Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-09-23
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE.
OPENING OF THE MARYLAND INSTITUTE.


Institute was opened last night at Baltimore in a
brilliant manner. Among the distinguished per-
sons present were the venerable G. w. p. CUsTIs
and g. P. r. JAMES, Esq, the celebrated author
The Hon. JOSHUA VANsANT, President of the In
stitute, after few preliminary remarks formally
announcing the opening of the exhibition, intro
duced THOMAS SWAMI, Esq, who delivered the
following beautiful address:
Gentlemen Of the Maryland Institute The exhibitions of
the Maryland Instutsar already begnningto be viewed
with interest beyond the limits of own State. Ths
central position of the city of Baltimore invests with
than local interest these periodical displays Of domes
tic skill and industry.
Accessible to all parts Of the Uzion, it is not without
the prospect Of honorable if net profitable notoety
that the successful inventor embraces the opportunity
held to him to make known the triumphs of his genius
We stand here in the midst of competition from oil the
States His reward is of the whole Union National in
its tendencies this noble institution while its par
cuar purpose has been to stimulate home industry, will
always present attractions to the public at large which
fail to increase country goes on to expand
In population and wealth.
There is nothing in the Of this wonderful age
remarkable than the world has been called to wit
ness at any former period-which has exercised
controlling the affairs Of men every
try under every phase of political power and progress
than the successful development OF the mechanic arts
In peace and in war; in the profitable direction OF labor
and the multiplication Of all those important inventions
which have contribuedn many forms to the well being
of society," and in the creation Of those plans and ele
ments Of destruction which may be almost said to have
rendered conflicts between nations even less frequent
because of terrific and formidable consequences to
which they lead, behold the genius Of the age most
strikingly illustrated.
Human skill and invention have regarded nothing
impossible within the limits of rational speculation The
world has not uufegueny stood amazed amidst the daz
ale and spendor of its achievements and men begin
to wonder what discoveries still to be proclaimed
in that seemingly exhausted field which has already been
Surrounded by the display which it has been the good
fortune of the committee to spread before you with the
modes and facilities of INSTRUMENTATION upon which
they have drawn literally in their contributions from
distant States may be inappropriate to notice,
illustrative Of period in early history not very re-
mote, that in l759ess than century ago-Gen. WASH
INGToN then engaged in agricultural pursuits in virginia.
wrote his agent in London furnish him with such
tcles manufacture in the then limited growth OF the
mechanic arts in this country it was found
or impracticabe to command at home In the list emu
msrated by him agricultural Implements silk woollen,
and cotton fabrics wearing apparel, and indeed most
of the leading articles which to swell the catalogue
of your present exhibition.
At still later period in the life of this great he
had occasion attend the meeting of the First Contnen
tai Congress in Philadelphia. The distance from Mount
Vernon something short Of hundred and mIes
The undertaking one of no common magnitude, and
gather from his diary that the mn day OF his de-
parure he succeeded in accomplishing his for
destination in the city Of brotherly love.
How full of instruction well interest are these
scraps of early history Before and around you tonight
in this spacious and brilliant hail. the exclusive pro-
ducts of American industry, wrought into every useful
and profitable shape by the skill of those whom the free
institutions which that llustrous man contributed SO
largely to establish have since called into being What
country prosperous that does not find competition
here in all those characteristics of intellectual power and
physical adaptation which make up the of prac
tical excellence Where has the human mind in brief
a disnayed itself forms usefulness.
or strven diligently in the great work of human ad
vancement? Trammelled by no hereditary rawbacks,
borne down by weight Of oppression has gone forth
in it's original and unrestraned power and its impress
every where to be We have reached period when
this country may well proclaim her independence Of all
foreign aid She wants support from beyond her OWL
limits England, upon whose mechanical skill she was
compelled to throw herself have seen, in the in
fancy her progress furnish nothing at this time
which is not within the range and compass Of her
industrial pursuits She has lived in fact to recipro
cate in no small degree the benefits heretofore extended
to her by introduction into that proud country of the
works of her production and manufacture Whether
Of utility luxury, behold here tonight the evidence
of progress if not in many instances matured perfec
tion which cannot fail to command attention, while il
gives earnest of yet more glorious future.
Nor must omit to notice the fact in connexon with
the incidents which have called attention, that
within the hearing of my voice this occasion there
may be those who, little more than an hour ago, left
their homes In the Federal city to participate in this bril-
liant reunion, md still worthy Of note, within the
brief space of eighteen hours in defiance of barriers which
were long deemed to be have been trans
ferred from the shores of the Ohio the Chesapeake
distance Of nearly four hundred miles, by improvements
which owe their origin to your capital and enter
prise.
The early history Of this country has been marked by
characteristics in which have to feel elevat
ed pride Descended from ancestry whose liberal
principles and successful courage maintained for the
through many centuries the mastery of the old world,
the founders of Constitution brought with them the
ampest qualifications for the mission of freedom in which
they we're embarked They had studied the which
had marked the progress and downfall OF nations, and
they were fully prepared to profit by the which
the worlds history had spread before them The infu-
ence Of free government diused itself than
new era Immediately dawned. Our Republic, founded on
principles equality impaired activity to every depart
ment Of industry within its limits. The arts fourshed
literature extended the circle Of its attraction freedom
ner and the effect Of this system gave fresh impetus in
the development Of faculties which had long been dor
mant under the restraints of absolute dominion.
The genius Of the age which had been stimulated by the
causes which have referred burst forth in subimi
~ which could not fail to attract the attention of the
civilized world 1t the pride Of early history that
the establishment Of Government found prepared
to upon that proud which has since
distinguished progress career which, in the lustre
Of It's achievements in the combination of its deeds Of
daring and of vaor of wisdom and of virtue may claim
to have taken precedence of the stirring events Of the
present as well as past centuries.
1t has been reproach heretofore that the empire Of
letters in this country had given birth in its early stages
to works Of original merit and that annals abound
ed in fewer specimens of genius than those of any other
people guided by the same anmang prospects To this
charge Mr. Jefferson has replied with becoming spirit in
answer to the Able Raynal He repudated the idea