The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-27
THIRTY-s SECOND CONGRESS.
FIR ST SESSION.
IN SENATE.

FRpAY, December 26 1851
The Senate met, but transancted no business of
importance-only twenty Senator'S (nota quorum)
being present ..:..
Mr. MANGUM moved an adjournment, but
the motion failed--yeas 10, nays 10. Subsequently
he again moved it, and the President declared the
motion carried
So the Senate adj ourned until tomorrow.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FRIDAY, Dec &c
After prayer aud the reading of the Journal of
Tuesdays proceedings, "*
DESTRUCTION OF THE CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY.
The SPEAKER presented the following COM
munication from the Congressional Librarian
..,. "LiBRARY OF CoNGREss,l
Dec 25th, 1851.
''SR 1T is my very painful duty to commun-
icate to Congress the destruction of the books,
paintings, statuary, medals and other property
IN the principal saloon of their Library, yester-
day morning, by fire, that originated in the room
in manner to me altogether unaccountable, as
no fires have been used in it for long time and
no candles, lamps, or other lights, have ever been
used in during the whole time that 1t has been
der my charge.
have not been able to ascertain the precise
number of the books that were Destroyed, but be-
lieve that it may be estimated at about thrty-fve
thousand
1t is truly gratifyng.to have it in my power to
add, that about twenty thousand volumes of
books that were in the Law Room, and in the two
rooms adjoining the saloon of the Library, are
sale Many of these books belonged to the libra
ry of the late President JEFFERSON, that was pur-
chased by Congress in the year 1915
They constitute the several chapters in the cat
alogue of the Library, agreeaby to Mr.. JEPFER-.
SONS classification, under the following heads
Ancient History; American History; Ecclesias-
teal History; Chemistry; Mineralogy and Cone
hoogy; Moral Philosophy; Law of Nature and
Nations; the five chapters composing the Law
department Of the Library Religion; Politics I'm
GLIDING the science of leglsaton; Political Econ
omy; Commerce, Banking, Statistics, &c., part
oftle chapter on architecture; and the entire chap
tiers on Music; Dialogue and Eplstolary; Logic,
Rhetoric and Orations and the Theory of Crit
clsm. e.. ......
| sincerely hope that the searching investiga-
ton Congress will give to the distressing event,
which every lover of science and literature will
deeply deplore, will lead to detection of the
causes that produced it, and to the adoption Of
means that will prevent, in all future time, re-
currence of the sad calamity. 49,
With the most respectful regard,
have the honor to be
Your obedent servant,
JOHN S. MEEHAN, Librarian
To the Hon LINN BOYD,
Speaker Of the T.. S. House Of Representatives, u.
S. Congress"
Mr. STANTON, Of Kentucky, from the Com
mtee on Public Buildings, &c. reported the fol-
lowing joint resolution
Resoired, Sc, That the joint Committee on
Pnblic Bulldogs and Grounds be instructed to en-
quire into the origin OF the fire by which the Con-
gresSonaI Library was consumed on the oath in
stant; whether the same occurred from the negli-
gence of any officer of government, person in
the employment Of either or both Houses Of Con-
gress, or from the defective construction Of the
/ In ia Of, li,v,
and also the extent Of injury the building, and
the best mode Of re-constructing the Library
Room TO afford perfect security in the flu
ture against like disaster, and report the facts
the House. The said committee shall have power
to send for and examine on oath, such persons as
may have information touching the premises.
Mr. SWEETSER, of Ohio, moved to amend so
to refer the subsctto a select committee Of FIVE.
Negatived.
proposition to refer to the Committee on the
Library was also negatIved.
Mr.. ANTON, Of Tennessee, hoped that the
committee would consider the subject or making
the v hole Capitol fre-proof. The structures over
the hall Of Representatives and Senate chamber,
were both Of wood, and liable TO be consumed
The resolution was adopted.
DEPRECIATION on AMERICAN COMMERCE.
Mr. FULLER, Of Maine, submitted a resou-
ton Of inquiry relative to the seizure Of the brig
Aroc, Of EaFtport, Maine, by the government Of
| GIayt, in 1850, which was adopted.
TEMPORARY REPAIR OF THE LIBRARY.
Mr. STANTON, Of Kentucky, from the Com
mittee on Public Buildings, presented commune
cation from Mr.. Easily, commissioner, &c, in
which he states that the late destruction Of the Ii
! brary has left mass Of burning books and pa
pers, which are now being remoyed-that he is
| having a temporary roof, covered with tin, con-
structed over the exposed arches which cover the
| rooms Immediately east Of the Library. This he
/ hopes to finish the present week He asks for an
| appropriation of 5000 10 defray this expense,
| and also to pay FOR men, buckets, axes, &c, used
/ in preventing the spread Of the fire
! Mr. STANTON, from the same committee,
/ reported the following JOINT resolution.
! Resoiued, Sc, That the sum Of FIVE thousand
dollars be, and the same is hereby appropriated,
out Of any money in the Treasury not otherwise
appropriated TO he expended, or so much thereof
| as may be necessary, under the direction Of the
| Commissioner II Public Buildings, in discharge
| Of the expenses incurred IN the extinguishment
Of the late fire in the Library room, the removal
IF the rubbish, add the preservation Of such books
and other articles as may have been saved and the
construction or a tin roof for the preservation aud
protection Of that portion Of the building now ex
posed.
After some debate, the resolution, by general
consent, was read three several times and passed
ADJOURNMENT.
i Mr. RICHARDSON moved that when the
I House adjourn, il be until Tuesday next
After some discussion, the yeas and nays were
taken, and the morton agreed lo--yeas gr, nays g.
A motion to adjourn was then made, and agreed
toll to 50.
+ GAZE oS TIE lsTHMus-IIALr THE Town