434 " CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



Mr. Chipman then proceeded to state some general objec- 

 tions to the bill, diverging considerably into the field of party 

 politics. 



In conclusion, he declared himself in favor of some such 

 plan as had been proposed by the gentleman from Tennes- 

 see, [Mr. Jones.] 



On motion of Mr. Bayly, the committee rose, and re- 

 ported. 



Mr. Owen offered a resolution to close the debate in an 

 hour and a half. 



The resolution, by ayes 92 noes 44, was laid on the table. 



After some conversation — 



On motion of Mr. Adams, the rules were suspended, to 

 enable him to offer the following substitute amendment to 

 the bill ; which, amendment having been read by itself, 

 was referred to the Committee of the Whole on the state of 

 the Union, and ordered to be printed : 



Strike out the preamble, and all except the enacting 

 clause, and insert : 



That the President of the United States be requested, by the use of suit- 

 able means of moral suasion, and no others, to obtain from the Governments 

 of the States of Arkansas, Illinois, and Michigan, payment of the arrears 

 of interest due from the said States to the United States, and the interest 

 thereafter, and the principal as it shall become due, according to the prom- 

 ises on the face of the bonds given by the said States for moneys bequeathed 

 by James Smithson, a benevolent Englishman, to the United States of 

 America, for the special purpose of founding at the city of Washington an 

 institution for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men, which 

 bequest was, by act of Congress, approved on the first of July, 1836, 

 accepted, with a pledge of the faith of the United States that it should be 

 applied to the purposes prescribed by the testator. 



Sec. 2. And be it further enacted^ That when payment shall have been 

 obtained from the said States of Arkansas, Illinois, and Michigan, of the 

 arrears of interest due on their said bonds, Congress shall forthwith pro- 

 ceed to appropriate said sums of interest so recovered, together with the 

 interest hitherto received, or hereafter to be received, until the time of 

 making such appropriations, in such manner as they shall deem suited, to 

 redeem the pledge of the faith of the United States, to the application of 

 the funds of the bequest of the said James Smithson, to the specific purpose 

 prescribed by the testator. 



Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That until the arrears of interest due 

 by the said States of Arkansas, Illinois, and Michigan, to the United 

 States, upon their said respective bonds, shall have been received at the 

 Treasury of the United States, no appropriation shall be made by Congress 

 chargeable upon the people of the United States, for the fulfillment of the 

 purposes prescribed by the testator, James Smithson, for the disposal of his 

 bequest. 



Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That within the first thirty days of 

 each and every successive session of Congress, it shall be the duty of the 

 Secretary of the Treasury to report to Congress the then actual state of the 

 Smithsonian fund, and particularly the amount of arrears of interest due 

 upon the said bonds of the States of Arkansas, Illinois, and Michigan; 

 together with copies of all correspondence, showing the result of the means 



