The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-01-19

object N rsng was to express thanks the President
ior invoking the attention of Congress this important
SUBJECT and to assure the Senate il shall be brought be
lore the Military Committee for sction At once
hf NJ "a hoped that while the committee We're taking
INTO the protection Of emgranis they would
mol forget ths the frontiers Of Texas in like defence
L. condition.
lhe motion 70 refer aud print agreed 10
ssrnsoslAs INSTITUTION
Inc PRESIDENT pro TEN laid before the Senate letter
from the Hon Rufus Choale Of resignnc
s Once ~ ono oa the Regents Of the Smithsonian Insti,
ton which wAs read. ss 80 - -,
M pEARcE sid tAa, The lsstar which had jus, been
Rad was Of - unusual character aud before L was m
fssred 70 coeAss ne desired - ~ ssw words II rs-
at z y Parlore to b. resignation by gentle
nla NHag Rnhc trust under tbs appointment Of Cou-
h6st and TO assign the rsnsons for that resle-
Heoa xe first Of these b hs ina bility 10
duties q ~ oics, aud the ssoend is iis Inability
win ths views Of the majority Of the Board Of
NeQp IN the Interpretation which they have put upon
- sPf Congsss slrbshipg tbs issusaaieo Rshe Doc
ceM4ad ~ fhftAax thAa this be should net nave
49, = csns'ss 9ees 7 eal J.. I h. done
offhe Bosfd Regentsno leas eAf9B hat ,hat oJ su6
sfitung their will for the will Of the national
and overriding the action Of Congress He, member
OF the Board OF Regents and Of that majority felt not
only sensitive but somewhat indignant at this charge
but 1t was some consolation TO him know that in his inter-
preaon OF The act Of Congress he did stand alone He
was sustained by that gentleman who holds the first posi-
ton as urist n the United Staes-Chief Justice Taney
and this view was also concurred in by ex-senator Be
ren Hon Richard Rush and Of bis colleagues upon
TINS hoor, the senator from Virginia Mr. Mason He
then went to specify the requsons OF the law and the
manner in which the Board of Regents had complied with
,nose relulsiuops They have erected building the
law required they have provided for the collection and
arrangement of objects of history they have ea
provided for the establishment OF library gallery Of
arts and Laboratory and for lecture rooms But the great
objection was that they had thought proper to ap
proprate very large portion of the funds Of the nst
non % thc library The law requires that not than
o1oooo annually shall be appropriated to the library but
~ merely establishes maximum, and by
qures the Board Of Regents to go up to that amount
Having established lecture rooms it was necessary to EN-
poy lecturers having provided laboratory it
sa that there should be provision for researches in phys
ica science and of what would be these researches
how could the knowledge thus obtained be dYused among
they are to bepubshed to the wofd2 About
mali OF the funds OF the institution had been devoted to the
library, which was estimated to be worth $4,000 while
the value OF the museum S30000 and the value of the
apparatus was $4,000 The publications which the Re
gents nave made they supposed to be auxiliary to the OBJ
ecs specihcay provided for by the law He concluded
his remarks by hoping that committee of investigation
would DC appointed lie would not make the motion as
nc Qua not desire to act its chairman but he hope
that some one would submit the motion
Mr. MASON regretted that a communication of that
character had been sent to the Senate He did not like TO
be Obliged to comment upon the acts opinions of men
III their absence but in this it seemed become ne
cessar us the honorable gentleman had not been content
with SIMPLY submitting his resignation but had the
same time fired parting shot at those who had been assoc
ciaed with him in the regency of that institution The
minority OF the board desired large appropriations for the
library to buy immense quantities Of books and who was
70 read themt Members of Congress hardly have time to
read those in the Library Of Congress and the benefits of
the library would be chiefly confined TO the citizens OF
Washington Can it. be supposed that this would be in
conformity with the liberal and enlightened provision Of
the founder of this institution who desired that his gift
should be for the benefit of mankind at large? Besides
the appropriation of money in this form would be for the
benefit of the booksellers and bookmakers and Of the
crowds who follow them to feed upon the crumbs that fall
rom the rich mans table He concluded by moving that
the communication lie on the table
Mr.. DOUGLAS differed from the majority OF the Board
Regents and concurred in the views expressed by Mr.
1hoate 1t was his firm conviction that the organic law
the Institution had not been correctly inter-
reted he thought Congress had sanctioned the library as
he prncpanot the exclusivefeature of the institution
Mr. BADGER wished that the letter had simply an
aounoed the TACT Oh Mr. Choates resignation and had there
closed He alluded to the committee OF investigation ap
,onted by the other branch of Congress- with power to
send Tor persons and papers TO do wha2 To enable
interpret the law? He thought the concluding portion
of the communication in very bad taste and that the Sem
.te had nothing to do but accept the resignation and
accept with regret on account Of the eminent talents and
lgh position OF Mr. Choate AS the other portion related
% question OF law he thought it ought to to the Com
nittee on the Judiciary
Mr. SEWA remarked that he entertained as profound
respect and admiration for the distinguished gentleman
who had sent his resignation to the body as any other
person on this oor or in the country He had formed
opinion upon the merits of the question which had arisen
the Board OF Regents and upon which there such
difference Of opinion but he could that this
communication should be referred the Committee on the
Judiciary to select committee because although he be-
ieyed that was prompted by the best motives and
entirely unexceptionable in the view of the
writer he could not help regarding it derogatoy the
gnity Of the Senate Every citizen Of the United States
las right TO hold office if he get it and he has
equal right resign that office when he ceases to desire
hold it, lie need assign for that resignation
o this body they should be given to the public through
he public press if the individual thinks il proper to in
orm the public why he resigns his office fIe hoped the
eter would be laid on the table
The question being taken, the motion agreed to- and
he communication was accordingly laid on the table
Mr. CLA1TON concurred in opinion with the majority
If the Board of Regents and desired that the opinion of
he Senate should be expressed upon the subject II ought
lot to be left matter OF conjecture doubt whether
he Senate sustain the board in their action or not and for
his reason he submitted resolution nsructing the Com
nttee on the Judiciary to inquire whether any and if
hat action of the Senate and proper in re-
gard TO the Smithsonian Institution
The resolution agreed TO-
MEMORIALS, PETITIONS, Krc.
Mr. HUNTER presented the petition of the heirs Mai
Samuel Scott OF the revolutionary army, praying for
,oanty lands which referred 10 the COMMITTEES of
Claims.
Mr.. FISH presented the petition of underwriters mer
,hans and shipmasters of New York, praying the pas
of the joint resolution of the House Of Represen
or the erection OF lighthouse Cape Race which was
eierred to the Committee Commerce
Mr.. SUMNER presented the petition Of William G. Fay
,rayng that register may be issued for foreign bsrque
licked up at and sold by the United States and
,hased by him; which referred to the Committee on
Commerce
Mr.. CASS presented the petition Of John Van Blaucum
civil engineer praying appropriation inyen-
ion for carrying the mail which the meoriast asserts
readily attain speed of FIVE hundred miles an hour
.sr, AZ