126 LESTER BURRELL SHIPPEE quented by commercial navigators, said he, that region had been "barely touched by our public ships," although the prin- cipal river had been discovered and named by an American; consequently, "with the establishment of a military post there, or at some other point on that coast, recommended by my pre- decessor, I would suggest the expediency of connecting the equipment of a public vessel for the exploration of the whole Northwest coast of this continent." This portion of the mes- sage drew from Baylies of Massachusetts a resolution inquir- ing into the expediency and cost of sending the Boston to ex- plore the Pacific Coast of North America from 42 to 49, "and also (inquiring) whether it would be practicable to trans- mit more cannon and more of the munitions of war in such vessel, than would be necessary for the use of the vessel." 30 After an unsuccessful attempt by Sawyer (North Carolina) to widen the scope of the proposed exploration, by directing the Boston to try to find the Northeast Passage to Hudson's Bay, the resolution was adopted by the House. Sawyer also at- tempted and failed to secure a resolution authorizing an over- land expedition to the Pacific, along the forty-ninth degree, thence down the coast to the forty-second degree and then along the Spanish boundary to the Mississippi, "or any other more eligible route across our unexplored territory to any place on that or the Ohio River ; with a view to geological and other examination which might be considered useful or inter- esting." Further exploratory zeal was manifested in Trim- ble's call for Jefferson's confidential message of January, 1803, in which was recommended an expedition into the Northwest, a document which was transmitted, though still under the "veil of confidence." The most interesting episode in the Oregon narrative which occurred in this Congress was the report of Baylies' select committee, to which had] been referred the portion of the Pres- 30 Debates, II, 813-5. Sawyer's modified resolution, Ibid., 819-21. The Sen- ate took no official notice of the President's recommendations, although Benton personally "professed to be much pleased with the plan." Memoirs of J. Q. Adams VII, 75.
