Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-01-25
SEVENTH WEEK OF THE SESSION.

p
frnon THE DAILY NATIONAL 20
More than half Of the present session Of Congress
has already passed away without single act Of any
consequence having been consummated
BY far the most important business that has yet
been transacted at this session. is that which belongs
to the Senate in its Executive character; and may
be added, by the way, that the subject which has
occupied one-haf Of the whole time of sitting OF the
other branch Of Congress is business 1.-THE annexa-
ton question: which properly belongs to the Sen
ate, and upon which the House Of Representatives
cannot without usurping authority that, so lar
as either House Of Congress concerned belongs 10
the Senate only.
The most important action by the Senate during
the last week was upon the Treaty with China,
which had the rare honor Of being ratified without
dissenting vote. Had itbeen in our power we should
have spread before our readers to-day the documents
connected with the negotiation of that treaty. some
of which are, we understand, of much interest. 1t
has not vet been determined, however, by the COM
mittee which has the subject in charge, what portion
of them shall be made public and what portion re-
served. 1t is rather to be apprehended that the
documents may, without discrimination, as has hap
pened in one or two heretofore, find their way
to the public through the press without the consent
or permission of the Senate. But we should hope
that in this case, the press secondng the views Of
the Government will refrain from publishing any
thing of which the proper authorities do not think it
advisable to authorize the publication.
The most interesting Legislative transaction of the
Senate during the last week was the report back
from the committee, with amendments, of the bill
to carry into effect the Smithsonian bequest.
II must be satisfaction to all readers to learn
that bill for realizing the noble gift to know
ledge in this country which Mr.. SMIrHsoS made, is
at length before Congress.
part Of the amended bill now reported by the
Senate contains the following provisions and to it,
we think, will turn the main hopes which those low
ing or excelling in the higher intellectual pursuits
may form of the benefits to be derived from this rich
bequest to knowledge:
"And whereas an ample and well-selected public
library constitutes of the most permanent con-
slant, and efectual means of increasing and dius-
: ing knowledge among men therefore, BE ii fur
Their enacted, That an annual expenditure of not
hess than twenty thousand dollars be made, from
the interest of the fund aforesaid under the direc
ton of the said managers in the purchase of books
and manuscripts, for the foundation of library Of
in due proportion, without preference excu-
sion of any, works pertaining to all the depart
ments of human knowledge, well physical
science and the applications of science to the arts
of life, as all other science, philosophy, history,
literature and art; and which, for its extent,
riety, and value, shall be worthy Of the donor Of
the said fund, and of this nation, and Of the age"
The speech Of Mr.. CHoATE, rich with SO many
just thoughts in fine imagery, has already pointed
out strong reasons for directing the main purpose
of the intended foundation towards the forming of
great and truly learned library. Let us add few
simple suggestions of our
II is plain that books are become the only great
instrument Of advancing knowledge, and that the
quantity and excellence of this latter is now every
where in proportion to the abundance and goodness
of books alone What nation has not in its libra
res, it certainly cannot know; and, on the other
hand, to supply the means of study, of wide and
exact research is rapidly to bring about atainments
proportioned to the means afforded.
There is no country in which knowledge presses
more closely up to the utmost limit of its literary
means than this; but there is none also-at least,
no civilized country-where collections Of books
mcagcr in point of number, SO little learn
ed in what they embrace. Private libraries can
hardly be said to have at all: indeed, the very laws
which among enforce continual redistribution
of all property render impossible any large Collec-
tons but public ones. Yet these too, have been
very slowly and unskilfully formed. AS yet, we
have no Public Library that approaches, an magni-
tude or value, to many individual ones in Europe
and there is really not department Of France which
has not larger and better library of its own than
is to be found in all the United States.
We want, then, National Library, such as, by
its extent and richness, may supply this general de-
feet, only slowly to be remedied. We want a great
collection, to be formed early as possible such
as may rival before many years, the noblest Eu-
ropean institutions of that sort, and offer to the
student in this country whatever is necessary to
exhaust any one line Of research
II concerns the character Of the country, we take
occasion to repeat that fund acquired the Smid
sonian fund has been, be no longer diverted Fl I'm
those uses for which alone it was bequeathed by
the donor and decreed by the judicial authorities
OF the foreign country Of which he was citizen.
In both Houses, we need scarcely say, the Texas
question has occupied its full share of attention du-
ring the last week. during the two or three pre-
ceding ones. Its discussion has been pursued in
the House with good deal more Of pertnacity than
Of novelty or force the part Of its supporters.
A Tennessee plan, less rash in its provisions than
tho nthnra has beeu brought into tbe Sacato -. NJ