Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-04-12

by the President, of power to APP
point foreign ministers without the consent
Of the Senate
NO SUBJECT, perhaps, has called forth more
OF the spurious wit and inycctye of the Op-i
position leaders, than the recommendation
OF an Observatory. The iigmativc appella-
uon, hight house of the SKIES" which If j:
had oeen used by Gen. jackson, would have
been thought very iellcitous, has been play
ed upon with great deXtcrity 10y those who
prefer sound to sense. OF the cxpediency,
as wei! as the cOnstituiona,ity, of the mea-
sure, us enough to say. that duripg the Adj
ministration of MI Jefferson. the necessary
Instruments tor such an establishment were
procured ny the then President, under the
authority OF law, al an expense gilmore than
thirty thousand dollars. These instru.
Struincnts have been lying unemployed at
aShinSton ever since, for want of an OBJ
Sefv4tory, the erection of which would not
require laif the amount expended in procu-
ring the Instruments But because Mr.. Adj
ans recommends the completion of what
Mr.. Jefferson began, and Congress approved.
he has encountered the nIosi yindi.tiye re-
proach, and has been described as .circum-
navigating the globe, and Waiting against
The heavens, TO find ont object, of expendi-
turc.
When Mr.. Adams invited the attention of
Congress To the promotion of scientific re-
searches, by means OF voyages Of discovery.
lie was assaulted by the snccrs and surcasins
al, the Opposition. They are unaware, per
haoS, that in this they deride the councils Of
Madison, and Of the iustrious men who
composed the first Congress. At the first
session Of Congress, during the Presidency
81 w ashngion, proposition was made to
afford 10 MIR. Churchman the means Of pro-
secutnGa So cntifc expedition. GA the qcs-
ton OF granting The aid, Mr.. Madison said,
Iii there Is any considerable probability that
The projected voyage would be successful, or
throw any valuable light on the discovery of
longitude, 1T CERTAINLY CoMPoRTs WITH
THE HONOR AND DIGNITY OF TIE GOVERN
AENT TO GIVE IT THEIR CoUNTENANCE AND
SUPPORT" Several of the eminent men of
that Congress engaged in the debate. and
oniy onc limited a doubt 1.-THE power of Con
gress on the subject, and it WIS resolved
without . division, that enlargement might
III future be granted to the project, though the
state oi'the treasury did not tHcn warrant the
expenditure Voyages Of discovery are not
within the scope ofindividual enterprize, and
have ever been considered as objects of ma
that the people are not prepared TO de-
nounce the opinions of the first Congress as
hercsics, and sanction the doctrine. that the
Government of this nation has not power TO
contribute to the common effort of the civil
zed world. to prosecute scientific research
eS and collect useful information for the
benefit of all
The recommendation OF Mr. Adams in IA
vor OF an University, was received by The OPP
position with peculiar dspieasrre, and called
forth their severe animadyerSOnS The ma
ton Is indebted TO Washington foT the origin
OF tho proposition of establishing an Unvcr-
sity. 10 HIM was conlided the pleasing du-
ty OF laying out the city which bears his
name. 1T was he who set apart portion of
the ground as site for an University, which
he had expressly recommended to Congress,
and received their approbation of this dispo-
Sltion ofthe ground. Thus the faith of the
nation was solemnIv pledged by Washington
and Congress, for the establishment of an u
University; and we submit to the candor and
Judgment of an intelligent people, the iusti-
tIcation OF the successors of Washington
(among whom was Mr. Mudison.) in the full
illDcnt of the pledge and the rebukc of that
spirit which condemns in Mr..
Adams, the opinions and principles of the
faticr of the Republic.
intii The Panama mission was denounced
in Congress, the People OF this Union almost
without exception, expressed lively interest
III The success and prosperity of what was
termed the sister Republics. The PROPOSE
ton to hold an assembly pienipotontarics,
representing the free nations of the Western
hemisphere, was received by the American
people with almost universal Appreciation
When this government was invited to dele
gate Ministers to that assembly, the opinions
AMI feelings Ofthc nation were uncquivocal-
y expressed in favor ofthc acceptance Of the
1NItatlon. From the first establishment of
Inc government, we have uniformly insisted
and cndcavor 10 establish as principles of the
laws OF nations, that free ships make free
goods-that the flag of the neutral shall az
iorG protection to the vessel and cargo a.
galnst the searches and seizures of bclIigc-
rcntS-that ncutraiS should be exempt from
the torfeiturcs denounced by mere paper
oloc@adcs, unsupported by the continued
presence of an adequate force. These prin-
clpieS OF maritime neutrality. have been con