THIRTIETH CONGRESS, 1847-1849. 451 



The question was put on suspending the rules, and the motion was 

 disagreed to. 



Notices of motions for leave to introduce bills being- in order, the 

 following notice was given: 



By Mr. Johnson, of Tennessee: Of a bill to change the title of an 

 act approved on the 10th day of August, 1846, entitled ''An act to 

 establish the Smithsonian Institution for the increase and diffusion 

 of knowledge among men," to that of the "Washington University 

 for the benefit of the indigent children of the District of Columbia," 

 in memory of and out of respect to George Washington, the Father of 

 his Country. 

 December 11, 1848 — House. 



Mr. Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee, moved to amend the resolu- 

 tion of Mr. Truman Smith, so as to provide for the appointment of a 

 standing committee to be called the Committee on the Smithsonian 

 Institution. 



Mr. AV. L. GoGGiN rose, and was understood to express his desire 

 to offer an amendment providing that no member should have the 

 right to call the previous question on any proposition presented to 

 the House until the same should have been distinctly stated hy the 

 Chair or the Clerk. 



Mr. Goggin desired, if in order, to offer this as an amendment to 

 the amendment of the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Johnson]. 



The Speaker (Mr. R. C. Winthrop) was understood to say that the 

 proposition of the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Goggin] would be in 

 order after the amendment of the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. 

 Johnson] had been disposed of. The question now was, on ordering 

 the appointment of an additional committee on the Smithsonian 

 Institution. 



The question was accordingly put b}'^ the Chair, but before the 

 decision had been announced — 



Mr. Andrew Johnson hoped, he said, that the House would adopt 

 his amendment. The subject involved the expenditure of hundreds of 

 thousands of dollars, and he could see no substantial reason why oppo- 

 sition should be made to the appointment of such a committee. The 

 Regents were prepared, as he understood, to make a report. This Con- 

 gress had the supervision of the fund, and had the appointment of some 

 of its Regents, and he could not see why this body, or incorporation, 

 or Institution, upon which so much money had been expended, should 

 not be reported upon as to its proceedings and conditions to this 

 House. Congress had received the fund and had become responsible 

 for it. They were the trustees. Were they to act before a committee 

 of the House had reported upon the manner in which the funds had 

 been disposed of, and upon other matters of that kind? He was utterly 

 astonished that his amendment should lind any opponent on this floor. 



