Mr. MCDOUGALL. Mr. President, I had the opportunity to advocate this measure originally, and to represent it next to the then cghairman of the ost Office Committee, Mr. Collamer, who is not now among us. It has been a long time desired by the people of the commercial cities of the East and the for West to establish a communication, that should over come competition on the part of England and France, from our western coast to China and India. The original bill was framed with that purpose, and at the same time the Sandwich slands were embraced. The spectacle was then presented of legislation by persons who were not practical masters of the particular subject matter. I was not, nor was my colleague, Mr. Latham, who was then in the Senate with myself, when the measure was 1st introduced, practically acquainted with the subject. It turns out to be true that by the laws of the winds and the waves it is much more convenient and much more economical to go bya far northern line; thntisto take 2 turns. I One is the great circle which makes a shorter distance between the 2 extremes, as known to all persons who know anything about navigation; and then the currents of the Yellow and North Asiatic seas throwing themselves on our western coast, carry them down; and it makes a.much shorter trip from Victoria, the principal possession of England on our western continent, than it would be if we had to run by the SandwichIslands on the route to Hong oug or Shanghai. The object of this amendment is to enable our vesse s to run to Japan and China and the Indies and compete With the vessels of 2 European Powers that have alread been put upon the sea. The subsidy afforde is nothing in comparison to the interest engaged. I it should be true that a subsidy will be asked for to carry the mail from SanFrancisco to Honolulu, it would not be a bad pof We have got many lessons to learn yet. lize ought to learn lessons from the history of States where the science and art of government and public polipy are cultivated. I‘here would be no question about this if it were a measure before the British Parliament, because the economy and advantage of a direct line, so as to comete successfully with France, would establisii the conclusion itself, and the giving of $50,000 as a subsidy for a mail between SanFrancisco and Honolulu would be a more bags telle. We have (and I choose to say it now) lost much in being afraid to embark in enter prises in the wa of development and in the way of profit an in the way of trade. This enterprise is one in which the people of our whole country are interested. I it can be improved so as to outrival GreatBritain and France, it should be so improved. The meas uro as it is now proposed will enable us to out rival them on the Pacific ocean. There is the greatest field there is in the world for great enterprise. The wealth of China and the wealth of the Indies we have hardly touched. We have never commenced to command it. We are in a position to command the wealth of China aud the Indies, and all policies tendin thereto should be pursued'with carefulness an with earnestness; and this is one of them. Those persons who say now that they can better compete against opposition by abandoning this idea of touching at Honolulu are men of experience. The Chamber of Commerce of the city of SanFrancisco are men of eminent ability; and they and the Chamber of Commerce of NewYork and commercial men for it is a question of commerce to begin with know more about these thin 5 than men who are mere speculators in this hamber. My opinion is that it would be for the advantage of the country to release this company from this obligation; and when they are released from the obligation, then I or my colleague or some body else will ask for a communication with Honolulu.