THIRTY-SIXTH CONGRESS, 1859-61. 663 



In addition to perverting Mr. Srnithson's benevolent and sa- 

 gacious purposes, defeating one of the greatest ideas that 

 ever entered into the head of a benevolent scholar instead 

 of making such an institution as he wanted, you have 

 founded the great humbug of the land ; and you propose 

 now, in addition to the $36,000, to pay them $10,000 out of 

 the public Treasury. I propose to strike it all out. Now, 

 I am prepared to be castigated by the Senator from Mary- 

 land [Mr. Pearce] just as much as he pleases. 



Mr. TEN EYCK. Kather than have this discussion con- 

 tinued on the merits of the Smithsonian Institution, I move 

 that the Senate do now adjourn. [" On no ! "] 



Mr. FESSENDEN. We shall have it to-morrow instead of 

 to-day. 



Mr. RICE. The understanding was, that we should sit 

 here until five o'clock, and then take a recess until seven 

 o'clock. 



Mr. FOSTER. I would suggest that the motion cannot be 

 entertained. Under the order of the Senate last night, the 

 Senate to-day was to take a recess from five o'clock to seven, 

 and an adjournment now would override the order of the 

 Senate yesterday, and would be an adjournment until to- 

 morrow. Therefore, such a motion, I think, cannot be en- 

 tertained. 



Mr. TEN EYCK. I withdraw the motion. 



Mr. PEARCE. Mr. President 



Mr. BIGLER. There is no difficulty in taking a recess 

 now. 



The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maryland is 

 entitled to the floor. 



Mr. PEARCE. I shall not consume much of the time of the 

 Senate by replying to the attack which the Senator from 

 New Hampshire has made on the Smithsonian Institution. 

 Some years ago the plan of that institution was the subject 

 of deliberate investigation by a committee of the Senate. 

 It was discussed here in this body. It was referred to the 

 Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on the Ju- 

 dicary approved the plan of the institution for the increase 

 and diffusion of knowledge among men. The Senator 

 from New Hampshire has not given us any great reason to 

 respect his authority on this subject, because he started out 

 with a confession that he knew nothing about it; and, con- 

 fessing so much, I take it that the Senate will take him at 

 his word and estimate the value of his remarks at just what 

 he himself admits them to be worth. It is enough, sir, that 



