The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-12-08

number of those attending schools are children OF
employees Of the Government.
Iearnestly commend to your care the interests OF
the people of the District who are so intimately as
ISOLATED with the Government establishment ana 10
whose enterprise the good order ana attracti'encss
of the capital are largely due ana ask your attch-
ton to the reourst of the Commissioners for legis
lation in behalf of the interests lhru7led 10 thelr
care The appropriations askcu LOT .ne caic nl re-
city by the Commissioner of Public Buildings and
Grounds. are also commended to your favorable con
sderation.
act approved August ,. 1876 an act providing for
The completion of the Washington Monument is al
so herewith transmitted. with accompanying dOcu.
rnnnts The board of engineer officers detailed to
nynmine the monument in compliance with the sec.
ond section of the act have reported that the foun-
dation is insufficient No authority exists for max.
ING the expenditure necessary to secure its stability
/ therefore recommend that the commission be M.
thorized to expend such portion of the sum appro-
prated by the act as may be necessary for the pur
pose. The present unfinished condition of the
monument, begun SO long ago, isa rcproach to the
nation. IL cannot be doubted that the patriotic
sense of the country will mainly respond TO such
prompt provision a. may be made for it, completion
at an early day, and urge upon Congress the pro-
prety and necessity OF immediate legislation for
this purpose.
The wisdom of legislation upon the part of Con
ress in aid of the states for the education of the
whole people in those branches of study which
taught in the common schools of the country il no
longer question. The intelligent judgement of
the country goes still further regarding it as both
eminent TO extend to technical and higher education
such aid as IL deemed essential to the general wei
fare, and to our due prominence among the enhghi
ened and cultured nations of the world. The ulti-
mate settlement of all questions OF the futurc'
whether of administration or finance or OF true ma
tionaity of sentiment, depends upon the virtue and
intelligence of the people 1t is vain TO hope for
the success ola free Government without the means
of insurng the intelligence OF those who are the
source of power. No less than one-seyenth of the
entire voting population of our country are yet I'M
able to read and write. II encouraging to observe
in connection with the growth of fraternal feeling
in those states in which slavery formerly existed.
licences ofincreasing interest in universal education
and l shall be glad to give my approval to
acted by Congress for the purpose of sup
plementing, with national aid, the local systems OF
education in these States; and having already in
vited you attention to the needs of the District of
Columbia with respect to Its public school system,
1 here add that belicveit desirable, not so much
with reference to the local wants of the District, but
the great and lasting benefit of the entire country
that this system should be crowned with unvers
ity in all respects in keeping with the National
Capital, and thereby realize the cherished hopes of
Washington on this subject
also earnestly commend the request of the Re
gents of the Smithsonian Institute that adequate
appropriation be made for the replenishment and
conduct OF national museum under their superNls-
ion
The request of providing for the preservation and
growth of the library of Congress Is also one OF ma
tional importance. Az the depository of copyright
publications and records, this library has out grown
the provisions for its accommodation and the cree
tIOl OH ruCu ellc " llt VI NohSio0o may
approve of fire proof library building, to preserve
the treasures and enlarge the usefulness of this val
liable collection. is recommended. | recommend
also such legislation will render available and eff
fcent for the purpose OF instruction so far as Is
consistent with the public service, the cabinets or
museums of invention, of surgery of education, of
agriculture and other collections, the property of
the national Government. The capital of the ma
ton should be something more than mere polite
al center. We should avail ourselves of all the OPP
portunties which Providence has here placed at our
command to enhance the general intelligence OF
the people and increase the conditions most favOra
BILE 10 the success and perpetuiy ofour institutions
(Signed) X. B. HAYES.
December >, 1877.