The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-01-22

accessory. For this purpose, they recommend
the adoption ofthe first resolution accompanying
this report.
Your committee have also had under consid-
alton the condition of the colleges and acade-
mics OF this state and have embraced them IN
the subject of inquiries contemplated in the
bill They regret to find that while these instl-
tutions are intimately connected with the suc-
cess of common schools, and are as peculiarly
the institution of the people, they have by no
means received equal favor at their hands. Ii
it were only for the influence they have upon
common schools in their neighborhood by
furnishing competent teachers, they would he
deserving OF patronage and support. But this is
not the only service they would render to the
community; they form the grand protection of
the people against any possible danger from an
aristocracy of wealth. If the number of the
academies were so limited that the sons of
the rich alone could be educated within their
wallis then light the alarm be sounded. Slight
would be resistance which could be opposed
by the poor, and the unlearned, against the com
bined influence of wealth and education. Then
might they be exposed TO become hewers of
wood and drawers of water to a cruel aristocra-
cy, or throw themselves into the hands of All
artfiil despot who would only fatter TO betray.
But from such dangers individual enterprise
has thus far protected us. Academies, gram
mar schools, and colleges have been plan
ted in every corner of our land, and the sons Of
the poorest man in our state, if born with sound
mind and body, may, if he feels the generous
promptings of a soul eager for knowledge, OBJ
tain education equal to that of the child Of
affiuence. 1t is these scions OF noble stock,
the sous Of the hardy yeomanry OF our coun-
try, whose frames have been invigorated hy la
Dor, and whose minds have been cultivated in
the academies and colleges of our country, that
have shed such lustre upon our name; who
have stood up in the face of the world and asser-
ted The rights Of humanity; whose sympathies
are with the people; whom wealth cannot seduce
nor power corrupt. 1t appears to your com
mittee that while the legislature have been be.
slowing their patronage upon common schools
with liberal hand, even to the extent of almost
overwhelming them with their bounties these
higher institutions have never received anything
from the public treasury. In few Co. slight
income is received from grammar school lands
reserved in the original charter of some towns
But for the most part these institutions have been
founded and sustained entirely upon private
liberality. 1t is we'll known that they cannot
maintain high rank from the income derived
for tuition alone. This tuition cannot safely be
increased without diminishing their number and
excluding from their benefits all but the rich
This would essentially impair their usefulness
and mis- ht furnish some reason for the jealousy
with which they are now viewed by persons
who have not considered all their influence up
on the intelligence and liberty Of the people.
They have thus far been sustained only by great
spirited individuals. This resource is nearly ex
huusted, the academies are laboring under en-
barrassments, their friends are almost disheart-
ed, and no other means of relief but from
the action of the legislature. There appears to
the committee, satisfactory reasons why this re-
lief should be extended to them. Common
schools have been abupdantly provided for, and
they have u never failing resource in the favor
of the people. 1t is an admitted principle that
they should never be wholly supported from the
publictreasury,an it is thought by many that the
limits by which the public bounty should be re.
strained, has already been reached. To he con
sistent, then, it becomes the legislature to in
quire if no aid can he extended to these neglec
ted institutions, which, under great difficulties,
have been comforting important benefits upon
the community. If it were only for the purpose
of raising up qualified teachers for common
schools, they would deserve the patronage Of the
state. BY this means, instead of establishing
teachers seminary for the whole state,
templated in one Of the resolutions referred to
the committee, we should plant and maintain
teachers seminary for every county and in
most instances, two or three to county.
Ii, fortunately for the purpose contemplated,
happens the state has a schoolfund, which may,
with great proprety, be appropriated to the aid
Of those institutions. The annual income alone
divided among them in some ratio which may
hereafter be determined, would much relieve
their embarrassments and increase their useful
ness, ne po,icy OF alloWlng tnls sum 10 accu-
mulate tor future generation; is of Il very ques
tionabe nature If it is true that common schools
should not be sustained entire by public money,
we shall confer greater benefit upon the per-
sons who are to succeed us by expanding this
fund for their education, than by bequeathipg
to them treasure, whose tendency shall he to
lessen their interest in the great cause it was in
tended to promote.
But your committee are not prepared to adj
wise any distribution. There has been received
such information as would justify any specific
plan. 1t is for these reasons they have united
these institutions with the common schools ia
the inquiry which they propose to make through
the Secretary of State, provided in the reso-
luons accompanying this report They are in
tmately connected with one another in the in
f1uence which they exert upon the character q
intelligence Of the rising generation, and should
not be separated in any scheme which has for
its object the advancement of these great inter-
ess. If the legislature should not finally make
the proposed distribution, the Information thus