The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-19

THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS-.
SECOND SESSION.



PROTECTION 10 OVERLAND migrants TO CALIFORNIA.
A message was received from the President, trans.
mittng Letter from the Secretary OF War, on the In
dian hosties representing that vigorous measures and
moro men win be required to protect emigrants
overland to California and the settlers along the route
Mr.. GwN, (dem. } of Cal, was glad to the Pre-
sident taking prompt measures upon this subject.
great many emigrants have been robbed and murdered
the past year along the route to California As under
stand President proposes to call three thousand
volunteers, mounted men, These should be sent
into the field at once, and chastise the Indians.
These Indians call trains for contributions We should
have such body under command of such officers as
are accustomed to border warfare. have prepared
measure get rapid route overland to California and
hope the troops will be called out at restore
safety and security to people along the route.
Mr.. WALLER, (dem.) of Cai.-As member Of the
Military Committee, shall endeavor to get early action
upon the recommendation of the President If Con-
ress carry out his views they will do only that
which ought to have been done long ago.
Mr. RusK, (dem.) Of 1exas.-I hope the movement
will also include those who suser at their homes depre
datons from those Indians. The message referred
to the COMMITTEES on Military Affairs.
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
The vIcE PRESIDENT presented letter from Rufus
Choate containing his resignation as one of the Regents
OF the Smithsonian INSTITUTION
Mr.. PEARcE (whig) Md, coRegent with Mr.. Choate.
This paper ports to be the resignation assigning hrs
inability OF the party TO perform the duties Of his trust
second that he cannot with the majority of the
Board of Regents in their view OF the statute; AMI
third, it il revival OF the newspaper OBJ
jectons. Then he charges that the Regents
have subverted the plan prescribed by Congress,
legislation have been one Of these Regents feel
the reproach OF this letter not only sensby but indg
nantly But am consoed by the support Of su III
Messrs. fancy Perrien Mr. Richard Rush aud Others
who coincide with me 10 opinion against the author of
this letter. The peremptory manner In which Mr..
Choate states his views extremely offensive aud is
in accordance with proper respect for those who differ
with him.
Mr. MAsoN-I regret very deeply that such communi-
cation should have been directed to the United States
Senate. 1t should not be allowed to pass in silence
to speak about the absent but the writer OF
this letter has challenged us feel at liberty to do.
He was invested with great honor Regent If he
thought we were wrong he shoul have remained at his
post Mr.. Presden-ihc soundest intelects charac
terised by modesy The tone of this communication is
confidence can't be wrong-says the author Of this
paper he has made the foundation of his resigns ton
the fact he differ with his associates in the inter
probation Of the law and because there Is appeal
have known cases where men bave been misied in their
judgment by cations Of their intellect and they
never could be made to think they wrong. Smth
son pursued science W. III DEVOTION and left this nstu
ton a. legacy TO the word-prompted by the high
beneyoence of his nature to 90 something the benefit
OF his felowmen. He made the almoners of his
bounty TO duse knowledge There those who think
public funds putlic piunder ascrbe such views
to MT Choatehe is far above it, There has been great
sugge Tor this fund ever since Congress got posses
sive mode in which tie OF the donor should
DO carried out. The writer OF this communication
was one OF thesebut who to read the books were
this the exclusive mode adoptedS The members of Con-
gress cannot read half what they have and the citizens
OF Washington, where the library il located are COM
paratiyely few in number. Would this be diausng
knowledge among menS II might help booksellers book
but, to very limited extent would neither con
form TO the law or carry out the objects o. the doner.
Mr. DorGlAs (dem OF H., regretted the necessity Of
bringing the affair, of the Smithsonian Institution before
the Senate in calculated to impair confidence
it. II had been his misfortune differ from the majority
OF the Regents upon the points at issue. He had
CURED with Mr.. Choate Interpretation of the
ganlc law Of the institution, and firmly convinced
that the administration Of the Institution had not been
in accordance with Law lie expressed this convc
ton with all due respect for the eminent who
posed the majority but Win the ful assurance that
able motives He unable to perceive the justice of
the criticism that had been made upon Mr. Choates let
ter DE could not perceive in 1t a word or sentiment
wanting respect courtesy to the Board of Regents
to the Senate 1t l. that he had expressed his
dissent from the action of the Board in plain and
forcble language, without one word of censure
reproaeh, but, on the contrary, the concluding
dsrs taIsss svs ms smbss respect ,os and
I'm this entirely with Mr.. Choate. also
On the high euogum which has been pronounced by the
Senator nom Maryland upon the eminent gentlemen
composing The majority of the board but cannot per-
init my respect for them to control my judgment as
law. The whole difficulty from q difference of
opinion regard to the Interpretation Of the organ
ic law. Perhaps my opinions were biased by my pre-
vous action this subject the House Of Representa-
tives. When the institutions ablished all the
ed and discussed, and the result that the library
plan was adopted the motion of Mr. Marsh, of YER
mont BY the library plan it was not understood
that tie whole fund but majority thereof to be
applied thereto to make the library the principal
though not tue exclusive oojec. Hence the law poo
yded that not exceeding s5 600 out of the Of
income should be applied 10 the library and the residue
TO the otter purposes authorized by the act hold that
any admin sraon which made the library the sabordi-
nate object, applied great bulk OF the fund to
other purpose, not named in the law, not autho
rized by IT, shall defer my argument in support of the
construction until we get the report of the committee
am aware that Mr.. Choate and all the parties concur
ring with him. had been governed by the pureet motives
md he therd ttau at nf tba trus
Smitbson.
Senate had to do TO accept the resignation There
moth ipg else to act upon
Mr.. SEWARD Gree soil) ofN. Y, concurred with Mr..
Badger and said the reasons offered by Mr. Choate for
his resignation CeIogatory to the Senate They
should have been given thr ugh the press.
Mr.. BrnIR, (dcm.) of ). c., said he CONQUERED in
opinion with the Senator from New York.
After a few remarks from Mr. wnLEa, in which he
proposed 10 offer resolution Of inquiry into the
agtment the Smithsonian Institute the letter Of Mr.
Choate laid on the table.
The scnate then instructed the Judiciary Committee
to inquire whether any what action was necessary
in regard to the Smithsonian Institution.
REMISSION PENALTIES EAGRASr SHIPS, ETC.
Mr. Fisus passenger vessel bill, rem ting penalties in.
CURED by conflicting decisions of tie Secretaries OF the
sss ~ snG pssisd reform bin va, most,
poned until the first Monday ofDecember next by vote
BOUNTY LANDS FOR soLnIERs.
The bill 10 extend the bounty land laws was then taken
Mr.. FOOT, (wEig) OF w. introduced an amendment 10
extend the benefits Of the bill to the Pattsburg volun
teers Both he and Mr. Cass who followed aud spoke Of
the patriotism of the New Insland volunteers and
thought the conduct Of the Governor in the New
EnRlsnd States in refusing to obey the requton for
troops from the general government, should not pre-
JUDGE the cisims OF patriotic soldiers.
Mr.. BRoDHEAp, (dem.) Of Pa said that his friends
had overloaded the biz, that 10. morrow be should
offer substitute which would reduce 1t to its original
dimensions.
Mr. JoSEs', (of Tenn. bill fer the extension Of the
edit duties railroad up the Senate
morrow Adjourned.
House OF Representatives.
WASHINGTON, Jan. IS, 1865.
TIE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
Messrs. Upham, witts Taylor Of Tennessee Wells aud