Mr. CONNESS. The Senator told us at the close of his remarks that the only possible consideration which permitted him to look with any favor upon the establishment of this line in 1865was the stoppage at the SandwichIslands. Then the argument that the Senator has made was certainly to have been expected. The fact that all the nations of the wrld that have been from time to time enabled to control the trade of the East Indies have enriched themselves in proportion to that control, had escaped the iionorable Senator’s attention; and the attempt in modern times to grasp that and control it for American commerce had not secured the honorable Senator’s attention. I am very sorry that is the case, and to hear hiui tell us that it is so. It is too often the case that those of us who live near the sea and go down to it in big ships are left without the protecting care and aid of gentlemen situated like the honorable Senator. iit the honorable Senator has much contact with the sea in the high position that he occupies in this body as chairman of the ComNavAffrs, and that brings him in contact with the commanders of‘our ships; and with one voice, he tells us, they are opposed to this release. I do not wish to question what the honorable Senator has said; but I do not think that many of themhave spoken. A very eminentmember of that profession has spoken; I mean Rear Admiral avis, who occupies a ver high position indeed in that connection; an he tel s us the very contrary of what the honorable Senator has told us that he has obtained from commanders of naval vessels. Here is what he says on the subject of routes and on the subject of stopping at the SandwichIslands, the question being referred to him. He says the idea of stopping on the return voyage is out of the question, meaning the return voyage from China and Japan to SanFrancisco; that what is called the rent circle route must be taken; and I have ere a map that will explain it fully, if gentlemen see fit to examine it; that the northern or great circle route must be taken; that on the outward trip from SanFrancisco what is known as the rhumb line must be taken; and that to go to the SandwichIslands is to diverge largely from the best and shortest route. The PostMGenl, in his communication to the commit tee, says: “As to the 2ndproposition. that relating to the outward voyages.I again quotefrom the communi ca"TTon of Admirul Davis. as follows: The questionwhetherthePacific Mail Steamship Companys Vessels can, with a proper regard to their business and to the economyof time and means. make the SandwichIslands an intermediate stop‘ plug place, is really definitely settled by what has alre y beensmd.’"