Weekly national intelligencer., 1847-12-25

syvania be that this subject should be postponed da
certain.
Mr.. HILLIARD would move, il agreeable to the House
that il be postponed TO this day twelve months.
Mr.. A. JOHNSON inquired if that not debatable.
Mr. HILLIARD said he preferred that the gentleman frou
| Pennsylvania should make his motion.
Mr.. JOHNSON still claimed the floor
Mr. HllLIARD said he had been reminded that his pledg
was to move posponement TO day within reasonable pc
riod; he would therefore, modify his motion
the Sd day OF January.
Mr. A.J0HNSON said the gentleman who had Just coset
his remarks had propety necessity for the appoint
ment of this committee. He seemed think would be hu
initiating and detracng somewhat from the dignity of hes,
ndviduals-who called Regents, he believed, in the
act establishing the Smithsonian Instuion-to have the
proceedings come under the supervision of committee of this
House. Now, his Mr. Js) conceptions about dignity and
position IN this country were perhaps different from those
the gentleman from Alabama. According to his notions o
government this body occupied the highest and elevated
position In this democratic Government held that the
people are sovereign the of all power this body stands
next to the people, next to the sovereignty and instead
detracng from their dignity, he thought assigning them
their true position. He knew there who were
really fascinated by that word Regent" and the fondness
for such things was increasing in country.
lie thought the gentleman from Alabama had demonstrated
clearly to this House, in his opposition the creation of this
committee the necessity Of its creation If all done WELL
every thing regularly Transacted if the money ucousy
expended in the Of reason would inure or
Affect their proceedings TO be supervised by committee ap
pointed by this body Why, the very disposition shrink
from The supervision OF committee appointed by the popular
panch OF the Government ought to carry conviction the
minds OF this House OF the necessity of its creation
He prophet but when the bill was before this House
for the establishment of this Smithsonian Institution he had
predicted, what had already become fact that this
institution would be an incubus upon the Treasury that
would be perpetual of expenditure. The clause
IN Mr. Smlthsons will g for the increase and difu-
SION OF knowledge among men" read well, it true.
And the gentleman from Alabama undertook also to prove
how great nancers the Board of Regents were and said
after all the improvements done they would have
800 600 left And how this done Why they had taken
O00 supposed to be the interest which had accumulated
on this fund.- and put thatupon nteeshavng bought Treas
uy notes, he supposed which they drawing interests
and by this they had saved sum- Did
every member know who had paid any attention the dis
cuson OF this subject when the bill passed placing $780,
at the discretion of the Board of Regents that not dollar of
1t was there They first placed a certain in the
Treasury that did not exist there, and then calculated interest
this fictitious amount and then interest on the interest
which is the way which they carry their extensive
works.
Mr.. HILLIARD. Is the gentleman charging that upon
the Board or this House
Mr., JOHNSON Charging what
Mr. billiard. Why, that a fictitious placed
Mr.. JOHNSON. | was going on to prove the position
that this institution would be incubus upon the Treasury
Mr. HILLIARD But does the gentleman charge the put
ting this fictitious in the Treasury, &c. the Board
on Congress wish him to answer on that point.
Mr. JOHNSON. On Congress. The bill of last session
placed $500, 600 in the Treasury which there in
atty 1t is true the Government received but they acted
afathu Trustee and loaned out and has
been returned In this state of the case Mr. j. denied that
he Government was justly bound to refund the money and
hat very few of their constituencies would sanction 1t
would have been much better if she had consented
lct trustee of for Notwithstanding their 1ouhing with
Regents, &c and talking of such in the Trea-
ury not there, and the expenses of this institution
ame out OF the Treasury which already heavily taxed
md burdened with debt carry on the war He insisted
low that they had commenced operations that reports of their
proceedings should be regularly laid before committee of this
House, who would thus have supervision them and be
heck upon them. Such restraint needed in all Gov
nment establishments and there in this case
Why this institution should be excepted.
Mr. having concluded the discussion ceased for the pre-
ent and the House proceeded to other business.