have occasion soon to return to that subject, in order to show that 

 many great and prominent men in this country entertain a high opinion 

 of its merits. 



I propose devoting the present number to the notice of recommenda- 

 tions of several of our departed Presidents to Congress, on the subject 

 of a National University, from General WASHINGTON inclusively ; and 

 take the occasion of thanking a valued friend, the author of an able 

 article in answer to a speech on the Smithsonian Bequest, made (he 

 24th February, 1839, by Mr. CALHOUN, in the Senate of the United 

 States, for the valuable facts and arguments which assist me so much 

 in my present purpose. The article, signed " Common Sense," ap- 

 peared in your paper of May 16th, 1839, and I would advise such of 

 your readers as may feel disposed to examine the subject, to consult that 

 essay as one full of interest and correct information. 



In calling to my assistance such venerable and powerful names as 

 WASHINGTON, JEFFERSON, and MADISON, I shall make but little 

 comment upon their writings, being convinced that what they have said 

 on the subject of a National University must necessarily carry far 

 greater force and persuasion to the public mind than any reasoning of 

 mine. With these remarks I take up our first President, and find him 

 discoursing as follows in his speech of 8th January, 1790, to Congress : 

 " Nor am I less persuaded that you will agree with me in opinion that 

 ' there is nothing which can better deserve your patronage than the pro- 

 ' motion of science and literature. Knowledge is in every country the 

 ' surest basis of public happiness. In one in which the measures of Gov- 

 1 ernment receive their impression so immediately from the sense of the 

 * community as in ours, it is proportionably essential. To the security 

 1 of a free constitution it contributes in various ways; by convincing 

 ' those who are entrusted with the public administration that every 

 ' valuable end of Government is best answered by the enlightened con- 

 ' fidence' of the People ; and by teaching the people themselves to 

 ' know and to value their own rights ; to discern and provide against 

 ' invasions of them ; to distinguish between oppression and the neces- 

 ' sury exercise of authority ; between burdens arising from a disregard 

 1 to their convenience, and those resulting from the inevitable exigencies 

 ' of society ; to discriminate the spirit of liberty from that of licentious- 

 ' ness cherishing the first and avoiding the last and uniting a speedy 

 ' but temperate vigilance against encroachments, with an inviolable 

 ' respect for the laws. 



