302 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



he would have enjoined the establishment of such a library. He was 

 in favor of a prudent limitation with regard to that branch of the 

 institution, and should therefore submit a motion to that effect. 



The question was then taken on Mr. Crittenden's amendment, as 

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



Mr. NiLES now moved to amend the amendment, by limiting- the 

 purchase of books to $5,000 annually. 



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

 librar}' 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 moved 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 off the means for 

 establishing a national library. The buildings for the institution, the 

 inclosures of ground, and the purchase of objects of natural history, 

 would possibly consume so 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 management of this accumulated 

 interest. 



Mr. Buchanan thought it was desirable, if it could be done with- 

 out 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. J. F. 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 investment of means that 

 might be wanted in the accomplishment of the object. 



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

 which would be as much as the managers could 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 exper- 

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

 purposes required of the management. 



The amendment was rejected. 



Mr. J. T. MoREHEAD suggested a renewal of the amendment, 

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

 fund would be $550,000, bearing an interest of $33,000 a j^ear. 



