The Genesis of the United States National Museum. 187 



IV. 



MEMORIAL OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE. 



To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of 

 America: 



The memorial and petition of the " National Institute for the Pro^notion of Science 

 and the Arts," respectfully represent: 



That its members have been induced, by a high sense of the duty to the body whose 

 interests they represent, as well as to the great objects whicli it was the design of its 

 creation to promote, to submit to the consideration of your honorable Ixidies, a state- 

 ment of the origin and progress, of the past and present condition, and of the wants 

 and exigencies of the Institute. 



The Congress of the Union, after a full investigation of the subject, after duly 

 estimating the value and importance of the design of its founders, and the means which 

 it contemplated to employ in the accomplishment of those ends, deemed them so far 

 entitled to its countenance and favor as to grant to the Institute a charter of incor- 

 poration. Some pecuniary aid incidentally followed, and it was made the custodier 

 of nmch valua1)le i)roperty belonging to the Government. This charter, whose date 

 is recent, naturally afforded the hope of national protection, thus inspiring every- 

 where confidence the moment it was seen, by the acts of Ciovernnient, that confidence 

 was felt at home. 



Under these auspices, the National Institute began its career. Many of the most 

 distinguished and illustrious individuals in the nation afforded it their aid and 

 encouragement. 



Its active members were chiefly composed of officers of Government and citizens 

 of Washington, who, occupied in their own private concerns, neither men of wealth 

 nor mere scholars, proposed to give a portion of their leisure to promote objects in 

 which they had no other or ulterior motives and interest than such as were common 

 to the nation, and, perhaps, to the whole human family. 



These individuals have, so far, advanced with a success whicli they could have little 

 anticipated, and they now approach the legislature of the Union, and the nation at 

 large, with the fruits of their labors in their hands, spreading before those whose 

 interests they have undertaken to advance, the results which in so brief a space of time 

 they have accomplished, asking that their deeds should be examined and compared 

 with their promises, and if they have performed their duty faithfully, and discharged 

 the trusts confided to them honorably, zealously, and successfully, that they may be 

 encouraged by the only reward they have ever sought, viz, the means of enlarging 

 and giving additional efficiency to their patriotic efforts and purposes. They appear 

 before your honorable bodies to render an account of their stewardship, and they 

 solicit an examination of their proceedings. 



In urging this matter upon Congress, it is not the design of your memorialists to 

 present a formal argument to establish, either the constitutional authority of your 

 honorable bodies to confer upon the National Institute that pecuniary aid which 

 they so urgently need, or tlie expediency of so applying any portion of the public 

 patronage. They believe that Congress is fully competent to the ascertainment and 

 decision of all questions of this character. While, therefore, your memorialists 

 abstain from entering into any discussion of constitutional questions, suljmitting, 

 with the most respectful deference, to the judgment of your honorable bodies, they 

 feel that they are, in no manner, trenching upon this ground, in exhibiting fully and 

 distinctly those facts and circumstances which will furnish the general data upon 

 which Congress is to decide. 



The National Institute is composed of private individuals, with no other bond of 

 connection than their common labors as trustees of certain property for the public 

 and the Government —a. common feeling of interest in promoting scientific and useful 



