Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-06-26

what II was designed TO be by its founder Let as see
what the Institution has been doing 1t collects here du
ring winter five six hundred people, almost wholly be-
longing to the city Of Washington ladies and gentlemen
TO listen TO evening lectures and the result was that just
about as much good done and much influence ex-
erted beyond the immediate vicinity would be produc-
ed by the proceedings of New England yceum. The
amount of the whole matter this that the Institute
was not national and if not changed it must fall
Professor JOSEPH HENRY and said that there
no who could feel interest in the Smithsonian
Institution than himself holding to it the relation that he
did He very much surprised at the course the de-
had taken He regretted that he had not been
suited in reference to the proposition made by the gentle
who spoke last but it sprung upon him now for
the first time The will Of Smithson was much misun-
derstood His object in making that rich bequest was
not ordinary one; it was not merely useful knowledge
in the general acceptaoH of the word that he contem
plated the increase and diffusion Of but he had high OBJ
ject expanded and elevated purposes for he was
of much acquisition and research The construction put
upon Smhsons bequest was not liberal it not
the true construction. The object Of Smison was not
to confne the benefits of his Institution this country
only but to the whole brotherhood of mankind The
people of the United States stand as rustees for the
execution of his will and the proper Of the fund.-
fund not intended for ends special to u.s. but Tor the
versal family of man
Professor HENRY said he had from the first sapproved
of much of what had been done in the expenditure Of this
fund He had raised his voice against the erection Of
this Norman CASTLE which had two hundred thousand
dollars and had cramped very much the abilities of the
he was invited to the place and had accepted it, As
for the plan which had that evening been proposed to
make the Institution Agricultural Society," be would
rather blow IL up and send the funds back T.
of England from which they came than that 1t should
be adopted sst
smithson intended not the diffusion Of usgsl knowledge
merely but the increase Of knowledge the continual ad
don of facts the store already in the
of mankind. The world is the produ,t of ONE GREAT
MIND system peryades it, all its prts are mutually
connected and adapted all sciences akin each to the
other and it was impossible to say low little or much
discovered fact in department should affect
other and apparently distinct and disconnected depart
ments All knowledge practical how absruse soeyer
might to the unintated appear and in rood time would
always yndicate itself in subscribing the practical wants
and necessities of mankind He would Instance the dis
covery Of the mariners compass Who, when they con-
templated busted about the seemingly trivial cir
cumstance of the attraction subsistng bttween stone
and piece of STEEL could have dreamed tie greatness of
the results to follow from it, results be marked in our
modern commerce and navigation, WONDERFULLY exceed
ing those Of ancient times So with Franklin in his ap-
parenty trivial experiments, which he foundation
of the modern electrical telegraph with all It's wonders and
advantages The truth is the higher the knowledge the
more practical and useful and in this view it was that
agriculture is to be advanced by the microscope than
by the plough and harrow. All discoveries must be
couraged and such institution the Smithsonian re-
quired encouragement that it might in the increase of
knowledge aid in adding facts to science For the DIFF
fusion of knowledge there thousands Of institutions
where there for its increase and the Smithsonian
Institution is pursuing its true and genuine purpose in
keeping that great fact in full view. 1t had already pub
shed four quarto Volumes every page of which contained
some addition to knowledge and these volumes were
distributed in every direction We will said Prof HENRY
cooperate with agricultural societies. and especially with
the society now here in process of establishment The
Smithsonian Institution viii offer its halls its books its
apparatus We are even doing much for agriculture
We preparing extended report the forest trees
of America have published volume on the sea weeds
of America These things might appear of practical
value or Importance and yet they of the highest i'm
portance These plants weeds of high value in the
chemical and mechanic arts But how to publish
this work weeds? Dr. Harvey, distinguished
of science from Dublin who has made the study of
weeds the especial study his fe came to the United
States and was invited to lecture before the Lowell In
stue OF Boston on his favore topic He did So and he
has subsequently employed himself examining and col
ectng the weeds of America from Boston to New Or
leans engaging many of naturasts in the same study
Now there were no means by which the results of these
Institution came 70 the We published IT, ana
sent copy every liberal and learned society in the
world to every agricultural society," and every college and
| respectable academy or lyceum
We have much to do. Here is building to be finished
We short of funds, would do more We have to
collect library museum, to have lectures delivered
all this by the requirements of Congress We manag
ing the fund in such way to be able effect all the
proper aims and shall do it after having spent two
hundred thousand dollars in erecting this building TAp
pause.
Mr.. Senator DOUGLAS did not wish to say any thing
disrespecfu but he would take up the genemans own
statement and ask why agriculture postponed behind
such subjects the Institution confessedy engaged
about why it did not devote itself corn instead of sea
weed? He took exception to Prof Henrys remark as to
his preference for blowing up the Institution and sending
it back to England rather than have it devoted as pro-
posed by himself (Mr. d. Last year when he Senator
had privately stated his views the subject to Prof
Henry the latter had tainted him. and said that it would
be turning the Institution into cow-pasture
Mr. Senator RUsK that much difficulty surrounded
the question to the attempted establishment Of an Ag
ncultura Bureau department of the Government II
was open to undoubed objection the Of its neces
sary connexion with party politics, and the objection
might be fatal And yet he thought it right and proper
that the Government should do something for the cause of
agriculture There was in his view TO be adopt
ed which would obvate all serious objection and that was
10 establish agricultural branch of the Smithsonian
Institution to be maintained by appropriation by Con-
gress He could not that Congress should obtain
Tor the country the benefit of such connection with the
Smithsonian Institution without paying for IT. il would
DE dscredtable that Government with ytwo millions
annual income should saddle itself upon On establishment
founded by private bequest and that the bequest of
foreigner Mr.. RusK paid handsome compliment to the
Institution, its professors and curators for the Skill
science, industry and which they had displayed
snce its establishment He believed they had done more
Tor science than had been done by any like nsttu
ton In the world before His acquaintance with the In
sututon was very limited and yet he felt authorized to
Dear warm testimony to the results of the abors of its
faculty. Mr. RUsKs remarks were well conceived and
appeared to be very acceptable to the Convention
succeeding this the Convention on motion adjourned
to ten o'clock on Friday morning
| FRIDAY MORNINGS SESSION.
Mr. HoLcosB renewed his remarks in favor of the reso
iuuons OF the committee business and spoke at con-
siderable length and with much warmth and energy He
advocated strongly the establishment of an Agricultural