181
PAPERS OE' l\lIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAMAR
valued and important institutions. Principles would be imbibed, ad- verse to the true policy of the nation, and after the lapse of a few years, they would return to their natirn or adopted home, th_e ornament of letters, but no blessing to the country. Under these views of the subject, how important is it that our youths should not only be educated at home, but that their education should be a national one, adopted to the condition and settled policy of the country; one which, whilst it imparts all that is valuable and ornamental in literature, at the same time imbues their minds with a corred knowledge of the principles of their Government, and a just appreciation of the rights whi~h that Government is intended to guarantee. Strongly impressed with the conviction that such a Hstem of Education is essential in a country where the people rule; ai;_d believing that the Government is the most efficient .Agent in diffusing this vital principle of her own existence, I could not consistently with my appreciation _of the subject, urge it with less importunity upon the consideration of Congress. Should Congress, after a full view of the subject, coincide with me in. the propriety of establishing a Department of Government in addi- tion to those already in operation, upon the principles which I have recommended, I would beg leave in conclusion to remark that when it shall be in perfect organization, it will be composed of three separate and distinct bureaus, the first for the discharge of those various domestic duties, which are considered as burthensome and inappropriate to the State Department-the second to embrace the subject of Internal Im- provement including all its branches-and to the third will be assigned the management of public Education. .At present the establishment of Bureaus, for Internal Improvement and Education may not be abso- lutely necessary, but that the successful management of the business of these two important interests of the nation will ultimately require them is certain, and until that time arrives the auties pertaining to each, can be performed by the Chief of the Department without addi- tional expense. In exploring the wide and diversified range of subjects connected immediately with the prosperity of the country, or tending to promote its future interests, I was early impressed with a convidion of the im- portance of establishing a correspondence and intercourse 99 with the people of Santa Fe. These people, living as they clo within the limits of the Republic, are in fact a part of our citizens, and it is believed by those best acquainted with their character and habits, that it is only necessary that they should be correctly informed of the nature of onr Government, and of its free and liberal institutions, to make them so in sentiment and interest. Though l\lexican in their origin and lan- guage, yet from their isolated position in regard to the great mass of the population of that country, and a long intercommunion and trade with the western portions of the United States, they have lost mnny of their natural prejudices against strangers, and if not already pre- pared to identify their fortunes with ours, would, it is thought, readily become so if correct information in respect to ourselves were dissiminated among them. That their predilections are not in favor of the present Government of :Mexico is certain, ancl that they are attached to the
..See no. l 040.
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