392 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



that it would be sacrilege and barbarism to repudiate the 

 claim. 



I do not propose to enter the field of constitutional dis- 

 cussion. That is a hackneyed subject, and I am sure the 

 occasion does not require that line of argument. Nothing, 

 sir, more clearly demonstrates the utter impracticability and 

 absurdity of those extreme opinions upon constitutional 

 questions, sometimes advocated here, than the opposition, 

 on such grounds, to the measure now before us. The com- 

 mon and general judgment of the people, the united and 

 almost universal concurrence of politicians of all classes, 

 unhesitatingly discard and condemn the narrow and illib- 

 eral sentiment. An institution of the greatest importance, 

 most beneficial to the people of this country, founded not 

 with funds exacted by taxation, but built upon the liber- 

 ality of a distinguished foreigner, who has so far sanctioned 

 our political structure as to confide to it the execution of a 

 sacred trust for the benefit of the human race — this institu- 

 tion, located within a territory over which Congress has 

 exclusive jurisdiction, surely cannot involve the exercise of a 

 power unauthorized by the Constitution, or in the slightest 

 degree dangerous to the integrity of our political princi- 

 ples. Mr. Smithson was not wrong in supposing this Gov- 

 ernment possessed the power to convey to its people a 

 gratuitous benefit of the first magnitude. His benevolent 

 design will not be frustrated b}'' this imaginary impedi- 

 ment; for I do not dream that it can interpose even a 

 momentary obstacle to the passage of the bill. 



It will not be denied that this large fund, properly applied, 

 may be made the instrument of much good. The benefit 

 will be enjoyed primarily'- and peculiarly, if not entirely, by 

 our own people. Its indirect influence, it is to be hoped, 

 will hereafter extend abroad ; but it is chiefly here that its 

 benign effects are to be felt as long as the institution shall 

 exist. It ought, then, to be an object of great care, and of 

 peculiar interest to the Government. All necessary arrange- 

 ments should be liberally made, and with the wisest possi- 

 ble adaptation to the great end in view. 



One of the preliminary provisions of the bill transfers 

 the whole fund to the Treasury, and requires the Govern- 

 ment to assume the perpetual payment of interest, at the 

 rate of six per cent, per annum. This is certainly a very 

 slight contribution, yet inconsiderable as this responsibility 

 may be on the part of the Government, and by no means 

 to be named as a donation, or even as a favor, when it is 

 considered that the fund is a gift to the country, it is never- 



