Mr. SUMNER. It is therefore to be taken separately by itself, on its own merits. I have had the advantage of cursorily examining the very able and interesting report made by admiral Davis on this line. It is very learned and instructive, and develops the importance of this line to the commerce of the U.S. I need not remind you that California is necessarily interested in this line, because this is the highway by which we reach that distant part of our own country; and I call the attention of the Senfrom Ohio to that precise point. This is to increase and extend the I facilities of communication with a part of our | own country. It is true that unhap ily we are ‘, obliged to go outside of our own Borders in.‘ order to do this work, but I do not know that it becomes on that account any the less important. If the Senate will reflect upon it a moment they will see not only its tactical value but also its grandeur in a historical aspect. From the time of Charles V one of the aspirations of Spain, and indeed of all adventurers and navigators in these seas, has been to find what in that early time was called a gate through I which they could pass through that isthmus into the other ocean. The proposition now is, not to find, but to make a gate by which we can pass from one ocean to the other. I stated that it had a historic grandeur; it also has a motion] value from the relations with the di 'crent parts of our own country. But, sir, I am admonished by the pressure of business that I ought not to occupy the time of the Senate. I content myself, therefore, with one additional remark. The proposition before you, as I understand, is simply to provide for the surveys. We do not venture beyond that. There is no appropriation for the work. We do not bind ourselves to the work. Here is an appropriation for surveys which, whether regards in a practical or in a scientific or a historic light, will be of very great value. I, sir shall gladly vote for it. The question being taken by ens&nays, resulted yeas 22, nays 13; So