1845.] 



THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE. 385 



bodies to the Institute are substantially in the same predicament. So long as this 

 corporate association exists, it has the charge, custody, and control of it, as trustee 

 for the Government ; but upon tiic dissolution of the Institute, the entire mass 

 becomes equally, as the other branch of the collection, the absolute and exclusive 

 property of the nation. In the mean time, the members wish for no private interest 

 in the collection, and if the present charter bo not susceptible of the construction, 

 that tlie whole beneficial interest of all the articles is now, as well as at its close, 

 in the Government, they are anxious to have an amendmuiit made to accompanv 

 the appropriation asked for, which rhall, at once, regulate '.lie properly in that 

 way. For the Institute has depended on the Government heretofore, and must 

 continue to rely on it, not only for many of the most valuable articles in its pos. 

 session, but for a place to deposit them, and a place for their rneelings, as well as 

 for some of the means to dotVay the incidental expenses of opening, putting up, 

 and preserving tlieir collections. In short, all the properly belongs to the Govern- 

 ment. The guardians of it, under the charter, are chiefly the officers of the Govern- 

 ment. The custody of such property was heretofore at the public expense. And 

 that such sums should still bo expended by Congress as would pay for the freight 

 and other expenditures connected with it, would be the exercise of no other power 

 than such as has been exercised by the Government every year since its organiza- 

 tion. 



The individuals who compose the Institute, have, by their pecuniary contribu- 

 tions and specific donations, largely aided in augmenting the value of this properly, 

 in arranging it so as to render it available, and in defraying the expenses neces- 

 sarily attending the execution of the important and responsible trusts confided to 

 them. They have thus created, enlarged, and rendered practically useful, the pro. 

 perty of the Government, and of the nation. Their means of usefulness, their 

 capacity to extend the benefits of the museum, are limited only by their capacity to 

 meet their daily expenses. 



Not only are the Government and the nation the absolute owners of much of tho 

 properly of the Institute, and the beneficiary owners of the residue, but they are 

 also the exclusive recipients of the advantage to result from the entire enterprize. 

 At this period of the world, and in this enlightened age, it is not necessary to pre- 

 sent an argument to establish a truth which all history inculcates, that the highest 

 glory of a nation, the purest and most durable happiness of a commonwealth, rest 

 most upon a moral and intellectual advancement. 



If, in the legitimate execution of those powers which by the constitution aro 

 vested in your honorable bodies, collateral results should follow, by which science 

 and literature shall be fostered and encouraged among your constituents, and dif- 

 fused more widely through our Union, such consequences will not, wo presume, 

 furnish grounds of objection to tho rightful exercise of power, in the breast of any 

 individual. It is believed that few are disposed to controvert the lawfulness, whila 

 a still smaller number will deny the expediency, of the appropriations heretofore 

 made by Congress to tho literary and beiiL^volent associations of this district and 

 city. None can doubt the lawfulness of those provisions which have been, from 

 time to time, made for Iho protection of the profierty of tho nation, and its adequate 

 security and care, by the erection of suitable buildmgs for its accommodation, and 

 furnishing proper compensation to the officers or agents of the Government charged 

 with its preservation and improvement. 



All the Institute asks of Congress, then, is an appropriation of a sum sufficient to 

 discharge the arrears of expense heretofore incurred, and due by the Institute An 

 annual appropriation for the necessary purposes of the Association, and the con- 

 tinuance of tho indulgence hitherto granted, of the use of convenient rooms for 

 preserving the property, and holding tho ordinary meetings. 



Annexed to this memorial are various documents, of which the followinff is a 

 list : * 



List of Documcnls accompanying the above Memorial. 



1. Charter of Incorporation. 



2. Constitution and By-Laws. 



3. Abstract of Proceedings, comprising the contributionig, donations, and deposits 

 mado to tho cabinet and library of tho Institute since its foundation, with the 

 names of tho contributors, donors, and depositers, 



4. List of Officers, and Honorary, Resident, Paying Corresponding, and Corres. 



