The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-06-11

INV P"t'iEuldi USES W WHICH tne Iunu Snall
be applied, what shall those uses be Or
shall we, on the other hand, delegate the
trust and, if so, shall we impose its duties
on departments already too heavily bur-
dened with official responsibilities, or shall
we create a corporation or other special
agency for the purpose? Is there not
danger that the institution will be abused
for party ends, and merely serve to swell
the already overgrown patronage of the
Executive? A previous suggestion of
these difficulties might we'll have led US
TO hesitate, before we contracted obIiga>
tons of so delicate a character, and | fear
they are yet destined for some time longer
to impede the satisfactory action of Con.
gress.
But it is now quite time that we apply
ourselves in earnest 10 the work of re.
deemlng our country from the reproach OF
infideIity in the discharge Of so high and
solemn a trust, and that at the earliest
practicable period, and before the subject
shall become an element in our party dis
sensions, we strive to make available TO
our felIow-citizens, and TO all men, a gift
as splendid as It's purposes are noble.
The delay, long and unwarranlable as
it is, has not been without its uses. II
has afforded abundant time for the c%oliec-
ton, comparison, and concentration Of
opinion able men in every walk of scho.
lastic and professional life have been con-
suited; many Of the wisest American
statesmen have brought the energies of
their intellects to the examination of the
subject! it has been largely discussed in
both branches of the national legislature &;
numerous studiously considered plans
have been suggested, providing in differ
ent ways for every interest which can be
supposed 10 be embraced within the views
of the t%estator, and the bill now before US
is a compilation, an anthology, SO to speak,
from all these, though possessing origin.
al Understandable features-the credit
of which belongs 10 the chairman of the
SPECIAL Committee, (Mr. Owen by whom
The bill was reported.
In a case where there is room for so
great division of opinion as in this, there
can be no hope Of the adoption of any plan
not conceived in a spirit Of compromise !;
and on this, as on another larger q1es>
ton, however widely apart we may be at
first, we shall probably find ourselves in
the end obliged 10 settle down upon the
parallel of 400. The bill is reported by
the special committee as a compromise,
and probably no one of the gentlemen
concerned in its preparation is quite salts
fled with its provisions no one believes it
10 be the best plan that could be devised
but they feel the necessity Of Ieferring to
each other, as well as to the probable
opinion Of Congress, and were nearly
unanimous in thinking it more likely to
harmonize discordanl views than any 9TH
er plan suggested. 1t was in this belief,
and in consideration of the importance and
the duty Of early action, that l., as a men,
Der of that committee, assented to the re-
port, regarding The scheme, however, not
merely as a necessary compromise, but as
rather an experiment, which admitted,
and which | trusted would hereafter re-
ceive, great changes in its conditions, than
as a complete working model.
1t has all along been assumed as a car
dinal principle, that we ought to follow
implicitly the will of the liberal donor. and
it has been thought unfortunate that he
was not more specific in the appropria-
ton of his bounty. But he has given a
proof of a generous and enlightened spirit,
and at the same time has paid this ma.
ton the highest possible compliment, BY
using the largest and most comprehensive
language in his bequest thus in effect
saying, that he preferred rather 10 %entrusl
the disposal of this great fund 10 the wis.
dom and intelligence of a free and en-
lightened people, than 10 limit its use to
purposes accordant with his W peculiar
tastes. Some gentlemen have thought,
that inssmuch as the testator has not spe.
particular mode by which he
would have the great ends of his charity
accomplished, we are bound TO infer his
wishes from the character of hi S avoritt
pursuits, and 10 conform to his supposed
by combining the fund 10 the pro
motion of objects, TO the cultivation of
his time and researches were
But this would be no true con-
10 the enlightened liberaIity which
prompted so muniicenl "a gift. 1t would
be a disparagement to so generous a spirit
10 imagine, tina: Wills! saying so much,
he meant so liIlle. II would be so wide
a departure from his large and wise our
poses, as fairly to defeat his noble aims.
Had he been in fact a person of so narrow
views as this argument supposes, he
would have guarded against the possible
nisappIicotiOn of his charity, by express
words of direction or restriction and i.
S a proof Of a rare generosity in an en-
husiastic lover of an engrossing pursuit,
hat in a bequest appropriating his whole Z
10 the high purpose of increasing
nd diffusing knowledge among men, he l.,
made no special provision for the promo> {
ion OF these sciences which were To him \