366 LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 



by a sloop-of-war to afford protection and to secure peaceful and 

 friendly relations with the inhabitants of the islands. 



" But the committee do not think it necessary to prescribe in 

 the law which may be passed either the dimensions or character 

 of the vessels, or the number and qualifications of the persons 

 who shall be employed; nor can they exhibit by precise esti- 

 mates the exact sum which shall be expended. These are mat- 

 ters which must, to some extent, be left to the discretion of the 

 executive, who will carry the will of Congress into execution." 



In this clear and explicit form did the subject come before the 

 executive, to whom a discretionary power was intentionally and 

 very properly granted. Had there been any doubt as to the in- 

 tent of the law, the report of the committee afforded an ample 

 interpretation. 



That report speaks of the smaller vessels for " exploration, and 

 a sloop-of-war as protection, and to secure peaceful and friendly 

 relations with the inhabitants of the islands" but you contend, 

 indeed, I have heard you avow, that you would not look at the re- 

 ports or to memorials as setting forth the intentions of Congress 

 and the objects of the expedition. 



You sometimes, however, do things which you have previously 

 declared you would not do. For the purposes of protection the 

 president had authority to order a frigate on what service he chose, 

 without the sanction of this bill. Will you, or " A Friend to the 

 Navy," have the goodness to put into print the statement, that the 

 president, when he gave directions for the Macedonian to be pre- 

 pared for the expedition, did so with the view that she should 

 only go near the South Pole, and that the protection and security of 

 our commercial interests in the Pacific had nothing to do with 

 his decision. No boxing the compass, " Mr. Friend to the Navy ;'* 

 come to the point at once. 



"But," says " A Friend to the Navy," "it is idle to suppose that 

 the plan of five vessels originated with him" (the late president) ; 

 " he, in fact, wanted no greater force than would meet the just 

 views of Congress and the expectations of the public." Very 

 true, most wise and learned judge ; and I should like to be informed 

 who ever desired a greater force than would " meet the just views 

 of Congress and the expectations of the public ?" Here I make 

 another point, and ask for an explicit answer. 



