164 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



their pre-eminence ; and their success was but in exact pro- 

 portion to the perfection and use of those means. 



I could wish, if all were agreed in it, that this institution 

 should make one of a number of colleges to constitute a 

 university to be established here, and to be endowed in a 

 manner worthy of this great nation and their immense 

 resources. This object, recommended by Washington in 

 one of his early communications to Congress, has not, as it 

 appears to me, received the attention it merits. For such 

 an establishment, formed and conducted as it might be, 

 would be attended with great and glorious results to this 

 country — not only by its direct operation in elevating the 

 standard of education, but by forming a central point, a 

 local head to all the learning of the country — such as the 

 most learned nations of Europe have, and from which they 

 derive the greatest advantages. But as opinions are divided 

 upon this subject — not, I should hope, as to the great de- 

 sirableness of such an establishment — but as to the consti- 

 tutional competency of Congress to undertake it, I will not 

 embarrass my present object by involving it with that sub- 

 ject. This, as an independent institution, may hereafter be 

 made a part of such a university, should one be established ; 

 but it is now to be looked at only as an independent institu- 

 tion. Still I should hope that the liberality of .Congress 

 would so far concur with the generosity of this foreign ben- 

 efactor as to give full effect to his beneficent purpose ; and 

 would not only give the grounds convenient for the accom- 

 modation and location of the buildings, but would also 

 make an appropriation of money therefor sufficient to cover 

 the cost of their erection ; leaving the whole amount of the 

 legacy as a fund, the proceeds of which to be applied to 

 the accumulation of books and apparatus — and to the sup- 

 port of the instruction and government of the institution ; 

 otherwise the whole thing, I fear, will prove a failure by 

 the expense of the outfits ; at least when compared to the 

 results which it might be made to produce. For though 

 the salaries of instruction should not be over large, yet they 

 should be so liberal as to command the services of the ablest 

 instructors in every department embraced by the plan of 

 education. This is not the occasion for a detail in full of 

 the plan of education which I should wish to see adopted ; 

 I will, however, beg leave to give its outline ; premising 

 that my object would be to give both learning and ability, 

 but ability as the primary object. Ability, as 1 have stated, 

 can only be given, as I am fully persuaded, by appropriate 

 exercises directed by a certain rule ; that is, by the princi- 

 ples of the art, whatever that art may be. So that exercises, 



