MEMOIRS OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. 801 



APRIL 28, 1846. 



Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, Ar- 

 mistead Burt in the chair, on the Smithsonian bequest bill. 

 Sims, of South Carolina, opposed the bill in every shape 

 and form it could assume. He held Congress had no power 

 by the Constitution to accept such a trust, and was for re- 

 turning the money to the chancery of England. 



I made a desultory speech in support of the substitute 

 proposed by me for the bill. They were both debated till 

 the committee rose without coming to a conclusion, and 

 other amendments were proposed. George W. Hopkins, of 

 Virginia, moved a resolution to close the debate in Commit- 

 tee of the Whole in one hour after it should be next taken 

 up which was carried, by means of the previous question, 

 and the House adjourned. 





