TWENTY-NINTH CONGRESS, 1845-47. 441 



of Arkansas was made without any warrant or authority 

 of law ? 



Mr. Adams. The fact is directly the reverse. Mr. Adams 

 stated the circumstances under which the legalized invest- 

 ment was made. On a bill for the support of the West 

 Point Academy, a provision was engrafted (he said) that 

 this fund should be invested in State stocks. He com- 

 mented upon the incongruity of the two subjects in terms 

 which excited the merriment of the committee. 



He next reviewed the legislative history of this subject 

 during the four Congresses which have elapsed since the 

 receipt of the fund eight years since, giving a minute ac- 

 count of the various propositions made in reports to both 

 Houses of Congress, and their respective fates — none of 

 them having received the sanction of both Houses. When 

 it first came before Congress, and he believed this money 

 was in the Treasury of the United States, he was of opin- 

 ion among the sciences the pursuit of which was recom- 

 mended by the testator, that of astronomy was the first to 

 which a portion of the interest should be applied. 



In the administration of this fund there were two or 

 three principles that should be pursued. 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 of 

 children. He felt on that subject something the feeling of 

 the gentleman from Michigan, [Mr. Chipman,] that it was 

 unworthy the people of the United States to receive foreign 

 aid for the education of their children. It was their own 

 duty to do it for themselves, and not to depend on any elee- 

 mosynary bequest for it. 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. He difi'ered with him on other points, 

 however, and thought it highly proper that it should be re- 

 ceived to carry out the intent of the testator, for the 

 " increase and diftusion of knowledge among men." 



Mr. Sims, of South Carolina, inquired of the gentleman 

 from Massachusetts the power under the Constitution by 

 which Congress was authorized to accept and administer 

 this fund ? 



Mr. Adams. If the gentleman will point me to the power 

 in the Constitution of the United States to annex Texas, I 

 will answer his question. 



Mr. Sims. If the gentleman finds the power under the 

 eame clause, it is certainlv a novel clause under which to 



