594 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



struetcd "to prepare a report upon the subject of the formation of 

 such a library, indicating its general character," etc. 



In their report, which was long and elaborate, the committee say: 



They see in the language of the act, which the Regents are created to administer, 

 and in the history of the passage of that act, a clear intimation that such a library 

 was regarded by Congress as prominent among the more important means of increas- 

 ing and diffusing knowledge among men. This intimation they think should control, 

 in a great degree, the acts of the Regents. They will not, however, withhold the 

 expression that the apparent policy of Congress in this particular is marked by pro- 

 found wisdom, that it rests on a right of construction of the terms, and an enlarged 

 appreciation of the spirit of the bequest. 



Thc}^ recommended the appropriation of $20,000 of the income "for 

 the present" to the library, independent of salaries, and this recom- 

 mendation was adopted. I pause to remark, that if this resolution had 

 been carried out, we should even now have much the largest library 

 in this country. It would be something to have, to see, to use, to grow, 

 and 1 ask you to place beside this the half dozen quarto and the half 

 dozen octavo volumes published by the Institution, and tell me which 

 you would prefer? Which would tend most for the increase and dif- 

 fusion of knowledge? 



Instead of this library what have we? Why, sir, a meager collection 

 of some 14,000 volumes, besides pamphlets, etc., made up of copyright 

 books, imperfect sets of periodicals and publications of societies, and 

 university theses — with doubtless a good proportion of important and 

 valuable works; but the whole how insignificant in comparison with 

 the great and noble design! We have heard it stated that the library 

 is worth $40,000. This is a preposterously exaggerated estimate. I 

 do not believe that an intelligent bookseller could be found who would 

 value it at a third of the sum! If the value of the museum and appa- 

 ratus be equally exaggerated we must abate largely from the vaunted 

 possessions of the Institution; and then, sir, this library is cramped 

 into inconvenient and uncomfortable quarters, and shut up from the 

 public, at a time, too, when there is an unusual concourse of people at 

 the Institution. 



As to the origin of the present difficulties, 1 particularly demur to 

 the statement of the gentleman from Indiana. He represents the ques- 

 tion to have been whether the funds should be used to build up a library 

 as a paramount object, or whether they should be applied, not only for 

 a library, but for such other purposes as the Regents might think would 

 best accord with the will of Smithson and the act of Congress. Not so, 

 sir. The present difficulty originated in a proposition to annul the 

 "compromise" which divided the income equally between the library 

 and the museum on one part, and publications, researches, and lectures 

 on the other; for the purpose of giving more to the latter department, 

 making that a paramount and controlling interest. 



Let me briefly explain this compromise. 



