1196. CHARITY, Principles of Distributing.—
We are all doubtless bound to contribute
a certain portion of our income to
the support of charitable and other useful
public institutions. But it is a part of our
duty also to apply our contributions in the
most effectual way we can to secure their object.
The question, then, is whether this will
not be better done by each of us appropriating
our whole contributions to the institutions
within our reach, under our own eye;
and over which we can exercise some useful
control? Or, would it be better that each
should divide the sum he can spare among
all the institutions of his State, or of the
United States? Reason, and the interest of
these institutions themselves, certainly decide
in favor of the former practice. This question
has been forced on me, heretofore, by
the multitude of applications which have
come to me from every quarter of the Union
on behalf of academies, churches, missions,
hospitals, charitable establishments, &c. Had
I parcelled among them all the contributions
which I could spare, it would have been for
each too feeble a sum to be worthy of being
either given or received. If each portion of
the State, on the contrary, will apply its aids
and its attentions exclusively to those nearest
around them, all will be better taken care of.
Their support, their conduct, and the best administration
of their funds, will be under the
inspection and control of those most convenient
to take cognizance of them, and most
interested in their prosperity.—
To Samuel Kerchival. Washington ed. v, 489.
(M.
1810)
