412 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



The Government was bound, after solemnly accepting the trust, to 

 execute it faithfully. 



Mr. JOHN BELL spoke on the same side of the question. It was eight 

 years since the United States (he said) had accepted this trust, which 

 was one of a delicate and important character. The question was in 

 what manner the trust should be discharged. He held that the United 

 States was responsible for the fund and ought to appropriate it for 

 its object. He hoped that Arkansas would one day pay the mone^, 

 but he feared it would be a distant day. It was necessary to act now. 

 He did not wholly approve of the bill reported, but he would take it 

 rather than do nothing. 



Mr. W. J. HOUGH sent to the Chair a substitute for the bill, which 

 he gave notice he would offer, and it was read. 



The committee then rose and reported progress. 



On motion of Mr. GEORGE W. HOPKINS (and under the operation 

 of the previous question), a resolution was adopted providing that all 

 debate on this bill (in committee) should cease in one hour after it 

 should again have been taken up. 

 April 29, 1846 House. 



On motion of Mr. JAMES J. McKAY, the House resolved itself into 

 Committee of the Whole (Mr. A.BURT, of South Carolina, in the chair), 

 and resumed the consideration of the bill to provide for the establish- 

 ment of a Smithsonian Institution for the increase and diffusion of 

 knowledge among men. 



The amendment given notice by Mr. ANDREW JOHNSON on the pre- 

 vious evening was read at the request of several members. 



Some conversation ensued between Mr. Owen and others. 



Mr. HANNIBAL HAMLIN briefly addressed the committee. He 

 regarded this fund as one which had been received by the Government 

 to carry out the intentions of Mr. Smithson, to which, by their accept- 

 ance, they had solemnly bound themselves. 



He alluded to the difficulty nay, the impossibility of any select 

 committee agreeing upon a plan which in all its details should be in 

 accordance with the views of all. Notwithstanding this, he trusted we 

 should not let this opportunity go by to make a commencement in this 

 matter. He had not the slightest doubt of the full and unqualified 

 power of this Government to take charge of this money and give it 

 the direction required by the will of Mr. Smithson. 



While there were features in the bill with which he was not entirely 

 pleased, he should vote for the bill in case it was not amended. But 

 there were some amendments to the bill of the gentleman from Indiana 

 [Mr. Owen] to which he would fain hope that gentleman himself would 

 lend a favorable ear. One related to the appropriation of a part of it 

 to the science of agriculture. He referred to the general and deplora- 

 ble want of information of the components of the soil, the proper 



