Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-11-25
cArLIN's ABORIGINAL GALLERY.


Paintings being brought before the House of Rep
resentaves at the last session Of Congress, and
ferred TO the Committee on the Library, Mr.. PAL
FREY, on behalf of that committee, submitted the
following Report, which remained Enacted upon
by the House at the time Of its adjournment
The Committee the Library, to whom referred the
memorial Of r. r. GuRLEY, praying 70. the purchase of Cat
ns collections Of paintings and cuoses Illustrative of the
and Of the Nerh American Indians have
had the under considerations and ask report
follows:
Accompanying said memorial the following papers,
l. memorial Of George Cain presented to Congress in
1916, setting forth the design character and extent Of the
collection, with various particulars indicating its authenticity
and value.
D. memorial of American artists in Paris praying for the
purchase Of the same by Congress.
j. memorial of Louis McLane, American Minister, and
other American citizens, residents London, of the
tenor.
a. report the Joint Committee the Library in 1916,
recommending provision for the said purchase at not
to exceed sxty-ive thousand dollars.
s. Letters from Lewis Cass then American Minister at
Paris aud from s. F. b. Morse and G. p. A. Heaey,
s iesyngto the artistic iners Of the portraits and other
deneaons and the authenticity comprehensveness and
permanent curiosity and value of the collection. I
g. Testimonials to the effect from various publications
Of high authority in Great Britain and this country
These papers have been printed by order Of the Senate and
in the hands Of members Of both Houses is
say for the committee TO recaptuae their contents Several
members of the committee able from personal knowledge
to confirm the material parts Of the statements therein
tanned. Already artist of reputation, Mr.. Catn, citizen
of Pennsylvania conceived the singular enterprise of devong
the best years of his life collection Of permanent
rails Of the vanishing aboriginal nations At expense of
than $780, 900 he devoted eight years this project
which time he visited less than Indian tribes
observing and recording with his pencil all that most in
- = =
sons poty, and modes of life depicting their dwellings,
PERSONS and costumes and collecting specimens Of their de-
coratons utensils and Thacolection offered to
Congress- understood be perfect preservation and order,
is the fruit of these abos 1t may safely be pronounced to
be only unique its kind but be destined forever
remain There not chance in millions that such
enthusiasm, for object peculiar, will again take possess
sion OF any mind of such capacity for the undertaking. But
that event less improbable the materials for such
another collection will only exist but already
they exist longer curious illustration Of this statement
appears in the fact that the Mandan of the mos. remark
able of the native TRIBES swept from the face OF the earth
by the small pox the year after they visited by Mr. Cat
lin. The advance civilization, far does
Immediately involve the disappearance and extinction OF the
Indian races eaces the existence and before long the
ory, Of all that distinctive in their character and
habits and chdrens children will know nothing of those
families of except by Of what
Of this age may from the wreck and preserve for their
instruction
These memorials, in another generation, will be regarded
with far interest than They regarded
with far interest in foreign countries than by 10 whom
they familiar. The intelligent American of fifty
years hence will go in search of them wherever they may be
found but il will be a subject Of grief and shame him
he must seek them in the galleries Of European capital
1s understood that advantageous proposals have been made
to Mr. Calm for their purchase abroad, but that with dis
interested patriotism akin the zeal with which his favoe
Investigations have been prosecuted, he prefers that,
sacrifice TO himself his country should possess their fruits.
The committee not disposed to favor exravagant
pendue, but they Of the opinion that Americans OF the
present day to their posteny avail themselves Of this
opportunity property which hereafter cannot fail
be regarded Of altogether peculiar value, and which will
vany coveted from any other nation into whose hands it
may be suffered fall They recommend the adoption Of
the following resolution
ReSoiced By the Senate and House Of Representatives.
Of The Uated States Of america in Congress assembled,
That the joint Committee the Library be authorized
with Mr. George Can for the purchase the part
Congress- Of his collection illustrative Of the character and
of the North American Indians Prouded That the
Of the do not exceed fifty thousand dollars payable
| IN ten annual instalmepts.