THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS, 1849-1851. 473 



therefore only wish to collect those things which are not to be found 

 in the other museums of the country. The}' only wish to explore 

 fields which have not been trodden before. 



The object of the Senator from Wisconsin the effect of his con- 

 struction if sustained is to cripple that fund in the very object for 

 which it was given, and encumber it with the keeping of a great col- 

 lection of art which now belongs to the United States. I do hope 

 that the Senate will reject the resolution. 



Mr. J. A. PEAECE. Mr. President, after what has been said by the 

 Senator from Mississippi it would be unnecessary to say anything 

 more. But I wish to state two considerations which I trust will be 

 sufficient to induce the Senate not to adopt the resolution. In the first 

 place, the resolution assumes that the Board of Regents of the Smith 

 sonian Institution have neglected their duty. I think it can very easilv 

 be shown that they have not neglected this or any other duty imposed 

 upon them. In the next place, all the information which the Senate 

 can possibly derive from any communication the Board of Regents 

 might make in answer to such a call is already in the possession of the 

 Senate. The last annual report of the Board of Regents has been laid 

 before the Senate and printed. That report explains fully their system 

 of operations from the time of their organization. It sets forth the 

 scheme of finance which they adopted, and in pursuance of that scheme 

 of finance, the enlargement of the principal fund, which was rather 

 small, for the great objects of the institution. They propose to extend 

 the erection of the building over a series of years instead of complet- 

 ing it at once by the whole sum which the act of Congress authorized 

 them to apply for that purpose. They have erected the building 

 slowly, so as to apply the accruing interest to the enlargement of the 

 fund and the increase of the general endowment of the institution. 

 The plan of the building under which it is now being erected is pre- 

 cisely that which was adopted in the first instance by the Board of 

 Regents, and which, if it be completed, will, if Congress choose to 

 compel the institution to accept of this donation, enable them to 

 accommodate this museum. The central building will accommodate 

 the library which it is proposed the institution shall have, and also the 

 museum of art. The upper story of the central building is designed 

 for the museum of art, where the collections now in the Patent Office 

 can be placed if Congress insist upon it. They have, therefore, neg- 

 lected no duty; they have done their duty properly, judiciously, 

 economically, faithfully. I suppose no one will charge them with a 

 dereliction of duty because they have endeavored to increase the prin- 

 cipal fund, with the view of having the institution better enabled to 

 carry out the great and noble purposes of its founder. 



We have, therefore, all the information which we can desire, and I 

 see no necessitv for the resolution of the Senator. I would mention 



