Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-12-10
JGTON FREE PRESS, FRIDAY MORNING. DECEMBER TO- 1871

But it in no wi follows, because said Corpo-
ration say that two Colleges create an unneces-
sary tax upon the public, that they thereby al
flrm that either College does not manage It's
means as discreetly as It possibly can. AND
now could the Corporation of the University
w'th any propriety, say to Middebury College
that they could not place their means at hazard.
before they knew that Middcbury College would
insist on such a condition. And when this was
known, did they not examine the subject, come
to conclusion, and render their answer as soon
as they coud!
PRESIDENT Iabaree seems to be astonlsfcd
that the Corporation of the University did not
suggest some modification Of the plan OF union
proposed, or devise a new one, since they de-
clined the one which came before them. lie
seems to think that, by such a course, con.
iiictng views light have been harmonized," and
the two Colleges united.
am not little at loss to know how to un.
derstand this. The writer is doubtless honest in
expressing such views. Hence my trouble to
know what to make of them. The leading men
oft Fellows of Middcbury College put il down
as " sine qua nom of dny plan of union, that
the question Of iocation should be submitted 10 an
arbitrotion-that any plan, which did not have
hiS condition IN IL, would be blorn upon by The
feilocs Of Middiebury College," This was un-
derstood by the Corporation of the University.
| Therefore, when they came to the solemn con-
vction. that duty forbade such submission, on
their part, what more Uasthere to sag or do about
plans! Middebury College, according to its
leading men, infexibly Insists that no union
shat take place, e,,;ve Die University peril its
means; in reply TIE cnisefsity gays, we cannot
in conscience do this the forfeitures and evils
that would result from change of its present
site. would be so manifold and serous-forfeit-
ures and evils that would result through the
necessary operation of lam, Independent Of any
stipulations in the bill. Thus each College has
its sc sine qua non'' That of Middlcbury Col
lege is the submission of the question of loca-
ton; that of the University is, that its funds
shall not be put in jeopardy by such submits
sion. Here the matter comes to stand.
Now, then, if President Labaree has ingenuity
enough TO devise plan, that shall retain and yet
reconcile these two conflicting" sine qua
nons," so as TO come to harmonious result, "
he is certainly entitled to great praise for his
power of diplomatic invention.
The fact is, to effect union of the two Col
leges, one of the parties must yield its sine qua
nom" Shall it be Middlebury College or the
University What does the cause of the best
and highest forms of learning in Vermont re-
quire By which would this cause lose the
least and gain the most This is the true ques-
uOH. NeltHpT Is any tHIUu DuL all
agency in the system of means adopted for un-
folding and periecung the moral and intellectual
energies of the people, and for carrying forward
both individuals and the body-politic to their ulti-
mate ends. These institutions should not be
regarded as having rights Independent of the
cause Of Education or as antagonstcal TO each
} other. Neither has rights or duties which are
not grounded in the one great and common cause
r of useful human earning. The question is not
which institution shall submit to the other no,
by any means but what do the interests of Ed.
ucaton, whose servants they are, require of each
in the matter of union, and especially of location
The University has in its possession large
available property. Middlebury College has but
very little. Should the University 90 to Mid
dlebury, then the cause of liberal learning, or
account of the losses it would sustain, would
have left to it but small means, while it would
be loaded and embarrassed with heavy liabilities
In such an event all means of importance wouit
escape, while debts, huge and grim" woul,
remain But on the other hand, should Middle
bury College 60 to Burlington, and unite witt
the University. then the cause Of liberal learn
ing would retain its means, for the most part
and he able TO carry its operations efficiently
and really flourish Now | ask which part,
should yield its " sine qua nom? Which il
reasonable, which unreasonable!
Nov. -, lS47. SPECTATOR.