320 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



recommend. In the theory of it, that library is collected 

 merely to furnish Cone!;ress and the Government with the 

 means of doing their official business. In its theory it must 

 be, in some sort, a professional library ; and the expenditure 

 we now make — five thousand dollars in a year, or, as last 

 year, two thousand and five hundred — can never carry it up 

 to the rank and enable it to fulfill the functions of a truly 

 great and general public library of science, literature, and 

 art. The value of books which could be added under the 

 appropriations of the last year, cannot greatly exceed 

 twentj'-two hundred dollars. Doubtless, however, in the 

 course of forming the two, it would be expedient and inevi- 

 table to procure to a great extent different books for each. 



I do not think, Mr. President, that I am more inclined 

 than another to covet enviously anything which the older 

 civilization of Europe possesses which we do not. I do not 

 suppose that I desire, any more than you, or than any of 

 you, to introduce here those vast inequalities of fortune, 

 that elaborate luxury, that fantastic and extreme refinement. 

 But I acknowledge a pang of envy and grief that there 

 should be one drop or one morsel more of the bread or 

 water of intellectual life tasted by the European than by the 

 American mind. Why should not the soul of this country 

 eat as good food and as much of it as the soul of Europe ? 

 Why should a German or an Englishman sit down to a re- 

 past of five hundred thousand books, and an American 

 scholar, who loves truth as well as he, be put on something 

 less than half allowance ? Can we not trust ourselves with 

 eo much of so good a thing ? Will our digestion be im- 

 paired by it ? Are we afraid that the stimulated and fervid 

 faculties of this young nation will be oppressed and over- 

 laid ? Because we have liberty which other nations have 

 not, shall we reject the knowledge which they have and 

 which we have not ? Or will you not rather say, that, 

 because we are free, therefore will we add to our freedom 

 that deep learning and that diffused culture which are its 

 grace and its defense ? 



He concluded by moving the following amendment: 



Strike out the eighth section and insert 



Sec. 8. And whereas an ample and well selected public library consti- 

 tutes one of the permanent, constant, and effectual means of increasing and 

 diffusing knowledge among men; therefore 



B^. it further enacted, That a sum not less than $20,000 bo annually ex- 

 pended, of the interest of the fund aforesaid, in the purchase of books and 

 manuscripts for the formation of a library of the institution aforesaid, 

 which, for its extent, variety, and value, shall be worthy of the donor of 

 the said fund, and of this nation, and of the age. 



