TWENTY-FIFTH CONGRESS, 1837-1839. 155 



would be no valid argument against a measure prompted b\' reason, recommended 

 by utility, sanctioned by our national position, and demanded by so many important 

 public interests. 



For the accomplishment of an object so comprehensive in its design, a considerable 

 amount of means would doubtless be required; and your memorialist would have 

 hesitated to offer at this time his views on a plan for augmenting the public expend- 

 itures had such been deemed a necessary consequence. And though firmly per- 

 suaded that, either for the public or for individuals, no fund is more safe or productive 

 than that of useful knowledge, and that in none other could a more judicious invest- 

 ment be made, yet it is believed that even the admission of these truths is not 

 required in order to obtain means applicable to the purposes now contemplated. 



A considerable fund has been represented as likely to be soon forthcoming, through 

 the hands of an agent specially delegated to Europe, under provision of law for that 

 service, to obtain a legacy left to the United States for the express purpose of found- 

 ing an institution for the "increased diffusion of knowledge among men." While, 

 therefore, your memorialist would solicit your honorable bodies to establish by law 

 an institution for the purposes herein contemplated, he would also respectfully sub- 

 mit the propriety of inquiring whether such purposes be not the most appropriate 

 to which the Smithsonian legacy can be devoted, whenever the same shall have 

 been received in the United States; and should this be determined in the affirmative, 

 then to apply said legacy to the carrying into execution of said law and to the pro- 

 motion of the several objects herein set forth. 



Respectfully submitted. 



Walter R. Johnson. 



January 9, 1839 — House. 



On motion of Mr. John Quincy Adams, from the select committee 

 appointed on two messages of the President of the United States in 

 relation to the Smithsonian bequest, it was — 



Ordered, That the memorial of Charles Lewis Fleischmann be printed, and that 

 the drawings accompanying the same be lithographed. 



Patent Office, Washington, December <?, ISSS. 

 The Senate and House of Representatives: 



The memorial of Charles Lewis Fleischmann, a citizen of the United States, 

 respectfully represents: 



That your memorialist had the honor of laying before Congress, at their last ses- 

 sion (see document of the House of Representatives, Twenty-fifth Congress, second 

 session, No. 334), a memorial on the subject of agriculture, in which he endeavored 

 to show the utility and importance of establishing an agricultural school at the seat 

 of government; while at the same time he entertained doubts whether Congress 

 were constitutionally empowered to effect so desirable an object. This object, how- 

 ever, can now be attained without involving any constitutional questions, as Congress 

 has come into the possession of the Smithsonian legacy, for "the diffusion of knowl- 

 edge among mankind," a bequest bestowed in terms so general that it can not fail 

 to embrace the object of this memorial, and it is left solely to the wisdom of Congress 

 to designate the particular branch of knowledge which they may please to select for 

 the purpose of carrying into effect the intention of the testator, and thus attain the 

 end of his enlightened philanthropy and accomplish the object of his munificent 

 benefaction. 



As the Government are annually adding vast tracts of valuable lands to the public 

 domain, Congress will doubtless regard the consideration of agriculture as among its 

 first duties, as well as one of the most important means of promoting the welfare and 

 prosperity of the country — a country blessed beyond all others by the bounty of 



