TWENTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS, 1843-45. 331 



The question was then taken on Mr. Crittenden's amend- 

 ment, as modified, and it was rejected — ayes 15, noes 21. 



Mr. NiLES now moved to amend tlie amendment, by lim- 

 iting the purchase of books to $5,000 annually. 



Mr. Buchanan inquired if $5,000 a year Avas to build up 

 a library worthy of the donor, this nation, and this age ? 



The amendment was rejected. 



The question now reverted on Mr. Choate's amendment, 

 and it was adopted. 



Mr, Tappan, before the motion to recommit was made, 

 wished to test the sense of the Senate as to his original plan 

 of adding some of the interest to the principal so as to 

 make the fund $600,000. He therefore mov^ed to amend 

 the first section by adding $91,682 out of the interest due, 

 to the original fund, so that the investment should be 

 $600,000. ' 



Mr. Choate objected to this as, in effect, cutting oft" the 

 means for establishing a national library. The buildings 

 for the institution, the enclosures of ground, and the pur- 

 chase of objects of natural history, would possibly consume 

 80 much of the residue of interest as to leave little or none 

 for founding the library, or erecting a suitable building for 

 one. It might take from $150,000 to $200,000 for all these ; 

 but till details and estimates were properly investigated, it 

 would not, in any case, be prudent to divert the manage- 

 ment of this accumulated interest. 



Mr. Buchanan thought it was desirable, if it could be 

 done without defeating the objects intended, to increase the 

 capital by this addition of a part of the interest. 



Mr. Tappan put his motion in a definite form. 



Mr. Simmons argued that, until some plan was agreed upon 

 as to the manner of carrying out the intention of the donor, 

 it would be highly imprudent to make a permanent invest- 

 ment of means that might be wanted in the accomplish- 

 ment of the object. 



Mr. Tappan urged that $117,000 of the interest would re- 

 main, which could be as much as the managers would lay 

 out with advantage in the first year ; and for the second, 

 they would have $36,000 on the $600,000. The $6,000 

 would cover the expenses of lectures and experiments, 

 leaving annually $30,000 for collecting a library, and the 

 other purposes required of the management. 



The amendment was rejected. 



Mr. Morehead suggested a renewal of the amendment, 

 making the addition $41,682, instead of $91,862, so that the 



