The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-06-18

of political economy-all these are com
mon things, and shall we make no pro-
| vision for instruction in these2
But, sir, the knowledge of what are
called the physical sciences is OF far less
importance, ever in reference to the very
objects which they are supposed especial
ly 20 promote, than is generally believed
There was an nge--I should say ages
brilliant and glorious ages Of philosophers
of statesmen, of patriots, Of heroes, and Of
artists, and a@rizlns too; when, as yet,
The sciences of chemistry, and mineralo.
gy, and metallurgy had neither name nor
being-when experimental research was
unknown, and the raw material of the
arts was prepared for subsequent mani"
p%ula,ion in no laboratory but the hidden
workshops Of nature-when the profound-
est philosophers were content with res
solving all material things into the four
elements, and men knew nothing Of that
subtle analysis and those strange powers,
whereby the elements themselves are de-
composed, the ingredients of the atmos-
phere solidifed, and granite; ~poTphyry
and claimant, resolved into imperceptlbIe
gases. And what, sir, have our boasted
researches taught us to accomplish in the
inJuslria! arts, that the cunning work.
men of Egypt, and Tyre, and Greece
could not do three thousand years ago?
Can our machinery rear lofLier piles than
The pyramids, or move more ponderous
masses than the stones Of Persepolis, or
the monolithic temples Of Egypt? Is a
European princess arrayed in finer webs
than the daughter of a Pharaoh, or deck,
ed in colors more gorgeous than the TYR,
ian purple! Can the chemistry Of Eng.
land compound more brilliant or more
durable pigments than those which deco.
rate the walls of the calacombs of the
Nile? Can the modern artist, with all
The aid of his new magnifers, rival the
microscopic minuteness of some ancient
mosaics !; or car the glass>workers OF
our times surpass the counterfeit gems OF
antiquity?
Sir, modern chemistry, metalIurgy.
and machinery have multiplied, cheaper,
ed, and didused-no. improved-the pros
of industrial art and herein lies
our superiority. not that we can do better,
but, by bringing 10 oul all the obedient
of nature, we can do more, than
our predecessors. In this point Of view,
regarding modern Improvements in these
arts as the great equalizers Of the condi.
lions OF different ranks in society, no man
can estimate them more highly than | do,
and l hope soon to have an opportunity
of showing that | do duly appreciate
hem. Bat | must protest agains, that
classification of the objects of human
knowledge, which, by giving them an un-
due pre-emineuce, e~Ievates enpirioism
above true science, prefers matter 10 mind,
and, in its zeal 10 advance the means,
quite loses sight of the end.
Sir, these arts are the right hand, not
The spirit, of true progressive democracy;
hey arc the lever that shall move the
not the immaterial mind that ehall
guide it.
Mr. Chairman, at present l neither pro
pose nor expect any modification Of this
bill. | am content with it as an expert
nent, though | should prefer the appro-
of the entire income of the fund
or one generation-three times only as
ong as it has now lain idle-to the pur-
pose Of founding such Il library as the
world has not yet seem If support the
bill, / shall support it, I repeat, as an ex'
pertinent, but in the confident E"ne that
he plan will sooo be so changed as to
make the Smithsonian institution a filter
representative ola charity which embraces
III knowledge as its object, and appoints
he whole human race its benefciarics.