520 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



That is the resolution which is considered as subverting the plan 

 established by Congress; as repealing, in effect, the act of Congress, 

 and setting up the will of the Regents in place of the will of the 

 National Legislature ! 



Something is said in the letter about the greatly augmented powers 

 of the Secretary of the Institution. I know of no augmentation of 

 the power of the Secretary. A question has arisen as to his right to 

 discharge one of his assistants. The board had determined that he 

 has a right to discharge any of his assistants without a reference to 

 the board. They, however, have a controlling authority over the 

 whole subject; and if the Secretary should abuse his power in that 

 respect the}' would remove him, as they can at any time remove all or 

 any of his assistants or the Secretary himself. 1 may add, sir, that 

 the Secretary of the Institution is a gentleman, as well as widely 

 known to the world of science; a profound philosophic scholar, and a 

 man of pure and stainless life. 



Mr. President, considering the form in which this matter has })een 

 brought before us — as a solemn appeal from a retiring member of the 

 Board of Regents to the Senate and to the public — it has seemed to 

 me that it would be proper that the Senate should investigate the sub- 

 ject. It has occurred to me that it would be proper to appoint a spe- 

 cial committee for that purpose. I make the suggestion, but I do not 

 submit any motion. If I were to submit such a motion, according to 

 parliamentary usage I should be put on the committee as chairman — 

 a position which I could by no means think of accepting. It would, I 

 think, be neither delicate nor in any respect proper that a member of 

 the Board of Regents should sit in judgment on his own cause and 

 over his fellows from whom he has differed. I throw out the sugges- 

 tion, however, with the hope that some Senator will submit the proper 

 resolution. 



Mr. J. M. Mason. Mr. President, I regret that the learned and dis- 

 tinguished gentleman who has declined further service in this public 

 trust should have accompanied his resignation by a communication of 

 the character which has been commented on by the honorable Senator 

 from Maryland. I regret it, because it is impossible that such a com- 

 munication should be allowed to pass in silence when addressed to the 

 Senate, where are found some of those who have been associated in 

 that trust with the writer of the letter. I regret it, because it is 

 unpleasant and ungrateful to speak of the opinions or conduct of those 

 who are absent; but I feel at liberty to do so on the present occasion, 

 because the gentleman who has written this letter has chosen to chal- 

 lenge opinion here. 



Now, sir, what has been done? A Regent of the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution, who has been connected with it, I believe, from the foundation 

 of the Institution, occasionally as a member of this body, chosen a 



