Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-11-24
SPEECH OF MR.. TRAIN UPON THE AM
HERsT QUESTION.

SPEECH OF Mr.. TRAIN UPON THE AM
HERsT QUESTION.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, June 8, 1924.
Concluded from our last
1t must be considered as a very favourable
circumstance iii national point of vie W, that
some of the sons of Massachusetts, 20 to other
States to receive their education, and that
some of the sons Of other States come to Mas
sachusetts to receive theirs. Such an inter-
change cannot fail to have a favorable influ
ence upon all our national interests and lnsti-
tutionss hope this may continue 10 be the
case but Sir, from the College catalogues. if
appears that ffty-eight young men go out of
this Commonwealth more than come into il for
the purpose ofobtaining their education: and
consequently there is balance of from ten to
twelve thousand dollars paid by old Massachu-
sets to her sister States for the purpose of edu
| cation. My friend from Williamstown will
place this to the profit or loss account, as he
thinks proper. Certainly, Sir, it does not
comport with the honor or interest of this
Commonwealth, that there should be such a
balance against us. This looks like demon
stration, that Massachusetts auaats daother
College" We are told to enlarge Williams
and Cambridge, make those we have more
respectable. not establish new one. Yes,
Sir, no doubt Williams or Cambridge would
be very glad to remove the Amherst Institu-
ton, and receive its buildings, its library, its
funds and students, as an appendage; self
may operate unconsciously, and yet be a
strong principle, but it cannot annihilate dis
lance, it cannot remove mountains. In this
connection Sir, would just glance at some re-
marks, which hare been made in reference to
the Universities of Europe, especially to Cam.
bridge and Oxford. At Oxford University it
is said there are fifteen or twenty College ed
ihces, and thousand students; and that we
ought 10 adopt the same plan. Make the
Colleges we have, great and respectable, but
not establish new ones. Sir, were this the
British House of Commons, fettered with an
established religion, and were these respecta-
bic petitioners s. Dissenters," the refusal of a
charter would fellow of course.-But, Sir, |
cannot so readily bring my mind to the idea
OF being member of Parliament, and of a.
DOPING English notions respecting Education.
We ought to remember that our government
and institutions and habits are different from
those OF England, and that she sends MANY of
her SONS to her Universities for other purposes.
than merely for study and instruction. Fit
teen OF twenty Colleges in one group makes a
great sound to be sure, and this should con-
slider one Of the principal advantages of such
an extensive literary establishment. Sir, |
| cannot believe there is gentleman on this
floor, who would bring all the Colleges in the
United States, or even in New England into
one group, if it could be done barely by will
ing it. This measure might make great
| show at home, and a'great sound abroad, but
it would be anti-republican, in principle and
effect. 1t would shortly give us an educated
nobility, an oVerbearing aristocratical infiu.
ence, and leave the great mass of the people
| ignorant and degraded. Let then our sem
inaries OF the highest order be located in diE-
lerent sections OF our country and of the sew.
eral States, that knowledge, and wealth, ami
power, may be more generally and more g.
qualy distributed. !
| 1t has been objected to the Amherst Institul
ton, that should it become a College, it will
be prejudiclalto the interests Of literature, be-
cause 1t will render College honors too cheap.
The driikOt this objection do not precisely
comprehend. The course of study is elevat-
ed and respectable. 1t requires two years of
preparatory study TO enter College, and four
years OF close application at College to sntitle
young man to College honors. Does he
earn them too easily? Is this the force of the
argument! Ii so College honors are already
too cheap, but no cheaper at Amherst than at
Cambridge or Yale. Or does the objection a.
rise from the circumstance, that the expense
OF an education at Amherst will be less than
at Cambridge or Willamstown, especially TO
our citizens IN the eastern and central parts OF
the Commonwealth Sir, this is the very
thing we want. Comparatively few Of our
citizens are able to educate a son at Cam
bridge. The expenses at Cambridge and the
distance OF Williams have driven many young
men out OF Massachusetts, for their education.
Or does the weight Of this objection arise from
the consideration, that they have a charity
fund OF $4,000 for the assistance Of pious
young men, who are destitute? Does it nee
essarily follow, that, because some pIous and
INDECENT young men are to be educated gratu-
itously, they obtain their College honors too
cheap! Does it afford just cause Of alarm,
lest some should pretend to be hopefully pous
for the sake OF obtaining their education gratu-
itously! Must we never assist the necessi-
tous lest we place temptations in their way.
Then charity is not a Christian duty, and the
poor must be left to ignorance and suffering.
For the honor Of humanity ano religion, hope
such an argument may not be used in Chris
tan country. lapprehend it would have a