168 CONGRESSIOlSrAL PROCEEDINGS. 



tion and location of the buildings, })ut would also make an appropria- 

 tion 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 support 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 overlarge, yet they should be so liberal as to command the services 

 of the ablest instructors in every department embraced l)y 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. Abilitj^, 

 as I have stated, can only be given, as I am fullj-.persuaded, by appro- 

 priate exercises directed by a certain rule; thatis, by the principles of 

 the art, whatever that art may be. So that exercises would be the 

 Alpha and Omega of my system. The studies should be combined of 

 science and literature with its appropriate arts. As to science, they 

 should be restricted to science properly so called — to pure original 

 science — with some of the practical branches thereof not necessary now 

 to be indicated, excluding professory learning altogether. As to lit- 

 erature, the studies should be given to select models of a perfect liter- 

 ature, and to all those arts by which that perfect literature has been 

 produced and may be reproduced, accompanied by all those exercises, 

 regularly and ardentl}^ pursued, b}^ which power and skill is given in 

 those arts. The preliminary studies to qualify for admission should 

 also be prescribed. I would have a model school for this preparation 

 annexed to this institution and made a part of the establishment. 



"Such an institution, conducted by great masters, as I should hope 

 the instructors to be — and without such, indeed, nothing great in educa- 

 tion can be accomplished, whatever the s^^stem may be, l)ut, conducted 

 by great masters, would make the illustrious sti'anger, the founder of 

 the institution, as I think, one of the greatest of benefactors to our 

 country and to mankind, and to be worshipped almost, here at least, 

 as the patron saint of education." 



Mr. William C. Preston rose and said: 



""Unquestionably the subject to which my venerable friend, the 

 honorable Senator from Rhode Island, has called the attention of the 

 Senate is one of great importance, demanding the grave consideration 

 of Congress. As it is in the order of Providence that as the mind is 

 enlarged our moral nature is also exalted, there can be no object more 

 beneficent or dignified than that which the acceptance of this legacy 

 presents to us. And surely, Mr. President, the establishment of the 

 Smithsonian Institute could not commence under more favorable 



