Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-03-07

general government, in relation TO this transcen-
IDENTIFY important interest, viii be settled and ac-
knovledged to the common sisiaetion of all, and
every speculative scruple will DE solved by prac-
iicai public blessing
Sundry erfrccts from the P,esiasn.'S Message.
upon this fest occasion of addressing the Lee
aislature OF the Union, with which have been
honored, In presenting to their view The execution,
far it has been Effected of the measures sane
toned by them for promoting theinterGsl improve
meni oil our country, canrui close the commune
cation without recommending to their calm md
perseveF'ng consideration the general principle in
more enlarged extent. The great olec, of the in
su'uuon OF civil Government, IS he Improvement
OF inc condition OF those 10 are parties TO The
-,,-.ai Gamma 81 zUvgrsi.->. Ia ,vba,,
yer form constituted, can accomplish the I1yvItu
eads OF its institution, but IN proportion "a IT m-
proves the condition OF those over whom it is es-
tabl;shed. Roads and Canals, by multiplying and
facilitating the communications and intercoui sc be-
tween distant regions, and mulliuldes of men, are
among the most important means ofimpro yemen'.
Blu moral, political, intellectual Improvement are
duties assigned blythe author Of existence, TO
social, no less than to indydtI man. For the
fulflnent of those duties, governments are invest
Ell with power; and, TO the attainment OF tue end,
the progressive Improvement OF the co diticn Il
the governed, the exercise of delegated power is
Il ty as sacred ard indispensable, rs the usurpa-
Among the FIRST, perhaps the very first instrument
fer the Improvement of the condition of men, Is
knowledge; and TO the acquisition Of much OF the
knowledge adapted TO the wants, the comforts, and
enjoymeats of human life, public institutions and
semnaries otlearning are essential SO convinced
of this was the first of my predecessors in this
Office, now FIRST in the memory, as living, he
first in the hearts of our country, that, once and
again, in his addresses 10 the Congresses, with
whom he co-opera;ed in The public service he
Mostly recommended the establishment of semina
ries of learning, prepare for all the emereencie
of peace and war "a national university, and
military academy. With respect to he latter, had
he lived TO the present day, il turning his eyes to
the institution at Yves, Point, he would have en-
ioyed the qualification of his most earnest wishes.
But, in surveying the city which has been honored
with his name, he would have the spot of
earth which he had destined and bequeathed 10 the
use and benefit of his country, the site for an
Il iversity;s, Il bare and barren.
:. In assuming her station among the civilized ma
lions of The earth, ii would seem that cur counry
had contracted the engagement to conribuie her
share of mind. of labor and OF expense, 10 the i'm
provement of those parts OF knowledge which lie
beyond the reach of individual acquisition; and
particularly 10 geographical and astronomical sci
ence. Looking back to he history only OF tie
half century since the Declaration of oui Indepen-
dcnce, and observing the generous emulation with
which the governments OF France, Great Bri. ain
and Russa, have devoted the genius, the inieii-
gence, the treasures of their respective nations, 10
the common improvement of the species in the
b anche- of science, Is il not incumbent upon US
to incuife, whether we are not bound, by obliga
tons of high and honorable character, to conri-
butte our portion of energy and exeriion III
common stock! The voyages OF dscov err pro-
secuted in the course of that time, at the expense
of those nations have not only Iedounded 10 Their
z ory, but o the Improvement Of human know
ledge. We have been parialers of that improve
ment. and owe for it sacred debt, not onlJ of
gratitude, but of equal or proportional exertion in
the same common cause OF the cost o. these
If the mere expenditures of outfit,
equipment, and con pleion of the expeditions
were to be considered the only charges, it would
be unworthy Of great end generous nation to
take second thought. One hundred expeditions
of decentralization, like those of Cook and La
Perouse, would not burden the eXchequer Of the
nation fitting them out, much as the ways and
means OF defraying single campaign i'll war. Bu
if we take into the account the lives Of those
benefacfors of mankind, of which their services IN
he cause of their species were the purchase. how
shall The cost of those heroic enterprises be esli~
mated? And what compensation he made 10
them, to their countries, for them? Is not
by bearing them in afectIonste remembr nee? j.
II rot still more by initiating their example! hy
enabling countrymen of our Own TO pursue the
same career, and to hazard their lives ia the same
cause?
In inviting the attention of Congress to The
subject Of Internal improvements, uron view
thus enlarged, it u not my design TO recommend
the equipment of IN exp duo for circumnavigaiing
the globe for purposes of cientific research and
enquiry. We have objects Of useful i4yestig ,;ion
nearer home, and 10 which cur cares may be M
beneicially applied. The interior Of our own
territories has yet been sery imperiecty explored
Our coasts. along may degrees OF latitude pom
the shores of the Poetic ocean. hon IA much FREE
quented by our spirited commercial navIgators.
haze cen bar Is visneduy our pubic hips The
River of the West, FIRST fully Discovered nd a
vigated by countryman Of our IN, still hears
the name of the ship in which he l-cendsd its wa
tiers, and claims the protection oil our armed
nation flag at It's month WITH The esfebl!shmen
Of military post there, a, some other point
of III coast recommended by my predecessor,
and already natured, IN the deliberations the
last Congress, would sugges; tic eSpedieucy o.
connecting the equipment of public ship for tie
exploration OF the whole northwest coast OF his
continent
" Connected with he establishment Of ar Uni
yersity, or separate from IT,, might be undertaken
the erection OF an astronomical observatory, with
provision for the support Of astronomer, to be
IN constant attendance Of observation upon the
phenomena OF The heavens, ana for The periodlch
publication Of MS observations. II is with 90
feeling OF pride, as an American, haj the remark
may be ide, that, on the comparatively small
territorial surface of Europe, there IRE existing
upwards of one hundred and thirty Of ihese light
houses of the skies; while Throughout the whole
American hemisphere, there Is moi one. II We
reject 2 moment upon the discoveries, which
in the last four centuries, have been made 10 'he
physical constitution Of the universe, hj the mesns
Of these buildings, ard Of observers Stationed b.
tIc., .l.It -. .f..tt ~ ,I.s.