TWENTY-NINTH CONGRESS, 1845-1847. 367 



There are other features in this bill, Mr. Chairman, upon which it 

 would be interesting to comment, if the hour allotted by the rules of 

 the House would permit. The lectures by able men of science, the 

 cheap and useful publications, and the investigations which the managers 

 have power to direct may be made, by judicious direction, to con- 

 tribute to the most useful and important ends. But these things will 

 suggest themselves to the mind of every intelligent man. 



I approve heartily the provision which forbids the establishment of 

 any school of law, or medicine, or divinity, or any professorship 

 of ancient languages. The scope of my remarks throughout has been 

 in accordance with this view and, I hope, will fully justify the position. 

 The number of persons who could be educated by all the funds of this 

 Institution must, of necessity, be very limited; and unless they be 

 instructed with a view to communicate the light and diffuse the 

 knowledge received, the benefits of the establishment would not be 



The annual appropriation of $10,000 for the gradual formation of 

 a library might have been limited to a smaller amount with a better 

 result. But the managers will doubtless act with wisdom and discretion. 



By proper management this Institution may doubtless be made the 

 instrument of immense good to the whole country. To the Govern- 

 ment it will be of no slight advantage. It will be a great Institution. 

 It may attain a character as high as that of the French Academy; and 

 its authority will then be decisive in reference to numerous questions 

 of a scientific nature, continually presented to the committees of Con- 

 gress and the Departments of Government for determination and con- 

 sequent action. Such an institution is greatly needed in the Federal 

 city. It is fortunate, not less for the public service than for the ad- 

 vantage of the individual citizen, that the opportunity is now afforded 

 to accomplish so important an object. I can not doubt that the oppor- 

 tunity will be seized with alacrity and improved with something of 

 that spirit of liberality and intelligence which I think is embodied in 

 the bill now before the committee. 



Mr. WILLIAM SAWYER moved to amend the bill by striking out 

 " six," in the first section, and inserting in lieu thereof " five." 



There was a motion pending to strike out the whole bill, and therefore 

 this motion to amend was in order. 



The ninth section was not under consideration, but when it should 

 be he would move to amend it, in the fourth line, by inserting after 

 the word "therein" the following proviso: 



Provided, That such students shall be selected from the different States and Terri- 

 tories of the United States according to the ratio of representation in Congress. 



He thought 5 per cent as high a rate of interest as was proper. He 

 was not willing that his constituents should be saddled with so high a 

 rate of interest as 6 per cent, for the people must pay it out of their 

 pockets. For a permanent loan 5 per cent was high enough. 



