648 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



* former investment of a part of the funds of that trust, the United States 

 will best promote the object of the testator, and secure the prosperous and 

 profitable action of the Smithsonian Institution, by retaining the funds of 

 that institution in the Public Treasury, and allowing the same interest now 

 paid for the use of those funds. 



Resolved, That it is expedient to enlarge the permanent fund of the insti- 

 tution by the investment of such sums, not exceeding $125,000, as may have 

 been or shall be received for accrued interest or otherwise, in addition to 

 the principal sum of the Smithsonian bequest, and that the said additional 

 sum of $125,000 be received into the Treasury of the United States upon 

 the same terms as those upon which the original fund is now held. 



THIRTY-FOURTH CONGRESS. 



SENATE, January 28, 1856. 



Mr. TRUMBULL presented a memorial from a committee 

 appointed at the Illinois State Educational Convention, 

 praying for a grant of land to each State in the Union, for 

 the purpose of endowing industrial universities, to cooperate 

 with each other, and with the Smithsonian Institution, at 

 Washington, for the education of the industrial classes and 

 their teachers, accompanied by resolutions adopted by the 

 Legislature of the State of Illinois, favoring the project; 

 which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands. 



SENATE, February 12, 1856. 



Mr. MASON gave notice of his intention to ask leave to 

 introduce a joint resolution, providing that the vacancies in 

 the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution of the 

 class other than members of Congress, occasioned by the 

 resignation of Rufus Choatc and the death of lion. Jno. 

 McPherson Berrien, be filled by the appointment of George 

 E. Badger of North Carolina, and C. C. Felton of Massa- 

 chusetts. 



SENATE, February 13, 1856. 



Mr. MASON offered the above resolution; which was read 

 the first time, and ordered to a second reading. 



Mr. MASON. Mr. President, the Board of Regents have 

 been unable to obtain a quorum, in consequence of the delay 

 in organizing the House ; and in order to fill the existing 

 vacancies, it is desirable that the resolution should be acted 

 on at once. It is one to which, I presume, there is no ob- 

 jection; I, therefore, ask for its consideration now. 



There being no objection, the joint resolution was read 

 the second time, and considered as in Committee of the 

 Whole. 



Mr. MASON. Mr. Badger is known to every Senator 

 present; and of Mr. Felton, I would only say that he is 



