310 OONGEESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



or their committee, but three by the Speaker of one and three by the 

 President of the other, without any appeal. 



But Mr. Woodbury feared we were sliding- into that species of polit- 

 ical debate which, in a case like this, he deprecated. This was not a 

 struggle for victory of a party or personal predilection, but to execute, 

 in the most fit and becoming manner, a sacred trust which had been 

 devolved on us from abroad rather than by our people. 



Some gentlemen who assail the proposed amendment inadvertently 

 seem to suppose it is a contest whether Congress or the National Insti- 

 tute shall control the Smithson fund; whereas no such question 

 exists. The same control is left in Congress, if the amendment is 

 adopted, as is left in it by the bill as it now stands. Indeed, the amend- 

 ment increases the reserved control of Congress in one particular 

 through the constant supervision and check of the Library Committee 

 of the two Houses which it provides for. 



After the amendment is adopted, Congress can, at any moment, 

 abolish or amend the whole board, can give to it any special instruc- 

 tions by resolution or act, and can, by its committee, give any direc- 

 tions, which by this very amendment are to be enforced b}^ the board 

 and institute, rather than either of them being made independent of 

 Congress. 



It seems, also, to be apprehended by some gentlemen that the 

 National Institute is to have a great donation of property, as well as 

 power, by this amendment; when, in truth, no power is bestowed 

 except conditionally, and which is not kept constantly under the con- 

 trol of Congress; and not a dollar of property, directly or indirectly, 

 is given to the institute. 



Indeed, no property is given to the institute or anybody else. The 

 library, buildings, etc., all remain in Congress as trustee for the fund. 

 The board of managers, including the institute, are mere executive or 

 ministerial agents to carry out our directions, and own no more of the 

 property itself than the captain in the Navy owns of the ship of war 

 in his charge. It is rather a burden imposed on the board and insti- 

 tute, as they not only acquire no property, but their services, which 

 have so long and decidedl}^ been given to letters and science without 

 any pay, are all, b}^ my amendment, to continue to be gratuitous. 



The difficulty will be rather in getting gentlemen of suitable char- 

 acter to devote their time at all to this subject under these circum- 

 stances than in preventing them from profiting in a pecuniary point 

 of view. It is this apprehended difficulty which will in part be 

 removed by taking more managers resident here who can attend to 

 the business in rotation or otherwise at less inconvenience and loss 

 than those from a distance. 



Again, it is said that the form of a resolution in elections avoids any 

 dispute. How so? Suppose that the gentleman named in the bill 



