THIRTIETH CONGRESS, 1847-49. 487 



Buch a sum as in the Treasury, it was not there, and the ex- 

 penses of this institution came out of the Treasury, which 

 was ah^eady heavily taxed and burdened with debt to carry 

 on the war. He insisted, now that they had commenced 

 operations, that reports of their proceedings should be reg- 

 ularly laid before a committee of this House, who would 

 thus have supervision over them, and be a check upon them. 

 Such a restraint was needed in all Government establish- 

 ments, and there was no reason in this case why this insti- 

 tution should be excepted. 



House of Representatives, December 22, 1847. 



In pursuance of the act establishing the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution — 



The Speaker reappointed Mr. H. W. Hilliard,of Alabama, 

 a Regent of the said institution ; and appointed Mr. Geo. P. 

 Marsh, of Vermont, and Mr. Robert McClelland, of Michi- 

 gan, to the Board of Regents on the part of the House, in 

 the place of Mr. Hough and Mr. Owen, whose terms have 

 expired. 



House of Representatives, January 5, 1848. 



The Speaker laid before the House a report from the 

 Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, showing the opera- 

 tions, expenditures, and condition of that institution for the 

 past year. 



Mr. Houston, of Delaware, moved to lay the report on 

 the table, and that it be printed. 



Mr. Johnson, of Tennessee, called for a division of the 

 question, so as to take the question separately on each 

 branch of the motion. 



The question was divided accordingly, and the report was 

 ordered to be laid on the table. The question then recur- 

 ring on the motion to print — 



Mr. Johnson, of Tennessee, opposed the printing at pres- 

 ent. The House saw, in the proposition to print this cum- 

 brous document, a beginning of what had been anticipated 

 by some who were opposed to this institution. Here was 

 a long report, accompanied by many documents, and this 

 House was called upon to print them ; and he expected they 

 would have a proposition soon to print an extra number. 

 It was true the law establishing this institution provides 

 that the Regents should make a report to the House ; but 

 before this report was printed, before an order to print was 

 made, the Committee on the Smithsonian Institution ought 

 to be established, and ought to report to the House the pro- 



