488 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



priety of having this report and the accompanying docu- 

 ments printed. 



Perhaps it might be considered by some, as he from the 

 beginning had opposed this institution, that he had some 

 personal dislike to those connected with it, or that he was 

 operated upon from some other unworthy consideration, 

 that produced his opposition to it. He availed himself of 

 this occasion to disavow anything of this kind. He wanted 

 this committee established ; he wanted everything connected 

 with this institution referred to this committee. Let that 

 committee report the result of their investigation to this 

 House. 



But vv'hile he was upon the floor, there were some other 

 things to which he would advert, for it was very difficult 

 for him to get the floor here on any given subject. He had 

 had the honor of making a few remarks the other day upon 

 the resolution providing for the establishment of a commit- 

 tee upon the Smithsonian Institution ; but before he had 

 concluded his remarks the House adjourned, and the resolu- 

 tion had laid over from that day. The whole thing was left 

 in the fog, and no one could tell when it would be reached 

 again. 



He had no personal hostility to this institution. He ap- 

 preciated and approved the design of the donor. He thought 

 the motives and intentions of Mr. Smithson were good ; but 

 this thing had received an improper direction, and was al- 

 ready beginning, as he had remarked, to result in a large 

 annual expenditure to this Government, and Congress were 

 called upon to appropriate sum after sum for printing and 

 for other expenses in getting up this institution, which was 

 to result in no good to the Government or the country. 

 What good could result from this institution, with its pecu- 

 liar organization ? Why, it would have been much better, 

 and would no doubt have fulfilled the good intentions and 

 motives of the man's heart, had he bequeathed this sum to 

 the United States to be expended in erecting school houses 

 of some description in this District, and in the districts 

 throughout the country, in which the common children of 

 the country could be educated. It would have been diflus- 

 ing knowledge among men more profitably, more in accord- 

 ance with the design of the donor. But what good has this 

 institution done, as now organized ? 



House of Representatives, January 17, 1848. 



Mr. Johnson, of Tennessee, moved the following resolu- 

 tions : 



