PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS. 513 



Mr. Voorhees. "Mr. President, I am opposed to legislating a 

 contract into any one man's hands on a subject where competition 

 ought to take place. 1 do not know how often it has been done 

 heretofore, but in every instance where it has been done it is wrong. 

 A work of this kind ought to be open to competition. Every artist 

 ought to lie allowed to compete for a work of this character. The 

 Senator from Vermont very justly reminds me that Mr. Story is an 

 eminent artist. 1 know that. There are other eminent artists in 

 the country ; and all of them think they are. Every one of them 

 desires to put his skill on exhibition, and it is his right to do so. I 

 think that the bill ought to he amended by making this work sub- 

 ject to competition, rather than a direct contract with Mr. Story." 



Mr. Morrill. "I hope my friend from Indiana will not move 

 any amendment. Mr. Story is the son of the late Chief-Justice 

 Story, and is one of the most eminent artists of this country or any 

 other, and has never received an order from the < Government. He 

 is eminent in very many other respects than as a sculptor. I trust 

 there will lie no amendment ottered. It is no more than justice to 

 the very eminent men, — the living as well as the dead, — to both 

 the philosopher to whom we propose to erect the monument, and the 

 artist whom it is proposed to employ; and the sum offered is a very 

 small one indeed." 



Mr. Voorhees. "It is difficult for me to withstand an appeal 

 or request preferred by the Senator from Vermont, but I am satis- 

 fied that the hill ought to be amended so as to allow competition." 



Mr. Morrill. "I hope not." 



The President pro tempore. "Does the Senator from Indiana 

 move an amendment '?" 



Mr. Voorhees. "I have not done so." 



The bill was reported to the Senate without amendment, ordered 

 to be engrossed for a third reading, read the third time, and passed. 



The title was amended so as to read : "A Bill for the erection of 

 a bronze statue of Joseph Henry, late Secretary of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution." 



33 



