Mr. FESSENDEN. I will say just one word; I do not wish to make an argument on this Testion, for I suppose it is very well under stood. The Senfrom Missouri seems to lecture me. I do not know but that I ought to be lee tured, because I have occasion to lecture so many other people. [Laughter] I am willing to take my chance in that direction. I believe that on the proposition of the Senfrom Massachusetts [Mr. WILSoN] I did for the 1st time vote for an increase of the rates fixed by the committee. I did so because I thought they were not right, and I explained why they were not right, and because I thought it very hard that for ten days I should be compelled to sit here and vote for all the propositions which had been settled by the committee, in some cases against my vote, while other members of the committee exercised the right to vary from the report as they saw fit, though as a general rule they have stood by Iit; thought it very hard if after the work, I did upon iIt might not be indulged in one thing. In regard to what I said to my friendfrom Ohio [Mr. SHERMAN] last night, I will now admit that I spoke to him rather in a pet at the time, because I was a little annoyed; but I concede his right to do what he did. When a man has been obliged to sit here ten days on a stretch attending to a bill like this, as I have been, without a single moment's cessation, and obliged to meet all comers, it is not very won derful that I should feel sometimes worried and annoyed. I should like to have others try it and see how they like it. But enough of that. I do not feel disposed to say any more on that subject. I have simply given an excuse for myself. In regard to this particular thing, I put in steamers as well as sailing vessels: I had an amendment made to that effect. I thought I was authorized by the committee to offer it; but my friendfrom Ohio thought I was not, at any rate so far as he was concerned; and to settle the question I moved to strike out the words “or steam.” from the section, stating at the time that I should vote myself to retain those words, my object in making the motion being merely to bring the question before the Senate. My friendfrom Ohio, who is from the West, explained the reasons why he thought it would not do to apply the section to steamers, and so satisfactorily to gentlemen that a large majority of the Senate voted to strike out those words against my vote and my opinion. I think that is a sufficient answer in relation to that point. With regard to the thing itself, I can only say that after a great deal of deliberation, for several days at times, thinking it all over and looking upon it in every light, the committee were unanimous in agreeing that it ought to be done, because they thought, as the honorable Senfrom Maryland has exPressed it, that a commercial marine was of some consequence to the country; that it was of some consequence to the country to Preserve the sea going men; that it was of consequence to the country to Preserve the part of ship building to some extent, which has given us so much renown. The committee thought this was a great national interest, as much so as a factory or anything else, it being commerce, or rather navigation, a branch of commerce; and this seemed to be the only way in which navigation in its now declining condition could be protected. We are particularly interested in my section of the country, because we live right alongside the British Provinces, where they build vessels at half of the rate we can; and so far as my State is concerned it is about the only thing in this bill in which it has any very considerable interest, and there are many other sections of the country that have also a large interest in it. I have stated the reason why it was put in, after careful deliberation, as I said before, by the unanimous consent of the committee, and I hope it will be retained by the Senate.