The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-03-03
WASHINGTON, March / 1s55.

Blu and the TEXAS De6t Bflz--Th Mecha,r
ics laststnte Exhibition The Frankli,
Iastitute. s.
WAsHfNeToN, March 1, 1855.
At 0 o'clock, p. M, the Capitol is brilliant
iy lighted, and both Houses of Congress are II
session. In the Senate, the Tariff Bill mos
unfairly interpolated into the Civil and Di
plomatic Appropriation Bill, is the source o,
. serious conflict. doubt not, how wever. thai
It viii pass. In the House, the Army Reform
appropriation Bill is under discussion II
COMMITTEE Of the Whole, and that too will
pass. l have just heard Mr.. Benton upon
snls SUBJECT. What he said do not know
ior ne was so full Of wrath, and gave it such
suffered much detriment.
The passage of the Collins Steamer R;,,
was signal triumph of that gentleman nv or
the postmaster General and the President
Inc former, he indeed, in terms def;ed and
the opposition of the latter was known to he
earnest and active. " " D0
Inc signature of the President has been Of
ven to the Texas debt bill, and there ;s mn II n
Joy over the final settlement of this most ver.
suous subject. The Board of Claims is con.
ndenty looked to rs a means of suppressinp
tne evils OF protracted suits in future. Hith.
elIo tne immortality of claim on the 90.
8TBlCiQ
to dawn. ',''"''on - @oou'
Ihe exhibition of the Mechanics Institute
VIII probably continue until the sth of March.
ana those OF your citizens who desire to visit
1t can yet do so. 1t is very beautiful and
intesesting exhibition / would suggest to
the Mechanics Institute of Richmond. the
Importance of cultivating friendly and fami
liar relations with their Washington friends
and brethren. Their annual exhibitions Occur
at different periods of the year, and it may be
IN their power very materially to aid each
other on these and other occasions The ex
ample of Philadelphia is worthy the attention
OF both cities, and indeed of all other cities.
have recently learned some of the unwritter
history Of the Frnnklin Institute, and it is in
deed, alike curious and gratifying. Abou
the year 1924, young mechanic who felt The
need OF the conversation and cooperation o.
congenial associates, suggested to some Of
his fellow-workmen the formation of socie
ty, and upon their asserting, he appointed al
evening for meeting. The evening came
cold and stormy, and seated in cold and
cheerless room, he awaited the assembling OF
his friends, but none of them came. He an,
pointed second evening for meeting, and
with precisely the same degree of success
Had he been man of weak resolution, he
would have then desisted, and his past lAbors
would have been lost. But he was not; and
on the third evening appointed for meeting
tour OF his friends were with him. He was
called to the chair, a preliminary organiza
ton was effected, and committee of thirteen
was appointed to draft constitution. AT
the next meeting twelve of that thirteen were
with them, the constitution was adopted, and
the Franklin Institute existed in its infancy
Thousands of the most intelligent mechanics
engineers, chemists, &C., in the world, have
been educated within its walls, and its noble
edifice contains fine lecture hall, q museum
OF natural history, mechanism, &c, library
ct more than 1000 volumes without a single
novel, all kinds of apparatus essential to the
demonstration of science, and every thing
needful for instruction in the various de.
partments of human knowledge. Its evening
lectures are stately delivered by four or five
men of thorough merit, who are recon
pensed for their trouble, and whose lectures
are familiar and practical, yet ADAPTED to
lead the student up to the highest degree of
excellence in every department. Cannot
Washington and Richmond do as well? ? They
start with tar greater advantages, and require
only the determined purpose of prudent and
discreet men-men whose minds do not wan
der away in pursuit of the follies of the hour,
nor seek occupation in the everworked and
protless fields of politics and so called social
reform. Men of merit rise without contend
ing for rights or prerOgatives. A. B. C..