372 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1891. 



Senate they did not reacli the committee until more than a week after they were re- 

 ferred; and when taken np in committee the session had approached very nearly its 

 termination. I do not remember whether when so taken up they were read in ex- 

 tenso; but the " bill" which accompanied them was read and its principle discussed. 

 The committee was, I believe, unanimous in its opinion that it was not expedient to 

 pass the bill; if at any time, certainly not until the Library Committee should have 

 fully executed and terminated the trust committed to it by law. Very much incon- 

 venience and embarrassment had already grown out of a confliction of an alleged 

 power of control and direction, especially in relation to the "specimens of natural 

 history," etc., collected, and in respect to which it has been made the duty of the 

 Library Committee to cause to be prepared the appropriate publications. 



Great responsibility must grow out of the execution of those powers, for a wide 

 discretion must of necessity be exercised. Without expressing any opinion as to 

 what disposition should finally — and after the powers of the committee in the matter 

 shall have ceased — be made of those rare, rich, and beautiful materials, it remained the 

 undivided opinion of the members of the committee, I believe, that while those pow- 

 ers and correlative duties existed it was necessary that those materials should con- 

 tinue in the entire control of the committee. 



This conclusion being come to, the whole subject of the bill, ''remarks," etc., was 

 committed to Mr. Tappan, as a subcommittee, with directions to prepare and make 

 report accordingly. 



After this last measure was adopted in committee, I believe the committee did not 

 meet again; but it was certainly understood that Mr. Tappan should report to the 

 Senate this result. 



Without respect to the doubt which had been raised as to whether all the powers 

 of the Library Committee continued after the 3d of March, I hazard nothing, I be- 

 lieve, in saying that in analogy to the case of certain officers of Congress, those 

 powers were believed by the committee (on which, as you. are aware, there were 

 some professional gentlemen of very high standing) to continue during the recess, 

 and it was in corroboration of that opinion asserted that always since the founda- 

 tion of the Government the same construction had been put upon the Constitution 

 and the powers of Congress. In conformity with that view, I have been reqiiired, 

 as chairman of the joint committee, to draw, in the name of that committee, ui)on 

 the funds subject to its order for sums of money for books, salaries, compensations, 

 etc., since the close of its last session. How else could the law be executed or justice 

 be done? 



I trouble you with this long detail, my dear sir, because of the personal esteem 

 and respect which, I beg leave to say, I entertain for you individually, and because I 

 very sincerely regret that anything should have occurred in this matter tending to 

 wound your feelings or to give you pain. 



As chairman of that most highly respected committee whose proceedings have 

 been the subject of comment, it may perhaps be esteemed indelicate in me to have 

 made this exposition without its previous sanction. Please, therefore, consider this 

 letter as intended for yourself alone. 



I remain, with sincere respect, yours, 



Wm. Woodbrjbge. 



:note e. 



! JO January 21, 1845. 



Sill: I have the honor of transmitting to you the memorial of the National Insti- 

 tute, drawn up in pursuance of a resolution of the Institute of the 10th of Decem- 

 ber. And in further obedience to the resolution, I have to request that you will do 

 the Institute the favor of presenting the memorial to the consideration of the Senate 

 and House of Representatives. 



The papers herewith, and which constitute the memorial are: 



(1) The memorial as directed by the resolution. 



