The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-15
sgyATE REPORT ON THE SMITHSONIAN IN
sTITUTI0N.

For many Of the views and statements in
the foregoing report the committee are indebt-
ed to the fitN and luminous reports Of the Board
NJ ReqentS From the views entertained by the
committee, after an impartial examination of
the proceedings referred to- the committee have
adopted the language of the resolution, that
no action of the Senate is necessary and proper
in regard TO the Smithsonian Institution p" and
this is the unanimous opinion of the committee.
This report is written with freedom of con-
struction of an act of Congress very remarka-
BE, when it is known that majority of the
Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate be-
long to the 1" straitest sect Of the Pharisees,"
in questions of construction of the Constitution
of the United States. 1t is evident enough
that these gentlemen, who can "strain at a
gnat" find no difficulty, in matter of so
little moment as the Smithsonian Institution, to
swalow-not camel even, but the Smithsoni-
an Institution, and all Hsereunto appertaining,
without an effort.
They tell us truly that
The money with which the institution has
been founded was bequeathed to the United
States by James Smithson, of London, to found
at Washington, under the name of the "Smith-
sonian institution" an establishment {" for the
Increase and diffusion of knowledge among
men,
Congress accepted the trust, and by the act
Of august 10, 1876, established an institution
10 carry into effect the intention of the testator
The language of the will left very wide dis
crrtion in the manner Of executing the trust and
different opinions might very naturally be en-
tertained on the subject"
They 90 on to say, what by no possibility
they could blink out of sight, that
The fifth section requires library to be
formed, and the eighth section provides that the
Regents shall make from the interest an appro-
pnation, not erceeding an acreage of twenty-five
thousand dollars annually, for the gradual forma-
ton of a library composed Of valuable works
pertaining to all departments of human knopl-
edge"
The entire sum of income of the Institution
is, say $4,000 annually. OF this sum, Con-
greSS. who are the trustees of Smithson, and
not the Regents created by their act, nor Pro-
iessOr Henry, elected by these Regents as
their Secretary, appropriated specifically sum
mot exceeding an average Of $4,000 annu-
ally, for the gradual formation of library"
That Congress designed the creation of a
library is so clear, that no plain, honest man
can doubt it for a moment. So it seems to
US. We leave it to our readers, if, with such an
enactment before them, they, as true men,
could have assumed the duties of Regents, and
ignored this positive direction of the Act of
Congress, under which they alone have any
power to act in the premises: But hear what
these wise men say
The collection of an immense library ut
Washington toOuid certainly not tend to an
crease or difaSe knoCledge in any other coua-
ty not even among the countrymen of the tes-
tat0r.'
The Committee and the Regents and Profes-
'or Henry are for library of some sort, but not
library in which I" all departments of human
knowledge" are represented. Like Plato, these
gentlemen would have no such worthless men,
or their works, rs Shakespeare and Milton, in
the Smithsonian Institution. What have they
done for diffusion of knowledge among men :?
No! the library they all unite in commencing
to be collected in this novel way. Professor
Henry, as arbiter of scientific reputation, aided
10y a secret council Of his own selection, will
publish Contributions to Science, at the cost of
the Institution. These will be sent abroad to
learned societies. OF the number of each pub
Acaton we know nothing, but presume the
number will not exceed the demand-say $50
copies OF each. These learned societies will
send their published papers to the Smithsonian
Institution; and in this way library will be
created and is in process of creation. And the
Committee say
The books are, for the most part precisely
q The character calculated to carry out The inten-
Mons q the donor Of the fund and of The act of
congress. They are chiefly composed Of ,oorks
P'o'iShed by or under MeauSpictes OF the nuner
cns Institutions Of Europe ichich are engaged
Z" scientific pursuits, giving an account of their
respective researches and Of new discoveries
whenever they are made. These works are
sent To the Smithsonian Institution" in return
Tor the publications Of this Institution, iohich
are transmitted TO the learned societies and
'Stad''shmentS ABROAD. The library thus form
rd' and the means by which it is accomplished,
are peculiarly calculated to attain the object
Tor which the munifcent legacy was given in
trust to the United States.
The publication of the results of
scientific researches made by the Institution is
calculated to stimulate American genius, and
at the same time enable it to bring before the
public the fruits of it labors. And the trans
mission of these publications to the learned
societies IN Europe, and receiving in return the
fruits OF similar researches made by them. gives
10 each the benefit of the increase of knowl
elSe which either may obtain, and at the
same time ditfuses it throughout the civilized
world"
IL would seem, from the whole tone of this
report that James Smithson has bequeathed
half million Of dollars to the United States,
10 create an establishment in the City of
Washington, for the promotion of scientific in
curry And who can doubt, if such had been
Ills wish, he, man of science, would have
Jailed to have expressed his purpose? But he
uid not use that word, so familiar as it must
nave been to him, but his word is knO,cledge ::
% found at Washington 4" an establishment for
he Increase and diffusion of kno1lcdge among
men, Congress has created such an establish
,neht, and at this moment it is the law of the
.And' that great library, not for science only,
Out tor literature, with all other departments of
human knowledge, shall be gradually formed
"e'e' But, say the Committee
1t is the duty of that Institution to avail
il'eli OF the lights of experience, and to change
q. rs plan of operations when they are convinced
Iat different one will better accomplish the
ooects Of tie trust The Regents hare done so,
ana wisely, for the reasons above stated The
committee see nothing, therefore, in their con-
ouct which calls for any new legislation or any
gents
The Regents have done SOL" In like man
Her captain Alrarado Hunter was convinced he
,ouia better discharge the trust committed to