THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS, 1853-1855. 565 



misunderstandings wliich were brougiit l^efore tliem in the course of 

 the investigation. Thej' regard the evidence that was educed on 

 these matters as important only because it illustrates the difficulties 

 encountered in administering an institution of this sort upon the plan 

 that has been attempted. They are particularly desirous to have it 

 understood that they attach no blame to any person in any quarter; 

 the evils are the result of the sj'stem. At the same time the}" do not 

 cast blame or censure of any sort upon those who suggested, and have 

 labored to carry out, that system. The design was in itself com- 

 mendable and elevated. It has unquestionabl}^ been pursued with 

 zeal, sincerity, integrity, and high motives and aims, but it is, we 

 think, necessarily surrounded with very great difficulties. 



There is nothing in our constitutional system that authorizes this 

 Government to enter the sphere of literature and science. Education 

 is left to the States. This Government can not, without violating the 

 principles on which it rests, become, directly or indirectly, through its 

 official agents or in the expenditure of funds, a censor of any depart- 

 ment of the press, an arbiter of science, or a publisher of works of 

 mere literature or philosophy any more than of morals or theology. 



No amount of money that could possibly be raised would enable 

 this Government to perform these functions with a just, equal, and 

 liberal hand for the benefit of all departments of knowledge. Of 

 course it has no right to make discriminations; not onl}' natural his- 

 tor}^ and phj^sical science, but every branch of learning and inquiry 

 has a right to demand patronage, if it is extended to an}-. Whatever 

 project in this line may be attempted will be found surrounded with 

 insuperable embarrassments. If, for instance, the funds of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution should be appropriated in the manner proposed in 

 the petition from citizens of Missouri, referred to this committee, for 

 the preparation and distribution of a monthly report of the general 

 progress of knowledge, who shall write those reports? To what 

 school of philosophy or medicine or politics shall he belong? Shall 

 he confine himself, as the Smithsonian Institution has for the most 

 part very wisely done, to particular provinces of natural science, to 

 reptiles, defunct species of animals, mathematical and astronomical 

 computations and researches, to aboriginal antiquities and the glos- 

 saries of vanishing tribes of Indians, or shall he rise above dead and 

 brute nature and treat the subject of man, of civil societv, of govern- 

 ment, of politics, and religion? If he confines himself to the former, 

 not one in ten thousand of the people will be interested or satisfied; if 

 he attempts the latter he is on forbidden ground and can not escape 

 being torn to pieces by parties, sects, and sections. 



Moving in the most cautious manner, acting within the most limited 

 sphere, grudges are multiplied, jealousies engendered, resentments 

 kindled, and complaints encountered in all directions. Authors whose 

 pieces are rejected will be likely, in the course of time, to outnumber 



