Mr. CONNESS. The honorable Senfrom Maine is right in saying that some service was performed in behalf of this company by the Government under the arrangement to which he refers, but it was of rather a tempo rary or reliminary character. It wilfbe remembered that a discretion was given by the original law passed in 1864 to the SecyNavy to furnish a ship, but, as stated by the honorable Senfrom Massachusetts, our national ships were then fully engaged, and the Pacific squadron at that time was so reduced that no vessel of any considerable proportions could be spared. The brig Fauntleroy, an old vessel connected with l the coast survey, was at 1st set apart by the Navy Dept for that service; but considerin the latitude in which the services were require to be performed, and the condition of that vessel, it was concluded that she was entirely untitted to perform any service whatever. Then the Navy Dept and the Treasury Dept made an arrangement by which the small revenue cutter Shubrick was transferred to this comp iny for the purpose of a preliminary survey of a part of t ie route; and in the mean time naval ships in the pert. of SanFranciseo were transferred temporarily to the revenue Dept of the Treasury for revenue service. But. the Shabrick is a steam revenuc cutter of the smallest class; the service that she performed was of a very temporary and preliminary character, as I have said. It is now asked by this company, and I think with great propriety, that a national vessel shall be luruis ied, in accordance with the discretion originall conferred upon the Navy Dept. will say here, for the information of the Senfrom Ohio, that the SecyNavy did not feel that the law was sufficiently mandatory upon him to order one of the leading ships of the Pacific squadron into this service; and he seeks that this authority shall be given and mode mandatory upou him, so that he will, in doing it, be performing his duty under provisions of law rather than doing an act discretionary with him which involves the Government in some expenditure of public moneys. He is not averse, and the Navy Dept never have been, to facilitating the purposes of this company, but, on the contrary. are in favor of doing it, and wish the authority of Congress to engage in the performance of this service. Then the statement made by the honorable Senfrom Maine is correct, as I have stated, in detail; and it is now further necessary that a ship of the Government shall be placed along side of a vesselofwar furnished by the Russian Government, as stated by the Senfrom Massachusetts, to engage in the completion of the surveys. The company have so advanced and progressed with all their movements as to make this the opportune time for seeking this additional aid from the Government; and under the restriction proposed in the JtResolution, I think it should be given, and hope that the resolution will pass as amended.