Sie i ay The Sataeohion Institution. 3 
bi = 
Se reaicely a library?’* ‘This is a view taken by Messrs. oat 
_ sand Meacham, of the Board of Regents. Another party, c 
‘prising a large majority of the present Board, maintains hale a 
library is not the end or purpose, nor an end of the Institution, 
but is one of the fictrotlesil or means by which the objects o 
the establishment are to be subserved ;—these objects being “ the 
increase and diffusion of knowledge among men,” as expressed 
in the will of the founder, and affirmed in the act of Congress 
which established the Institution and prescribed the way in which 
they are to be attained. Of the large majority of the present man- 
agers of the institution, coinciding in this general view, some 
would give the library more, others less prominence : but they 
all agree in principle as to their duties and obligations under the 
aw,—maintaining as they do, in opposition to the first-named 
of about $25,000 for the library, nor of anything like that ie 
except when in their judgment it may be most expedien 
fact, to use the language of one of the number, they are ‘‘ coed 
to making the library the principal or controlling feature of the 
Institution,” but “regard it as one of the i important instruments to 
be used in ‘accomplishing the desired en 
This latter view has constantly prevailed in the Board of Re- 
favored the amplest appropriations ever proposed for the library, 
have evidently done so in the exercise of a discretion over the 
amount, which they understood to be conferred upon them by the 
law. By good majorities the Board of Regents ose directed the 
action and operations of the Institution so as to make the 
library “ the paramount interest” or controlling aie of it, but 
only one among several means or instruments of increasing and 
diffusing knowledge. Hence the controversy, which has been 
carried on with so much spirit and feeling, in the Institution and 
else where. 
The voluminous minority Report of Mr. Meacham (Doe. No. 
5, supra), and the able and eloquent arguments of Mr. Choate 
| oan to induce the Board of Regents to change their 
ourse, an appeal, in effect, was made to Congress, ip-a letter of 
resignation of his office of Regent by Mr. Choate ;—the result of 
which is to be found in the discussion which arose theretipon in 
the Senate (Doc. No. 7); in the Report of the Judiciary Com- 
mittee of that body (Doc. No. 8)—chosen from among its ablest 
jurists, —unanimously approving ‘thé action of the Board of Re- 
gents ; and in the two reports from the select investigating com- 
* Report of Mr. Meacham ; cena iba 5, in the enumeration given above 
a _ Mr. English, Speech in use of Representatives; document No. 9%, 
