The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-03-15
REPORT ON
A NATIONAL UNIVERSITY.

| VII loth req. I0il,
Mr.. !aitchiH presented the report in behalf OF
the majority of the committee in the following
| terms
g In obedience to the order Of the house, the
| committee has considered the important matter
referred.
!" An University, or institution for the commu.
nication OF kno wledge in the various departments
of literature and science, presents to the mind,
at one view, subjects ofthe most pleasing con-
Temptation.
:" To free people, it would seem that semi
nary IN which the culture of the heart and of The
understanding should be the chief objects would
be one ofthe best guards of their privileges
leading object of their care
-" Under this convictions the patriotic spirit OF
WAsHiHcToN led him more than once to re-
commend, IN his speeches to Congress, an at
tention to such an undertaking. He even be-
queathed legacy for the National University /;
which, he persuaded himself, would at some fii-
tare day be. brought into being Two other pre-.
sidents have subsequently presented the subject
70 the Legislature as worthy of special cosside-
ration.
Authorities so. respectable in favor of a
scheme so desirable, carry with them great
weight A central school at the seat ofthe ge-
nerai government darling the rays of intelle
iightor rolling the flood of useful information,
throughout the land, could not fail to make a
sire impression. A noble and enlarged insti-
tuuon may be conceived to impart to its pupils
the most excellent instruction, and, by properly
qualifying persons to become teachers and pro
,essors' TO introduce an uniform system of edu-
cation among the citizens.
= On weighing these and other advantages,
1t was nevertheless necessary to examine whe-
Their Congress possessed the power to found and
end2w National University.
1t is argued, from the total silence of the
o" 1sttution, that such power has not been
granted to Congress |: inasmuch as the only
means by which it is therein contemplated to
promote the progress Qfscience 8, of useful ,rts
is by securing for limited times, to authors and
inventors, the exclusive right to their respective
writings anti discoveries. The constitution there
tore does not warrant the creation of such cor
porstion by any express provisions
4" But it Immediately occurred, that under the
right to legislate extensively the district
wherein the u. s. have fixed their seat OF gov
eminent, Congress may erect an university at a
ny place within 10 miles square ceded by Ma
rylsnd and Virginia. This cannot be doubted
:" Here, however, other considerations arose
Although there is no insuperaple obstacle to
the incorporation OF trustees for such purpose,
at the city of ashiRgton, serious doubts are en-
ltertained As to the right to appropriate the pub
lie property for its support. The endowment of
a University is no, ranked among the objects for
which drafts ought to be made upon the treasu
lry. The money of the nation seems to be des-
tined for other uses.
" The incorporation of an Univefsity, without
funds, appears to be a fruitless and neffice n,
exercise ofthe legislative power. There IS in
deed some personal estate, which would devolve
upon such body in the moment it should be
constituted. And more may be reasonably ex
pected from iegaeies and other directions. But
these sources OF revenue are too scanty & preca
rious to encourage reliance in the present case
1t IS better not TO legsiate, than to enact sta
tute destitute OF the means of execution.
:" The matter thea stands thus: The esta-
81 c:::s G! 80 university upon the enlarged &
magnificent pl which would become the ma
ton, IS not within the authorities delegated to
Congress. And the erection of small and or
binary Seminary, with pompous and imposing
title, would not become IFS dignity. Sill if, al
any time, legislative aid should be asked TO in
corporate Pm Academic body, for the local behe-
Tit OF the inhabitants OF Columbia, and with funds
OF their own raising, there can be no doubt, the
application would be regarded with kindness,
-as in other cases Yet, It must be remembered
that this 10 a proceeding wholly distinct from the
endowment of National University, with the
treasury of the y. States; which appears to be
destiRedi in its appropriations, to other and very
d fferent purposes
:" The part OF the message before the com
mittee proposes, however " TO institute Semi
nary of learning by the national legislature with
IN the limits of their exclusive jurisdiction the
expence OF which might be defray ed or reim-
bursed out Of the vacant grounds which have
accrued to the nation, within those limits -
On acquiring into the value of these public lots,
they fall so far short of the sum required for the
object, that if there was no constitutional impe-
iiment, this could not be relisd upon, on account
"i the smainess & unproductiyeHess of thecapi-
al they embrace.
" Whereupon the committee does not find
itself authorised to recommend the sdoption of
any measures relative to the subject referred 3"
4. CHARLESTON, Feb. IS.
The United States ship John Adams, for
Newport, went to sea on Friday last. We
understand that she Is to take a messenger
on board at Newport, and proceed TO Eus
rope with dispatches.
The American brig Brutus, capt Nit.
chill, which sailed from this port on Thurs
day morning last for Baltimore, was cap
tured the same evening about or leagues
from the Bar by the British brig CoL1BRI.
which has been some weeks cruising off
this port, and ordered for Bermuda.--A gem
tleman VINO was passenger on board the
btutuS, together with four of the seamen
were put on board the brig Mary, from
Kingston, and arrived here on Saturday -
We understand from this gentleman that
the reasons assigned by the British com
mander tor the detention OF the Brutus were
that her cargo Of sugar, which had been ia
ken in at New-Orleans, (the Brutus put in
to this port some weeks since on her pas
sage from New Orleans for Baltimore was
French property, and that from the suspi-
cious appearance of the vessel that they had
reason to believe she was intended for
privateer. From the same source we