The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-02-12


And Il the love Of fame which was The 1uino pas,,on
OF the creek 10 not nov strong with u.s. MS becau.s
the want OF the means, the Of plain and spre drec
tons Tor It's pursuit. beges despair Of it's attainment,
The Greek had these means, had these plain and sure
directions and il the certainty Of succes. Ly No.
and by their guide that knded and susian.d
his passion and made il his ruling passion This ma,
sion burning in the young bosoms Of thousand.
OF our youth but IL s as have said, Wis consilI :,
pers, aud struggles in vain because struggles bndy
for the fame pants after. Let this Ahenan mode Of
education be adopted IN this iustsDce-et II produce BOT
few examples Of eminent success (as have DOUBT
speedily would and thousands would rush to the path
tina, had led 10 that and members now OF tbs
body are vet Young enough hive era ans.
Ing in sndsnother golden age Of literature, les
splendid than any that had gone before excepting
even the AtheniaD.
know il has been supposed that the Athenans had
thing peculiar IN their genins, which gave to them
their unparalleled success. But have that when
with the loss of freedom they lost their love OF literary
glory they fell back the ordinary level Of mankind
aud were not all distinguished for literary merit from
the of nsohs So u was not nature but the means
adopted and improve nature that gave TO them
their pre- eminence and their but Ia
proportion the perfection and use Of those
] could WISH IL all were agreed IN H. that this Ins
tuition should make Of number Of colleges to
sttue university be established here, and be
dowed manner worthy Of this great nation and their
/ immense resources. This object recommended by
4 Washington in Of his early communications TO Con
gress, has NOT il appears 10 me- received The atten-
/ ton IL merits For such establishment, formed and
conducted as might be- would be attended with grea,
and glorious results 10 this country mot only by It's d.
rect operation in elevang the standard OF education
but by forming central point, local head TO all the
learning Of the connty-such as the most learned
tons OF Europe have, and from which they derive the
greatest advantages But opinions divided upon
this subject--no should hope. to the great desra-
bleness of such esiablshment-but as TO the
uional competency Of Congress TO undertake II, will
not embarrass my present object by involving With
that subject This, institution, may hereafter be
made part of such university, should one be esta
blished but is now to be looked at only as an nde
pendent Institution Still should hope that the liber
atty OF Congress would far with the gener
osy Of this foreign beneactor TO give full effect to
his benefcent purpose and would not ohly give the
grounds convenient for the accommodation and location
Of the buildings, but also make an appropriation OF
money therefore sufficient cover the cost OF their
erection; leaving the whole amount Of the legacy as
fund.- the proceeds Of which to be applied TO the accu-
mutation of books and apparatus-and 10 the support
OF the instruction and government OF the Institution;
otherwise the whole thing, fear will prove failure by
the expense of the outfits at least when compared TO
the results which it might be made to produce For
though the salaries Of instruction should not be over
large yet they should be liberal as to command the
services Of the abes. instructors in every department
embraced by the plan Of education. This is not the
casion for detail in full Of the plan Of education which
shonld wish 70 see adopted; | will, however, beg
leave to give it's outline promising that my object
would be give both learning and ability but ability as
the primary object Ability, as have stated can only
be given, fully persuaded, BY appropriate exer-
cises directed by certain rule that s by the principles
of the art whatever that may be- So that exercises
would be the Alpha and Omega of my system. The
studies should be combined Of science and literature
with its appropriate As science, they should
beresrcted to science properly caledto pure orr
/ gnal scence-wth some Of the practical branches
thereof necessary now to be indicated excluding
professory learning altogether As to literature, the
Il It'd no U,vo mod of
literature, and to all those arts by which that perfect Ii
terature has been produced, and may be reproduced
accompanied by athose exercises regularly and ardent
pursued by which power and skill Is given IN those
arts. The preliminary studies to qualify for admission
should also be prescribed. would have model school
for this preparation annexed this Institution, and
made part Of the establishment
Such an institution, conducted by great masters
as should hope the instructors 10 be-and without
such indeed nothing great in education can be
compShed, whatever the system may be, but, con-
Quoted by great masters, would make the ilustrous
stranger the founder of the institution, as think
one of the greatest beneiacioIs to our country and
to mankind, and to be worshipped almost, here at
! least, as the patron saint Of education.
Mr. Preston rose and said Unquestionably the
subject 10 which my venerable friend, the honorable
| Senator from Rhode Island, has called the attention
4 of The Senate, is of great importance, demand.
ing the grave consideration of Congress The Smith
sonian legacy has put the Government in possession
Of halfa million of dollars which by the acceptance
of the trust, imposes upon us the duty Of admins
tering this fund in the most appropriate way TO ac
| compiiSh the broad benefcence "of the diffusion Of
| learning amongst men," As il Is in the order Of
Providence, that as the mind is enlarged our moral
nature is also exalted, there can be no object more
benelcent or dgni6ed than that which the accept
ance of this legacy presents to US. earnestly hope
that efforts 10 discharge the trust assumed may
be wisely directed and crowned with success And
surely, MIR. President the establishment Of the Smith
sonia nns,itue could not commence under more ia
vorable auspices than TO have attracted the Of
The nrahl la Mann hI, In 10
nently qualified to take charge of whatever concerns
the interests Of learning or ofcharity. No one has
more experienced in his own heart, or more exem
plihed in his own character the benign Influences
OF education than the honorable gentleman; and
no one, therefore, in this body, so fiji TO have sub
mited the resolution before you, cast the oun
dalons, OF an institution whose duration, we may
hope, will bear proportion 10 its enlarged objects.
am sure but speak the sentiments Of all the Sc
majors when offer him my earnest thanks for the
lead he takes in this matter Nor can forbear also,
Mr. President to thank him for introducing upon this
most I'll occasion, those elegant and elevated topics,
which carry us for moment into regions OF calm
and serene air, above the smoke and din of our ac
cus,omed and more strenuous efforts on this floor,
IL is pleasant TO repose, though but for an instant,
upon The green spot he has presented TO u.s.
rejoice, MIR. President, continued Mr.. p, that it
has happened that this subject demands our aen-
ton at this session. After long term OF useful and
| now about TO terminate his cooperation with us on
this floor. II is his last session. 1t is fortunate
il is more Just and fit termination of his oiiica
productions, that he at once finishes and perfectS
them by inscribing his name where il will be most
appropriately placed, upon institution for the pro-
motion OF knowledge. hope, Mr.. President, that
we shall at once proceed 10 an earnest attention OF
this resolution and catry into effect the intentions
of the lestator, with liberaiiy controlled only BY
our constitutional restrictions.
The resolution was then agreed to.
SUPREME COURT UNITED STATES.
FRDAY, Feb g.