528 CONGEESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



of opinion — a difference of opinion sincerely entertained — and one 

 which we should, therefore, meet with the spirit of firmness, of candor, 

 and of kindness. 



I regret that the discussion has arisen rendering it necessary to go 

 into an argument to show which is right and which wrong in the con- 

 struction of the act. In fact, sir, I believe I will not allow myself to 

 be drawn into an argument on that question. If this matter is to be 

 referred to a committee, certainly any discussion of that question 

 would be more appropriate after a report of the committee. I shall 

 therefore content myself with saying that my firm conviction is that 

 the only difference which has arisen in the management of the Insti- 

 tution is a difference on two points: First, as to what direction this 

 fund ought to take; secondly, the belief that a direction has been given 

 to it which is not authorized by the law creating the Institution. I 

 am under the impression that some Regents have voted in the minority 

 on this question, not because they believe the original plan adopted 

 by Congress was the best, but because they felt themselves compelled, 

 under the law as it stood, to vote as they did, 



Mr. G. E. Badger. Mr, President, I do not exactly agree in the sug- 

 gestion thrown out by my friend from Maryland that it is necessary 

 that the letter which is before the Senate should become the subject 

 of investigation by a committee of this body; but 1 shall, notwith- 

 standing, readil}^- yield my own notions upon that subject to the wish 

 he has expressed. Allow me, however, to present very briefly the 

 views which have struck me on this occasion. 



The very eminent and distinguished gentleman who has sent in this 

 letter of resignation has assigned two reasons why he retires from 

 assisting in the management of this trust fund. One is that he can not 

 give the time necessary to attend the meetings of the Board of Regents. 

 As has been said by my friend from Maryland, this is a full, ample, 

 and perfect reason not only why he is excusable for retiring, but why 

 it is his bounden duty to retire, for while he holds a place there the 

 public has a right to expect him to give the necessary time to dis- 

 charge its duties. So soon as he ascertains that he can not, consistently 

 with his other engagements, give that time, he is bound to retire and to 

 give way to some other gentleman who may have both the inclination 

 and the power to render the service which the country expects from a 

 member of that board. 



I wish very sincerely, Mr. President, that the letter of resignation 

 had there closed, because I, for one, am unable to give any appropriate 

 character to the residue of the letter. It must be viewed in one of 

 three aspects — either as an appeal to Congress from the judicial decision 

 which has been pronounced by the Board of Regents upon the inter- 

 pretation of that act, or as an appeal to Congress against the malver- 

 sation of a certain class of public officers, to the extent that their 



