388 [Assembly 



PRESERVATION OF OUR FREE INSTITUT'IONS. 



Another benefit would touch the vital interests of the country — the 

 very existence of its free institutions. If practical science would 

 enrich it, sound political knowledge would tend to the preservation 

 of its liberties. That political volume, destined to be read by the 

 masses, like the book of judgment to the evil doer, would have ter- 

 rors for the faithless ruler. Let it pay its annual visit to the work- 

 shop and farm-house, and in the process of a few years it would con- 

 fer upon the honest laborer no slight pretensions to statesmanship. 

 It would put an end to the reign of party despotism. It would crip- 

 ple the power of a mendacious press to mislead and deceive the peo- 

 ple. It would render the demagogue as impotent as he is base. It 

 would bring honest patriots to a substantial agreement; and the great 

 and the good' would again sit in the seats of power. We might, by 

 God's help, even retrace our steps from the fathomless gulf of for- 

 eign dictation, mob violence, Jacobinic misrule, and the ultimate des- 

 potism, upon which we are now advancing. 



On the whole, we may affirm, I think, that the publication of these 

 two serials would accomplish the object of Mr. Smithson. Instead 

 of packing away five hundred thousand volumes in Washington city> 

 in twenty-five years, it would put ten times that number of volumes 

 into the hands of the people themselves. They would be " read,, 

 marked, learned, and inwardly digested." They would immediately 

 and beneficially affect the character and interests of the citizen, and 

 the safety of the country. They would be beautiful monuments to 

 the memory of the philanthropist, whose honored name should stand 

 upon every title-page, seen and read of all men. This spring of 

 benefits to mankind would not dry up, while the government re- 

 mained true to its trust; but flow on, widening from age to age: 

 and many a great and prosperous family in future times would be 

 able most truly to affirm that God and James Smithson had made 

 them so. 



ANSWER TO OBJECTIONS. 



There are few things so good that men may not find objections tO' 

 them; and the best projects fare as ill in this respect, as the worst 

 Objections will be started to the present plan. Let us imagine what 

 they may be, and ascertain their solidity. 



Since the funds are provided without drawing upon the treasury,. 

 the objection will not probably be pressed any farther that legisla- 

 tion in the premises is unconstitutional If it were otherwise thia. 



