292 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



for a library will benefit a few only, not the mass; that it is exclusive 

 and of the nature of monopoly. It is to be remembered that this fund 

 is a gift; that we take it just as it is given, and that by its terms it 

 must be disbursed here. Any possible administration of it, therefore, 

 is exposed to the cavil that all can not directly and literally and 

 equally partake of it. How many and of what classes of youth, from 

 Louisiana or Illinois or New England, for example, can attend the 

 lectures of your professor of astronomy ? But I say it is a positive 

 and important argument for the mode of application which I urge, 

 that it is so diffusive. Think of the large absolute numbers of those 

 who, in the succession of years, will come and partake directly of these 

 stores of truth and knowledge! Think of the numbers without num- 

 ber who through them, who by them indirectly, will partake of the 

 same stores! Studious men will come to learn to speak and write to 

 and for the growing millions of a generally educated community. 

 They will learn that they may communicate. They can not hoard if 

 they would, and they would not if they could. They take in trust to 

 distribute, and every motive of ambition, of interest, of duty, will 

 compel them to distribute. They buy in gross to sell by retail. 

 The lights which they kindle here will not be set under a bushel, but 

 will burn on a thousand hills. No, sir; a rich and public library is no 

 antirepublican monopoly. Who was the old Egyptian king that 

 inscribed on his library the words, "The dispensary of the soul?" 

 You might quite as well inscribe on it, "Armory, and light, and foun- 

 tain of liberty ! " 



It may possibly be inquired what account I make of the Library of 

 Congress. I answer that I think it already quite good, and improv- 

 ing; but that its existence constitutes no sort of argument against the 

 formation of such a one as I recommend. In the theory of it that 

 library is collected merely to furnish Congress and the Government 

 with the means of doing their official business. In its theory it must 

 be, in some sort, a professional library; and the expenditure we now 

 make $5,000 in a year, or, as last year, $2,500 can never carry it up 

 to the rank and enable it to fulfill the functions of a truly great 

 and general public library of science, literature, and art. The value of 

 books which could be added under the appropriations of the last year 

 can not greatly exceed $2,200. Doubtless, however, in the course of 

 forming the two it would be expedient and inevitable to procure to a 

 great extent different books for each. 



I do not think, Mr. President, that I am more inclined than another 

 to covet enviously anything which the older civilization of Europe 

 possesses which we do not. I do not suppose that I desire any more 

 than you, or than any of you, to introduce here those vast inequali- 

 ties of fortune, that elaborate luxury, that fantastic and extreme 

 refinement. But I acknowledge a pang of envy and grief that there 



