" Whether this desirable object will be best promoted by affording 

 4 aids to seminaries of learning already established, by the institution 

 1 of a National University, or by other expedients, will be well worthy 

 4 of a place in the deliberations of the Legislature." 



To this speech, so worthy of the wise and good man who deemed 

 education essential to the existence and operation of republican institu- 

 tions, the Senate made the following answer : " Literature and science 

 4 are essential to the preservation of a free Constitution ; the measures 

 4 of Government should therefore be calculated to strengthen the confi- 

 4 dence that is due to that important truth." 



President WASHINGTON again dwells upon his favorite subject, in 

 his speech to the two Houses on the 7th December, 1796, and thus 

 eloquently urges it on their attention : 



" I have heretofore proposed to the consideration of Congress the 

 4 expediency of establishing a National University, and also a Military 

 4 Academy. The desirableness of both these institutions has so con- 

 4 stantly increased with every new view I have taken of the subject, 

 4 that I cannot omit the opportunity of once for all recalling your atten- 

 4 lion to them. The assembly to which I address myself is too en- 

 4 lightened not to be fully sensible how much a flourishing state of the 

 4 arts and sciences contributes to national prosperity and reputation. 

 4 True it is, that our country, much to its honor, contains many semi- 

 4 naries of learning highly respectable and useful ; but the funds upon 

 4 which they rest are too narrow to command the ablest professors in 

 4 the different departments of liberal knowledge for the Institution con- 

 4 templated, though they would be excellent as auxiliaries. 



44 Amongst the motives to such an Institution, the assimilation of the 

 1 principles, opinions, and manners of our countrymen, by the common 

 4 education of a portion of our youth from every quarter, well deserves 

 4 attention. The more homogeneous our citizens can be made in 

 4 tfiese particulars, the greater will be our prospect of permanent 

 4 union ; and a primary object of such a National Institution should 

 4 be the education of our youth in the science of Government. In a 

 4 Republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important? 

 4 And what duty more pressing on its Legislature than to patronize 

 ' a plan for communicating it to those ivho are to be the future guar- 

 4 dians of the liberties of the country ?" 



" Common Sense" says that a memorial signed by GUSTAVUS SCOTT, 

 4 WILLIAM THORNTON, and ALEXANDER WHITE, Commissioners of the 



