The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-27

small way 10 the institution il will receive direct
compensation which far more than balances the sac
n6ce made. The bill proposes to appropriate a
portion of the public grounds IN THIS CITY Tor the
buildings and gardens necessary ior ths establish
ment Handsome yet useful structures WIZ be erect
ed, and the cultivation of the grounds WI render
them beautiful and attractive, while they may still
he accessible TO the harmless examination and en-
ioyment of the public All this will be done out Of
the Smithsonian fund.- and the expense which the
government would otherwise incur 0y carrying out
the original plan of the city as designed by Wash
ington will be avoided, while all its desirable sdyan.
tages will be obtained. The benefit will be mutual
TO the government and to the institution.
So also in regard 10 the transfer OF the specimens
Of natural history, Of minerals, and other scientific
and curious objects now in possession OF the govern
ment, and kept at the Patent Office Inc exhibition
and preservation of these things are now me source
of some expenditure. When they shall be trans
ferred, as proposed in this bill, this expenditure
will cease, or be removed from the public treasury,
To the fund Of the institution They VIII be equally
subject to the public examination, while they will
be made to answer a more useful end, IA eonstu-
ting the basis Of instruction for able and scientific
professors. .h+F "a
NV remarks SO far, Me. Chairman, reisis only to
some unimportant preliminary srrsngs"sen,s, not
affecting the general scope and design OF tho pro-
posed Institution. These must nowybe examined;
and propose to do il with reference TO the probA.
BILE design of Mr.. Smithson, 10 be inferred from his
own pursuits and character Of mnd--from his Sc
lection Of our government 10 execute his will, and
from the language in which he has expressed his in
tentlons. =. .
| do not propose 10 enter upon any biographical
sketch Of MIR. Smithson, or TO 20 into history Of
his phiosoph eal labors. | will merely state what
has heen truly said by the gentleman from lnd
ana, Mr.. OWEN, that he was hdently devoted Tn
science, and that his pursuits emInendy prac-
49,. hair CHI he hU
cal sci noes in their application 10 the useful arts
mineralogy, geology, aud chemistry IN us apPica-
u.n to agriculture, constituted his chief employ
mems. His Investigations are referred 10 and quo
ted with respect by the great German chemist
Leibig.
1t is more than probable that one whose mind was
constantly occupied with these subjects, and filled
with the visions Of rich promise which must be re-
allied in their future investigation, when munlhce1t-
ly endowing an institution for increasing and diff.
fusing knowledge among men, looked particularly TO
those sciences which will be most fruitful IN great
results and to which, on that account, he himself
deeply devoted. II is precisely these sciences,
and these applications of them, which understand
this bill to be designed and calculated to promote.
Nor was il strange, sir, that with such sentiments
and such designs, Mr.. Smithson should have select
ed our government as the instrument to accomplish
his objects. Although it must be acknowledged
that this government has heretofore contributed lit
tie or nothing TO the advancement Of science by any
direct aid or encouragement; and although the
points at which it even comes in contact with the
scientific world are extremely few, and IL is felt to
be great desideratum that these connexions should
be increased; yet Mr.. Smithson had the penetration
to discover that the United States the foremost
people Of the world in the facility Of adapting them
selves to the progressive Improvements Of the age.
No other people now making such rapid strides
in the application Of science to the great purposes
r
ed at the present day, is doubtless the result Of
free institutions, giving untrammeed scope and
powerful motive to the energies of the individual
man-no longer making the citizen subservient to
the power and glory Of the government, but using
the latter as mere instrument to protect the rights
and promote the welfare, improvement and haPpl-
ness ofthe former. The oiden philosophers consid-
cred il prostitution OF the sacred character Of SCI
direct it, in any degree, to the aterl inter-
ests Of man. In modern times the sentiment Ia just-
ly reversed; and that philosophy which does not
contribute to the useful pursuits Of life, Is consider
ed Of comparatively little value In this age and in
this country the new application of philosophy is
exhibiting its most glorious results, and givln Z
promise in the future Of still more wonderful inn
provements. Doubtless it was this tendency Of our
institutions, and the effect not obscurely marked out
in the amazing energy and inventive power Of our
people, Whch induced the wise and benevolent NTH
to select this government the agent for accom-
plSnlng MS Will hOl
condition of the people, the result our peculiar polt-
ca institutions, will reflect back its influence upon
the government, and infuse portion Of its energetic
and enlightened spirit into all its departments. We
have already seen some such result. Some opera
tons of an important scientific character have OF
late been undertaken by the direct application OF
the national power.
First in importance among these, has been the
establishment in this city of the Observatory, con-
u,i,h tho hvd Of hat
nondescript fre-and-water bureau of ordnance and
photography. believe this interesting establish
ment has grown up gradually from the very neces.
sty of the case, and without any direct authority
looking Immediately to such result. And, in the
estimation of some, it seems still to be considered
very unmporant concern; for have seen bill
lately reported in the Senate, proposing to detach
the establishment from the Bureau Of Ordnance, and
connect it with that Of yards and docks, thus bring.
ing the erection Of ship houses, foundries, and
workshops, into uxtaposition and intimate relation
with the most delicate and difficult observations OF
the heavenly bodies, and the most intricate calcua-
tons Of astronomy. This classification is probably
founded upon the similarity supposed to exist be.
tween the wheels of steam engine and the rings OF
Saturn, the bands of a lathe and the belts of Ju-
piter. The Naval Committee of the House, how
ever, have not had the penetration to these very
reconcile points of connexion and they have pro-
posed to erect separate bureau Of photography
pihClnR tne astToHoHlcd anu nyurOgrapICh oIcfa-
/ tons Of the government upon the most permanent
independent, and useful basis If there be any
branch Of the public service worthy Of this advan.
tage, it is that which is now so well and efficiently
conducted by Lieutenant M. F. Maury. d. q.
Heretofore our astronomical knowledge has been
chiefly derived from foreign nations. We have used
the English nautical almanac and our vessels have
been guided upon the broad ocean by and
tables prepared by our rivals and advcrsnfes IN all
commercial enterprise. We have contributed moth
ing whatever to this branch OF science useful as ia
and directly connected with the great interests OF
commerce and navigation. For our most important
charts, also, we have been dependant upon other ma
tons. Until recently, even now, we have had no
establishment at which vessels could be supplied
with maps and charts necessary to enable them to
perform cruise with convenience and safety, and
we certainly have not bad'the information OF a hy-
drographcal character which would enable the Ma
Wy Department to plan an attack upon any foreign
port, even in the gulfof Mexico.
But, sir, the establishment of the Observatory, il
its important objects be Literally seconded will rem
edy these defects, and wipe off from our character
what cannot but considera disgrace to the most
enlightened people upon earth tsservices will not be
confined to the urr ,rafon of maps and charts the