414 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



which he thought was less objectionable than the original bill. Yet, 

 sir, I feel in common with others, what is due to the honorable gen- 

 tleman from Indiana [Mr. Owen], the chairman of the committee, for 

 his exertions in this matter, and know how difficult it is to frame a 

 bill to meet the views of all; but difficult as it might be, it was no 

 reason why a beginning should not be made to carry out the intentions 

 of the testator. 



Mr. A. D. Sims offered a substitute for the bill; which was read. 



Mr. William F. Giles submitted an amendment providing for the 

 publication and distribution of books for the instruction of the blind; 

 which was read. He would say nothing in favor of the amendment 

 just read, for it would be a libel on the House to suppose that any 

 argument in favor of it would be required. He took it for granted 

 that the committee would now act on this subject, and he could not 

 believe that the proposition of the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. 

 Adams] would receive the sanction of the committee. In the face of 

 the world we had assumed this trust. We had taken the money under 

 the will of this distinguished stranger, but we had delayed for a long 

 time the execution of the trust. He hoped the faith of the United 

 States would not be allowed to suffer any injury in the eyes of the 

 world by longer delay of action on the subject. There were some por- 

 tions of the bill of the gentleman from Indiana which he would like to 

 see altered. While he had no constitutional scruples himself as to the 

 incorporation of the institution, yet he would be willing, in courtesy 

 to the opinion of others, to strike out that provision from the bill, for 

 all its ends could be accomplished without it. He urged the committee 

 not to delay action, because there was difficulty in each step before 

 them. Congress had power to alter and amend the act and it was now 

 necessary only to take the initiatory step. The form could be altered 

 from time to time so as to carry out the intentions of the testator. 

 The objections urged to a normal school were not well founded. It 

 would send abroad a number of educated men; and was not education 

 the richest boon that could be conferred on the country next to the 

 preservation of liberty. Our institutions were dependent upon intel- 

 ligence and reason; and no matter what profession the young men 

 educated at this school should adopt they would add to the stock of 

 knowledge and diffuse it among men, 



Mr. W. W. Wick said that some opinions had been expressed in the 

 course of the debate which he could not suffer to pass uncontradicted. 

 He alluded to the opinions on the subject of the doctrine of trust. It 

 was alleged that all which the Government was responsible for was the 

 stocks in which the fund had been invested. This fund was intrusted 

 to our charge, and it was important that the honor of the country 

 should be sustained by its faithful execution. He totally dissented, as 

 a lawyer, from the doctrines which had been advanced. A trustee in 



