458 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



of the soil, the proper mode of treating it, the proper adap- 

 tation of crops to dilterent soils, &c., and said he wished to 

 see connected with this institution a department of agricul- 

 tural chemistry, and a professor of agriculture proper. 



Mr. Owen (Mr. Hamlin yielding) explained that there was 

 an express provision of the bill to appoint professors of agri- 

 culture, and there was also another by which such profes- 

 sors of more useful arts and sciences were to be appointed, 

 which would undoubtedly include a professor of chemistry, 

 part of whose duties it would be to lecture on the applica- 

 tion of chemistry to agriculture. 



Mr. Hamlin was aware of this ; but it should be more 

 specifically provided for. 



He noticed one or two features of the bill, and suggested 

 one or two modifications he would like to see made ; but, 

 if it could not be amended, he urged its passage without 

 further delay as a matter of good faith, common honesty, 

 and one promising important benefits to the people and the 

 nation. He considered the luonc}' in the Treasurj-, and the 

 United States responsible for the investment of the fund 

 according to the intentions of the testator. 



Mr. Wood desired to say a very few words upon the bill. 

 Much had been said about national honor during this ses- 

 sion on this floor ; but if there ever was a point in which 

 the national honor was concerned, it was in carrying out the 

 intentions of the testator in his bequest. For my own part, 

 I consider it an honor to my country that the subject of a 

 monarchical government should have selected this as the 

 instrument of his expansive benevolence. The bill, how- 

 ever, before us was, in his opinion, defective in some of its 

 provisions. I refer particularly to that section which con- 

 templates a normal school. When this subject was first 

 mooted, this part of the bill struck him favorably ; but, 

 upon more mature reflection, he had come to the conclusion 

 that this clause was objectionable, l^ormal instruction 

 could only be done, and well done, in the respective States, 

 among several of which it had already been commenced ; 

 and besides, sir, I should deprecate that kind of education 

 that should flow down from this place among the people. 

 He responded with all his heart to the remarks made by the 

 honorable gentleman from Maine, [Mr. Hamlin,] in relation 

 to agricultural instruction. He would do all he could to 

 increase and difiuse useful knowledge among the masses, 

 but this could not, and would not be attained by such edu- 

 cation as would be obtained here, or by collecting at this 

 point a splendid library. The latter might, and unquestion- 



