436 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



a place for them in their gallery, which he understood would probal)!}^ 

 be done. They might, perhaps, be purchased for about $50,000, of 

 which it was proposed to pay $5,000 annually. 



Mr. Sidney Breese said he was not aware of any arrangement which 

 had been suggested in the Institute for these paintings, and 600 of 

 them would till the entire gallery intended for tine arts. These pictures 

 are not of themselves of such excellence as would probably be selected 

 for the galler}^ of the arts. 



Mr. James D. Westcott was opposed to purchasing the portraits 

 of savages. What great moral lesson are they intended to inculcate ? 

 He would rather see the portraits of the numerous citizens who have 

 been murdered by these Indians. He would not vote a cent for a por- 

 trait of an Indian. 



Mr. Clayton added that this collection had cost Mr. Catlin not less 

 than $10,000. Propositions had been made for their purchase in 

 Europe in order to perpetuate the memory of these Indians, but we 

 are more bound to preserve them than foreigners were. As to the 

 Institute, this appropriation was to depend on their decision. If they 

 could not provide a place for them the paintings would not be pur- 

 chased. 



The motion was then decided in the negative. 



APPOINTMENT OF REGENTS. 



By Vice-President. 



August 10, 1846— Senate. 



The Vice-President (Mr. George M. Dallas) appointed George 

 Evans, Sidney Breese, and Isaac S. Pennybacker as Regents of the 

 Smithsonian Institution under the provisions of the act of August 10, 

 1816, establishing the Institution. 

 January 16, 1847 — Senate. 



Mr. Sidney Breese rose and stated that there was a A^acancy in the 

 Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, occasioned by the 

 death of Senator Pennybacker, and that it was important that the same 

 be filled, inasmuch as there was to be a meeting of the Board of Regents 

 on the 20th of this month, at which important business would be 

 brought forward. 



Mr. Breese referred to the law in relation to the mode of making 

 appointments to fill vacancies occurring in the said board, which 

 directs that such vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as vacan- 

 cies occurring in standing committees of the Senate. These were filled 

 either by election on the part of the Senate or by the appointment of 

 the presiding ofiicer. He moved that the Vice-President be authorized 

 to appoint a person to fill the vacanc3\ 



