316 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



omy ! The writers of the first French school, of the Scotch school, (and 

 if we wish for history, we must go beyond the publication of Adam Smiths 

 oreat work,) the Itafian, the new French, and the new English schools, all 

 have not merely a claim upon our attention, but are entitled to u full ant 

 accurate examination. And even then our task would be incomplete ; foi 

 literary justice would require us to trace, through the works of general 

 political writers, the hints and remarks which have contributed to the prog, 

 ress of the branch we are studying, by the discovery of truth or by tin 

 exposition of error. If such be the obligation of the student whose re- 

 searches are confined to a subject so new, what must be the necessities <.. 

 the historian who attempts to throw light upon those period-, for which ilu 

 testimony of printed authorities is to be confronted with that of manuscript: 

 and public documents, and where ignorance and prejudice have combinec 

 with the more powerful incentives of interest to perplex his path by contra 

 dictory statements and conflicting opinions ! 



"Books are needed, not confined to any single branch, but embracinc 

 the whole range of science and of literature, which shall supply the mean- 

 of every species of research and inquiry, and which, placed within read 

 of all, shall leave idleness no excuse for the lightness of its labors, an-1 

 poverty no obstacles which industry may not surmount. 



" Whoever reflects, though but for a moment, upon the niunen>u: 

 branches into which modern literature runs, and remembers that the liter' 

 ary glory of a nation can only be secured by a certain degree of success ir 

 each of them whoever considers the immense mass of varied materials 

 without which no historical work of importance can be composed, or tin 

 extensive learning which is required of even the most gifted genius of ai 

 age like ours, and adds to these considerations the general and undciiial>l< 

 fact that of those who would gladly devote themselves to literature, but < 

 few can ever hope to obtain by their own resources the command of tin 

 works that are essential to the successful prosecution of their studies, v.il 

 be ready to acknowledge that we have, as yet, done but a small part <> 

 what may be justly claimed from a nation which aspires to the first rani- 

 for the liberality, and politeness, and high moral tone of its civilization 

 Late, however, as we are to begin, scarce anything in this department ha: 

 been accomplished in Europe which might not be done with equal succes; 

 in America. And so numerous and manifest are our advantages in som< 

 important particulars, that a prompt will and sound judgment in the execv 

 tion of it might, in the course of a very few years, render the America! 

 student nearly independent of those vast collections which, in Europe, have 

 required centuries for their formation. The undertaking, however, ii 

 order to be successful, should be a national one. Without arguing that m 

 State is fully equal to it, or that in the bounds of any single State it woulc 

 not answer the same purpose, we may be permitted to say that the enlarge' 

 ment of the library of Congress upon those broad principles, the applica 

 tion of which to the collection of books has become a difficult and import 

 ant art, would reflect an honor upon the country equal to the permanen 

 advantages which it would secure to every member of the community." 

 NortJi American Revieiv, vol. 45, p. 137. 



Yet these writers had access to the best library in thit 

 country. 



Now there are very many among us, and every day \vc 

 shall have more, who would feelingly adopt this language 

 Place within their reach the helps that guide the genius anc 

 labors of Germany and England, and lot the genius am 

 labors of Germany and England look to themselves ! GUI 

 learned men would grow more learned and more able ; oui 

 studies deeper and wider; our mind itself exercised anc 



