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ject, to take all necessary steps here, for its advancement,, through some 
institution, which shall be national in its origin, so as not to offend our 
pride of character; and national in its benefits, so as to comport with 
that spirit of justice and equality that ought to pervade all our public 
measures. 
No constitutional difficulty, under this view of the subject, existed 
with General Washington or Mr. Madison, and two grants of public lots, 
in this city, large in value, were actually made by Congress to the col- 
leges existing within this district, under President Jackson’s administra- 
tion. But if, after this, and the cases and analogies before cited, honest 
scruples should still exist against such a course, it has fortunately hap- 
pened, that a foreign philanthropist has opened another way for accom- 
plishing much that is desirable, without any resort whatever to any pub- 
lic means. Smithson has placed in trust with the Government a most 
liberal fund for increasing and diffusing knowledge among men. It has 
been accepted, and this Institute is an existing, and seems tome a most 
appropriate, agent to be employed under the directions of Congress, in 
discharging portions of so important a trust — a trust, so sacred and imper- 
ative, that a longer delay to execute it might prove not a little derogatory 
to our national honor. 
Should the plan for this not be speedily matured, including the use of 
the Institute, or its officers, then a grant, at once, of enough to defray 
the expenses attendant on the good preservation and collection of the 
public materials in our charge, seems indispensible, and is believed also 
to be free from every doubt connected either with expediency or the 
Constitution, as many of the collections now belong to the Government, 
and all of them are vested in it when the charter expires, and may be 
forthwith, if desirable. What small sum then is granted for this object, 
by the Government, is granted for taking care of its own property, the 
title of which is public, the use public, the whole end and aim public $ 
and that act of duty done, we hope, by the further help of our own con- 
tributions, with those of liberal friends of science elsewhere, by the con- 
tinued and generous assistance of the officers of the army and navy, of 
our foreign ministers and consuls, and foreign friends, as well as the 
members of Congress, and many in private life, I think it may be safely 
said, that we hope to advance still further and faster, till we render the 
Institute, in many respects, worthy its unrivalled position, and the grow- 
ing country to which it belongs. In tine, as our materials multiply, and 
needy and enterprising genius resorts to them for aid, and the Capitol of 
