736 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



Tennessee, a citizen by birth and continued residence in tliat 

 State, and a gentleman of great attainments and high per- 

 sonal character; not that he is more distinguished, more 

 worthy, or in any respect superior to tlie gentlemen who 

 have been named. I make no such claim. But this gen- 

 tleman, if appointed, will be the representative of a large 

 region of our country, the great Southwest, (embracing 

 also a portion of the South and of the West,) Avhose scientific 

 possibilities are very great — whose scientitic resources, if I 

 may use that expression, have been hitherto very largely 

 unconsidered and undeveloped. It has seemed to me wise 

 to include in the Board of Regents a representative from 

 that very large portion of our common country. 



I do not wisli it to be understood that I would not accept 

 as readily any other distinguished name that might be sug- 

 gested that would represent the same general region of 

 country ; but I certainly think it would give greater effect 

 and importance to the labors of that institution to have its 

 regency distributed more generally throughout the country. 

 I am reminded by gentlemen sitting near me that there is 

 no one on that board from either the South or the West. 



I bring this subject generally before the House; I move 

 to substitute the name of Thomas W. Humes, a citizen of 

 Tennessee, for that of Henry Coppee, of Pennsylvania. 



Mr. G. F. Hoar. Mr. Speaker, it may possibly interest 

 the House if I occupy a few minutes in stating the purpose 

 of the Smithsonian Institution; for in view of that purpose 

 I am sure the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Maynard] 

 himself will commend the wisdom of the recommendations 

 we make. The Smithsonian Institution has for its Board 

 of Regents three persons appointed from the members of 

 this House, three persons appointed from the Senate, the 

 President of the United States, the Chief Justice of the 

 United States, and certain other officers of the Government 

 are regents ex officio. These officers give the regency of the 

 institution its national character. The whole nation of course 

 has its voice in their selection. There arc six other regents 

 who are specially appointed by joint resolution of Congress, 

 and it is to fill vacancies in this number that this resolution 

 is designed. 



The purpose of the Smithsonian Institution is the " ad- 

 vancement of knowledge among men;" and after very full 

 and thorough debate at the time of its origin, the authorities 

 of that day determined that it was best to devote the fund 

 at their disposal, not to the mere dissemination of knowledge 

 as is done by the publication and distribution of books, nor 



