No. 105.] 477 



men in the science, the most skilful in mechanics/ and the most prac- 

 tical in agriculture, have cheerfully and gratuitously brought their 

 knowledge, ingenuity, and experience to tEe Institute^ that they 

 might from thence be disseminated through every portion of our 

 favored land. 



It must naturally be supposed, that an institution, toiling for the 

 benefit of the laboring, manufacturing and agricultural classes : pur- 

 suing the even tenor of its way unostentatiously, by never interfering 

 or clashing with any other association, and free from all political bias 

 or influence, would at least have the good fortune t& be exempt from 

 enemies. It is to be lamented that such is not the fact. 



It has been an undeviating principle, from the commencement of the 

 Institute, not to recognize, much less to favor, any political party. It 

 needed no sagacity to foretell, that whenever the American Institute 

 lost its political neutrality, the seeds of its dissolution would be sown, 

 and its future usefulness irrevocably gone 5 so sensible were all the 

 members of this fact, and so cautious and guarded have they been, that 

 there has never been a political discussion within its walls, nor so 

 muclx even as the expression of a political sentiment. 



Yet strange as it may appear, and in the face of all this, the Insti- 

 tute has been charged, as if with a determination to mar its usefulness^ 

 with secretly advocating political or party views. The managers re- 

 pel the charge with honest indignation, and boldly challenge a refuta- 

 tion of the assertions they have just made. 



The word American was not placed first in our title, without a due 

 sense of its hallowed importance. It is our pride and boast that this 

 lofty and honored name, has not become tarnished by partisan or sec- 

 tional feelings. We invite every man in these United States, as has 

 been already stated, without distinction of party, not only to visit our 

 institution, and avail himself of all the information which our records^ 

 our officers, our members, or our library can afford, b\it to become 

 members of the same, and thus bear witness to our neutrality. 



Such an institution ought to have an influence among our citizens^ 

 and to possess their confidence and good will, and we do not hesitate 

 to say, that, laboring honestly and faithfully as we have done, and will 

 continue to do, in the noble cause of American independence, we shall 

 grow in importance and in fame, both at home and abroad ; and as we 

 increase in usefulness, we cannot fail to advance in public faTor 



