Year: 1877

and attractiveneas Of he espital are
mainly due, and ask your attention IN
the request Of the commissioners for
legislation in behalf Of the interests in.
trusted TO their care. The appropriations
asked for the care of the reservaiiona
belonging TO the government within tbe
city, by the commissioners Oi pnbVc
buildings and grounds, are commended IN
your favorable consideration. The report
Of the Joint commission created by an
act approved August 2, 1876.


An act providing for the completion
OF the Washington monument is here.


with transmitted, with accompanying


documents The board OF engineer
officers detailed to examine the mOnu.


melt, in compliance with the second


section Of the act, have reported that


the foundation is insufficient. No


authority exists for making the expendi.


ture necessary to secure its stability.


therefore recommend that the commission


be authorized to expend such portion of


the sum appropriated by the act as may


be necessary for the purpose. The


present unfinished condition Of the


monument, begun "a long ago, is a
disgrace TO the nation. 1t cannot be


doubted that the patriotic sense


of the country will mainly


respond to such, that prompt


provision may be made for it's compile.


tion at an early day, and urge upon con-
gress the propriety and necessity of i'm
mediate legislation for this purpose.


Wisdom of leiglatiOn upon the part Of
congress in aid of the states for
the education of the whole peO-
pie in those branches Of study
which are tonight in the common
schools of the country and not longer
question. The intelligent judgment
of the country goes still further, regard
ing it as also both constitutional and
expedient for the general government to
extend to the technical and higher
education such aid as is deemed essential
to the general welfare and to our due
performance among the enlightened and
cultured nations OF the world.
The ultimate settlement of all
questions of the future, whether
Of administration or finance, Of true
nationality of sentiment depends upon
virtue and intelligence of the people it is


vain 10 save the expression Of free gov.
ernment with means insuring the intel.
lipence of those who are the source Of
power. No less tban' 'one-seventh Of the
entire voting population Of our country
are vet unable to read and write. 1t is
encouraging TO observe in connection
with the grewth of fratcrnal feeling in
, those states in which slavery formerly


existed the evidences of increasing inter


est in universal education, and | shall be
glad to give my approval to any appro.
pirate measures which may be enacted
| bv congress for the purpose Of supple


menting with national aid the local sys'


tens of education in these states, and in


all the states. Having already invited


YOUR attention to the needs of the Dis


trict of Columbia with respect to its


public school system, here add that |
believe it desirable, not so much with


reference to the LEGAL wants Of the district,


but to the great and lasting benefit OF


the entire country, that this system


should be crowned with a university in


all respects in keeping with the national


capital, and thereby realize the cherished


hope OF Washington on this subject


! i also earnestly commend the request
of the regents of the Smithsonian lnstl-
tuition that an adequate appropriation
he made for the establishment and CON
duct of national museum under their


supervision.


The request of providing for the pre-
) servation and growth of the library OF
congress is also of national importance as
the depository of all copyright pubiCs-
tions and records. This library has out
crown the provisions for its sccommOds-
tions, and the erection OF such site as the
Judgment of congress may approve, OF a
ireeproof library building to preserve the
+ treasures and enlarge the usefulness o.


this valuable collection is recommended
Also such legislation as will render avail
able apd efficient for the purpose o.
. instruction, 80 far as is consistent WIFI
, the public service, the cabinets or muse
. ums of invention, of surgery, OF educa
ton and Of agriculture and OF other
2 collections. The property of the national
e government, the capital of the nation
should be something more than a mere
7 noitical center. We should avail our
!. selye. of all the opportunities which
Providence has here placed at our com


mapd to commit the general intelligence


of the people and increase the conditions
: most favorable to the success and perpet'
uitv of our institutions.


. Signed IL b. HAYES