Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-03-19
EVENING STAR.
DR.. Kama.

We take from the Washington Union IN,
following relative to the proceedings os N,
House Of Representatives on the last dav o,
| the session concerning DR. Kane, whose mem.
ory will be cherished by all Americans 50
long as Q spark of true national pride linger,
in their breasts: ....
If anything could relieve the sorrow of DR.
Kane's relatives and friends, their conscious.
ness of how much he had done during his life
to make his name worthily remembered, and
| the evidences which they see all around them
| of the deep respect with which he was re
garded by his countrymen, Must tend strongly
in that direction. Among these evidences
We subjoin the following remarks delivered in
the House of Representatives, on the 81 in
slant, by Hon. j. K. Tyson, of Philadelphia,
who is always alive to the claims of genius.
and vindicates his own scientific worth by the
alacrity with which he recognises and does
honor to the scientific clairas of others. We
extract from the report as published in the
Globe:
Mr. Tyson. Mr. Speaker, ask the unani.
nous consent Of the House to take ND and
consider the amendment of tho Senate to the
joint resolutions, which originated in this BODY,
respecting DR.. Kane's Arctic explorations.
Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee, objected.
Mr.. TYsoS moved to suspend the rules.
The motion was agreed to and the rules
were suspended.
The amendment was reported as follows:
Strike out the first section, in the following
words:
That the Committee on the Library be au-
thorized to purchase from the publishers if
teen thousand copies of a forthcoming work
by DR.. X. Kane, on Arctic explorations
during the years 1853, 1854, and 1855, in
search of Sir John Franklin, to be distributed
&c
retary and Clerk Of the two houses, respec-
lively, under the direction Of said committee
Pr0Uidsd, That the price shall not exceed
five dollars for the two volumes: And, pyo
uided, further, That the material, press-work,
illustrations, and binding, shall be approved
by the said committee.
Leaving the second section to stand as fol-
lows:
That the Secretary of the Navy shall cans.
to be struck and presented to DR.. Kane. his
officers and men, respectively, such appro-
pirate medals as, in the judgment of the said
Secretary, shall express the high estimation
in which Congress hold their respective merits
and services
Mr.. TYSON. I am authorized by the Com.
mittee on the Library to recommend a concur
renee in the amendment of the Senate. IL
strikes out the resolution for the purcha ase of
DR. Kane's work, retaining that only for the
presentation of medals to himself, his officers
and men, according to their respective grades.
While the committee make this recommen-
dation, they consider every honor which the
two resolutions would have reflected upon tho
explorer as eminently due to his high public
merit and distinguished public services. Nor
are they able to perceive any difference in
principle between the purchase of books and
the granting Of medals, considered as a mode
of expressing appreciation, or a sense of honor
able achievement.
The committee acquiesce in the amendment
of the Senate for other and independent rea.
sons; Siuce the adoption Of these resolutions,
on the 10th Of April last, a general law has
been passed prohibiting the gratuitous distri-
button of books among the members, except
those of q strictly documentary character
and, sad to tell, DR.. Kane has lately died
from the effec of disease contracted or ag-
gravated by the exposure and hardships Incl 1
dent to his memorable explorations. As one
object Of the proposed purchase of his valu-
able work was to give him some substantial
gress, in a mode which might be acceptable
to his own feelings, this reason is taken away
by his premature and lamented death
But something ought to be done by way of
public testimony to the contributions he has
made to knowledge, as we'll as in commemora.
tion of the fearless intrepdity, scientific spirit
and benevolent zeal which marked bis daring
Whether We consider what he accomplished,
or what n vast storehouse he has unlocked
and opened to future explorers-whether we
look to his great fame at home, or to his even
greater celebrity abroad, Congress is impera-
lively called upon to act. 1t is the duty of
this body to express its acknowledgment and
appreciation. The loss of q man so endowed,
and so full of rare promise, is a public one
1t is mitigated only by the consideration that
be has disappeared as a bright sun, going
down at noon, without cloud to dim its path
way.
therefore beg the House to concur in the
amendment which retains the resolution grant
ing such honorary medals to the explorer and
his companions as the Secretary of the Navy
may deem appropriate to their respective SER
vices and grades
The amendment was agreed to.
Mr.. TYSON moved to reconsider the vote by
which the amendment Of the Senate was
agreed to, and also moved TO lay the motion
to reconsider on the table; which latter mo.
ton was agreed to.