It had been offered
to the Government. Several Secretaries of State, in succession,
including Mr. Blaine, had urged Congress to buy it, but without
avail.
One day Mr. Dwight, Librarian of the State Department, came
to see me at the Capitol about some not very important matter.
While I was talking with him, he said that the one thing he
wished most was that Congress would buy the Franklin Papers.
He added "I think if I were to die, the words 'Franklin Papers,'
would be found engraved on my heart." I said I thought I could
accomplish the purchase. So I introduced a resolution, had
it referred to the Library Committee, and we had a hearing.
It happened that Edward Everett Hale, who probably knew as
much about the subject and the value of the papers as anybody,
was then in Washington. At the same time John Russell Bartlett
was here, who had charge of the famous Brown Collection in
Rhode Island. They were both summoned before the Committee,
and on their statement the Committee voted to recommend the
passage of the resolution. It passed the Senate. The provision
was then put upon the Sundry Civil Appropriation bill.
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