Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-02-18

| Academy, you added the following remarks /;
"We understand there was no objection to
giving such an act Of incorporation, as would
! enable the Institution to hold real estate, and
to manage their property; but the opposition
was, TO giving them authority to confer de-
grees, and to placing them on the same foot
ing with other Colleges in the State.'
This information, it must be remembered,
comes from the opposers of the petition, and
is not without design. Their aim is to make
animpression upon the public mind, that they
were very kind in their feelings toward the
Institution, and were willing to do all that
was reasonable but that the petitioners wish
ed for something more. As an impartial edi-
tor, doubt not, you will permit me to make
a few remarks in your paper upon this sub
ject.
In the first place, sir, this is very easily
said but what are the facts?-I assert then,
| and am ready to prove, if required, that in
the winter of 1928, the petitioners, after being
informed by the joint committee, that they
should make an unfavorable report, distinctly
proposed to them to report in favor of such an
ACT, only, as would enable them to manage
their funds in legal way, if they could go
no furtber-and were refused. This does
not favor the idea that 6 there was no objec-
ton to such an act"
In the next place, such declaration if in
genuously made, includes all that was asked.
Were the Legislature willing to empower
| the petitioners TO hold sure their funds, &C
cording to the will of the donors If this is
not meant, it is hollow profession, made to
| conceal motives. But if this be in fact in
| tended, then, an act Of the above description
will include all that is asked. The confer
ring of degrees is a mere adjunct TO such an
act, which the petitioners thought proper to
insert that they might be fully understood,
and because it has in some cases been insert
ed in charter for College, though not in
all. But will an enlightened Legislature en-
power corporate body to take the charge of
an Institution, in which a college education is
given to all its members, and deny them the
right of certifying it, in their corporate capaci-
ty? Must these students, when thus educated,
fall into the rear, when in presence Of others
| of the same education, because the Trustees
must not insert the words 6 ad gradum,r in
the testimonials received upon leaving the
Institution This, Sir, is the sum of the mat.
ter. Il confess | blush for such protectors of
all seminaries of learning"
| But, in the stpiace, the fact that the Leg
isature did not grant such an act, is proof
that there were objections to it. The oppo-
sers make wide distinction between the act
named, and one which shall specify the right
of comforting degrees. Why, then, did they
not grant the petition, 6 so far as to enable the
petitioners to hold sure property ?" Had they
done this, it might have been said, {" there
was no objection" But it cannot now be
said with any consistency; especially, since
almost all the speakers in opposition, directly
approve it.--lt was said by them, that such
an act was unnecessary: that the funds were
procured by extortion that they were to be
applied to unmeritable objects; and that the
character and design of the Institution are
such, as to be unworthy the patronage of the
Legislature. ! say, these things were said,
by some ofthe speakers, not the least loqua-
cious. And will they now say, /" there was
no objection to such an act ~
The true reasons that governed the Legis-
lature, it is believed, are not fully understood
by the public at large. Time, however, will
bring them to view. They need only to be
known, and they will be disapproved.
A FRIEND TO TRUTH,