The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-23
THE DAILY UNION
HOUSE OF REPREsENTATIvEs.

/ HOUSE OF REPRESENTATION.
The journal Of yesterday was read ard approved.
| - THE SMITHSONIAN MsrIrUTios. ~
Mr.. BOYD offered a resolution providing that all
debate on this bill should cease IN one hour and
half after should again be taken up In committee,
unless sooner disposed Of and that the committee
should then proceed to vote on amendments pend
| ing, or 10 be offered.
! Mr.. j, X. INGERSOLL moved to amend the
resolution by striking out zone hour and half after
Il shall again have been taken up in committee, " and
inserting "2 O'clock"
| Mr. GRAHAM moved that the resolution and
amendment be laid on abe table
And the question having been taken, and decided
in the affirmative, the resolution and amendment
were laid on the table.
the sMITHsoSIAS INSTITUTION.
The SPEAKER announced the unfinished BUSH
ness be the special order Of yesterday the bill to
establish the Smithsonian institution for the increase
and diffusion of knowledge among men.
On motion Of Mr.. OWEN, the House resolved
itself into Commitlee OF the Whole the state of
the Union, (Mr. Burr, Of South Carolina, IN the
chair,) and resumed the consideration of the said
| bill.
| Mr.. MARsH was entitled to the floor.
| THE NOTICE.
| Mr.. c. J. INGERSOLL, one of the managers
of the joint committee of conference the part Of
|
houses in relation TO the joint resolution Of notice
had entered the hall Gd interim, and motion was
made by
| Mr. PRICE, that the committee rise to receive the
report OF the committee.
| After brief conversation on a point Of fact,
| Mr. MARSH yielded the floor to
Mr. C. J. INGERSoLL, who was understood by
the reporter to say do not wish, Mr.. Chairman,
that the committee should rise, but | will, il the
committee please, make brief explanation here.
| The joint committee of conference have unani.
mously agreed upon report. IL seems to be matter
at least questionable, IL not certain, inasmuch "a
the papers are with the Senate, that il not in
der to report here until report shall have been
made in that body, and sent TO US. Therefore, al
the last meeting Of the committee, few minutes
ago il was understood between US, and consider
| m yseli bound by that understanding that our re-
port should not be made until we shall have heard
from the Senate do not, therefore, see any neces-
sity for the committee to rise until few moments
after we shall have received a message from that
| body.
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
| The committee resumed the conside ration Of the
bill to establish the Smithsonian institution for the
increase and diffusion of knowledge among men.
MIR. MARSH addressed the committee in favor o.
action the subject, urging the necessity Of deliy
erng the nation from the reproach Of unaithfulnesf
TO the solemn trust reposed in II by the testator
He was understood to say that whatever plan waf
adopted, must, of necessity, be one Of compromise
| and that though he would have preferred the plan
as originally designed, yet he should cheerfuly &C
cede to it as proposed TO be modified. And he
would vote for the bill under the hope that it would
be so modified hereafter 10 be more fitting rep
resentative Of the object OF the donor.
| Mr.. MORSE said he desired to submit few OBJ
seryations in relation TO the disposition Of this fund
Expressing the pleasure which he had derived
from the argument Of the learned and eloquent gen.
teman, Mr.. MARsH, who had just taken his seat
The (Mr MoRsE) was still of opinion that If any
thing could be drawn from the character OF the tes-
tator, from his habits and pursuits to the d.
rection which he desired his bequest should take, il
was Of much more practical nature than that con-
templated either by the gentleman from Vermont,
tMr. MARSH, or by the originators Of the bill be
fore the House. Mr.. Smithson was a practical
man; and although endowed with the highest learn.
ing he yet condescended to devote his time to sub
iect Of the most domestic and homey chara-
ter. If his intention had been to establish
a university, or magnificent library, and
thus to have his name transmitted to posterity
il would have been easy for him to have said so
and nothing would have been left to this country
but to carry out his enlightened and liberal inten
tons. But he had, no doubt, studied the peculiar
character of the American people, and discovered
that whilst they entertained proper respect for the
learning and genius Of the German universities, OF
the sciences taught in the universities of Europe
and practical knowledge of that people which COM
ported with his notions; and he desired that this
money should be devoted to some plan of diffusing
practical and useful knowledge amongst them.
| Mr.. M referring 10 some portions Of the argument
Of Mr.. MARSH inquired what there was in the
learning and science OF Europe comparable to the
discovery of the steam engine by an American, OF
of the cottongin, Of the magnetic telegraph Al
our inventions had tendency to improve the con.
dton of the human race, and particularly Of the
| common people; and it was no doubt under Just
and proper appreciation of that character that the
testator left this money, to be applied to such OBJ
ects. Did he intend to establish university No
Did he intend to establish magnificent library
| No. He knew that the world was full of musty
compilations, Of the productions of learned authors,
to be wondered at more for their extent than for
their usefulness. He (Mr M was not among the
number Of those who wished to deprecate the learn
ing treasured up for ages past by the book-makers
and book-colectors of all nations, but he proposed
TO offer to the consideration of the committee sub
stitute which, he thought would remove some OF
the constitutional objections raised against the bill
and which would, in his judgment, meet the nen-
ton of the donor.
/ He did not wish, however, to interfere with the
progress Of this bill. He concurred in the opinion
which had been expressed, that it was crime, q
burning sin, that this nation should have held this
money for ten years, in violation Of a solemn trust
and in violation Of the solemn obligations imposed
oath to support the constitution and to act n the
best interests Of the people. 1t in violation Of
that spirit which ought to aetuate the American
nation, to be the recipient of this munfcent sum
and yet to suffer the peope-the masses, the Of
|poiio (the reporter has no Greek characters to ex
press this term) to be so long deprived of any ben
eft from it. But if there strength enough in the
House to pass the bill, he had no particular pride
in taking another course. He should, therefore
submit his proposition at the proper time, leaving
the committee to act upon 1t as it night think
proper.
The substitute of which Mr.. M. gave notice is in
the following words:
BILL TO establish the Smithsonian institution for the IN
crease and diffusion Of know ledge among men,"
Whereas James smithson esquire OF London in the king
dom Of Great Britain, by his last will and testament dc
give the whole OF his property to the United States
America to found at Washington under the name OF thu
Smithsonian institution, establishment for the increase
and diffusion OF knowledge among men; and whereas
the creation Of university academy, college Is abl,
to constitutional difficulties sectional jealouses, ant
would absorb large proportion Of the funds in the
ton Of buildings and would less interfere with
the numerous institutions throug hout country;