The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-23
TwENTY-NINTH CONGRESS,
First Session.
wEDsEsDAr, April ~, 1886.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
icoseLrpgD. ]

son, or their authorized agents. whenever they shall
demand the same; Provided, that the Secretary Sf
the Treasury shall in paying over said money as
herein directed deliver 10 said heirs all State bonds
or other stocks Of every kind which have been pur
chased with said money, or any part thereof, in
lieu Of so much off said money shall have been so
invested In State bonds or other stocks. And the
balance of ssd Of money, If any, not so invest
ed shall be paid out Of any money In the treasury
not otherwise appropriated"
Mr.. @. w. JONES said it was not his purpose
to make a speech on this occasion; but believing,
as he did, that this whole matter was wrong that
this government, in the first instance, had no right
and no power 10 accept Of this fund.- he was in
favor Of returning the amount of the money or of
the stocks in which thai money has been invested,
10 the heirs-si-aw OF nsxt Of kin Of the late MIR.
Smithson, whenever they shall make the demand
of the government He admitted the right Of the
government "to borrow money" under the eonsu-
tuition, but denied that Il bad any particle of power
TO deal in stocks or 10 loan money. We had no
power either 10 receive this money m the first in
stance, or 10 invest Il In State stocks and fund il as
thus bill proposed 10 do, IN perpotuity upon the gov
ernment He wanted To create no such debt upon
this goyernmedt. He was satisfied that his eonsti,-
uents deslred no such dsbt fandsd--no such burden
imposed upon them. OBJ ..a. ....r
But waving the objection Of the wan, of power
on the part Of the government, he was still opposed
10 the establishment Of institution like that pro-
posed in the bill under the direction and patronage
Of the government Of the United States He would
be the last man on this 6oor To say or do anything
this floor or elsewhere 10 ohstrnct the enlighten-
oughly satisfied Of the benefits Of education as any.
body, but he could not sanction the establishment
Of such an institution under the direction of the
government Of the United States Where might il
end What might such an institution come TO be
In the course OF eyentsI This S5l3,O was To be
funded at 8 per cent interest forever. Was there
friend of this measure; was there one who had re-
Elected for a moment on the proposition, who be-
lieyed that when once established they would stop
at the appropriation ofihs per cent interest annual
ly for lts support IL was, in his opinion, nothing
more than the entering wedge 10 fastening upon the
United States an insntoton the expenses and appro-
pristons for which would be augmented al almost
every session of Congress.
1t was neither the right, the power, or the true
policy OF tho government 10 attempt to up here
in the city Of Washington an institution for the ed
ucaton of school teachers ofagrculmral professors,
&c, 10 send out into the country. There was too
great tendency to Capitalization IN this government
already, in his opinion. The legitimate and appro-
PIRATE sphere OF this government was TO take care OF
oar concerns with foreign powers, leaving our do
meslio laws and regulations to be made by the State
legislatures. Every measure of this kind had the
tendency to make the people throughout the country
look more TO this great central power than To the
State governments.
He had not risen for the purpose Of making a
speech, but OF submitting few remarks in expla-
nadon Of his amendment t...
Mr.. SAWYER (Mr. j. giving way) said the
gentlemans proposition if he understood 1t Alright,
was To refund this money to the heirs Of Smithson.
Now he was well informed that Mr.. Smithson had
no heirs whatever. And if such was the fact be
wished to ask of the gentleman how his amendment
could be made operatiyeS
Mr.. JONES replied that certainly, If he never
had heirs il would be difficult to find them. But he
that, though he had children, he had
a brother, who was once in this country; and his
proposed TO refund this money to the
heirs or mart Of kin of James Smithson.
In conclusion, he remarked that, il his PROPOSE
ton failed, and this Smithsonian institution was to
be established he should then be in favor of hand
ing over the State Stocks which were purchased by
this money, to the managers Of the institution and of
letting them conduct il independently Of the govern
ment. And, voting for this proposition, all that
relating to the establishment of body polite and
corporate he should also wish to have stricken OUT,
Tor he would Vote for the establishment of no
poration by this government.
Mr. J. r. INGERSOLL expressed his favor for
The general features of the bill, hut before entering
upon the direct question, he directed few remarks
ID the amendment of Mr.. JONES, which he consider
I'd entirely futile, far any idea Of refundng the
money to heirs was concerned, inasmuch as it was
beyond doubt that Mr. Smithson had no
,eirs or next of kin. ~ He had had one son, who
lied during his minority; and thereupon this gov
srnment, the residuary legatee, came in posses
sion Of the property in legal form from the attorneys
n chancery of the executors of Mr.. Smithson, at
London. This amendment if carried out into
aw, therefore, would result in working forfeiture
Of the funds to the British government.
But Mr.. /. commended that, we had received 1t
BY solemn act of Congress- and retained it for eight
ong years, it was now binding the ground of
7. 1...- -. a.
ner designed by the testator HIMSELF and the fact
hat this fund had been invested by the treasurer
IF the United States, under direction Of Congress,
Arkansas stocks-did this question, in any respect
he government of the United States being always
esponsble for the restoration Of this fund.- and the
devotion of it to the proper objects' The fund was
sacred in the treasury Of the United States at this
moment, and they were pledged, every one of them,
o redeem it. . o.. ..taI -.a g. ......
And the true question now presented was, what
we're the intentions of the donor
Mr. l. here incidentally, in reference to an alluson
by Mr.. OWEN to the Grard fund, went into an ex-
plantation, at some length, of the circumstances and
restrictions of that legacy, the manner in which 1t
had been expended, &c, stating that the reason
why the school had not, this, partially, at least
zone into operation an unfortunate provlso
placed by Mr.. Grard in his will, that none OF the
orphans intended TO be benefited should be received
md educated until the entire FIVE buildings fully
Upon this point Mr.. l. yielded to Mr.. OWEN for
Ok PLANTATION. ,. 'ir, .tHalrl
Recurring to the position that the fact that this
fund might have been invested by the act of the
government itself in Arkansas stocks, principally,
and to small extent in the stocks Of Ohio, Illinois,
and Michigan, in no manner diminished its &C
for the amount Of its obligation to APP
propriate in accordance with the intention of Mr.
SmIthson. ... s,F da oH ......
Il Mr.. VINToN interposed and said, any portion
of il was invested in Ohio bonds, Of which he was
not before aware the interest on them would be
regularly paid. y.- wa 'y ...,
MIR. YELL also speaking for Arkansas) said
we are ready to settle at any time.
Mr.. INGERSOLL. | have no doubt of it.
Mr.. YELL lin reply to another remark of Mr.
IseERsoLL, not heard by the reporter Whenever
we can bring the treasury of the United States to
settlement then we will talk about 1t.
Mr.. INGERSOLL (resuming) said he concurred
in the general views Of Mr.. OWEN, especially as at
the conclusion of the bii there was section au-
thorizinq Congress make such changes as from
time TO Tune it might deem expedient.
There was one object which he thought the gentle,
man had overlooked He had properly provided
.a;,,, tho error of the (sirard will by providing