The native American., 1840-09-26
NATIVE AZlll.AlGLgA.No
For he E4ttoe .4mrricaa.
OBSERVATIONS OK 1.-THE DIFFUSION OF
KNOWLEDGE AMONG MEN"
Suggested By The Terms, S,c.,f hc Smith.
Senian BequesL
CONTINUED.

CONTINUED.
We dcauoed from the circumstances con-
necied with Tie legacy of the late Mr. Smith
son, that he had special regard TO the agency
to be employed i'll - the diffusion of know
ledge among men," This phian,hropist was
an observer of national character. HI per-
cei:ed the necessity dcvulving upon the citi-
gems Of the United States OF acquiring, and
consequently of diffusing, knowledge and
that they had not been remiss, ror unsuccess-
full as nation, in regard TO the march of
mind. Uniting in themselves The double
character of rulers and subjects, he perceived
that they are under obligation more than
others, 10 marke good those qualifications by
which they may exercise the functions OF
each relation in The hest manner, rs may be
expected in the case of a people who under
take to do their own governing and their own
work.
1t is maxim of Holy Writ that the soul
to be without knowledge is not good" and
maxim of experience that Knowledge is
power" The face OF the whole country
during the lapse Of more than half century
revealed to our testator that Americans had
prohted'by these maXims. The knowledge
Of Religious Truths, Of natural and moral as
well as political science, is Indispensable to
Americans, TO every sei-governing people
who will neither be led nor driven until the
reason and prepriety Of the measure and the
power that give the impulse are made patent
The constitutions of the several States, as
well as that Of the United States, contain a
protest or declaration, excluding any and
every prescribed form of a national religion.
This removes at once the principal ohsruc-
ton to intellectual improvement, and even to
religion itself; for The precep,s and rules Of
that religion which is open TO investigation,
and freely professsed after due investigation.
are more cheerlully kept and observed than
those of religion enforced BY law at the in
s,igation of hierarchy. II was foreseen BY
the trainers of the constitutions alluded to,
that freedom and the general diffusion Of
knowledge were incompatible with any rel-
gion established by law. Hence, they have
prohibited the legal prescription of religious
forms, and thereby released the consciences
of men romtyranRy Of that kind. which has
proved itself the antagonist of general know
ledge and the friend and ally of privileged
orders and royalty in States, under certain
qualifications and restrictions. 1t may be re-
marked, that great learning, or much know-
edge, "puffelh up" 1t is often tinctured
with pride, arrogance and pedantry Blu: these
bad qualities are corrected when the many
are sharers in the knowledge and in Amer
lea learning is more generally difrused than
in Europe, Notwithstanding the wealth and
antiquity Of their colleges and universities.
This is the glory and strength Of freemen,
when, as it may be the case, all are modest
unassuming aud wise. The thrones Of ty-
rants are built upon the ignorance Of the peo-
pie; they gather around them sho,cy, osten-
totious gentlemen; they bestow upon them
splendid, imposing titles, stars, lace and rib
hons; to make, by such artificial distinctions,
gradations in society; in which unjust pro-
ceedings, nature is convulsed, and the groans
Of the oppressed people are often as a deep,
portentous, rumbling thunder-but ignorance
and disregard Of Gods laws, and tile consti-
tntions of natural things, have forged their
chains. If, among people thus degraded,
There be found few wise men, they either
mingle in the train Of the tyrant, and lend him
their influence, or pine away in seclusion and
sorrow, if permitted, in view of the hopeless
servitude OF people, who, had they not neg
lected the pursuit of knowledge, might have
enjoyed liberty themselves, and transmitted
its blessings down TO the latest pos,erity.
When people lose their liberty they also
lose their personal dignity and political con-
sequence, and are called the rabble, or what
ever epithet may suit the convenience of the
privileged orders and their domestics; for
the insulting language is an approved instru-
ment to break down any spirit or independ-
ence which may still remain with the veo-
many OF such country. There, alas in
stead of knowledge, the lcvly and lewdness
Of bufIoons and opera dancers are dlfused
among men; and that too, under royal pa
tronage and lordly example. A tab is thrown
out to divert the ,chaie from the destruction
which it might hurl upon its enemies. 1t is
the blrtli-rlght of Americans TO exercise the
highest functions Of human reason in matters
Of legislation aud other departments of policy
and government; il is therefore to be rorret-
tel that they should net consider the tenaen-
cy OF voluntarily descending to the gra,fica-
tons of the canaRe, who have no alternative.
in the royal and ducal cities OF Europe that
they should lavish treasures and plaudits
upon persons who excel merely in circum-
gyrations on one extremity, with the limb
projected some degrees above The horizontal
level. Does not this declension from rational
dignity afford proof Of the want of whole
some discipline, as well as Of sound moral
and scientific instruction in yonlil; that Tie
proper int lectHa! material, The pabttl,,n, o,,i-
mn, is not furnished in due proportion to The
wants OF the general community; tina. the
standard OF learning is too low for the United
S'ates--ls too low for the .age, and too low
ior the prospective security Of the liberties Of
this peculiarly privileged peoples
Neither is it sufficient that k,o,,.,aJ,,o