The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-09-06
The smith .on,an Institution.

1
The following article from the Rochester Daily Amer
lcan" OF the LIST instant, assumes importance from
the endorsement which Its principal fact has received FROM
he "London Examiner" This fact has been for some
lime circulating in the American papers, and 1t is time to
| notice it:
| ABUSE SMIrHsoy GIFr.-The London Examiner
If late date that old Bible purchased at one
IF the London auctions for the Smithsonian Institute for
$500 1t without any date the name oil the print
'rs, or of the place where pnted but II was supposed TO
very old copy and therefore bought for our Smith
onian Institute which the managers appear TO have con-
yered into " old curiosity shop"
1t is with deep regret that have to the conclu
sion that Smithsonian Institute is to be perfect fall
re The board of managers erecting heap of stone
md mortar which will equal to iour-iths of all
The money bequeathed by Mr. Smithson fo' the increase
md diffusion of knowledge among men," The college
sdce has front of 459 feet; and is intended to be
great architectural the city of Washing
the Girard College is to Philadelphia.
This perverson of which should be regarded
ced and might have been used diuse ncalculable
ouetu knowledge among the people ofevery State
in the Union is truly Infamous half million of dollars
invested palace and the balance Of the legacy in old BIZ
bes without date, $500 apiece, pretty way up
he funds of hghmnded, erousfoeigner, who know
ing that the oioure Experiment. of popular self
other basis than the general diffusion of
knowledge among the masses gave the Whole of his large
strengthen this basis of republican institutions.
Generations yet unborn will denounce and the
perpetrators of this wrong, this outrage their just
claims the intellectual light which the Smithsonian
und might have shed in every of the Union After
he palace is completed and all the old rubbish in the book
ade is collected into mammoth library, the free people
this republic should instruct their repu
date the whole concern, and mako an appropriation
equal the bequest of Mr.. Smitlson, and carry
plain and honest way the noble object of the donor
The honor of the nation is involved in this question Had
Congress declined to receive the money and undertake the
duties the trust nothing need be done, for disgrace
would attach Now the is very different. Having
taken the money, il be fairly applied the object
named, or disgrace attaches to the whole country.
We have applied for information to distinguished
member of the Smithsonian Institute, who assures us
that the anecdote of the sold bible" is entirely novelty
TO him; that certainly authority for such purchase
has ever been given by the Board of Regents and that
he hardly thinks that any officer agent have
med even upon his own responsibility, SO extreme an
dbsurdity 1t is barely possible that anquary in
books, with superfuous cash on hand, has made the
purchase noticed by the "London Examiner and intends
it gift to the Institute.
The spirit of the Rochester s'Daily American is too
apparent in the remarks which it ventures to makeA
half million of dollars invested in palace and the bal
ance of the legacy in old Bibles at $500 apiece" Why,
the whole building is, by contract with the most expert
enced and responsible workmen, be completely "fn
hed furnished, and fitted up" for less than onehalf OF
the stated; and every dollar paid for it, paid out
of interest money, leaving the principal Of the original
legacy not merely untouched, but greatly augmented