Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-08-11
IVoNNUNIuATEp.
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.

Mr. Editor IL have heard much of late in private cir
cIes about difficulty between Pros Henry the Smith
-onAn Institution, aud Morse OF telegraphic celebrity
The Of i~s pamphlet Of the latter gentleman,
testng with great severity upon the former, which has
been freely crculated-a publication may add utterly
unworthy OF and di>gracefl to. any person claiming
speciality gentleman author. The public should
remember this is but side OF the story they
should suspend their opinions until all the facts are
brought out; make it the OCCASION have more
than heard, of attacking the reputation of Prot
enry and denouneng the Institution which he pre-
sides.
With regard TO the controversy between these gentle
men, do pretend be perfectly familiar but this
do know the attack OF Prot. Morse OF the most
malignant and uncalled for that well be ina ened-
Prof Henry has not thought proper 10 reply, but we
doubt his time ne will fully expose tb, ugrat-
tuie aud mendacy of hts INSCRIPTIONS toe The chief
point issue is believe the originality OF the Electric
Telegraph. Nov presume every who is at all ia
mar with the progress of science in this country knows
that Prot Henry did illustrate the practcAby of the
telegraph wears before the successful introduction OF Prot
Aorses principle. This fact, We repeat most scientific
men in this country aud Europe willing coucede.
But, without attempting discuss this subject for
have not the facts both side) will state that Prof
Morse has been guilty OF gross of ingaiitude by
making this wholly uncalled Tor assault upon Prof Henry
We have been crediby informed that the rsnedi OF Prof
Horses patent, Is chiefly due TO the ors Of Prot. Hem
ryi
Leaving this branch the subject for the present let
enquire into the charges OF Encouragement OF the
Smithsonian Institution and charges personally against
its distinguished Secretary, which end current in
many circles The attack of Prof Morse have
given impue 10 the embitterei personal assault
upon the mead O the Smithsonian which, the cause
OF science and literature and the sake Of justice
iondy hoped had died This, q suspect has
been famed by certain Professors in Of promi
InsIitto of Learning very friendly inclined
! towards the Smithsonian
No Institution public private in this country has ever
been 50 bitterly unre entnglv and grossly denounced
the Smithsonian; and no literary scientific
hercey aud mendacously assailed as Prof Henry. He
has been DETAINED in the most reckless ami outrageous
manner. SENATORS end eX-SeuatOrs members OF the
House of Representatives, and observation-disclosures.
siona committees-high iuhctiOnaies at Washington
the whole power OF the press wherever it could be
ed aud petty scrbblers destitute OF veacity ana epuA-
zion, have wnged against him constant and systematic
warare-'oen personal ahd vindictve, aud altogether
without parallel III this country And yet against all
these he has stood up proudly, defanty, ard with
scou- sense OF right and justice OIL bs side, which in
the end must triumph
For the last six years no yro has entered Congress who
did not feel himself called on II occasion required de-
nounce the Institution and its chief Secretary This feel
g OF hostility appears TO have extended itself throughout
seems to have felt himself in duts bound TO dsparage the
claims OF the Institution and its officers OH any and every
occasion we doubt whether there Is two penny DE
batting Society from the PenObscot 10 the Sabine that
has not agated the question OF the utility nutry of
the Smithsonian Institution Some OF these debates
have been highly interesting aud amusing One &" forest
bon' Demosthenes for instance taking hi. cue from Dir
Choae boldly maintaining that the whole aud sole way to
increase and diuse knowledge is to collect Washing.
ton vast library of worm eaten land many that
rod eatl books in all languages and gathered the
four quarters of the globe II tbs WIS the object of
smithson we think he could have much better accom-
pshed hls put pose a home where books are frequently
sold and purchased by the tom II surely would be super
ve ab.urly gather at Washington great house ull
books which not one out Of every one hundred thou
sand OF the men" of America would ever see much more
readl
Another wiseace urges the propriey of converting the
Institution into college or UNIVERSITY in which tho
youth Of the Republic or of foreign nations shall he per.
mited to attend without extra charges Another yerx
pugnnciousy contends for exploding the whole concer
aud returning the money 20 England" Aud vet another
very yerI,nt hut highly ntiIitnrSn ;ndivdnsI IN : e.
twang and great admiration for certain Western
Senator strongly maintains that il should be teorganed
and made the agricultural department OF the Government
that its grounds instead OF being useley encuIere ith
scrub trees should be converted into the and
useful by raising cabbage rua baga orus u,ulGcauls
ami other "new and improved" varieties of vegetable.
These Mr. Editor are the diverse sentiments sbich an,
pear 10 pervade the whole country Now there l. bot
way to account for their prevalence and ba, /. the
great igugrance OF the people upon the subject n those
who prete to trouble the subject would examine the ma
ure Of the bcguest aud the law Organizing the Inst,on
| this could not b.,
Without unnecessarily OBTAINING vo,, ,,.Jo.. 7 III
very briefly glance at few points which NAV nor ;,i
Ont interest advantage James Smitl son an EneIit
man. died in 1929 He bequeathed ali Tia ptonertv 6,
o ls nephew, who dying without issue then 10 the
United States 81 America 20 found nt Arlington unJ
the name of the Smithsonian Institution Am establishment
Tor the Increase sud diffusion Of knowe1 e among men
The object OF The testator certainly briefly and un