Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-04-24

&c Geography. Voyages and Travels, History, Bio
eraphy Medicine, Chemistry and Anatomy. StaIls-
tics Political Economy, &c. Miscelianecu win .e
Magazines, Reviews, Newspapers, and p"ohc Journ'
ais ofthe States as well as foreign countries; Aliases
Maps Charts, sc. The Committee can discover no ne
cessity for extensive Library in that department;
embracing works which cannot possibly be required
in tn: discharge Of official duties, ana wnci li''o''e
SO much expense, without being called INTO USE
The result of these bibliothecal ches
has persuaded Mr.. Blair that many OF the BOOKS
in the Department Of State are useless, and 10
"recommend the expedency Of withholding The
nppropriaiion Ito great extenO in future!' As
to the comparative utility Of particular books,
Mr.. Blair may entertain an opinion from which
other LEARNED men will perhaps dissent. But
he seems to forget, or not TO be apprlsed OF the
fact, that many Of the books, maps, and charts,
which provoke the burst of Gothic Indignation
we have transcribed, found their way lI'o Inc
Department of State, under provision OF Id"
requiring their authors or proprietor ) 10 Gth'
r to the Secretary Of Stale, a copy OF the same,
to be preserved in his Office. This Is, oil COURSE
withou, any charge 10 the public. But !et us
suppose that every book, map ana cnar' III 'he
Department ,,had been paid for out OF the oo-
noxious appropriation, and what then! MT h'ai'
can "discover NJ necessity Tor so extensive
library in that department; embracing WORKS
which cannot possibly be required III Inc as
charge Of pficial duties, AID which involve SO
much exbense, without being called int" use.
As the Committee are understood MOI TO nave
prosecuted their discoveries al the Drpart-
mcnt itself, the natural and proper place Tor In
ouiry concerning its details, il is not strange
Ina. these discoveries are often uncertain, and
sometimes falacious. But it is strange now
they Can define and mete out, with such super
human perspicui'y, what subjects, ~ the ais-
charge of the muIliiarloss duties OF the o'ae
Department, are presented to The consideration
Of ns Chef. and employ the labo"rs ct his SUBS
ordinates. How they can determine wat
lights may be needed for the proper pertor>
nance Of these duties!
The social conErXion between the various
provinces of mind is so intimate, (thouga often
mperceptibe by such observers as Mr.. BlairJ
and its paths so often cross each other, that no
prophet can reasonably forelell to wha, extent
the Secretary Of State in the discharge OF his
"of6cial du,ies," may need the reflected light OF
the whole Encyclopedia Of human knowledge.
One Of his "offiLial dutics," for example, is 10
prepare reports responding to calls o. either
House Of Congress. Now, suppose, to go BACK
no further Than 10 the las, Administration, that
the Secretary of Stale when thus required las
he was) 10 prepare for Congress Digest vi
Commercial Law and Practice, and a Report on
WEIGHTS and Measures, had been without some
of the very books, &c. for which MIR. Blair
4" can discern no necessity" would Mf. a
dams's Reports on those subjects have been
half so useful 10 his country, or so gratifying
to its pride as they areo To come al once 10 the
present AG pinstration, eau II be presumed
that 1Mr. Clay, with evcE ne commanding a
bililies which faction, and that TOO, JACKSON
faction, admits him 10 possess ould have Tram
ed his memorable arguments on the subjects
of the navigation OF the st. Lawrence, and the
North. Eastern boundary, withou! reSoruns 10
authorities which according TO Mr.. Blair, can
not possibly be required" ihrse are few *
am 3les, and we shalt not trif1e with our reA-
ders by citing more.
The people Of The U. States, in forming po>
lily for Themselves, supposed knowledge to be
essential 10 wis" government. and universal ed
uca,ion 10 Oe indispensable for the maintenance
aud true enjoyment Of liberty. Hence the nu-
ne,ous seminaries Of learning which now a
dorm the former seats Of colonial vassalage;
hence The activity Of our State Legislatures in
fostering the sc nurseries OF knowledge, and by
consequence, Of free principles hence the wis
lnynrss Of he National Legislature to surround
eaC h Of their high funclionaries with the trea>
sures of other mi ds, as ready assistants 10 his
own.
Bu, our institutions were fortunately formed
before the lights which now glare in the poll
ical armament had begun To dawn; Before Mr..
McDufIie had "discovered" that FAC uon" was
the perfection Of intellectual being. Before
Mr. Randolph had "fise ovcred" knowledge 10
be something very like disqualification Tor
the chief magistracy OF free people; tina, ca
pacity for fighting battles was the only capaci-
iy necessary for The paths Of peace; and that
spelling Congress with was merit not to
be overlooked: And before an individual, who
is an alien both to primer and spelling book,
sought to grasp the s:eptre and WELD the DIES,
TIMES of great, intelligent, and educated ma
ton. Were heaven, in its wrath, to suffer his
dream of ambition TO be realized, and the hopes
of the willy cabalers, OF whom he is the instra-
ment, to be fulfilled, Mr.. Blair's hostility 10
library in the State Department, would indeed
be well founded. For if this Department
should then be administered in the spirit
winch would, probably, Gf,he past is a critics
rion for the future,) animate he Executive, the
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