The New York herald., 1845-01-23
The continuation of the Cumberland or National
Road, as foows:-
Through the State of Ohio. :. 100000
Through the State OF Indiana. 10000
Through the State Of Illinois,. 100000
.$AOO,OOO

1.-The approximations 10 Ohio and Indiana TO be
applied to the completion OF M'Adamlzlna ana In
Illinois TO the grading and bridglng-ths portion OF
the work being completed in Ohio, and perhaps at
this time, finished through Indiana The road to
be surrendered as finished to the States aforesaid
through which il passes. As far as completed, the
Cumberland is one OF the best and most beautiful
on the face OF the globe. No work OF internal
Improvement has been OF such immeasurable ad-
vantage TO the Union this. Il is destined to
pierce the Rocky mountains-the valley OF the
Oregon-and to haul up at mile stone 3,777, on the
coast of the Pacific
The passage OF the bill was suspended for to-day
on account of the tbnness Of the Senate
The bill for paying to the State of Massachusetts,
an ascertained balance, (S227 l7S 46) for militia
services in the last war, being upon Its passage
Mr. HANNEaAN called for the ayes and noes, and
they were ordered. when, at the instance OF
Mr.. Bates. the bill was passed by informally, for
q more favorable day.
The bill prescribing and limiting the pay of pen.
sion agents, not TO exceed 2 per cent. commission,
or 81, 900 per annum, Gas uuderstood,) was passed
Also, the bill for the relief of VIM. E. Easton the
bill for the relief of Horace Smith-concurrence
of the House required
OLD coPPHR.
Mr.. FAIRFIELD submitted a resolution for surren-
derlng to the House of Representatives the old
plates used in the engravings for the Senate.
Mr. HUaTINaToN opposed the surrender
Mr. FAIRFIELD contended for It on the principle
of economy. The engravings tor the Senate for
two years past had cost the enormous sum Of $780,
600 The House often reprinted the same maps.
The use OF the Senate plates would save the ex-
the resolution was postponed.
THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE.
On motion OF Mr.. TAPPAN, the Senate resumed
the consideration of the bill providing for the dis
position of the late Mr. SmlthsOn's bequest OF
S5OS SlS according the will of the donor-in the
establishment of a National lnstitution at Wash
ington for the increase and diffusion OF knowledge
The bill was read through in detail. when, on
motion OF Mr.. Tappan, several verbal amendments
were made
Mr.. CHoATR at length defined his objections to
the corporate authorities as constituted for the con-
troll OF the institution in the amendments proposed
by Mr.. Woodbury., which propose to identify the
Board of Managers of the National Institute Gn
existence tor several years past) with the Board OF
Control of the Smithsonian Institution.
Mr.. Woodbury. at length replied in support of
the amendments.
Mr. BUCHANAN said that he understood this fund
to be brquest for the diffusion of knowledge
among men. In his opinion, the best mode OF do
ing this was through a Library-he knew Of no
and other circumstances, would prevent the ac-
ceptance OF the advantages OF an academical in
stitution except by few who could afford the
means For the benefit of American literature
wanted large National Library. The library
his plan- and library disconnected from any
other corporation HIS friend from New Hamp
tional Institute and the Smithsonian Library. To
this junction he was opposed Keep the library
cear-clear of any other literary institution what.
ever.
Mr. ALLEN declaimed with much energy and
earpestness against this corporation proposed to
be consolidated with the National Institute. H.
recied the history of this institute from its origin,
by the voluntary association OF a few men, to III
INCORPORATION by Congress, and the later grants ot
money for its subsistence, IN the preservation of
its collection OF curosties IN the Patent Office, as
slowly but surely evolving that moral OF corpora.
tons, that, wherever they can, they will fasten
themselves upon the public treasury Mr.. A ar
gued that the reception of the Smithsonian fund
contrary to the spirit OF the constitution. But,
said he, have got the money-it is in the trea-
sury, or ought to be-, (yes. but from the last &C
counts it was invested in Arkansas bonds, which
are at a heavy dlscount,) and the honorable Sena-
tor proceeded to show that the National Institute
leoked, in iIs formation, to the absorbing OF the
Smithsonian fund Mr. Allen was opposed to the
of the "National'' Institute Everybody could
see through this ssnationality"-ii was trick,
adopted even by the eatlng-houses, tor there was
an eating house down town called the National
Eating House" (Laughter.) He protested against
the further countenancc by the government OF these
"natlonar' corporations The object of their IN
sttution to fasten their fangs upon the govern
ment, The general design of the bill was also OPP
posed by Mr.. Allen. 1t was not the constitutional
province of Congress to direct the mind of the
legitimate business Of the National Legislature TO
manage and direct the literature of the countIy,
but to discharge the political duties assigned them
Mr. WALKER defended the National Institute
against the denunciatons of the honorable Senator
from Ohio. The National Institute had no de.
sign up0n the Smithsonian tunQ. Inc society mao
been formed long before the said fund received
The Institute originated with distinguished men,
Der of Mr.. Van Burens cabinet, O.. r. Poinsett,
we believe,) and Mr. Van Buren himself had given
his countenance to the Institute, many presents
from him to Its cabinet would attest. The National
Institute was democratic institution and so was
the new institution here proposed-the President
visers, being its Beard Of Managers
Mr. FosrsR proposed an amendment, changing
the term Of time respectively Of the Board Of Con.
xrNl frll hat Ia raA K.rxl IL
r H. Wilde, Of La, George Tucker, Of Va; Gen.
Bancroft, OF Mass; Henry King, of Mo-, and Jo-
seeh &. Totten, and A; Oadus Bache, the two las,
being members of the National Institute aud resi-.
dents in the city OF Washington, be the seven
members to be appointed by Congress, and thai
their terms shall expire in succession annually, one
each year for seven years, instead of the annua
appointment of the whole number
Mr.. HUNTINGTON opposed the amendment of Mr.
Woodbury.. He (Mr. H.) wished to see thi.
Smithsonian institution entirely under the con.ro
of the Government, independent of all Corporations
The amendment OF Mr.. Woodbury. was dlsap
proved
Mr.. Foster spoke next in eucidation of his pro
position for the appointment OF the Board of Ma
nagemcnt; the amendment being now fairly be-
fore the Senate, it was briefly debated, and ther
rejected.
further action upon the bill for the present wal
suspended
THE OBNOXIOUS EXPRESS.
Mr.. JARNIeAr said that, as one OF the Post Office
Committee. he held in his hand the answer of the
Postmaster general to the inquiry of the Senate
respecting the steps necessary the suppression
the private express arrangement between New
York and New Orleans. He moved it's printing
with l500 extra copies M. Sewer moved tha
the motion for the extra copies be referred to the
Committee on Printing, which was agreed to.
From cursory examination OF the Postmaster
communication IN this matter, we find il to con
slst Of several letters of correspondence and an
elaborate paper from Mr. Wickhffe descriptive o
the route and ARRANGEMENTS of the express, and o.
the contingency in which ii goes through fortv
eight hours In advance of the mail, with a review
oil the embarrassment that would attend an oper
competition on the part OF the department, tron
the impossibility of It's sustaining such competi
ton unless at exorbant charges for transportation
OF letters, &c.-concludlng with a suggestion ,ha
increased penalties tor sach infractIons upon the