Washington sentinel., 1854-03-30

matter, in ten instances to one he will commit
some essential blunder. Men of science are ac.
customed to Invent and modify processes they
combine results, they deduce laws If their ex.
perments be accurate, their observations exact,
their deductions correct, no matter what may
have been previously accepted, their law is The
law, and must be received as such, until, by more
or better experimentsor or observations and deduc-
tions, they discover another, which, being the
better, takes place of the former They look
on laws as things to be discovered, to be de-
duced; not accepted, nor reverenced on au.
thorlty. Suppose, for instance, man who had
acquired this bent of mind set to some such
task as the reduction of many series of reported
observations-we will say in the coast survey
office. This formula is given him, and he is
left to his work. More than time enough hav-
ing elapsed, he hands in to the chief OF the
bureau, what? Ten to one, instead of his work
done, some very ingenious considerations tend
ing to show that the prescribed formula was
inappicable, impossible, ""illegitimate."
1t IS one OF the commonest of human errors
to trust that, because man is best for one thing,
he must prove competent for any others.
"Who'll toll the bell?" II says the bull, be.
cause can pull"
The prevalence of this common error is suff
tencies than an injudicious selection of the
executive officer of the Smithsonian Institution.
Look at our State legislatures; look at Con-
gress; look at our executive appointments
Look; but we must stop somewhere, and, for
the present, conhne ourselves to the mischief
we are apprehensiye of, and would if possible
prevent.
The secretary is man who, in his scientific
career, has achieved things which have earned
for him worldwide reputation, and made his
names boast to his countrymen. He is not
historian, nor statesman, nor a fnancer. 1t
would not be wise to put him into Congress,
nor into the chair of a professor of history or
political economy These are matters which
he has probably willfully neglected, as uncon-
genial to his habits of thought. He may pos
sess talents of an administrative character
which qualify him for the post he occupies.
| But he seems to be of that sort of men of pc
culiar bent of mind, to whom the object of their
special pursuit is everything and everything
else nothing.
But the mischief is not yet irreparable, nor
the means of prevention difficult. Let the sec
retary calmly consider how utterly impossible
it is that his attempt should succeed in the face
of almost universal opinion, and in opposition
to right and to law. Let him subside into the
proper, decent, and rational discharge of the
duties of a ministerial functionary; or else, let
the regents, his immediate superiors, read the
la,o, those of them who have forgotten, or never
read it; and believe most of them are in one
| or other of these. cases. Let them read the
law. Let them learn their duty and then do
it. Let me tell them, great outcry will be
thus prevented. BY the course they determine
upon will be decided whether the Smithsonian
Institution is to be transmitted to posterity the
great and useful establishment its benevolent
| founder purposed, or whether only its name
| shall stand, mere monument OF great public
scandal and national shame and reproach.
/ have been already called an intermeddler,
and may be again called in question about my
right to stir in this business. Let me put a
case. Suppose some kind soul, who morbund
could think of no better pious use should be-
queath $4,000 to the United States, for the
improvement of the city of Washington" and
his bequest is received. All sorts of sugges-
tions and petitions are sent in on the best way
of applying it. Some go for one thing, some
for another. Congress appropriates the fund to
erect on the southwest corner of square --,
the square / live in, church, of such and such
dimensions and materials, and provides that
| "of any money which may hare accrued as IN
| tercst on said fund.- not required for that pur-
pose," the corporation may make the use they
| like, consistent with the will. Well, the cor
poration 60 and look at the. southwest corner
lot, perhaps have it surveyed, and load or two
OF bricks and stones got upon it; and then set
to work to build a windmill with the money
on the northeast corner, gravely replying to all
questions that it is (" impossible" to have the
church, that mill is the only Legitimate OBJ
ject Of the bequest, and prove by !" logic" that
"the words of the testator plainly mean" a
windmill and nothing else. Shall put up
with this? Truly, if the mill be built think
it would be better to submit. Go to the cor
poration2 Some would know nothing, others
would care nothing about the whole business.
Go to Congress? demonstrate; petition for
remedy of mischief done? Bah anything Of
rthe sort would be too easily smothered there
But, ] am thankful for it, the mill is not yet
built. Reason and argument may perhaps not
stop it. But stout call upon public opinion
may do good.
1t will frighten the secretary into order. No?
1t will alarm the regents. No? 1t will stir up
the visitors, managers, whatever the body is,
composed of the President and cabinet, super.
Congress to the matter. No? Well, then, it
will arouse public opinion, which will compel
them ALL Somewhere the
Mouse will begin 10 gnaw the rope"
&C., &C., &C., until the
"Sticl begins TO beat the kid,
/ And the kid begins TO co.
But, Messrs. Editors, It's time that kid and
were at home, an hour and half ago.
ONE AMONG MEN,