308 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



and domestic economy." Thus, the professor of chemistry 

 is to analyze different kinds of soils, and to learn and teach 

 how to enrich them ; the professor of natural history is to 

 deal with noxious or useful animals and insects ; the pro- 

 fessor of geology is to illustrate the working of mines ; the 

 professor of astronomy is to teach navigation ; the profes- 

 sor of architecture and domestic science is charged with 

 the theory and practice of building, lighting, and ventilat- 

 ing all manner of edifices ; and the professor of agriculture, 

 horticulture, and domestic economy is to make experiments 

 to see what exotics will grow and what will not, all over 

 the United States. And, in pursuance of the same theory 

 of administration of the fund, it is provided that not a 

 book is to be purchased for the institution except " works 

 on science and the arts, especially such as relate to the 

 ordinary business of life, and to the various mechanical 

 and other improvements and discoveries which may be 

 made." 



Now, I say that this creates a college or school — such as 

 it is — on the basis of a somewhat narrow utilitarianism — 

 to be sure, erroneously so-called — but a college or academ- 

 ical institution. Who is to be taught agriculture, architec- 

 ture, domestic science, rural economy, and navigation ? 

 Not you, Mr. President, I suppose, not Congress, not the 

 Government, not men at all. Students, pupils^ youths, are 

 to be brought hither, if you can find them ; " rules and 

 regulations " (so runs the 8th section of the bill) are to be 

 made " for the admission into the various departments of 

 the institution, and their conduct and deportment while 

 they remain therein," and instruction is to be given them 

 by professors and lecturers. This surely is a school, a col- 

 lege, an academical institute of education, such as it is, or 

 nothing. 



Well, sir, in reviewing, as I have had occasion to do, the 

 proceedings of Congress upon this subject heretofore, I 

 have received the impression that it had become quite your 

 settled judgment — settled on the most decisive reasons — 

 that no school, college, or academical establishment should 

 be constituted. It seems that in the session of 1838 a joint 

 committee of the two branches was charged with this 

 deliberation. The chairman of the committee from this 

 body was Mr. Robbins, and the chairman, on the appoint- 

 ment of the House, was Mr. Adams ; both of them, I may 

 pause to say, persons of the most profound and elegant 

 acquisition ; both of them of that happy rare class who 

 " grow old still learning." The two committees diflfered on 



