The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-08-12
THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE SCIENTIFIC
CONVENTION


From the Courier and Enquirer.l
The American Association for the Advancement
OF Science, alter session of six days at Springfield
has adjourned. This organization has a claim to
the attention of the faithful chroncler of the times
1t is not popularity known as it should be- If
comprises all of the most eminent scientific men of
the country, and is laborng in the cause of science
with an ardor and success that materially rebounds
to the credit and substantial interests of the country
1t was once standing reproach against Republics
that science and art and all the higher branches
learning found in them no adequate announcement
so far AS relates to State patronage this to g
extent true of our own Republic vet the histories
ofthe Italian and French Republics abundantIy show
that TINS Is not the necessary Legitimate
consequence of the republican form of government
But the bold, vigorous selfrelvng American spirit
can do without the stimulants necessary for oruau
lied scientific action in the older States of Europe
Every one OF the two hundred and twenty mem
bers of the French Academy is a State men,
sioner, and receives at least fifteen hundred francs
annually from the national treasury; and the Sci
entlhc Associations of England are aided by GOV
ernment and also are indirectly benefited by the
immense wealth of the two Universities The
American Association has no such 1restiqe-no such
resources Its sole dependence is upon its own fer
vent and disinerested devotion to the interests of
science, and to the occasional contributions of nr
yate citizens for the publication of its researches
Its origin was humble enough. A few of the off
clal geOogists of different States originally formed
themselves into kind of informal association for
the purpose of prosecuting their abors with some
degree of concert. Naturasts were afterwards
connected, and gradually men who were dIstin-
gulshed In the other kindred parts of chemistry
meteorology, astronomy and general physics and
mathematics. The Association was soon brourbt
INTO Its present systematic and symmetrical shane
and is now to all appearance established upon a
Solld and permanent basis. 1t meets annually
holds its sessions by sections each section copfnnG
itself to some particular branch of science
Inc discussions at Springfield took wide ranre
ana were conducted with life and power The
effects OF the session in conveying information
eliciting truths exciting fresh zeal and diffuS
ing spirit OF scientific inquiry over the country
cannot fail of being happy. Associations of this
character have always proved advantageous to the
progress of science. The French Institute has done
more than all other agencies combined tie give
french science its acknowledged pre-eminence over
that of every other land. 1t is true that at long in
tervals. great pioneers like Newton, Kepler and
Iycho Brahe have arisen who stood in no need of
associated etort-who, endowed with celestial
genius, were able to 60 forth handed and by
their own Individual strength redeem whole provn-
ces from the empire of mystery. But those men
are rare, and others of humber powers must com
blne and work together if they would extort from
nature her mighty secrets.
American science has already acnuired a mama
that Is respected throughout the civilized world
1t has given the four most precious beons he
has received for two centuries-the cotton gin the
steamboat, the eectrctelegraph and chlOroform. As
r spects the meteorological and astronomical de-
partments of science, it has taken precedence of
every other country. No European researches
into the laws of winds and storms have been at
tended with hall OF the success as has marked the
labors OF Espy, and Redfeld, and Maury. The as
Economical observations of our various observato-
rles are conducted with precision and skill no.
where surpassed.
Our nautical almanac, especially that part of it
relating to longltudes, founded upon the tabular
formula of Mr.. LOngstreth, merchant of Philadel-
phia, by unexampled exactitude has excited the as
constituent of the scientific men of Europe. The
method OF recording right ascensions and declina-
uons discovered by Prof MITCHELL is of great value
to astronomical science; its permanent adoption at
Greenwich is the best of all testimonials to its
worth. Our country indeed need not be ashamed
OF her position in the scientific world, while she
can produce such names as those that adorned the
long roll of the Springfield meeting.
DIVINE GOODNESS, DEMOCRACY, AND DooGE, IN
lowA.-FrOm the Iowa Correspondence we clip the
following paragraphs:
The democracy have selected as their standard
bearer the fayOrite statesman of Iowa. the tried
friend OF her nterests-the bold vet consistent poll
tclan-General Augustus c. Dodge;-net the dem
agogue of the hour, who has boxed the compass in
his political circuit, but the man of the people
whose course has been from the outset undertaking
and resoute. At another time | may
allude with some particularly to the republican
candidate for ieutenant-governor, Mr.. Nicholas
Ruscb, of Scott county, red-republican, who was
nominated with the hope of conciating the pros
pective alterations of foreigners. But enough of
politics at present
The wheat and oat crops just harvested are be-
yond precedent in aggregate amount 1t is quite
probable that the quantity ofwheat to the acre is
not usually large, but the immense breadth of era
sown increases the sum total to hundreds of thou
sands ofbushes beyond any known harvest in time
past.
Corn, also, is coming on finely, and vegetation,
generally, looks remarkably well. The Gerry san
guine see in the'e evident manifestations of the Di
vine goodness good omens of the success of our
democratic cause. During the last three years
of republican mismanagement crops have failed
and the people been impoverished. With return
ing pr osperity NAV not look for political change
to correspond? Perhaps we may For that mat
ter, we will.