Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-01-07

which lie beyond the reach OF individu-
al acquisition; and particularly TO geo.
graphical and astronomical science.
Looking back to the history only OF the
half century since the declaration OF our
independence, and observing The gene.
rous emu lation with which the govern
ments of France, Great Britain, and
Russia, have devoted The genius, the in-
telligence, the treasures OF their respec-
tive nations, TO the common improve
ment of the species IN these branches of
science, is it not incumbent upon us 10
inquire, whether we are not bound by
obligations of high and honorable cha-
racter, to contribute our portion OF ener-
gy and exertion, to the common stocks
The voyages OF discovery prosecuted in
the course Of that lime, at the expense
of those nations, have not only redound-
ed 10 their glory, but 10 the improve
ment of human knowledge. We have
been partakers OF that improvem ent, and
owe for it sacred debt, not only OF gra-
titude, but of equal or proportional ex-
crlion in the same common cause. OF
the cost of these undertakings, if the
mere expenditures Of outfit, equipment,
and completion of The expeditions, we're
to be considered the only charges, it
would be unworthy of a great and gene
rous nation to take second thought.
One hundred expeditions of circumnavi-
cation, like those of Cook and La Pc
rouse, would not burden The exchequer
OF the nation fitting them out, so much
as the ways and means of delrayiDg
single campaign in war. But if we take
into the accountihe lives OF those benefac-
tors of mank ind, OF which their services
to the cause oil their species were the
purchase, how shall the cost of those he
roic enterprises be estimated And
what compensation can be made to them,
or to their countries, for them Is it not
by bearing them in affc ciionate remem-
brance Is it mol still more by initiating
their example by enabling coun,rymen
OF our own to pursue the same career,
and to hazard their lives in the same
cause?
In inviting the attention Of Congress to
the subject OF internal improveme EMS,
upon a view thus enlarged, ii is not my
design to recommend the equipment of
an expedition for oircumnaviga the
globe for purposes of scientific research
and inquiry. We have objects of useful
investigation nearer home, and to which
our cares may be more bene6cially APP
piled. The interior Of our own terrio-
ries has yet been very imperlectly ex-
plored. Our coasts along many degrees
of latitude upon the shores of the Pacific
ocean, though much frequented by our
spirited commercial navieators, have
been barely visited by our public ships.
The River of the West, first fully dis
covered and navigated by counlryman
of our own, still bears the name of the
| ship in which he assembled its waters, and
clsims the protection OF cur arm cd nation.
al flag at its mouth. With the estab-
lishment of a military post there, or at
some other point OF that coast, recon-
mended by my predecessor, and already
matured, in The deliberations of the last
Congress, would sugges, the expedien-
cy of connecting the equipment of pub
lie ship for the exploration of The whole
northwest coast of this continent.
The establishment of an uniform
standard of Weights and Measures, was
one Of the specific objects contempIa-
| ted in the formation of our Constitution;
and 10 fix that standard was one Of the
powers delegated by express terms, in
that instrument, to Congress. The Co.
vernments of Great Britain and France
have scarcely ceased to be occupied with
| inquiries and speculations on the same
subject, since the existence of our consti-
tuition, and with them i; has expanded in
TO profound, laborious, and expensive
researches into the figure of the earth,
and the comparative length OF the PEN
dulum vibrating seconds in various lati-
tudes from the Equator 10 the Pole.
These researches have resulted in the
composition and publication of several
works highly interesting 10 the cause Of
science. The experiments are ye, in
the process OF performance. Some of
them have recently been made on urown
shores, within the walls of one of our own
Colleges, and partly by one Of our own
fellow citizens. Ii would be honorable
to our country if the sequel Of the same
experiments should be countenanced by
the patronage of our government, as
they have hitherto been by TIC OF France
and Britain.
Connected with the establishment OF
II. ,.xLs