The Smithsonian Library 267 



The first section of the bill contained the following clause : 



" Provided, That the books to be purchased for said institu- 

 tion shall consist of works on science and the arts, especially 

 such as relate to the ordinary business of life, and to the 

 various mechanical and other improvements and discoveries 

 which may be made." 



Mr. Choate moved to strike out this proviso "to avoid a 

 premature decision on the point at issue as to the plan of 

 a general library, or a special one limited to works on physi- 

 cal science." 



Senator Tappan, of Ohio, opposed the motion. " He 

 argued that a library limited to the works on sciences and 

 the arts, specified in the proviso, would be the only suitable 

 and appropriate library for the institution." 



Senator Pearce, of Maryland, agreed with Mr. Choate and 

 desired that the Institution should become a "complete na- 

 tional library." 



Mr. Choate's resolution to strike out the provision finally 

 prevailed. 



Mr. Choate next moved to strike out the eighth section, 

 and to substitute the amendment given above. 



Senator Crittenden, of Kentucky, moved to add a proviso 

 limiting the classes of books which might be purchased. 



" Mr. Choate argued that this limitation was not only un- 

 necessary, but would most certainly prove injurious. It was 

 unnecessary, because no national library, such as he contem- 

 plated, and such as he hoped the Senate would authorize, 

 could be made complete without every one of the works on 

 science and the arts which the Senators for Ohio and Ken- 

 tucky could possibly desire." 



Senator Rives, of Virginia, thought " if we were to have a 

 library at all to carry out this great object, it really seemed 



