848 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



and support; but he spoke of the people in the humblest 

 walks of life, scattered all over this Union — residing- in 

 every State of the Union — who, from year to year, and 

 month to month, had forwarded presents. And why is it 

 that this institute is dear to the American people ? Because 

 it is national — because it is American. They wish to see an 

 institution here bearing the name of the nation, which 

 shall give to the United States the same happy range in 

 science that this Government has done in political affairs. 



And let him tell gentlemen that an institution that is 

 merely called Smithsonian can never concentrate in the 

 game degree the aft'ections and confidence of the American 

 people. Still he admitted that it must be called the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, nor did he propose that it should be 

 called by any other name. But the question was, whether 

 the individuals who were named in the bill now under con- 

 sideration, as regarded the Smithsonian Institution, would 

 better carry out the object of Mr. Smithson than the 

 National Institute. It was a mere difference of opinion as 

 to how the fund could be best administered. But if there 

 was any objection to a corporation, would not the Smith- 

 sonian Institution be a corporation ? He was sure his 

 honorable friend from Massachusetts [Mr. Choate] would 

 not deny that it was at least what was in law called a quasi 

 corporation ; and he supposed his honorable friend from 

 Ohio [Mr. Allen] would admit that it would not be more 

 democratic by making it a quasi corporation. He supposed 

 it could institute suits and legal proceedings. Who are the 

 persons that would have charge of this, under the National 

 Institute? Who are the directors? There was the Presi- 

 dent of the United States. Was not that democratic ? Is 

 he not the only man in our Government who is elected by 

 the whole people of the whole Union ? And who, together 

 vf'xth. him constitute a majority of the directors ? Why, the 

 cabinet, deriving their appointment directly and immediately 

 from the Chief Magistrate, who is himself the chosen of 

 the whole American people. Was that less democratic than 

 committing the administration of this fund to those intrusted 

 with it in the bill ? He thought, so far as the democracy of 

 the thing was concerned, that the administration of this fund 

 by the National Institute was quite as democratic as it could 

 be by any other mode. 



But those who have charge of this fund under the Na- 

 tional Institute will be always here. They are to contribute 

 their valuable services and time to the administration of this 

 fund, and they are not to receive one solitary dollar for those 



