The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-19

sary occasion for malicious seaman Dy
doing things silly and 10 corner. In
our country the eye of the public should
be allowed, except in matters where
some state necessity forbids it, to rest
constantly upon the proceedings of those
who administer the government!
SPEECH OF GEN. BANKS ON THE
FRENCH EXHIBITION oE1se7.
Mr. Banks-l move to amend the first
section by the following, which was
omitted by accident.
After line seven, section one, insert:
First, to provide necessary furniture
and fixtures for the proper exhibition OF
the articles and products of the industry
Of the United States, according to the
plan Of the Imperial Commissioners, IN
| that part of the building exclusively as
signed to the use OF the United States,
Mr.. Chairman, suppose this amend
ment opens the whole subject for discus
sion.
The Chairman-General debate has
not been closed.
Mr.. Banks-Mr. Chairman, the
amendment have offered embraces the
material part of the sum appropriated
in the first resolution, and is the point
which controlled the judgment of the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, to which
this subject was referred, in asking the
House to make an appropriation for this
purpose. aa...
tits proper to say, Mr.. Chairman, that
the Government of the United States
has never made an appropriation for an
object of this character and until the
Exhibition of 1867 was proposed, no gov
eminent has taken the initiative and as
sumed the responsibility of expenses in
Cured in exhibitions of this descrip-
ton. Industrial exhibitions in all ages
have been popular, and notgovernment-
al enterprises. Whenever the people
have had wrongs to redress or rights to
assert, their only means of appealing to
| public opinion and sympathy, exceptby
| violence, have been through the exhi-
bition of the fruits OF their industry.
l Thus it has ever been. in Poland, Hun
gary, France, or England; wherever the
people sought to influence the Govern
nent or stamp their ideasupon the public
nina, they have, in exhibiting the
fruits of their indhstry. given evidence
l Dl lueIT CldlIIlS upOu Vic
| This was true of our own Revolution as
of other states. 1t was not until 1851
lat industrial exhibitions engaged the
Exhibition of 1851 itself was only estab-
.ished upon the guarantee made by in
dividual citizens who engaged that the
Government should not be made re-
sponsible in any encouragement which
~ - "a nd Fnhn EvhihifiNno Mt
Paris in 1855, at London in 1862, and at
Hamburg in 1868, proceeded on the
same idea, that the enterprise was one of
individual character, in which Govern
ments participa ted, but for which they
were not responsible, and which they
did not assume to control. But at
| length, as with education, railways, and
other popular organizations for the i'm
provement of the condition of the peO-
pie, industrial expositions now enjoy for
| the first time the reluctant hut essential
patronage and favor of Governments.
The Emperor of France has, for the
| first time in the history ofthe world, as
sumed the responsibility Of collecting,
classifying, and exhibiting its industry,
aud invites all nations to present evil
dences of their prosperity, progress and
power in industrial pursuits. His Gov
eminent has appropriated 10000, 600
francs for its expenses. He pays IL,
| 00O, 600 francs from the treasury Of the
Empire, and trusts that the balance Of
| eight millions may be obtained from
admission fees and In other forms of con-
tribution. NJ
belgium has appropriated SOC, 900
francs, or $780, 900, for the same purpose.
| Every nation on the European CONT
nent will make its appropriations. In
dividuals, societies, corporations, cities,
| and departments of France will also be
called upon for voluntary contributions.
! 1t is therefore, an enterprise in which
| Governments and not individuals are to
act, and If the United States desires to
| be represented in this exhibition Of the
| worlds wealth, 1t must be through their
Government, aud not, as heretofore, by
! individuals. 1t is for that reason,
among others, that the Committee on
| Foreign Affairs has asked this appro-
priatiOn of the House. Unless the Gov
ernment takes the initiative and is re-
presented there as government, the
people Of the United States interested in
the report of our progress in industry
will be without rights or privileges. 1t
| is important that we should consider
the subject in view of this fact.
On the 18th of January last, a resolu-
ton was approved by the President
which had passed both Houses of Con-
gress, accepting the invitation of the
Emperor of France to take part in the
Exposition of 1867; and it now becomes
our privilege and duty to say whether,
by fit appropriations for this purpose, we
will enable the people we represent to
avail themselves of the advantages Of
fered us in common with other nations.
There can be no improperly in saying
that ii we are to be represented at all,
We should be well represented, and that
makes it necessary we should conform
to the plan of the Imperial Commission
This plan has probably attracted the at
IGNITION of gentlemen of the House, as
it has been printed at length in No. IL
of the Executive, Documents. Each
Government is &c be represented through
its industrial agents. A part Ct the pal
ace constructed for the proper exhibition
of the varied products of human indus
try is assigned to each nation. The
structure covers SO acres of the Champ
de Mars. 1t is elliptical in form. Each
of the 10 groupes in which all branches
are classified occupies one OF the 10 d.
visions running with the elliptical form
of the structure into which it is divided
and each nation is assigned a section of
the ground floor, running from the out
side to the centre 80 that q spectator in