JAMES SMITIISON AND HIS BEQUEST. 187 



thus fulfilling, in the letter and spirit, the wise and comprehensive in- 

 tentions of the donor for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among 

 men. 



Mr. John S. Chipman, of Michigan, spoke earnestly in opposition to 

 the bill. He thought that our great and powerful government, prosper- 

 ing and progressing as it was in original native intellect, fostered by 

 institutions known to no other country and no other people, should not 

 have consented to be the recipient of what was called a munificent do- 

 nation of half a million from an Englishman to enlightened American 

 republicans in this country. " How did it happen," he exclaimed, " that 

 this government accepted such a boon from a foreigner — an Englishman 

 too!" 



After further debate, Mr. Adams moved that until the arrears of inter- 

 est due from the States in which the money of Smithsou had been in- 

 vested were paid, no appropriation should be made by Congress for the 

 fulfillment of the purposes prescribed by the testator. 



Mr. A. D. Sims, of South Carolina, thought that he saw in the will of 

 Smithson only what he had observed in other instances. "After having 

 griped through their lives every shilling that came into their hands, 

 animated at last by some posthumous vanity, they sought to build up a 

 name which should live after them ; and such, rather than any feeling for 

 humanity, was the motive that guided them." He then proceeded to 

 contend that the Government of the United States was not instituted 

 for any such purpose as the administration of charities. He would in- 

 troduce a bill repealing all laws heretofore enacted on this subject and 

 giving authority and direction for the restoration of the money to the 

 British chancery, where it could be devoted to purposes in England sim- 

 ilar to those which had been contemplated in the city of Washington. 

 The only difference would be in the location of the institution. 



Mr. Adams proceeded to explain and advocate his substitute, and main- 

 tained that in the administration of this fund there were two or three 

 principles that should be observed. One was, that it should never cost 

 the people of the United States a dollar — that it should support itself; 

 another, that no part should ever be applied to the ordinary purposes 

 of education. It was unworthy the people of the United States to re- 

 ceive foreign aid for this purpose. There was no way in which the States 

 could more degrade themselves than by relying on foreign aid or on the 

 General Government for the education of their children. 



" Eat an experience of eight or ten years, since we received this 

 money, had shown him that whenever distinguished scientific men were 

 called ui)on for their opinions, scarcely two agreed. 



u In addition to the application of a certain part of this fund to the sci- 

 ence of astronomy, there was another provision which he found, and 

 which he was happy to see this bill made, viz, that no portion of the 

 fund should be appropriated — that it should be a perpetual fund. It 

 was the interest which was to be applied. 



