The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-28


among the last in the world to withhold fair and
honest expenditure Of the public money, because
tie government representing the people had mlsap-
Piled It. he had no fear Of a constituency worthy
70 Oe represented here for doing what was honest on
uehai oil the government and reputable on behalf OF
themselves We had had the gold, as we had been
informed IL had been placed in the public ireasu-
Il ry' IL had not been wasted by accident. Ii had
been applied under the deliberate action of the gov.
eminent. The government held the bonds. It|
might al some future day receive the moaev for
themi but he did not believe in the proprety oil
waiting until, by moral suasou," OF any other kind
Of persuasion, the money was to be recovered from
that improyident loan. lie was ready to vote for
the bill in which, 30 far as he understood it, he
could discover no Objectionable features Il had
been dgested and arranged by committee as com.
petent in point of learning, judgment, and capacity
as could be found IN this or any other country
Some confidence must be placed in their recon-
mendations, otherwise no action ever could be had
on the subject If the plan had defects, time would
develop them and the proper remedy eoud.bo APP
piled.
Il MIR. FICKLIN opposed the bill. He thought,
however, that the good faith Of the government re-
qured that this money should be considered as be-
ing in the treasury, and that we could not excuse
ourselves by saying that the fund had been loaned
out TO the States, and could not now be realized.
The objections which he entertained to the bill
applied 10 all its seetons but TO the hrst his Obiec-
nun vas Inulcdl. lie alluded 10 inc conneNlon 10
De established between this institution and the
ury OF the United States. A million Of dollars would
be required TO meet the deficiency in this SmiIhso-
man bequest
He was willing to expend the money for libra
ry, or IN carrying out the propositions of substi-
house and providing library, and for scientific sp
Paratus. He was in favor Of any system, or plan
4 by which the fund could be disconnected from the
treasury of the United States.
/ Mr.. OWEN desired to inquire whether the gen.
!leman proposed TO appropriate tho principal the
Mr.. FiCkLIN said he was willing that the gen.
deman and others who were the peculiar friends Of
the bill should take their own course in that Tespect
He (Mr. + was willing to apply the whole Of
the principal, or part Of II, TO keep up whatever
institution might be adopted; or he was willing that
the sum of $500 900 should be loaned TO some nau-
raj artificial person, and that the interest alone
should be applied. He was indifferent on that
point The great object he had in view was, he re-
peated, the diseonnexon Of the fund from the pub
lie treasury. He was for any bill in preference to
this.
Mr.. OWEN. Does the gentleman understand
that one dollar, except that belonging to the Smith
sonian fund, is appropriated by this bill either pres
emily or prOspectyelyi
Mr.. FlCKLIN. The first section Of the bill
connects the fund with the treasury-plaees in the
treasury.
Mr.. OWEN. Not places it there; it was placed
there eight years ago.
Mr. FICkLIN. Exactly so; but this bill recog-
nlses 1t there by law. Then the interest is to be
paid upon the money, out Of the treasury. This
is sucking the lifo-blood from the treasury. We
do not want TO create a perpetual debt Of interest
upon half million of money, to be paid whilst this
government endures. We want no such polypus-
no such wen fastened upon the government. As to
present or prospective appropriations, ! say that
the machinery-the aphernalia-connected with
al. l.. A
scale for less (Mr. +. understood to say) than
one million Of dollars year. Ii is, to be sure, pro-
| vded that the money shall not come out Of the
treasury at present; but do we not know that sub
sequent Congresses can enlarge the appropriations
Experience should teach US to guard against every
thing Of this kind.
Mr.. F. regarded the bill as one Of the most odious
and abominable ever presented here. He would
rather see this half million returned TO the British
court of chancery; he would rather see ten millions
sunk to the bottom of the Potomac, or melted, or
destroyed, than see this bill pass.
Mr.. THURMAN said that he had heard il stated
this morning that the investment of the Smithso-
man fund in State bonds was an act unauthorized
| by law. Not having time to investigate the laws
| himself, he had privately inquired Of number of
members whether such was the fact, but they were
| unable to inform him. He had thereupon made the
inquiry of the gentleman from Massachusetts,, mr.
ADAMS, whose acquaintance with the subject was
| so thorough. The inquiry was important; for if
| the investment was an unauthorized act, it would
not do for this government to shield itself behind
the misconduct Of its officer, and say that the mon
ey Is not IN the treasury. But it, the other hand
the government had, in good faith, invested the
fund so that 1t might produce interest until an ap-
plicatlon OF 1t should be made, pursuant to the de-
sign of the esator, then the objection Of the gen.
teman from Massachusetts, that the money is not
IN the treasury is entitled to great weight. For,
as general rule, it is the duty Of trustee to make
the trust fund produce interest," aad the government
OF the United States probably did right in directing
this fund to be invested, and ought not as matter
OF course, to be held bound to reimburse it at any
h,a on bs.n nnr.d to Pay BY those to whom
ments made were judicious otherwise, Mr.. T..
did not know He had not inquired, for it was
not his purpose to cast censure anywhere.
As to the merits of the bill under consideration,
| Mr.. I. would do nothing more than express an
| opinion, without going into any argument what
ever. He could not vote for the bill, unless it we're
most materially changed. He was opposed to the
| erection OF an Immense institution at the city of
Washington, that would ultimately become charge
upon the treasury, and would necessarily be partial
in Its operations and BENEFITS. He was rather in
cned to believe that the best disposition Of the fund
that could be made, would be to invest the interest
arising from II in library. There great OBJ
Iecuons to this plan, to be sure. They had been
forcbly stated by the chairman of the select COM
mit,ee, Mr.. OWEN. But there was one great re-
IL Possesseu tnat strongly influenced
| Mr.. t. That was, that though it might not effect
| the greatest amount of benefit that could be pro-
duced by the fund, it was not liable to the abuses
to which all the other plans would probably give rise
1t would create no large body Of office holders, no
patronage, no favoritIsm, no partial sectional advan-
| tages
Mr.. OWEN wished to say a few words in reply
to the gentleman from Massachusetts, tMr. ADAMS
tie was very sorry that duty devoved upon him.
tie had for that gentleman, senses than one,
most wholesome respect Not only did he respect
his character most sincerely his requirements, his
long experience, his information, so accurate on
every subject, but in addition to all that, he had for
some respect If any one Who ever debated with
hm came off the better in the contest it was while he
Mr.. o. was out of the House. And it was nothing
but sense of duty which induced him to reply to
the gentleman.
The gentleman from Massachusetts had labored
more zealonsly in this good cause than, perhaps,
any other individual. He read from report of Mr..