THIRTY-TniRD CONGRESS, 1853-55. 585 



whole issue. Sir, I am sure it is the sincere wish of those 

 charged Avith the management of this institution, to con- 

 duct its affairs in such manner as will further the interests 

 of science, and be productive of the greatest amount of good. 

 It is their chief desire to carry out, in good faith, the design 

 of the noble and generous Smithson, and the act of Congress 

 made in furtherance of his ivill. Where that law is clear, it 

 is implicitly followed; where doubts exist, that mode of ac- 

 tion is adopted best calculated, in the judgment of the 

 regents, "to carry out the design of the liberal and enlight- 

 ened donor;" which design, in the clearest language, is de- 

 clared to be, "the increase and diifusion of knowledge 

 among men." Is it at all likely that such a high trust 

 would be abused by a Board of Regents presided "over by 

 the Chief Justice of the United States, and composed of 

 such men as Mr. Rush, Mr. Berrien^ Mr. Hawley, Mr. 

 Pearce, Mr. Douglas, Mr. Mason, Professor Bache, General 

 Totten, and others of much less name but of equally good 

 intentions ? 



It may be that the operations of the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion have not attracted the public eye, or made a favorable 

 impression upon the minds of the popular masses; but I 

 have confidence in their judgment, and believe the reverse 

 to be true. Be that as it may, it is certain that wherever 

 science and literature are cultivated, the institution is be- 

 coming favorably known, and it is receiving the warmest 

 commendations of gentlemen of the highest standing and 

 most exalted scholastic attainments. 



I might adduce much evidence to sustain this assertion, 

 but believe the following will be considered ample and con- 

 clusive. The first extract I shall read is from a memorial 

 recently presented to this House from the American Philo- 

 sophical Society. " It appears to them," say the memorial- 

 ists, "that the institution has been, since its establishment, 

 ever honestly and wisely administered, and the funds ex- 

 pended to the best advantage in the fulfillment of the pur- 

 poses of the trust. Your memorialists believe that, by di- 

 verting the funds of the said institution to the formation of 

 a public library, its power of diftusing knowledge among 

 men will be materially diminished, and that of increasing 

 knowledge entirely destroyed. Our country abounds in 

 men with intellects adequate to the discovery of new 

 truths, and with tastes and educations which fit them for 

 the development and beneficial application of all discov- 

 eries; but is, on the other hand, deficient in the means of 

 encouraging such men to devote their time and energies to 



