Weekly national intelligencer., 1847-12-25
CONGRESSIONAL.
THE sMITHsoNIAN INSTITUTION

The House having under consideration the following propo
son reported by the Select Committee on the Rules as al
amendment Of the Rules viz
SIN addition TO the other standing committees of the
House. shall be called the Smithsonian Committee
whose duty shall be to superntend the affairs of the Smith
sonan Institution"
/ Mr. C. ]. INGERS0LL expressed desire to postpone
the consideration Of this rule to future day
/ Mr. HILLIARD said he desired occupy about ten mi
nues of the time of the House this subject at this time
He thought this the precise occasion which few
words should be said.
Mr. C. J. INGERsoLL had no objection but as the other
rules had been disposed Of he wished to defer this for the
| present.
Mr.. HILLIARD undertook to the posponement to d
day certain, and then proceeded as follows
Mr.. Speaker il SO happens that the only member OF
the Board Regents of the Smithsonian Institution now en-
titled to this floor 1t is important secure the
good will Of the country in behalf of an enterprise elevated
one might say, sublime
There exists misconcepton in regard to the Instu-
tion and idle aoat which may affect injurious
ly Scientific establishments not go and court popu-
arty but they must not be Indifferent TO public sentiment
Before entering upon the stormy and engrossng debates
which shall presently be engaged, desire, by simple
statement OF cs give the House view Of the history
condition. and plans Of institution which strongly ap-
peals 10 US for protection.
Mr.. Smthsons bequest was noble He gave his
whole property to found at the city of Washington
bishmen for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among
men," America selected the field for wide and
nefcent design. Young vigorous, rapidly increasing
Afforded best ground which
to rest establishment which designed to enlghen
mankind.
Entering the spirit of this beques Congress passed
act making the most liberal provision tor carrying into pac
tica effect The whole sum, with its accumulated interest,
turned the establishment created by the act
posed of the President and Vice President of the United
States, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury
the Secretary War the Secretary of the Navy the POST
master General the Attorney General the Chief Justice and
the Commissioner Of the Patent Office of the United States
and the Mayor of the city of Washington, during the time
for which they shall hold their respective Offices and such
other persons they elect honorary members The
amounted five hundred and fifteen thousand one hundred
and sixty nine dollars, and further of two hundred and
forywo thousand hundred and twenty nine dollars be-
ing the accumulated interest upon that since into
possession OF the Government The principal for
remain untouched the interest appropriated the
erection of the building and incidental expenses The build
ing to be erected to meet the provisions of the act which
required it contain suitable halls for the reception
and arrangement, upon liberal SCALE of objects Of natural
history, including geological and mneraogica cabinet also,
chemical laboratory library, gallery Of art, and the
cessary lecture Another section provides that pro-
portion suitable arrangements be made for their recep
ton, all objects of art and of foreign and research
and all of natural history plants, and geological and
neurological specimens belonging hereafter TO belong
the United States which may be in the city Of Washngton
shall bedevered the of the institution sndso cased and
arranged best to facilitate the examination and study them
the building to be erected This enpes the great
Hall Of the Patent Office three hundred and fifty feet long,
OF It's contents II must be at that the Smithsonian
building ought if it accommodate these great and va
Objects to be of ample dimensions. This building too
be erected without delay The site be selected
jOhWitt, ''and soon" that done, the Board
to proceed with the erection of the building.
The Board of Regents faithfully studied the will Of Mr.
Smithson, and the law creating the establishment
Two things to be accomplished. Is inGeas know
edge by original research and then 2nd du by suta
bic and efficient agencies Or in the language of the
bic and distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts,, LM
ADAMS "to spread knowledge throughout the world
The task devolved by Congress the Regents light
Thaxt aI ,L.
establishment so benecent in IFS conception, comphen
sive in its design The of Congress prescribed certain
parts Of the pan and left the other parts to be devised by the
Board of Regents. That part Of the plan which was en-
braced in the of Congress had almost exclusive reference
TO the diffusion of knowledge. The which provide
for the increase have been supplied by the Regents.
We have been charged with being wildly extravagan-ay
ing out large sums in purchasing old books. story has
been circulated that paid So 500 for old and copy
Of the Bible Now, sir, man loves the Bible than
do but could not have consented 10 expenditure Of that
dare say member Of the Board ever dreamed
Of such an expenditure.
Again, some have charged with being too ulitarian
connng operations TO an Improvement Of the physical
condition Of mankind We have certainly endeavored our
plan organization to provide for the entire wants of
kind, and to meet the spirit of the age We have brought
into service gentleman who stands the front rank Of
the science Of the county mean Professor Henry, formerly
of Princeton His is well known in Europe, and
sociaed with that Of Farraday, and Arago and Quaeet
have before the plan Of organization adopted for the ope
ratons OF the institution which desire call the
ton Of the House, but which, (as Mark Antony said
much more important occasion, about the will Of Cesar par
don me, do intend 10 read wish every gentleman in
the House would read it, for would receive all sides
warm and generous support.
desire to submit few remarks in regard TO building
We were authorized by Congress to expend S240 900 in It's
erection but in view Of the wide field OF knowledge to te
cultivated the Regents resolved part of this and
add il to the principal Keeping in view the great interests
to be provided or resolved to erect building Of pro-
portions sufficiently ample meet the requirements Of the
Of Congress- and Of style which should offend the eye
This has been effected contract has been entered no and
plan OF expenditure agreed upon which, while the building
gradually constructed, will carry the plan full compile
uon and at the end Of five years from the time Of its
mencement, so far from having expended the sum appro
paed by Congress for the purpose, shall have after erect
ing the structure providing for its warming and ventilation
and the enclosure Of the grounds S40 900 to return the
principal sum. In the while carrying the
operations Of the institution, stimulating original researches
publishing contributions to SCIENCE and gradually increasing
library. At the timewe pay debts go
This s Of course accomplished by using the interest the
S24OO0O for the building aud the annually accrung neres
on the principal fund for meeting the regular expenses Of the
institution
The transactions Of the present year highly interesting
and will be published in volume which will compare
well with similar publications in Europe
With the building, far it has gone, all paid io and
eyey debt discharged shall have at the end Of the year
$4,000 more than we received from Congress.
Il there then any necessity FOR standing committee II this
House How is the Board OF Regents composed Tie act
Congress declares that shall be constituted Of the Vice
President Of the United States the Chief Justice Of the United
S,tns Mavor If he of thrce