Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-02-01

ending the 30th Jun 1884, read FIRST and second u
| by its tte and referred the Committee Fnance.
The Joint resolution from the House for the relief Of job
H. Horne was read first and second time by its title
| referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
L SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
The Senate proceeded consider the following resolution
| submitted by Mr. WALKER on the 26h iastant
Resolved That the Board Of Regents of the Smith
Institution directed inform the Senate why the 9th acc
ton OF the act entitled An establish the Smthso
institution for the increase and diffusion Of knowiedye
men," has been complied with by making suitable
rangemens for the reception of the "ohjscts Of sc
named in said section.
Mr. DAVIS, of Mississippi hope tina, the resolution
will be avoraby entertained by the Senate. The Smith
sonian Institute Department of the Government ami
hope Congress will undertake TO take charge of il
This is call upon the board of regents explain us
thing in connexion with the execution of their duty. If
were proper and we'll founded cali, should still think
improper for Congress interfere with ha administration
fund which has conded board Of regents not entire,
formed by Congress- and not responsible to it. An examine
ton Of the charter would have shown the Senator who intro
duced the resolution that there obligation on the
Smithsonian Institute to receive the museums which supposs
is the matter referred to- but that the other hand was
considered grant which the Government willing to make
in friendly spirit Of objects Of art and curiosity, whenever
the institution should appoint person receive them.
therefore obligatory deliver, but not receive In
other countries there courtesy between the king and h.
minister's that minister shall refuse present. In
Sa whenever the king wishes 10 crush minister he sends
the present. because il from the king but the keeping
Of the present cuhes the minister is exactly such pre-
sent that the Senator from Wisconsin wishes to force the
Smithsonian Institution receive It is present the charge
Of which would deduct greatly from the Of the
suon to carry out the purposes donor foreigner who
gave fund for special object enumerated in his will
in the power of this Government to charge the
Smithsonian Institution with the keeping OF this museum,
should deem it as improper in the Government to transfer
extensive collection which it holds and fasten the charge
OF maintaining it upon the fund given by foreigner for the
increase and diffusion acknowledge among men, and the
abshmen of institution for that purpose be located
the city Of Washington in the United States But clearly
not within the power Of Congress charge that fund with the
keeping up Of any establishment which the Government may
choose either create, which may have in its
possession. tan
If the Senator had examined the charter he would have
found still further that in the kindness which prevailed and
the anticipation Of good understanding between that ns
tuition and Congress- power given the institution
strip the rotundo Of the paintings which adorn to take
the models from the Patent Office not merely the
which collected the result Of exploring expeditions, but
every thing which that institution, they claim the strict
letter Of the law, might choose to abstract from the various
departments of the Government But without going into this
question: wish call the attention of the Senate the fact
that here institution founded by the belues of foreign
err Of which bequest the United Saes properly improper
ly, will stop to consider have taken charge
trustee and to administer which fund they have organized
board of regents Its active operations have already been in
numbered by the Congress Of the United States requiring
them to erect expensive building, and to have
and gallery Of art! Now 1t is proposed to ncumber them
still further by charging them with keeping large
of the United States with which that institution has pro-
per conne1ion. is part Of the general plan Of that in
stituon to collect large museum The object is, according
the will of the founder increase and duse knowledge
among They, therefore; only wish collect those
things which to be found in the other Of the
country They only wish to explore fields which have not
been trodden before.
The object Of the Senator from Wisconsn-the effect of
that fund
which it given and cucumber it with the keeping Of
great collection Of art which belongs to the United
States do hope that the Senate will reject the resolution
Mr.. PEARCE. Mr.. President after what has been said
by the Senator from Mississippi would be unnecessary
say any thing But wish to state two considerations
which will be sufficient induce the Senate not TO
adopt The resolution In the first place the resolution
that the board Of regents Of the Smithsonian Institute have
neglected their duty. think it very easily be shown
that they have neglected this any other duty imposed
upon them. In the place. all the information which the
Senate possibly derive from any communication the board
OF regents might make in answer to such call is already
in the possession Of the Senate The last annual report
the board Of regents has been laid before the Senate and
printed That report explains fully their system opera
tons from the time of their organization sets forth the
scheme Of finance which they adope and in pursuance of
that scheme of finance the enlargement Of the principal fund.-
which rather small for the great objects Of the nsttu
on They proposed to extend the erection of the building
series of years instead of completing it at BY the
whole which the Of Congress authorized them
ply or tnat purpose lney nave erecseu the ouidng slowly
10 apply the accruDg interest to the enlargement Of
fund and the increase Of the general endowment of the n
luton. The plan of the building under which is be-
ing erected is precisely that which adopted in the first in
stance by the board Of regents and which, if it be completed
will if Congress choose 10 compel the institution to accept
Of this donation, enable them to accommodate this
The central building will accommodate the library which
proposed the institution shall have and also the Of
,r The upper story Of the central building is designed for
he museum Of art where the collections in the Patent
Office be placed if Congress insist upon it, They have
therefore neglected duty they have done their duty pro-
pery, udciously economically faithfully suppose no
,ne will charge them with aerecion of duty, because
hey have endeavored to increase the principal fund.- with the
view Of having the institution better enabled to carry out the
great and noble purposes Of its founder.
We have therefore all the information which de-
sire, and necessity for the resolution of the Senator
would mention that in the last annual report there dis
nc expression Of the wo the board Of regents that they
should not be compelled accept Of this donaton and their
belief that under the law is they cannot be
PEELED to accept it and that would be would
be very expensive 10 them aud take from their funds that
which might be used for much more useful purposes
Mr.. WALKER should not perhaps have said any thing
this resolution had it not been for observation which
fell from the Senator from Mississippi (Mr. DAvIs) He
attributed to me in emphatic terms object, which was to
cripple the fund.- as he sad by imposing upon the burden
Of this museum. &N#
Mr. DAVIS, Of Mississippi did not intend to charge
the Senator from Wisconsin with any improper motive.
merely stated what the effect of the proposition would be.
Bu did not believe that the Senator from Wisconsin
invited would have directed his attention this subject
take for granted that suggested the resolution
10 him.
Mr.. WALKER. In tha,the Senator is altogether mistaken
have heard the SUBJECT spoken Of in great many quarters
but my mind suggested the course have taken
here and elsewhere. think appeal to the Senate that
generally introduce my Thoughts and great many Of
nha, ,ha, and If