76 ADDRESS. 



Claim no wider range than he has sanctioned ; including as he 

 does, animate and inanimate nature, the heavens above, and all on 

 the earth beneath ! The character and value of that paper are not 

 sufficiently known. No extracts or condensations can do justice 

 to it, or to the memory of its illustrious author ; and I feel confi- 

 dent that no apology can be deemed necessary in bringing before 

 you the entire document. Among all the records of his genius, 

 his patriotism, and his learning to be found in our public archives, 

 this paper deserves to take, and in time will take rank, second 

 only to the Declaration of our Independence. The first, imbodied 

 the spirit of our free institutions and self-government ; the latter, 

 sanctioned those liberal pursuits, without a just appreciation of 

 which, our institutions cannot be preserved, or if they can, would 

 be scarcely worth preserving. 



"To MERIWETHER LEWIS, ESQ., 



" Captain United States Infantry, fyc., fyc. 



"Your situation as secretary to the President of the United States 

 has made you acquainted with the objects of my confidential mes- 

 sage, of January 18, 1803, to the legislature; you have seen the 

 act they passed, which, though expressed in general terms, was 

 meant to sanction those objects, and you are appointed to carry 

 them into execution. 



"Instruments for ascertaining, by celestial observations, the 

 geography of the country through which you will pass, have been 

 already provided. Light articles for barter and presents among 

 the Indians, arms for your attendants, say from ten to twelve men, 

 boats, tents, and other travelling apparatus, with ammunitions, medi- 

 cine, surgical instruments, and provisions, you will have prepared, 

 with such aids as the Secretary at War can yield in his depart- 

 ment ; and from him also, you will receive authority to engage 

 among our troops, by voluntary agreement, the number of attend- 

 ants above mentioned, over whom you, as their commanding 



