

 no influence upon his course, Mr. H. was authorized to say, that 

 his zeal for the success of the measure, and for the interest of the 

 expedition, would continue unabated ; and whatever he could do to 

 insure its prosperous termination, would ' - ;J- erfully performed. 

 Thus much he felt himself bound to say in defence of his friend ; 

 who, although the gentleman did not mean to assail him, might 



