TWENTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS, 1843-45. 327 



courses of lectures, in the institution, upon literature, science, and art, and 

 the application of science and art, during the sessions of Congress ; to make 

 regulations respecting attendance thereon ; to fix the rates of compensa- 

 tion therefor; and to prescribe from time to time, the subjects of such lee 

 tures, having regard to the character of the audience before whom they are 

 delivered, and the intent of the donor — that is to say, the increase and dif- 

 fusion of knowledge among men. 



The amendment was adopted. 



Mr. Choate next moved to strike out the 8th section, and 

 to substitute the following : 



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

 tutes one of the most permanent, constant, and effectual means of increas- 

 ing and diffusing knowledge among men ; therefore 



Be it further enacted, That an annual expenditure, be made from the in- 

 terest of the fund aforesaid, under the direction of the said managers, on 

 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 wor- 

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



Mr. Crittenden moved to add to it a proviso that, in 

 the purchase of books for said institution, it should be re- 

 garded as a principal object to purchase works on science 

 and the arts, especially such as relate to the ordinary busi- 

 ness of life, and to the various mechanical and other improve- 

 ments and discoveries which may be made. 



Mr. Choate argued that this limitation was not only un- 

 necessary, but would most certainly prove injurious. It was 

 unnecessary, because no national librarj^ such as he con- 

 templated, and such as he hoped the Senate would authorize, 

 could be made complete without every one of the works on 

 science and the arts which the Senators for Ohio and Ken- 

 tucky could possibly desire. The proviso would operate 

 injuriously, by raising a constitutional question of disputa- 

 tion among the managers as to the quantity of money to be 

 applied to this special description of books, and to general 

 literature. If it was stated that, out of a given sum, two- 

 thirds should be devoted to these books, and one-third to 

 other books, they could easily agree ; but indefinitely direct- 

 ing a preference, would be to limit exceedingly in effect the 

 portion to be devoted to works of general literature. 



This point was debated at great length by Messrs. Critten- 

 den, Choate, and Woodbury: ^Ir. Choate being opposed to 

 any proviso, and Alessrs. Crittenden and Woodbury in favor 

 of one sufficiently explanatory to show a preference for the 

 works indicated, without putting an undue restriction on 

 the purchase of all other books suitable to a general library. 



Mr. Hives said he should feel very great repugnance to 

 any provision in this bill which should assume to recognize 

 any important distinction between the different brandies of 



