TWENTY-NINTH CONGRESS, 1845-1847. 413 



mode of treating it, the proper adaptation of crops to different soils, 

 etc. , and said he wished to see connected with this institution a depart- 

 ment of agricultural chemistry and a professor of agriculture proper. 



Mr. R. D. Owen (Mr. Hamlin yielding) explained that there was an 

 express provision of the bill to appoint professors of agriculture, and 

 there was also another by which such professors 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 application 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 money in the Treasury, and the 

 United States responsible for the investment of the fund according to 

 the intentions of the testator. 



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

 Much had been said about national honor during this session 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, however, 

 before us was, in his opinion, defective in some of its provisions. I 

 refer particularly to that section which contemplates 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 con- 

 clusion that this clause was objectionable. Normal instruction could 

 onl}' 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 rela- 

 tion to agricultural instruction. He would do all he could to increase 

 and diffuse useful knowledge among the masses, but this could not 

 and would not be attained by such education as would be obtained 

 here, or by collecting at this point a splendid library. The latter 

 might, and unquestionably would, benefit those already learned, but 

 not the people. With the view of attaining that object, he should 

 offer an amendment, which he would ask the clerk to read. [The 

 clerk here read the amendment, which will be found, as offered, at a 

 subsequent stage of the proceedings.] He had hastilj^ glanced at a sub- 

 stitute offered by his colleague [Mr. Hough], just laid on his table, and 



