226 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



improvement of the condition of man, but that the Ameri- 

 can people themselves will require a liberal application of 

 their own revenues, levied upon themselves, to the same 

 lofty-spirited purpose. The committee are of opinion that 

 it will be expedient to keep the Smithsonian bequest within 

 itself, resting upon its own resources, and reserving to the 

 memory of the founder himself whatever of credit or of 



fratitude may be due to the successful accomplishment of 

 is benevolent design. Not a ray of glory can be concen- 

 trated upon him, but will be reflected back upon those 

 whom he selected as his administrators and trustees. 



With these observations, the committee submit the bill 

 and proposed amendments to the consideration of the 

 House. 



A BILL to provide for the disposal and management of the fund be- 

 queathed by James Smithson to the United States, for the establishment 

 of an institution for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among im>n. 



SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative* <>f the 

 United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Vice -President of 

 the United States, the Chief Justice of the United States, the Secretaries of 

 State, of the Treasury, of War, and of the Navy, the Attorney General of 

 the United States, and the Mayor of the city of Washington, all during 

 the time when they shall hold their respective offices, together with three 

 members of the Senate and four members of the House of Representatives, 

 to be annually elected by their respective Houses on the second Wednesday 

 of December, and to continue in office until others are elected in their 

 stead, shall be, and hereby are, constituted a body politic and corporate, by 

 the style and title of the trustees of the Smithsonian Institution for the in- 

 crease and diffusion of knowledge among men, with perpetual succession, 

 and the usual powers, duties, and liabilities, incident to corporations. 



SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the corporation so constituted 

 shall have power to appoint, from citizens of the United States other than 

 members of the board, a secretary and a treasurer, to hold their offices 

 during the pleasure of the board, and removable at their pleasure, and 

 others to be appointed in their places, and to fix their compensations. And 

 the secretary and treasurer only shall receive pecuniary compensation for 

 their services, and those of the members of the board of trustees shall be 

 gratuitous. And the offices of secretary and treasurer may, at the discre- 

 tion of the board of trustees, be held by the same person. The secretary 

 and treasurer shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of the duties of their 

 respective offices ; and the treasurer shall give bond, with the penalty of 

 fifty thousand dollars, with sureties to the satisfaction of the Secretary of 

 the Treasury, for the safe custody and faithful application of all the funds 

 of the Institution which may come to his hands or be at his disposal. 



SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the sum of five hundred and 

 eight thousand three hundred and eighteen dollars and forty-six cents, 

 placed in the Treasury of the United States on the first day of September, 

 eighteen hundred and thirty-eight, as the proceeds, in part, of the bequest 

 of James Smithson to the United States, together with all sums which have 

 been or may hereafter be realized, shall be passed hereafter to the credit of 

 $i fund, to be denominated the Smithsonian fund, in the Treasury of the 

 United States. And the faith of the United States is hereby pledged for 

 the preservation of the said fund undiminished and unimpaired, to bear in- 

 terest at the rate of six per cent, a year, payable on the first days of Janu- 



