The New York herald., 1845-01-10
TWENTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS-.
SECOND SESSION.
In Senate.
NY wv

In Senate.
WASH SGToN, Wednesday, Jan. 8.
The CHAIR laid before the Senate communca-
lion furnishing the contingent expenses of the 4th
Auditors Office in the Military Department.
Mr.. JoHNsoN presented petition from citizens
Of Point Ascension, IN the State Of Louisiana,
complaining OF certain grants Of patents to lands OF
the Houmah tract, from which some two or three
Mr.. johnson moved a resolution that the Judiciary
Committee inquire into the re remonstrance OF the
citizens IN the premises, against the grants OF pa
tents issued to said lands by the Secretary Of the
Treasury. Resolution lies over
Mr.. STURGEON presented petition praying the
action of Congress in behalf OF Oregon. Various
other petitions were presented.
The bill for Southern Judicial District in Ala
bama was passed
FOREIGN MAILS, &c.
Mr. MERRICK introduced bill to provide for the
transportation OF the mails between the United
States and foreign countries
Also, Joint resolution to regulate the contracts
to TRANSPORT the mails over the railroads In the
United States.
The resolution requiring the Secretary Of the
Treasury to inquire into the expense, &c, of u.
s. Court House at Mobile, was passed.
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
| Pursuant to appointment, the Senate took up the
bill reported BY Mr. Tappan, providing TOR the es-
crease and diffusion OF knowledge among men.
Mr.. CHoArE offered to amend as follows: strike
out the eighth section of the bill and insert the fol-
/ lowing III lieu tuSIcU -
SEC And whereas, ample and well selected libra
ry constitutes of the permanent. constant and effect
ual means Of increasing and dfusing knowledge among
Be It further enacted, That sum Of not less than
be annually expended Of the interest Of the fund
aforesaid In the purchase Of books and manuscript for
the formation of library for the in titution aforesaid
which, for its extent variety and value shall be worthy
Of the doner of the said fund.- and of this nation and Of
| the age.
Mr. CHoATE made glowing, rich, poetical, clas-
scal, and truly eloquent address to the Senate in
| behalf of this amendment. Common honesty,
national honor, good faith, every principle of honor
| and common justice called upon us to act upon
this interesting subject Immediately. He thanked
the Senator from Ohio for introducing the bill In
| the first provision that Senator had properly con-
| sidered furnishing means from the Treasury for
srouuds, building lots, and the edfces necessary,
should be. Mr.. Choate then stated his objections
to the plan OF the institution proper devoting il
to professors of science and their lectures almost
| exclusively. The nexpe diences of the plan were
also forciby portrayed, and the action OF Congress
heretofore had shown that this was not the most
| feasible, the most practicable or practical PLAN
| No, sir; q higher, more ennobling, more prac-
tica institution than either college for lectures or
ordinary colleges, is desired, and ought be erec-
ted We shall want something upon the antiqui-
ties of South Notwithstanding of the philoso-
| ply Of history-somethlng of ethics something
OF the progress Of the principles of freedom in the
human understanding of the higher lteratures
of the present and the past From this point Mr..
| G. was borne away upon the current of beauti-
| full description of the libraries Of the old world
| and their advantages in the diffusion OF learning
| among men.
| Mr. TAPPAN defended the bill, including the Pro-
| fessors of Chemistry, Natural History, Architec-
| ture, and Mineraogy, and their lectures.
Mr. WOODBURY. appealed Tor compromise be-
tween the Library and the Lectures, and with this
| view suggested, recommtment of the bill.
The bill was laid aside till tomorrow, and the
| Senate adjourned