Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-11-24

much gseater tendency to cheaper College
honors and bring them into contempt, at least
with portion of the community, to refuse a
charter to Amherst, and withhold these hon.
ors from those TO whom they are due. 1t has
indeed been asked "what these young men
are there 6r?" Sir, this question is easily
answered. These young men are at Amherst
Tor their education. They are there because
they choose 10 be there; because their friends
choose to send them there and because they
have Tighl to send them there. Further
more, they have a right to expect favour
from those who have the right 10 bestow it,
land who ought cheerfully to do it.
The Trustees of Williams College appear
Ito feel most sensibly upon this subject, and to
Ibe apprehenive that College at Amherst
may blight the one under their care. The
prosperity Of every seminary of learning is u.s.
ually in proportion as its location is favorable,
and the management of its concerns meets the
pubkc appreciation. IL these circumstances
are in the favor Of Williams College her friends
have little to fear. If in these respects Am
herst has the advantage, and il these be the
reasons for opposing it, the very arguments,
by which its Charter is opposed, 60 directly to
prove the expediency Of granting it. But,
Sir, cannot believe that Amherst will essen
tally injure Williams; on the other hand, by
fair and honorable competition they will re-
ceive a mutual advantage. Both will have
their friends and patrons, and the friends and
patrons of both will double their exertions in
the course of education, and both Institutions
as we'll as the public will be benefited. Which
of them is to be most fourishing and useful is
| z,,Ls of &c
now more fiourishing than formerly, and no
doubt this is in great measure owing to the
Institution at Amherst. Surprising that 80
students were the average number at Will
liams in years past. 1t now has ll8 at Am
herst the number of students is l26-and we
have 154 net gain to the number of our Col
lege students, and we hope to the stock of lit
erature in Massachusetts. Eren upon the
supposition that some students should 60 to
Amherst who would have gone to Williams,
it cannot in justice operate as bar to their
Charter, because the public will receive just so
much additional benefit as Amherst shall re-
ceive more patronage than Williams shall lose.
This, Sir, is the general principle, upon which
we, as Legislators and guardians Ct the public
veal, are bound to act. The public good is
and must be our great object. This is the
principle upon which we grant turnpikes,
bridges, and every thing else of public ma
ture. We have indeed been told, there is no
similarity between Colleges and turnpikes,
and that we cannot fairly reason from one to
the other. Sir. do not go understand it.
The object in one sense is the same so far as
we are now concerned, and that object is the
public good. The hill Of science is of steep
and difficult ascent. May not Colleges very
properly be compared to turnpikes, which ia.
clitste The public travel? Colleges aid the
mind in its progress to the summit of this lofty
mountain, and if benevolent individuals think
proper to establish College in every point Of
view respectable, what good reason can be as
signed, why the public shall not receive the
full benefit it. In pursuing this comparison
discover difference; but it is one, that
speaks most loudly in favor Of granting the
prayer Of these petitioners. Turnpikes are
matter of speculation, and the people are al
ways ready TO embark in those enterprises
whichafo a prospect of gain; but this is far
from being the case with these Institutions,
which owe their origin and support TO charity.
The College al Amherst has been established
and endowed by charity; it looks to the be-
nevolelce of our citizens for support, and not
10 INC tuoHC treasury IL 10 ~" ia s"SS0se-
full operation, and doing much good. Why
shall We longer refuse TO give it our legislative
countoiahce? Why shall we by Withholding
a charer frown upon those worthy and benev-
client citizens, and endeavor to paralyze their
efforts o advance the important interests OF
education, which we are bound to cherish by
the Constitution. Should we charge the Am
herst Institution to the amount of sectariaa.
ism ami blind religious zeal, we should do
an actof gross injustice. Should we refuse q
Charlie, the heart Of pious benevolence will
bleed Should we refuse Charter, the Ge
MUS ofLiberty and Science will weep over.
the illiteral and mistaken policy Of Massachu-
sets.
hope the prayer of the petitioners may no
longer be denied. Already have they given
us an example of Christian patience. They
have indeed let patience have its perfect
work, believing that full investigation and
ample discussion of thessubject would direct
the attention OF the public more generally TO
the important interests Of education, and es-
tablish this Institution more firmly in the pub
lie favor. May it receive Charter and be
lourishing and useful Institution.