The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-31

soms ~. oo0 annsnlly and it further burdesa the mail
10 bring here This joint resolution provide that they
shall be opened there BY the postmaster At San Fran
cisco. special agent OF the government, under such
regulations may be prescribed BY the Postmaster Gen
era and that such contain articles at value shall be
transmitted to the General Post Once here, which will
great deal TO the department
There pgoposiiion also Ia appointing the agent
the law limited his allow ance for California nitsd Il 70
what the Postmaster General sowed 70 the principal
hs only allowed ~ 900 yer snnun. For thai
in California. all things considered, the Postmaster Gen
eral could not procure the services OF man that
capable of dschagng the important duties that devolyed
upon him as that agent This resolution proposes to al
low him The OF $4,000 per annum, and also for his
travelling expenses, which, under the circumstances, all
things considered, seems to be very reasonable allow
ance. .
These are the two propositions in the resolution and
ask the unanimous consent OF the Senate that il be
sidered this time II reported Tor that purpose
and if il be acted upon, additional expense will
be thrown upon us in all probability
Mr.. BENTON. | have no objection but il
that every morning the senator from Kentucky, Mr.
CLAY] whose request the bill in reference to the
per cenlum accruing the State OF Missouri was laid
deprived OF speaking on that question by these
The PRESIDENT. II it is objected to- it cannot
Mr.. BENTON. | will not object, if it can pass in
Mr. RUsK only explained, that il might save dis
cussl0n.
Mr. BENTON Let it be put upon its passage, then
the whole and, no amendment being made il was re-
ported TO the Senate, and ordered to be engrossed for
third reading
whom referred The memorial oil The heirs OF Harmon
BlannerhasseA submitted report, accompanied by bill
Is 434) for the relief of Harmon Bannerhas and Jo-
seph Lewis Bannerhassett heirs Of Harmon Bannerhas
set deceased; which was read and passed to second
reading, and the report was ordered to be printed
Mr.. HALE, from the Committee on Pensions to whom
was referred The memorial OF Mary + b Leyely, sub
milf cd led hU lfprtb
lief OF Mary 3. Lovely; which was read and passed
to second reading, and the report was ordered 10 be
printed
Mr. H. also, from the same committee, 10 whom was
referred the memorial of Lavna Taylor, submitted
port accompanied by bill Is 1850 for the relief of La
vinia Taylor; which was read and passed to second
reading, and the report was ordered TO be printed
MIR II Also from the same committee, to whom
referred the petition OF Nancy Wright, submitted report
accompanied by bill IS. 4s7) for the relief OF Nancy
Wright which was read and passed to second reading
and the report was ordered to be printed
Mr.. SHIELDS from the Committee on Military Affairs,
to whom was referred the petition OF Charles Hlbbs,
messenger Of the Pension Bureau equal TO the salary
the principal messengers of the War Department, which
was read and passed to second reading.
Mr.. BORLAND, in pursuance of notice, asked and
obtained leave to bring bill Is 439 for the relief
the heirs law of Joseph Vallee de Hanteve, deceased
which read the first and second times by unanimous
consent! and eferred to the Committee on Public Lands
Mr. BRIGHT, in pursuance OF notice, asked and OBJ
tanned leave TO bring in bill Is 440) for the relief OF
Franklin Hardin, OF Johnson county. Indiana; which
read the first and second times by unanimous
SENT and referred to the Committee OF Claims.
Mr. FOOTE, IN pursuance OF notice. asked and OBJ
tanned leave to bring in bill Is 44D Tor improving the
navigation OF PEARL Big Black. Yazoo, and other rivers
in Mississippi; which read the first and second
times by unanimous consent, and referred TO the Commit
tee on Public Lands.
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration of the
following resolution submitted by Mr. WALKER on the
2sth instant:
Resolved That The Board OF Regents Of The Smithsonian
lnstttoa lac directed 10 inform the Senate why the sixth
section OF m ACT entitled AN act TO establish the Snihso
Institution for the and Diffusion Knowledge
among men, has no, been complied with by making sur.
able arrangements for the reception OF the objects OF
Nc,' named IN sald section
! Mr.. DAVIS. of Mississippi MIR. President hope that
resolution NAV not be fayoIaby by The SEN
ate The Smithsonian Institution is not department OF
the government, and hope that Congress will
dertake to take charge OF It, This is call upon the
Board OF Regents to explain 10 Congress something
connexion with The execution OF their duty. II it were
proper and well founded call, should s think il i'm
proper for Congress TO interfere with the administrator
Of that fund which il has confded the Board OF Regents
Congress now claim responsibility from tina, lnst
tulion.
But, sir, upon an examination of the charter have
shown to The senator who introduced this resolution,
Ind there 10 no obligation upon the part oil the Smith
sonan Institution to receive the museum. suppose the
matter referred to upon the other hand that il
considered grant which the government was willing TO
art and curosy-wheneyer the institution should appoint
person to receive them. IL was obligatory 10 deliver.
but was optional to receive In other countries there
matter OF courtesy existing between the King and his
minister. In the Kingdom OF Siam. the minister shall
never refuse present. and whenever the King thinks
proper to crush minister. he sends him present OF
elephant He cannot refuse to receive it, because II
from the King but TO keep the elephant breaks the min
ste Exactly such present as this is proposed 10
be given to the Smithsonian Institution, which the
tor from Wisconsin MIR WALKER wishes TO force them
to receive 1t s present the charge OF which would de-
duct very greatly from the means OF that institution TO
carry out those purposes which the donor foreigner who
gave the fund for specia object enumerated IN bis will
II II were in the power o this government 10 charge the
Smithsonian Institution with the keeping Of this
should deem II ILL advised in the government to transfer
expensive collection which il has, TO iasen the charge
OF maintaining upon fund given by foreigner for
the increase and diffusion OF knowledge amongst men,
and to erect institution at the city OF Washington, in
The United States But, sir is clearly not in the Of
Cosgress to charge that fund with the keeping up OF any
establishment of the federal government which it either
to create or has now in its possession. But the senator
would have found still further that, the kindness which
prevailed and IN support OF the good understanding be-
that institution and Congress- they have given the
power which certainly never was anticipated II - a
power to strip your roundo OF the paintings that
adorn ito take the models from the Patent Office Not
merely the that has been collected and is the
suit OF the exploring expedition but everything that
institution, ii they claim To the strict letter OF the law
might thus be distracted IRON the various departments Of
the government But. sir without going into this qnes
ton. wish TO call the attention OF the Senate TO the TACT
that here is institution founded by the bequest OF q
q will not stop to consder) have taken charge OF that
fund as a trustee. They have organized Board OF Re
gents 10 administer the fund Its active operations have
already been encountered by the Congress OF the United