TWENTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS, 1843-45. 349 



eervices. He believed that by committing to this institute 

 the administration of this fund, two main objects woukl be 

 accomplished. In the first place, it would best accomplish 

 the intention of the donor; and, in the second, he believed 

 it would also give additional permanency to, and aid the Na- 

 tional Institute. Therefore, notwithstanding the denuncia- 

 tion of his friend from Ohio, [Mr. Allen,] and notwith- 

 standing the honorable Senator from Massachusetts [Mr. 

 Choate] considered his plan much the best, and much the 

 more democratic, he [Mr. Walker] should feel himself 

 constrained to vote, in a small minority he supposed, for 

 the amendment proposed by his honorable friend from New 

 Hampshire, [Mr. Woodbury.] 



Mr. Foster of Ncav York rose not to discuss the measure, 

 but to suggest what appeared to him to be a deficiency in 

 the bill, namely, the want of some provision for the perma- 

 nency of the system of management which experience 

 should prove to be best. In the proper time he would sub- 

 mit an amendment, the object of which would be that there 

 should be only one of the seven additional members over 

 the ex officio members elected annually ; so that in the course 

 of time each would serve seven years. 



Mr. Huntington opposed the amendment of the Senator 

 from New Hampshire. 



The amendment to the amendment was rejected. 



Mr. Foster of New York now submitted his amendment, 

 as follows : 



" And Jared P. Kirtland of Ohio, Richard Henry Wilde of Louisiana, 

 George Tucker of Virginia, George Bancroft of Massachusetts, Henry King 

 of Missouri, and Joseph G. Totten and Alex. Dallas Bache, members of the 

 National Institute, resident in Washington city, be the other seven mem- 

 bers, who shall, by lot, fix the term of their office, so that the term of one 

 of them shall expire in one year ; of another, in two years ; of another, in 

 three years ; of another, in four years ; of another, in five years ; of an- 

 otiier, in six years ; and of the other, in seven j'ears from the first day of 

 December next, after the passage of this act. And any vacancy happening 

 otherwise than by the expiration of the term, shall be filled for the remain- 

 der of the term on the fourth Wednesday of December next, after the 

 vacancy occurs." 



Mr. F. urged at some length the propriety of this pro- 

 vision. 



Mr. Tappan opposed the provision as unnecessary, as there 

 could be no doubt of the re-election of such members as 

 proved by their services to be most valuable to the institu- 

 tion. 



Mr. CnoATE pointed out how much better it would be for 

 the interests of the institution to have short terms of elec- 

 tion, as that would stimulate managers, who would feel their 



