Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-06-03
WHO SHALL BE MAYOR ,

Ito FOUND AT WASHINGTON '-Smithsou gave his
money to the United States, ito founi at Washing
ton. es abn hment for the increase and difuEion
Of knowledge among men
If thee words, Sat Wishfr ton had mt been
used in the Request, the gift could not have bean
capted Congress has no power. under the Consti-
tntion to accent trust for the benefit of all man.
kind. It was only pdyens pdtrlG, tbs guardian
local legislature of the District OF Columoi' that
Congress had and exercised the right ncce ut the
bequest of Smithson. This may be abundantly
she IN from the documents to have been the sense
of Congress itself
In the Senate, the Presidents message, transmit
ting papers relative to the bequest was referred to
the judiciary Committee. Thatcomu ittee, by their
chairman. Mr.. Leigh, reported joint resolution,
January 6, 1888. In their report they say: See
Rep a, oath Cong, lst Sess, p. A.
1.-The Committee can see no rea.on to doubt thai
the United Stat.s must be regarded As the parens
pdtrie of the District of Columbia; that, in that
character, they have right and are in duty bound,
to assert claim to any property given to hem for
any kind within the District, and 10 provide for the
due app ication and administration OF such fund"
&c.
In the House of Represe natives, the message Was
referred to special committee wto by their chair
man Mr.. j. Q. AGams, reported bill to accept the
oequest, Jan. 19, 1886. In their report they Soy:
See Rep. IL. R., Ne Isl, a Cong, LIST Sees.. p. 3.
9Th. 10 alton OF thu institution at Washington
prescribed by the testator. gives TO the FREE
exercise OF the powers reatiag to tie subject With
which they are by the Constitution invested. as the
! local legislature for the District Of Columbia"
| MIR. Leigh said. in explaining and defending his
report, They (ths Commi tee) looked upon the b.,
quest as having been made simply for the benefit Of
of tie cities of the District Of Columbia of which
| Congress Is the constitutional guardian
| MT. clayton said The United States was merely
named i'm the will the trustee aud to receive
| no benefit whatever. 1t was merely a charitable
object to establish an university In the District of
| Columbia"
Mr.. Southland said: Congress had the same right
10 establish This University they had to charter
| collf ge In Georgetown or Alexandria"
| Mr.. buchanan said: "Coneress, by receiving and
| 'pplying this bequsst, would only sct the trus
tees OF the city OF Washington, for whose benefit ii
| was made
Mr.. " alker said: sHe should vote for the bill on
the ground that Congress would be doing NANTES,
nju ice to the city of Washington, by refusing t6
| ccept the donation
BE it observed, also, that in the whole debate on
the sceept.nce of tais bequsst, 10 Senator TOOK
ground opposition to that of the above extracts
except MIR. Calhoun and MIR. Preston. They hello
that the testaor intended this Institution for The
| benefit Of all mankind and they, therefore, voted
| against accepting the bsquest
| The citizens Of Washington memoralized Congress
With reference to the application of this fund. Col
Force and Col Seaton. iyors ofthe city, exertet
themselves strenuously TO procure the founding o
the Institution. The citizens have acted literally
have never wished for the exclusive b,net of it, blu
have ever been willing and desrious that sthe scat
rered millions of the land" should share with them
sion by incesssnt imputaton of consulting 'loca
interests" implying "perversion of the trust" The.
nave peculiar interest and legal right to insis
that the original design of the Institution shall
cs rried out.
| 1t is well known that plan Of operations ha
been adopted, inconsistent with, and sllbversive @
the principal objects provided tor by the act Of In
corporation. plan entirely different from tn
| original and lawful design. plan which gives al
or most of the funds to lie expended In distant n
searches, aud in publishing books printed and di
| sIibuted csc Ehere, and which leaves this cit
nothing but al empty name Of benefit.
1t is understood tina the present Mayor, who b.
virtue of his office, is member of the Board OF H
gents has, In the struggle which is supposed to hav
occurred in the Board upon he adoption of TIL
| Ian, gwen to it his whole aid and support. II
| Who ought to have regarded himself in an espsci,
manner bound to RI sp ct and defend the rights
| interests of the city. has PRINTED himself to b
dup aud cajoed into the support of an Illegal an
unw,e scheme, under the opeia alton of viii b, ia
any benefit to Washin stOn is conc arnsd, the Ii
| stitut;on might as well have been established
Princeton, N j., as in Washington, D. c. Let th
| be thoueht of Oh Monday. A TAX PAYER.
/ ia