15382 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 
Whereas the experiment of a free republic, with a constitutional form of govern- _ 
ment and an indissoluble union of States, has been demonstrated in the first hundred 
years of its existence to be practicable and successful, and the principles of political 
freedom, equality, and justice have been guaranteed to all its citizens; and 
Whereas the perpetuity of the Government and the guaranties of its Constitution 
are dependent on the virtue, intelligence, and patriotism of the people: Therefore, 
in order to the promotion of the broadest culture in literature, science, art, ethics, 
and political economy among the people, and as a light bearer to all nations of the 
principles of constitutional liberty upon which this Government is established, 
Be it enacted, etc., That a university is hereby established in the District of Colum- 
bia to be called the American University. 
Src. 2. That shall be and they and their successors in office are hereby 
created and constituted a body politic and corporate to be known as the curators of 
the American University and by that name shall have perpetual succession and a 
common seal, and by the aforesaid name and in their corporate capacity may sue 
and be sued, plead and be impleaded, contract and be contracted with, answer and 
be answered in all courts of law and equity; and the same, in their corporate name, 
are hereby invested with a legal right to all the property and estate, real and per- 
sonal, which may accrue to said university. 
Src. 3. That for the promotion of the cause of education in all its branches and 
extending the sphere of science, morality, and the principles of constitutional liberty 
throughout the world, the curators aforesaid and their successors shall have power 
to establish from time to time and endow any departments, colleges, schools, or pro- 
fessorships which they may deem necessary to carry out the aforesaid objects. They 
shall also have full power to select and employ any officers and agents they may 
deem proper; also such chancellors, presidents, professors, instructors, or tutors as 
they may from time to time deem necessary; also to make, ordain, establish, and 
execute or cause to be executed all such by-laws, rules, and ordinances, not incon- 
sistent with the Constitution of the United States or the District of Columbia, as 
they may deem necessary for the welfare of said university, for their own govern- 
ment, the good government of the officers, agents, instructors, and students of the 
same, and generally to do all acts necessary and proper to promote the welfare and 
prosperity of said university. 
Src. 4. That they and their successors shall have full power in their corporate 
capacity to hold by gift, grant, devise, demise, or otherwise any lands, tenements, 
hereditaments, moneys, rents, goods, chattels, or interests of any kind whatsoever 
which may be given, granted, demised, or devised to or purchased by them for the 
use and benefit of said university; also may sell, lease, rent, and dispose of the same 
or any part thereof in any way whatsoever they may adjudge most useful to the 
interests of said university: Provided, That all lands, money, or other property which 
may by donation, devise, deed of gift, or otherwise be contributed to said university 
shall be strictly applied according to the instruction given by the owner or testator; 
and all moneys thus donated or devised as permanent endowment funds shall be 
principal, and as the same accrues shall be invested in United States bonds, which 
shall remain forever intact and the amount whereof is to be in no respect or any 
manner whatever diminished, subject, however, as necessity may demand, to invest- 
ment or reinvestment in said United States bonds so long as they may be available 
for investment purposes, and only the interest on such invested funds shall be used 
for the current expenses of said university. 
Src. 5. That the board of curators of said university shall consist of twenty-one 
members. The President and Vice-President of the United States, the Chief Justice 
of the United States, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attor- 
ney-General, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, the Director of the Geo- 
logical Survey, and the Superintendent of the Naval Observatory shall also be 
