Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1855-12-04
The State Library.

Our distinguished tOwnsman, Z. J. NEIGs,
Esq, the Commissioner appointed by the las:
Legislature to select State Library, made his
report last week to the present Legislature
The report proceeds to describe the character
of works with which the Commissioner has
endeavored to ill the library, and embodies
some very judicious opinions relative to the
kind of literature which should compose such
a collection. lie has discarded every thing Of
frivolous and fippant character which pleases
but for the moment, and lives but for day,
and exercised his correct taste and well discip-
lined Judgment in the selection of works of a
scientific nature, calculated to enrich the mind,
develope thought and direct it to useful and
practical purposes; books Of high literary
merit'snd profound philosoph research, which
have earned their authors well-deserved fame,
and viii repay their readers for attentive
study
The report rightly observes that "a library
crowded with the indscriminate productions
of the works of the press, is far from desira-
bic" The publishing facility of the age is
flooding the world with a species of literature
which is of doubtful benefit. When book
making first began, none but the first order of
minds was employed. No man presumed TO
intrude bis thoughts upon the world unless
something in his previous history-either dis
tingnished ability, eminence of position, or
rich and varied experience, warranted the be-
lief that they would subserve the end intend
ed, viz: to enlighten and benefit mankind.
Now, a very mania for authorship seems to
pervade our people. Every traveller who
wanders beyond the visual line that girts
him round deems it his high and sacred duty
70 this and succeeding ages to book his obser-
vations for the instruction and amusement of
less favored mortals. Authorship has become
so abused, has 30 descended from its high es-
tate as promoter of science, civilization aud
the arts, that it has taken its place with the
commonest csllings Of the times, and is too
often used for ignobler purposes, the gratifca-
tion of private spleen and the shameless ex-
posure of scenes degrading TO our nature, and
grossly demoraliEing in their effects on the
public mind.
The fecundity Of the press, and the charac
ter of its offspring, is not indicative of sure
and healthy progress in the age. The merit
of books now-s-day is not proportionate to
their number. The State should hail with sat
isfaction the good sense and exquisite taste
which has prompted the Commissioner TO ex-
clude everything of 40 ephemeral character.
De makes especial mention of two works,
Agassiz' Natural History Of the United States,
and Judge Curtis Decisions of the L. 5. So
preme Court, not yet published, for which he
has subscribed 10 advance. lie has appended
Classified Catalogue" and asks an addi-
,ional appropriation OF $4,000 for the coming
two years. We earnestly hope the representa-
tives of the people viii appreciate the services
OF the able and learned gentleman which the
good sense of a former Legislature has select
ed for this duty aud exercise theiT munifcence
% the appropriation they may make for this
object.
No man 10 the State is better qualified by
nature and requirements for this Office than
Mr.. Mhss; ripe scholar, richly versed in the
higher walks ,sf Literature, with cultivated
taste, sraa proper appreciation Of what the