The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-25
NATIONAL INSTITUTE
Letter from As Hon Richard Rush, Of Psnnsvlpania
on the subject fLhs National institute

! July l5, B46.
Dean SIR Permit me to send you, for the Nation
al Institute, an cid folio volume containing bound-up
numbers Of "The New York Mercury, y and "Nsx
York Gazette and Weskly Mercury from 1855 10
1865 the numbers being pretty full for some Of the
years, though scanty or deficient for others. From
It's pages may he CLEANED items of information, not
without interest concerning portions Of our political
history before the revolution, intermingled with
little matters illustrative Of habits, manners, and
usages In New York, and others of the old thirteen
States at that colonial day II is sent in the hope
that the institute will do the honor accept il as
slight token Of the continued interest take in It's
welfare, aAd ofthe undmnished qualification derive
nom being continued on the list Of its corresponding
members.
conveying copy of the memorial presented by the
institute To Congress on the 10Th of December,
cannot avoid some little expression Of the deep re-
gret ieel al the pecunlary embarTassments under
which the institute labors. Had these been brought
on by imprudence; had the members or officers been
seeking emoluments or peeuniary advantages in
any conceivable way for themselves; or had there
been any extravaganza or waste in managing the
concerns Of the body, relief could little be expected
rom the hand Of government But when nothing
OF this kind Is the case; when all have been acting
without pay or reward urged on by no feeling bat
that Of doing public good in fields worthy To excite
the noblest ambiton and when il has finally become
impraeucable, by mere private contributions and
taxes 10 pay even the incidental expenses attendant
on the preservation Of large collections Of curious
and valuable things connected llh the advancement
OF science literature, and the which have come
10 the hands OF the institute, il is Very lansnt-
able to reflect upon IFS pecuniary embas-
rassments. lnexpressibly painful Is il to know
mat tho recent magnificent presents from the
king Of the French and the British government
the latter consisting of the splendid and costly maps
and sections Of the geological survey of Great Brit
al md IF.la and haakL - IN
ter be pubshed-with difficulty reach the possess
sion OF the institute for the want of funds b pay for
their trans portatoA.
Thus the merit of the institute is turned to its
misfortune! Unhappy anomaly It has to pay the
penalty OF early and triumphant success By its
voluntary zeal, by It's unurlng and weldrected in.
dusry IN the fields Of science, literature and the
arts, It wins name throughout the world Distin-
guished individuals, ancient and learned societies in
foreign countries and our own, hail with delight this
new association which has suddenly sprung up in
the metropolis Of the New World All seem
anxious TO welcome it into the brotherhood Of SCI
enee. Numerous testimonials Of cooperation and
sympathy, in the form Of instructive correspond
ence, and IN other forms substantial and gratifying
pour in upon il from all quarters, until already the
heads Of great nations deem it worthy Of their
marked attention and favor; yet the very donations
10 subserve the ends OF its establishment and which
its own honorable and unaided exertions have so
speedily earned cannot be obtained through its want
Of even moderate funds.
And can il be that Congress will remain insensibe
TO its wans'-suffer It to languish, even to perish,
under It's extraordinary merlts' Let hope other
wise. The spirit Of the age stands up for such an
institution. Duties OF high and inextinguishable
obligation plead its cause. These, let us believe
only required TO be brought under the decided
notice Of Congress to be effectively recognised; for
consider the strong moral links between nations
which fellowship in letters create; consider how
&c. Al L.. Il.
ltcal animosity; 70 REINFORCE the ties which grow
upon commercial intercourse and other material in.
terests among nations, and to elevate and refine
them. IL cannot be that Congress will remain in
sensible to such considerations when a very small
appropriation Of money would satisfy them-so
small as not TO be felt, even under the heavy calls
which makes. These, however great, need
not bear down minimum call for an object tending
indirectly TO peace ITSELF amidst other inappre
ciabe blessings And least of all, need Congress
hesitate when its power is complete over this sub
ect centerng II does in the national metropolis
and when the scientific collections are for national
use, and when the tide TO them is intended TO be
vested in the government its own property
There would even be moral beauty in rescuing a
small sum for so saving and benefcent a purpose |
in the midst of that devouring appetite for supplies
which the national honor demands should be APP
Peased when war RACES, and which must destroy as
1t RACES.
We read Of an ancient king who hired person
to tell him every day of his faults. Having no
king with us, the collective nation is as the sover-
eign, and praised in like superlatives, raised still
higher by the absence of individuality, which would
seem to screen us from fatery But we forget that
the collective nation is after all made up of human
imperfection; and national tendency is to self |
laudation uniform, if not excessive, as 10 be in
danger of weakening the Of our possible fail
ngs We class ourselves with the greatest nations
We would ambitiously be above them; an exalted
ambition when properly directed and followed up.
But foreign pens and tongues roughly impugn our
claims. How in this--and what the mitigation or
correctives All perceive our power-all acknowl-
edge the quick and stupendous creations of our in
dustry-a are struck with the marvellous energies
of our freedom. Statistical, incontesable results
attest 1t all. There are no sceptcs in these fields
Prone as we may be TO set our lights upon a hill
we can hardly exaggerate the mighty whole or, i'll
we do facts come up TO 1t, grotp up to it, whilst we
still speaking, Burke SAID even in reference
to our colonial state. So active, incessant and
vast is the principle of growth in our nation in all
things external and palpable that the setting sun of
every evening must behold it more powerful than
when it rose.
But is it that we attend to these material results
too exclusively, leaving MIND to shift for itsel-so
that, in the cultivation which it proudly seeks il
has not fair play, from wanting those auxiliary |
means and appliances which it often requires, and
without which, if mind does not sink, it may pine
and fail to reach the towering heights its aspirations
are fixed upon' And is it that its little boons are
withheld, through that political vehemenoe and in
tensity which our admirable institutions in the
midst oftheir excellence, primarily beget, and which
tend to absorb all else in that one grand, heated
vortex This is to be feared and is danger to
which the broad forecast of our legislators should
look. The topic might become fruitful of both
facts and reflections. We can be reused to patr-
otto indignation. Half the nation oil our presses,
can be reused, by objurgatory article in foreign
review, or a paragraph in the London Times; but
we can be cold under the obligations we contracted
as nation in accepting Mr. Smhson's legacy.
We can suffer his half million Of dollars TO lie dead
in our hands for years and years, With his solemn
will recorded on our archives. Alas for this fact
1t neither stngs nor rouses u.s. There is 10 political
no party excitement in it. But ii is the more pain
full to dwell upon; and in the principle of such ne
elect, there ia silent potency of reproach and mis-
chief which not the marvellous increase Of our pop
ulation, nor the prodigious and universal accumula
tons Of thrift, all the noontesable evidences
of our power, nor the victories of our gallant Tay.
lor can adequately couneract the workings Of upon
national character. Is il because that legacy was
pledged to the interests of mind that all sensi-
bilitios are dead And we going, as nation,