Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1842-12-23
WEST POINT, Dec. 10, 1912.
TO The Editor of the Vermont PhGni1:

see the true interests, not only of this ma
ton, but of the world, most carefully pre-
served and efiectually promoted, such al
Institution must, sooner or later, be estab
lisbed. Ifw would enjoy the benign pro
lection of institutions bought by the bloo'
of our fathers, and see them transmitted,
blessing to those who shall come after us
if we would see morality and religion regar
ded, the arts and sciences cherished; phi
losophy studied, and literature advanced; j
we would see the mind enlarged and elcva
ted, and man himself fully fitted for his al
lotted station then we must hail the day
when great central and inexhaustablt
Fountain shall be opened, from whence al
these blessings may flow When this infant
people shall have become great and mighty
nation, and filled all the land, the little riv.
ulets, that have hitherto supplied our wants
will utterly fail. A mighty reservoir ofpure
selfsupplying and life-giving waters, must
be established in the heart Of the nation, or
before the lapse Of many generations, our
few ordinary and isolated cisterns will have
dried up.
But, aside from metaphor, let US turn our
attention to the actual condition of the ma
ton, in a literary and intellectual point Of
view, and the necessity Of an Institution OF
this nature will be still more apparent We
boast, that among our citizens, intelligence
and learning in their humber grades, are
more generally difi'used, than among almost
any other people. True, five consider name
and number simply, we have Universities,
Colleges, Academies, Seminaries, High
Schools, and Common Schools in album
dance. But these, at least, can only furnish
the mind with first principles. Moreover,
the time and labor of Professors aud Teach
ers in these institutions, must be supremacy
devoted to the business of Instructions
When such multiplication of duties, as at
present is imposed upon each of these, it is
unreasonable to expect that they should do
more than arrange, modify and disseminate
a few OF the more general and obvious prin-
cples Of science and learning. To pene-
trate the vast mines Of truth, that have re-
manned, as yet, comparatively unexplored,
with the simple purpose of unfolding their
treasures, without deriving immediate and
practical advantage therefrom; to fathom
the mighty ocean Of beauty, for the gems
there concealed, while the treasures fall not
into the adventurers hands; to soar alott in
the regions OF thought and Imagination, that
others may be gratifed with the sublimity
and inspiration Of poetry; or to ascend the
rugged mountains Of science, there to con-
template the abstract and speculative prnci-
plies Of nature, in the bright beams Of her
own sun-to do all this, requires more than
a few detached efforts Of professional men,
whose own appropriate duties are already
too numerous and oppressive. II requires
the uninterrupted labors Of body of men,
who shall devote their whole lives, and ali
their powers, each TO single object of pur-
suit men whose minds shall be relieved
from all the pressing cares Of life, by having
all their wants abundantly supplied without
effort on their part; men who shall have a
place for retirement and study, secluded
from all the stormy connections, with which
this busy people are daily agitated and har-
raised; and men who shall be encouraged
by tokens of sympathy and appreciation, and
by evidence that their labors are appreciated
by their own contemporaries Now the
state, or nation, is the best, if not the only
source, from which such ample and perma-
nent provision may be expected. And if
such class of men enjoy the respect and
due to them from the great mass
'f people, for their selfdenying zeal and la
'ors, that respect and sympathy must derive
is origin and It's tone from ''the powers that
De, primarily, from the state-and then
public sentiment will follow freely in the
wake. Let these provisions be madc-these
be granted-and we shall
zee an Institution rising up, in which shall
,e concentrated the intellectual nerve and
NEW OF the nation. Thther will be gath
red men OF genius, thought and invention
II strong intellect and high attainments.-
~ their daily intercourse they will inspire
alutary zeal and enthusiasm by their mu-
ual efforts, they will strengthen each others
lands; and by their mutual contributions
hey will increase their treasures and multi
ny the stores of knowledge. Nor will this
re contracting, gravitating mass of mani
nate matter but living, active, efficient
'ower. And as the blood-life's nutriment
flows through ten thousand arteries. from
he heart to the extremities of the body. car
ying health and vigor to every part or the
rame, so, through every portion of our re-
ubllcan system, from this selfsupplyng
would flow abundant streams Of
knowledge and high mental enterprise, Civ
ng impulse to talent, vitality to genius, and
the intellect of the nation, lasting, ire
resslble energy. The discovery Of many
important truths would, doubtless, be made
he cause of letters would be revived; the
cid ofuseful arts cultivated; the domain of
clence extended; and higher and more
ealthiul tone would be given to the mental
eing of individuals and Of the whole nation
The nature of our republican institutions
nd the present political aspect of the coun.
y, demand the establishment of National
University. Is it urged in reply, though we