Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1839-03-07
IN SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Jan.
,rg SMITHSONIAN BEQUESE.

,rr SMITHSONIAN BEQUESE.
~. POBBINS submitted the following res
."p~.,",jrsl. That @ committee be appointed
-.,,irr Of five members of tho Senate, jointly
. .:% sr,6 committee as may be appointed on
g ..ror, Of the House Of Representatives., tC
~. ,ll.or lhe expcdioncy Of providing an inst
.. ..o, orIearning, TO be established in the city
WASHINGTON, for the application Of the Iega.
,cgroabcd by Mr.. james Smilhson, Of Lon
j., 10 tbe United States, in trust for that pur-
. also. 10 consider the expcdiency Ola char
p, far such institution, together with the pow
Il W., and privileges which in their opinion the
.,Irb,r,or ought to confer; also, TO consider
4 .So oynodency of ways and means to be proyi-
|ILy CONGRESS other than the said legacy, but
n,I3iton thereto, and in aid Of said boneyo,
cnt mention, and to report by bill or bills in
4 the premises.
The resolution having been read
M ROBBINS said that some days ago he
oayo notice that he would take an opportunity
"a 9sk leave to introduce q Joint resolution on
The subject Of the legacy bequcathed by Mr..
Smi,bson. of London, to the United States in
,rpst and that he would take the same oppor-
wnity to submit to the Senate his views upon
that subject. rise now, said Mr.. r., 70 ask
that leave, and to Submit these views.
Themoiyc to this noble legacy was as the
i Viii expresses il, "The increase and diffusion
Of lnolciedge among men.n Noble, indeed, il
/ was in every point Of view; noble as coming
from stranger, with whom this country had
no personal relations; speaking al once his hgt
sensoor our merit, while It proclaimed his own
noble in amount, and may be made elective tt
its ben;fcent purpose; but, above all, noble Tor
It's destination 'the increase and dB@Sioa Of
\ kaoY1e3ge among mem" leaving it TO the Wis
dom of Congress TO devise and provide the In.
slipGon that should be most effective TO this
end. Il ought 10 be an Institution, whose cl-
iects upon the country will make it living
u monument, TO tho honor Of the illustrous don
10. in all time to come. Such an Institution, !
8concoive, may be devised; Of which, however,
Hat present there is no model either in this coun-
8try or in Europe; giving such a course OF edu-
kcaiion and discipline as would give 10 the fac
#ullos Of the human mind an improvement and
Npowcr far beyond what they obtain by the or.
binary systems Of education; and far beyond
what they afterwards attain in any OF the pro
iesslonaI pursuits. Such an Institution, as tC
It's principle, suggested itseltlo the sagacious
and Iar.soeing mind Of Bacon, as one Of tht
greatest Importance. But while his other sug
Feslons have boon followed out with sucl
wonderful success in extending the boundaries
E Of physical science, this has been overlooked
and neglected One reason is, that the othel
suggestions were more deliberately explained
4 by him; there, too, he not only pointed out Tie
q path, but he led the way in 1t himself. Be
a Sides those other suggestions could be carried
4 ont by individual exertions and enterprise, IN
dependently Of the existing establishments 9
learning; or they could be grated on, and mad
a part of, those establishments. But this re
CURED an original plan Of education, and new
foundation for its execution; where the younI
mind would be trained by-a course OF educa
lon and discipline that would unfold and per
ecl all his faculties; where the genius Woul
plume his young wings, and prepare himself Y
take the noblest flights The idea, however
was not entirely original with Bacon; for
would be in effect but the revival Of that sys
TEN Of education and discipline which produces
such wonderful Improvement and power OF tn
human mind in Greece and Rome, and especial
YIN Greece. Its effects here, am persuaded
would be many and glorious. or these shal
now Indicate only one; but that one whose I'M
porance all must admit. In its progress an
Ultimately it would give to our country, hay
no doubt, q national literature of high an
immortal character. However Notifying
our national pride it is to say it, 1t must be cor
tessed that we have not a national literature 0
mat character; nor is it possible we eyershouI
nave, as 1t appears to me, on our present syS
lem OF education Not that our literature, sue
as 1t is, is inferior to that Of other nations pre-
duced at the present day. No; mediocrlty
the character Of all literary works OF the Pr'
sent day, go whore you will. It's som Eng
Iand, 1t is so in France, the two most I'eru'
nations OF Europe. 1t is true, learned men an
great scholars are every where to be found; Il
iced, they may be said to abound more Una
ever; the whole world too has become readln
world; the growth Of the press is prodlgIou'
Du' u IS all ephemero end evanescent-ali de
l'hed to the grave of oblivion. Nor is It th'
our countrymen have not the gift Of genius /
literary works Of that high immortal chara
'eli Probably no people were ever bIess'
WIN II IN greater degree--of which ever
"here we see the indications and the evidence
out What signifies genius for an art without oil
e,Pm,,no' without knowledge Of its principles al
SIKH IN thot art?
"V'S conSii erpcrS, mele rueI Saa;
v'm temperatam. Dii qaoque Prouca"nf'
In alojus''
llInrntura NJ, -, ,,ou n