290 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



they seek no pecimiiiiy reward. To that institute this trust should be 

 confided. He lioped, therefore, that in remodeling the bill the coni- 

 niittee would allow this uiatter its due weight and consideration. 



Mr. Tappan saw no necessity for recommitting the bill to the Com- 

 mittee on the Library or any other committee. The Senate could, 

 without striking out the eighth section, amend it and incorporate such 

 modification as might approve of the proposition made by the Senator 

 from Massachusetts. 



Mr. J. A. Pearce suggested the propriety of postponing the further 

 consideration of the bill till the following da}", by which time gentle- 

 men might make up their minds as to the necessity of remodeling the 

 bill. 

 January 9, 1845 — Senate. 



The unfinished business from January 8 was the bill providing for 

 the establishment of the Smithsonian Institution, the consideration of 

 which was accordingly resumed, as in Committee of the Whole. 



Mr. B. Tappan inquired what was the pending motion. 



The Chair said it was to recommit the bill. 



Mr. Levi Woodbury said that, in compliance with the desire of the 

 Senators who took part in the discussion of yesterday, he would for 

 the present withdraw his motion to recommit. 



Mr. R. Choate also withdrew his motion of amendment, pending 

 at the time the Senator from New Hampshire moved to recommit 

 the bill. 



Mr. Choate then moved to strike out the proviso in the first section 

 of the bill, which runs thus: 



Provided, That the books to be purchased for said Institution shall consist of worki 

 on science and the arts, especially such as relate to the ordinary business of life, and 

 to the various mechanical and other improvements and discoveries which may be 

 made. 



His object was to avoid a premature decision on the point at issue 

 as to the plan of a general library, or a special one limited to works 

 on physical science. By striking out the proviso the Senate woidd 

 not commit itself, the question as to the nature of the library being 

 reserved for amendment to another section of the bill. 



Mr, Tappan considered the motion to strike out the proviso must 

 produce a test vote on the very point, and if that test was desired it 

 might as well be taken on it as on any other amendment. 



He argued that a library limited to the works on sciences and the 

 arts, specified in the proviso, would be the only suitable and a])pro- 

 priate library for the Institution. There was no necessity for another 

 general lil^rary in the city of Washington, where the Government had 

 already the Library of Congress, the libraries of the State, War, Navy, 

 and other public departments, annually augmented by means of large 

 appropriations. 



