New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-21
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL

THE TOWNSEND LIBRARY OF THE WAR
a MONUMENTAL WORE THAT SHOULD nE hEPr
- Ncw-YoHk ITS VALUE A. HISTORY.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: tn beginning Of q new year seems 10 be
the proper time to clli attention TO the fact that
a monumental work by a citizen OF Ncw-York Is
still without n permanent abdinE- place. and con
selucntly. H. At the mercy Of any untoward acct
dent. or incident. that might affect il unfavorably
and liable to be taken away from the metropolis
altogether and put into a home beyond the rea'h
Of The great body Of our ctizeHs. refer TO the
Townsend Library Of the War for the Un.on"-a
work unique IN character. comprehensive in its
scope beyond the conception Of those not intimate
ly acquainted with 1t. and now The sole vaie
mrcum Of the student. OF historian. who would
study thoroughly not only the four years actually
occupied Icy hosfilitcs. but the almost equally I'M
portant period Of reconstruction. and the subse-
qucrt years that nave elapsed during which the
Nation has enjoyed. in Webs,erian phrase. the
blessings Of Liberty and MON. now and forever,
and nseparable"
II may not be Inappropriate. in this connection.
to state briefly I'm what this Library o. National
State ana Individual Records Ohc official title of
the vork) consists II was begun in August. $50
nine months before the beginning of the war.
Continued from that day 10 the present Time. b =
now IN the eloquent words " eX-Init"l states
Senator Blair. Of New Hampshire. "a collection Ok
all hat 81 most valuable In the literature Of the
war. Including every description or composition
thai related 10 the subject. beginning with me
opcniu. Of the and ihc cais"s which lei up
10 it, all the way through IL. Here Is the great
literary production OF the war itself. II f. what the
American people wrote il Is the battle. hr literary
battle OF the war Itself the great controversy en-
boiled in the literature OF the period. Now. i
seems 10 mo that what was produced Of a literary
nature historical. noyelistic. II you please. The
tf -
work " editors. and the entire mental actNltlrS
OF the American people upon BON slde' as me-
were exhibited and were personlned and crystal
lied I'm the period OF The war Itself. must be- or
exceeding value as long "a We exist as people
this world Now. here is the battle OF Gettys-
burg. for instance. continued the senator upon
the exposition az which. locally. We have expended
' h,i. , b3tti~ Really whai ai,~r all *
o. ,.rrn,cSI .rbiifou OF ali The mental collision
which 10 is cmhalmed when We consider it, real
value ~ compared with what I have alluded 10
a, being del.noateI FOR years. upon the battlefield
81 Gettysburg alone, When We consider It's real
i hsl NV work Or saoh NaIonai mpofsaee the
compilation of which certainly rejects creilt
come Inore and more valuable a W. r"c"ie from
tho events II commcin9raieS' ana III w. our
descendants in turn. cannot but take IN" deepest
heirloom. shall such WORK, J ask b allowed to
be- taken from the metropolis - u" Naion., OF
left 10 be- disposed Of through mere chance IhA'
81 should become Tho property 81 som" o, our
great educational Institutions goes WithOht fa}ihs,
and equally patent - 10 that II should receive al
The care necessary 10 IT. proper preservation.
There are hundreds OF our Influential ciuI"0s
who have a thorough know ledge 81 -" falu" and
Importance % this WORK and ihry should nrgr ihr
rurshasc ~ the library upon one % our college
or uulvereltes7 From mrr" selfish considerations.
s1ch a purchase would seem advisable on tn part
of any institution OF l"Arning aiming 10 occupy
National position in the Held OF historical lIi"ra-
iurc a. the possession Of the library. so far as
oiir American annals are concerned. would place
II FOR All ume beyond the r~arh of iis rivals.
m. opn.rship Of "A treasure hOus~ or infOrmatlo
mar coulI moi be- duplicated would. IA fact. place
me favored institution. IN this resp"oi easily ~
IN. head. lSi'i'i' :.
New-York Jan. H. lss,.