The southern press., 1851-12-27
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

FRIDAY, Dec. 26.
Afler prayer and the reading of the journal o
Tuesdays proceedings,
DESTRUCTION OF THE CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY.
The SPEAKER presented the following com
municaton from the Congressional Librarian
"LlBRARY OF CoSGREss,
Dec. 25th, 1851.
''SiR lit is my very painful duty to commun
icae 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 ii for long time, and
no candles, lamps, or other lights, have ever beer
used in during the whole time that it has been un
der my charge.
| have not been able to ascertain the precise
number Of the books that were destroyed, but be.
ieve that il may be estimated at about thirty five
thousand.
1t is truly gratifying 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
safe. Many ofthese 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
a!ogue OF the Library, agreeably to Mr.. JEFFER-
SONS classification, under the following heads:
Ancient History; American History; Ecclesias-
tical History; Chemistry; Mineralogy and Cone
biology; Moral Philosophy Law of Nature and
Nations; the five chapters composing the Law
department of the Library; Religion; Politics Gp-
cluding the science of legislation; Political Econ
omy Commerce, Banking, Statistics, &c., part
ofthe chapter on architecture; and the entire chap
ters on Music; Dialogue and Epistolary Logic,
Rhetoric and Orations; and the Theory of Criti-
csm.
sincerely hope that the searching investga-
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.
With the most respectful regard,
have the honor to be
Your obedient servant,
JOHN S. MEEHAN, Librarian
To the Hon. LINN BoYp,
Speaker QfMe Y. s. House of Representatives., U.
S. Congress. "
Mr. STANTON, of Kentucky, from the Com
mittee on Public Buildings, &c. reported the fol-
lowing joint resolution
Resolved, &c., That the Joint Committee on
Pnblic Buildings and Grounds be instructed to en-
quire into the origin of the fire by which the Con-
gressional Library was consumed on the Oath in
stant; whether the same occurred from the negl-
gence of any officer of government, or person in
gress, or from the defective construction Of the
furnaces or fues, or was the act of an incendiary
and also the extent of injury to the building, and
the best mode of econstructing the Library
Room so as to afford perfect security in the flu
ture against like disaster and report the facts to
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
as TO refer the subject to select committee of five
Negatived.
proposition to refer to the Committee on the
Library also negatived.
Mr.. STANTON, of Tennessee, hoped that the
would consider the subject of making
the v hole Capitol fre-proof. The structures over
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 Eastport, Maine, by the government Of
Hayt, in 1850, which was adopted
TEMPORARY REPAIR or THE LIBRARY.
MIR. STANTON, of Kentucky, from the Com
mittee on Public Buildings, presented communi-
cation from Mr.. Easily, commissioner, &c, in
which he states that the late destruction of the Lii
brary has left q mass Of burning books and pa
pers, which are now being removed-that he is
having temporary roof, covered with tin, con-
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 to 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.
Resolved, &c., 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 be expended or so much thereof
as may be necessary, under the direction Of the
Of Public Buildings, in discharge
of the expenses incurred In the extinguishment
Of the late FIRE in the Library room, the removal
Of the rubbish end the preservation of such books
and other articles as may have been saved, and the
construction OF tin roof for the preservation and
Of that portion of the building now ex
posed.
After some debate, the resolution, by general
was read three several times and passed
ADJOURNMENT.
Mr.. RICHARDSON moved that when the
House adjourn, it be until Tuesday next
Aier some discussion, the yeas and nays were
taken, and the motion agreed to--yeas 81 nays "a
A motion to adjourn was then made, and agreed
to- II to So
GALE ON THE IsTHMUs-tIALF THE Town
OF CRUCES DEsTRoYEB-Extract from n let
IL