The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-08-15


tary of the Treasury the Secretary of War the Sec
rotary of the Navy, the Postmaster General, The
Attorney General the Chief Justice, and the Com
missioner of the Patent Office Of the UnlIed States,
and the Mayor Of the city Of Washington, during
the time for which they shall hold their respective
Offices, and such other persons as they may elect
honorary members, be, and they are hereby con-
stltuted, an establishment" by the name Of the
Smithsonian Institute" for the increase and difu-
sion Of Knowledge among meni ard by that name
shall be known and have perpetual succession, with
the powers, limitations, and restrictions hereinafter
contained and no other
| SEC. g. find be IL further enacted, That so much
Of the property of the said James Smithson US has
been received in money, and paid into the treasury
OF the United States, being the sum OF five hundred
and fifteen thousand hundred and sxty-nine
dollars, be lent to the United States treasury at six
per cent. per annum interest from the first day OF
September, in the year one thousand eight hundred
and thlrty-eght, when the same received into
the SAID treasury and that much Of the interest
as may have accrued on the said sum on the first
day OF July next, which will amount to the sum Of
TWO hundred and forty-two thousand one hundred
ana twenty-nine dollars much thereof as shall
by the board ofregents of the institution established
oy this act be deemed necessary, be- and the same
Is hereby, appropriated for the erection OF suitable
buildings, and for other current incidental expenses
OF the said institutions and that six per cent interest
the said trust fund 1t being the said amount of five
"ShNith HlAtcn luOusuHu one uuuuftu ullu blA-
y-nine dollars received into the United States treas
ury on the FIRST Of September, one thousand eight
hundred and thirty-eght payable, in half-yearly
payments, on the first Of January and July in each
year, lie, and the same is hereby, appropriated for
the perpetual maintenance and support Of said nstI-
ttuoni and all expenditures and appropriations TO
be made, from time TO time, to the purposes of the
institution aforesaid, shall be exclusively from the
accruing interest," and from the principal Of the
said fund. .4ndbs il further enacted, That all the
moneys and stocks which have been, or may here
after be, received into the treasury Of the United
States on account Of the fund bequeathed by James
Smithson, be, and the same hereby are pledged to
refund 10 the treasury Of the United States the sums
! hereby appropriated.
SIC. 3. find be Il further enacted That the bust
ness OF the said institution shall be conducted at the
city of Washington by board Of regents by the
name of the regents OF the ''Smnhsonan Institu-
ton, /" to be composed Of the Vice President of the
United staes the Chief Justice Of the United States
| and the Mayor Of the city Of Wash ngton, during
the lime for which they shall hold their respective
| ohees three members of the Senate, and three
members Of the House Of Representatives, together
| with six other persons other than members Of Con
gress, two Of whom shall be members Of the Ma.
onal Institute IN the city OF Washington and reel.
dent IN the said city; and the other four thereof
shall be inhabitants Of States, and no two of them
| OF the same State And the regents to be selected
as aforesaid, shall be appointed Immediately after
!
by the President thereof the members of the Hous
by the Speaker thereof, and the six other persons
by JOINT resolution Of the Senate and House OF Rep.
resentatlyesi and the members OF the House APP
pointed seah serve until the fourth Wednesday in
December the second next after the passage Of this
act; and then, and bennialy thereafter on every a
ternate fourth Wednesday Of December like nun.
her shall be appointed in the same manner TO serve
until the fourth Wednesday in December, the second
succeeding their appointment. And the senator's so
appointed shall serve during the term for which they
shall hold, without reelection, their office as sena.
tors And vacancies, occasioned by death, resigna-
| uon, or otherwise, shall be filled as vacancies in
committees are fed-and the other six members
aforesaid, shall serve, two for two years, two for
four years, and two for six years. the terms of ser
vice. IN the first place, To be determined by lot but
after the first term then their regular term of service
shall be six years; and new elections thereof shall
be made by joint resolution Of Congress; and vacan-
cies occasoned by death, resignation or otherwise
may be hed IN like manner, by joint resolution OF
| Congress. And the said regents shall meet in the
city OF Washington on the first Monday Of Septem-
Der next after the passage Of this act and organize
by the election OF one OF their members as chancel.
or, who shall be the presiding officer of said board
OF regents, by the name of the Chancellor of the
Smithsonian Institution" and suitable person as
secretary of said institution who shall also be the
secretary of said board of regents; eaid board sha
also elect three of their own body an executive
| CUHiHlttte, anu regents snall tnen nN on the
time for the regular meetings of said board and on
application Of any three of the regents to the secre
tary OF the said institution, il shall be his duty Ia
appoint special meeting of the board of regents OF
which he shall give notice by letter each of The mem
bers and at any meeting Of said board five shall con-
stItute quorum to do bu mess And each member
of said board shall be paid his necessary travelling
and other actual expenses in attending meetings ofthe
board, which shall be audited by the executive com.
mtee, and recorded by the secretary of said board
but his service as regent shall be gratuitous And
whenever money is required for the payment of the
debts or performance of the contracts OF the insu.
ton, incurred or entered into in conformity with the
provisions of this act or for making the purchases
and executing the objects authorized by this act the
board of regents, the executive committee there.
| Of may certify to the chancellor and secretary OF
| the board, that such sum of money is required
| whereupon they shall examine the same and il
they shall approve thereof, shall certify the same to
the proper officer Of the treasury for payment And
the said board shall submit to Congress- each SEES
sion thereof, report Of the operations, expendi.
lures, and condition of the institution.
Sec. 4. find be ii further enacted That after the
board OF regents shall have met and become organ.
lied, shall be their duty forthwith to proceed to
select suitable site for such building as may be
necessary for the institution; which ground may be
taken and appropriated of that part of the public
ground in the city of Washington, lying between
| the Patent Office and Seventh street: Provided The
President of the United States, the Secretary OF
State, the Secretary of the Treasury the Secretary
of War, the Secretary of the Navy, and the Com
missioner of the Patent Office, shall consent to the
same; but if the persons last named shall not con-
sent, then such location may be made upon any
other of the public grounds within the city Of Wash
ton, belonging TO the United States, which said re.
gents may select, by and with the consent of the
persons herein named; and the said ground SO Sc
eced shall be set out by proper metes and bounds,
and description Of the same shall he made and re.
corded in a book to be provided for that purpose,
and signed by the said regents, many ofthem
as may be convened at the time of their said organi-
zation and such record, or copy thereof certified
by the chancellor and secretary of the board of re.
gents, shall be received in evidence in all courts Of
the extent and DO indares the lands appropriated
to the said institution; and upon the making of such
record, such site and lands shall be deemed and
taken to be appropriated by force of this act to the
said institution.
| SEC S. find bel further enacted, That, so soon as
the board Of regents shall have selected the said
site they shall to be erected suitable build
ing, Of plain and durable materials and structure,
without unnecessary ornament, and ofsufcien siz ,,
/ and with suitable rooms hals for he