Mr. HOWE. Mr. President, it is a collection of books amountin to nearly 1600 volumes, collecte by the late James L. Petigru, of SCarolina. There is a need for more books in the Law Library; they are especially required for the use of the Court of Claims, which 1 makes very heavy drafts upon the present Library, so that when the Supreme Court and Congress are both in session it is very difficult to get books from the Law Library to supply the demand made. There area great many calls upon it, and very often books required by parties in Congress are in use by parties employed in the Supreme Court. The possession of these books would be of great value to the Library, and that is one reason why we sought to make this purchase. The purchase has been urged upon usby a great many individuals for another reason. It has been thought by a great many very desirable that the U.S. should own the library formerly possessed by Judge, Petigrn. I never had the advantage of a personal acquaintance with Judge Petigru, but I believe it is known to very many members of this Senate and to the country at large that Judge Petigru was, in his lifetime, not the one, but almost the only one friend which the U.S. had in the city of Charleston holding the social position that he did. I hear it said on all hands that through all the difficulties which have Occurred between the State of SCarolina and the U.S. Judge Petigru has uniformly been found on the side of the U.S.; that while almost everybody about him proved disloyal, he was uniformly found loyal; and I have seen testimony, not open to controversy, that at different times during the history of the Government he rendered most signal services to the U.S. I have seen a letter from a former POTUS testifying to the fact that during hi Administration 1 refer to the Administration of Mr. Fillmore Mr. Petigru was the only man he could find, of sufficient attainments, who would venture to take the office of district attorney of the U.S. in that district. Moved by these considerations, a great many gentlemen have urged upon us the propriety of utting the library colected by him on the shelves of the Congressional Library. The purchase is not 0.ve large one. It has been reported that Judge etigru died in impover ished circumstances; that he left his widow nearly destitute. The money to be paid for the nrchase of thm library would be of essential help to her in her old age, and I am informed that it is really all that she has to maintain herself during the remainder of her life, which cannot be very much protracted. I be e, therefore, there will be no objection to maing this purchase.