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

fund to the science of astronomy there another
provision which he found, and which he was happy
| TO see this bill mAde-yiz that no portion OF the
| fund should be appropriated-that II should be a
perpetual fund. IL was the interest which was 10
be applied. ..... -............- .. .... .
| But in the mean time, while this delay had taken
place, he was delighted that an astronomical OBJ
seryatory-not perhaps great as it should have
6een-had been Struggled into number OF the
institutions OF the country under the mask Of a
small depot for charts, &c, There was not one
word about II in the law. He would like to ask the
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. SINS, where
was the power under the constitution TO make this
appropriation
| Mr.. A. ID. SIMS said, he did not know; but since
the doctrine promulged by a distinguished Pres-
dent Of the United States Of erecting lighthouses in
the skies had grown into popular favor, he should
presume that the gentleman would find no difficulty
as TO the question of power
Mr.. ADAMS said he was very glad to hear that
il had grown into popular favor The appropris-
ton for this astronomical observatory, he repeated
had been clandestnely struggled into the law under
the head Of depot for charts, when a short time
before provision had been inserted in bill passed
that appropriation should be applied to astro-
nomlcal observatory. He claimed no merit for the
erection OF the astronomical observatory; but in the
course Of his whole life comforting of honor Of
interest, of office, had given him more delight than
the belief that he had contributed in small de-
| gree 10 produce lnese astronomical ODsefgatOTieS,
both here and elsewhere. He no longer wished any
portion Of this fund applied to astronomical OBJ
seTyatOry.
Nor did he think important to the people that
any provision Of this bill should be carried into
effect Immediately, but rather that measures should
be taken to induce the States to pay the interest on
their bonds, and then let the money be appropriated
TO any purpose on which Congress could agree
more unanimously than on this bill.
| He noticed among the objections made, that
against making Of this institution an incorporation
He urged that il was indspensably necessary to
form the board into an Incorporation; that unless il
were done the funds would be wasted in Ave years;
that there would be no power in the institution not
even the power Of succession; that il would fall into
the hands of joint committee Of Congress, who
would dispose Of as faction, party spirit or caprice
should dictate. He secuted the idea Of the uneon-
stltutiOnality Of the establishment by Congress Of
corporations in the District OF Columbia az in con-
ravention Of the uniform legislation Of the country
in the incorporation Of colleges, benevolent societies
the National Institute, &c.
In conclusion, believing that they could not agree
very well on this bill, and that by the time we got
this money of Arkansas and the other States, they
could agree better, he sent up TO the clerks table
where II was again read, the amendment Of which
he gave notice last week, land which was then pub
lished in our paper.)
On the faith he said) Of observations Of the gen.
tleman from Michigan that Michigan had regularly
|
amendment by striking out the word Michigan"
wherever 1t occurred therein.
THE NOTICE.
Whilst Mr.. ADAMS was speaking, the Sneaker
resumed the chair, informally, to receive message
from the President Of the United States by the
hands of J. X. Walker esq, his private secretary,
informing the House that the President had yester
day approved and signed the joint resolution of no.
tice TO Great Britain TO annul and abrogate the con-
Ivan fin IF csinnf III
| Mr.. ADAMS remarked. A propitious interrup-
ton Of the few remarks, worthless, in comparison
which | was addressing to the committee
THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
When Mr.. ADAMS had concluded
MIR. TlBBATTS rose to propose an amendment
which, not being at the moment in order, was not
presented.
Mr.. A. JOHNSON expressed himself favorably
TO the adoption OF the substitute amendment Of Mr.
ADAMS, but proposed, if that substitute should be
voted down to amend the first section as follows:
Strike out after the word next in the IN lin. 70 the
word be" in the lIth line, and insert follow
And actually paid into the treasury Of the United States
by the States which have borrowed and said fund.-
Mr.. J. satisfied, he said, that large majority
of the House was opposed to taking ths sum out of
the treasury for the purpose Of establishing such
an institution as was contemplated by this bill Ii
was true that the money had been received by the
government ofthe United States, but if the govern
ment had been acting in good faith, and had vested
these funds in bonds Of the States and these States
had repudiated or refused to pay, was there a man
here who at this time would be willing to take this
amount out of the pockets Of his constituents for the
erection Of an institution of this kind Was this
government bound TO levy tax upon the people for
such purpose' If had been acting fairly as a
trustee if it had acted in good faith and if this fund
had been lost and destroyed, and not intentionally
perverted or misappled, it was no more RESPONSE
BILE than any other trustee under such circumstances
would be.
Some conversation took place between Mr.. J. and
Mr. SIMS of South Carolina, as to the legal liability
of trustees in certain cases
Mr.. J. insisted that there was neither authority
for, nor justice in, taking this sum of money from
the pockets OF the people for the establishment of
| this institution; and he commended that no substan-
ua good could result to the mass of the people, and
that an annual appropriation would be necessary
from the treasury of the United States to keep it in
Mr.. RATHBUN said he knew very little abou,
this subject. He had taken very little pains to ex
anime the bill before the committee He had read
no reports from previous committees. He had
heard what had been said in relation to the project
generally. And there were a few things connected
with facts known to everybody which would
| control his vote.
We had received fund of half a million of dol
lars and upwards, and had pledged the faith of the
government to execute the trust in the manner d.
recteu Dy the VIII OF the estatOr-a solemn pledge
IN which every department Of the government had
united. The fund was received for particular and
specihed purpose--a purpose noble in it's object,
and desirable to all men who had any regard for the
welfare of the human family. We had received
this money, he repeated, to be applied to specific
purpose. Had it been so applied' We were told
that we were not in possession Of the money; that
It had been loaned out improperly and IMPROVE
IDENTITY to States that refused to pay. Were we au-
thorzed TO loan it to States whether they would
pay or not1 Was it given to to be loaned out
to any one' Was it not expressly designed by the
person who gave 1t to the government that it should
be applied to particular purpose, and none other
And was 1t not received on the condition that it
should he so applied
After yielding for an inquiry to Mr.. A. JoHN-
SON Mr.. K. proceeded. This government had
misapPlicd fund given for a specific purpose; and
when 1t was called upon, through respectable
committee, to appropriate the money to the object
or which II was received, it was no answer TO say,
1--WE have loaned it out to the States. and thew can
not pay u.s." II would tanswer for an ndividual