Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-11-02
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER:
TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.


Being now, after a sooum of nearly four years in this
great and prosperous ssehood of Republics the point
returning to my own beloved country, leave these
enlightened and hospitabe shores without ndugng myself
an final and most aectionae farewell tothe United States
country to whose generosity and kindness am deeply
indebted Wherever go shall to carry with
me the ecoections Of all the proofs of regard and
acts of personal courtesy which have been extended to an
npreending foreigner in every portion OF her wide domain
loved America before il. have many reasons to
love yet more since seeing it with my own eyes and ex
perencing in liberal degree its feelings OF good WILL
leave now, probably for the last nme but he emem-
rance Of both nv visits will be associated in my heart
with the tenderes and grateful emotions and should
meet in the Old World an enemy of Amerca, will say to
him, Go there and you will be her enemy no longer"
But II is known to all who take the least interest in one
90 humble as myself that all my thoughts, anxees, and
sbors are concentrated in beloved obeche success OF
nav system or IrrrasArIosAL E1cHASeE For this alone
Iiye Hence it is unnatural that in leaving this New
World to close my days amidst the habits and institutions of
the Old should bear away in my bosom an anxious soici-
ude for the life and growth of the promising plant yet
green and TENDER which have happily succeeded in planting
on these Western shores trust, therefore, that shall be
psrdoned in these closing hours Of stay should throw
out with all humility and respect suggestions which
appear imporantpehaps indispensable-o the per-
manency and of the system. has thus far in
good degree realized the promises Of usefulness held out
and would it be pity that institution which may be
rendered so fruitful of good should wther and perish just
Its bentfs begin to be experienced
To secure the pemanency Of the plan, it is above all
things important that should be sheltered from every ap
pearance of commercial business and secured against all
possibility Of imposition, speculation, bribery To this
end is necessary give its transactions publicity; to
move them wholly from all private touch and all individual
interest The system devised for nations, not for nd
viduals hence all its doings in all its departments, must
have an odor Of nationality about them they must be
the transactions public bodies and public men for the public
good.
have thought that Of the best modes of attaining this
object would be the appointment each State Of the Union
Of Select Standing Committee, who should have the care and
custody of the State library (whe such thing exists, and
trust il will soon be found in every State and be charged
with the conduct of exchanges domestic and foreign. Such
committees should be appointed under State legislative
thoty BY the Governor BY ether public function
ary as far above and removed from the influence OF mere
party politics as may be- and should be selected without the
least reference political opinion from men alone OF dsin-
eushed character and interested in the progress of science
and of social improvement Such State COMMITTEE would
be in correspondence with the Central Agency Paris and
would communicate to from time 10 time the intellectual
wants Of the various scientific and literary establishments of
the State furnishing the lists Of such works and
objects of science art and natural history they might
possess be able control for purposes of exchange
college library for example, containing duplicate copies
copies not used Of any valuable work, might send such
committee list Of their duplicates, which they would be
glad spare in the hope Of receiving other works in
change which were down second list furnished
the same committee and containing statement Of the books
they most needed. Here would be opened at ready
channel by which the Of the learned either side of
the Atlantic, in different quarters Of your country,
might mutually be made known to each other, many Of
which wants. the least might thereupon be quickly
and without any purchase by either party supplied
This has been done by Harvard University, whose duplicate
volumes have been sent to the agency at Paris for pur
poses Of exchange But to guard against abuses should
be established nfe1ibe rule that exchanges shall
be effected by pecunay means, unless in special cases, to
be specifically provided for by State authority All books,
maps engrayings statues &C. passing through the hands Of
The standing committee ought be the results Of exchanges
Of similar nature and where individuals wish to transmit
such things tokens of respect and good will without seek
ing any return or where learned desire to exchange
scientific reports communications this also should be done
through the committee aone-no intercourse toah pyU1e
iadiuduas being kno,cn to the system permitted by its
regulations No objects should be allowed to be transmitted
through the central agency abroad through the standing
tees here without having ostensibe indebe mark, obv
ous the eye indicating them belonging to the System Of
International Exchange, and therefore PUBLIC PROPERTY
When thsis enforced qua any private
having an object in his possession with that mark upon
could be held for the in which into
his hands, and be compelled give for the public ends
for which it committed the action Of the system.
Books with this mark, if booksellers shelves, might
once be seized as frauduenty come by.
Where college university finds itself in want of any
rare or expensive European work, though have
present no work of equivalent value transmit exchange
need be deferred that account from taking advantage
Of the system let its want be supplied 1t would have only
20 signify that the Executive of the State, or to tht
chairman of the standing Committee of Exchange, and it
wishes will be Immediately communicated 10 the Cenra
Agency at Paris by which, the desired work be attanabe
II will be readily procured early practicable and trans
ri.ted the committee here. The work so obtained vii
be State property and will continues but on its arr
val the committee transmit it. loan for the use
the university where may remain and be used not az th
property Of the university but entrusted 10 its by h
State.
II another wishes make donation Of his works to
college abroad within the Union the committee would
ceve and transmit them according his direction, with th
condition however that placed in their hands, his pr
vae right the books ceased and they must be transmitted
and held public property, be they sent where they
If to college in Virginia, they would be the property
Of Virginia if to society institution in Massachusetts,
they would become the property Of Massachusetts
To guard against all possibility the part OF the Centra
Agency of taking improper advantage OF the hberaity o.
thyse Governments which may determine to admit free o
duty, objects destined for international exchange is nds
pensabe that all the operations of the Central Agency shal
be placed under the supervision of the officers Of Government
This has been accordingly done and thanks to the engh
ened beay of the American and the French Governments
provided that all objects coming to proceeding from
the Central Agency be transmitted on this side OF the
Atlantic by the Collector Of the Port of New York, and from
France by the Commissay General of the Marine, at Have