484 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



law, which I now have before me ; it was printed and circu- 

 lated. Another report is about to be presented, embracing- 

 the report of the building committee, a paper containing 

 some three hundred pages, full of useful information, which 

 I should be happy to see printed. Is it then necessary to 

 appoint a committee ? Is it proper ? Is it becoming ? A 

 committee of this House appointed " to superintend the 

 affairs of the Smithsonian Institution!" This committee 

 will'bring under its supervision the Vice-President of the 

 United States, the Chief Justice, three Senators, three Rep- 

 resentatives, and six citizens at large, selected because of 

 their character and attainments. May I most respectfully 

 ask, who will superintend the affairs of that committee of 

 five? Where is the necessity for thus complicating the 

 machinery of an institution which ought to be left to enjoy 

 the repose which science loves ? 



I hope, sir, that this institution, so important to this coun- 

 try and to mankind, will not be launched on the ever-heav- 

 ing sea of politics. If that should happen, we should soon 

 lose sight of land ; storms and shipwreck would await us, 

 and the hopes which crowned our noble enterprise in its 

 commencement would perish with us. 



I thank the House for the attention with which they have 

 heard these remarks ; it evinces the interest which they feel 

 in an institution which claims their protection. 



Mr. Hilliard concluded by moving to lay the proposed 

 rule on the table. 



Mr. ANDREW JOHNSON said he thought he understood the 

 agreement between the gentleman from- Alabama and the 

 gentleman from Pennsylvania to be, that this subject should 

 be postponed to a day certain. 



Mr. C. J. INGERSOLL. My suggestion was, that the con- 

 sideration of the subject be postponed to any given day 

 which the gentleman from Alabama might name. 



Mr. HILLIARD. I have no choice at all, sir. 



Mr. INGERSOLL indicating his wish that the gentleman 

 from Alabama should name the day. 



Mr. HILLIARD said he would move, if agreeable to the- 

 House, that it be postponed to this day twelve months. 



Mr. ANDREW JOHNSON addressed the chair, and inquired 

 if that motion was not debatable ? 



The SPEAKER replied in the affirmative. 



Mr. C. J. INGERSOLL suggested to Mr. Hilliard that his 

 understanding was that it should be postponed to some day 

 not distant, when the House could reach and dispose of it. 



Mr. HILLIARD said he would withdraw the motion, as he- 



