New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-05-05

The truth is that the University exhibits constant
ana steady advance from its up 10 the
une OF the severe CONFUSION Of l-s 10 consequence
OF the unfortunate transactions OF that tme-n abiding
To which mean 10 impue blame either TO the Coun.
CT or 10 the very able Professors who preceded
the number Of students reduced TO 90 Before the
close OF the year il had risen TO so. During the first
years OF Chancellor Frenghuysen IL increased rapidly
In lc4i II was l22 in 1874 II amounted 10 lf5 In the
two following years the number eighty diminished.
ia the present year IL il li6; the number examined
for admission 10 the various classes being considerably
more than during any former year Of IL existence and
furnishing lair prospect for larger catalogues snd
larger graduating classes for the next four years than
have been preseniedby the period just preceding -
that as II the University be allowed quietly - 20
on ts way, without being subjected every few years
10 such blows as you attempt to inhict upon IT,
Your own attack may, perhaps, do something toward
verifying your own statements. II may possibly tend
TO make our expected addition in the Summer less than
u otherwise might be for, ! remarked before, the
reputation OF literary institution is very delicate
thing-much more easily injured than sustained II Is
earnestly hoped however, that the effect will be far
otherwise, and that your unproyoked assault will
only arouse It's devoted friends and It's generous alumni
70 deeper interest in its welfare.
Whoever will take pains to examine into the matter
viii find that two three years ago there falling
OIL In the number OF students in many Of the best Gel
leges In the land 1t the at Dartmouth at Hsr
ward and at Yale. Ii might be difficult 10 assign the pre-
else cause OF such fluctuations but II would be very
Just to assert that such Institutions were on that &C
count in a sinking condition There nothing 10 which
some unthinkng minds judge incorrectly, than in
relation TO the growth of Colleges Il is necessarily
slow, as is proved by the condition Of some which
possess the age Of centuries.
The growth of the University has. in fact been
rapid than could have been expected when consider
how short time il since its establishment and the severe
trials has had TO encounter. thas than advanced
pdr passu with Of the Oldest Colleges in the Union
u has more students than some that have twice thrice
its age and there only six, and they averaging the
age OF centuries that ia this respect before IT, II is
located in City where there already existed flourish
ing College whose Jealous yet ever honorable cOmpe-
uton Ii has had 10 encounter and which, although
we think not founded on liberal scale yet had many
other eXcelencies that Justly commended it to very
large class OF our citizens The University has also
been oppressed by pecunisry difficulties aud when 1t
asks aid Of the State its enemies OF the radical school,
and you Sir who profess conservative tendencies
combine together TO defeatthe application. What makes
such the unusuhsble is the fact that you
cOncurred in all the original measures leading 10 such
embarrassment although you would now expiate your
fault by extra zeal in this comparatively small matter
Of the Chancellors graduation fees.
You seek to create odium by the contrast you make
between the tuition fees of part OF the students and
the salary Of officer The aHtns IN this IS evident
If you had sought TO convey impression just 10 the
whole interests of the Institution you would have pre-
sented the hand all the labor performed for the
UhOle number Of students taught and on the other the
whole amour, OF compensation OF every kind whether
paid by parents, or students, or the state. Then It
might have been seen whether the University truly
returning an equivalent to the public for the annual
sums paid 10 its teachers This was the information
proper for the Legislature the Just or unjust division
of that amount, matter which certainly could be
left TO the wisdom Of the honorable men who compose
the Council.
You would speak very ssrcsstically Of the 9ratui-
Instruction Il use your itslcs) claimed TO be
afforded at the University" Why, who, Sir, has been
louder 10 making that claim Cat least In former years
than yourself On how many occasions have you,
dwet upon this very feature of the institution namely
the possessed for the education OF poor young
men and new you join in the unjust attempt that has
only matter of pecuDisry interest TO the stockhod
ers We will not attempt TO characterize such pro
ceeding but will only ask you-Did you not know, or
will you deny that more than 20 per cent OF these free
scholarships has been available TO the gratui.
tous instruction" of indgeh youth in ray related 10
re donors and in almost all In fact without their
~ the matter having been of late lett almost Who'll
y 70 the governing Faculty of the Institution. There Is
challenged any respectable denial of this statement re
peat the declaration that has heretofore been made in
ply to the misatement from another quarter-At
though hundreds Of fHdtSeHt young hare applied no
has YET been turned array from he University oh0
had not The means % pay for has tuition Provision has
ever been made, and, have no doubt would ever be
made by the Council and the Faculty, whatever might
be the number OF applicants. 1t fact too that do
nors who hold in their names the greatest smoant OF
scholarships have actually paid for the tuition Of their
own Now, Sir 40 special pleading about the
word "grstutous," which you would make TO mean,
that Dhich nobody pays for, will avail you Here are the
facts The Council in their Memorial TO the Legislature
told the simple truth and nothing but the truth when
they syerred that 9ratuous instruction Wds c0aTedby
the University some hundreds Of young meH" They
Justly used it ss a righteous argument in their pc
tton for Legislative aid. What then must be thought
your motive in the attempt TO turn aside the force OF
this plea by representing honorable men, every one OF
whom Is certainly your equal in everything that consu
tues moral worth guilty Of base attempt TO impose
upon the Legislature. or in plain lsnguage-for 1t
amounts to nothing elseto obtain money from II by
false pretences
cannot conclude without calling your attention to
one other subject which 10 matter OF more importance
70 any member OF the faculty than TO the Council. In
your first attack you the title Of the Presidency
of the University and in your last communication. you
maintain the Justice of the claim Now sir permit me
10 say with all consistent respect that you never were
in any proper sense the President of the University
This may not be so much mere matter OF special
pleading" some might imagine. The title assumed IS
one which throughout land has long been applied 10
the literary head of College or University Thousands
who will read your injurious communication as IL was
the wings of The Tribune, might really be led
by the ssmeness of the appeston, TO regard you rs
holding the relation to this institution that Edward
Everett does 10 Harvard, or DR. Wsyand to Brown nj
versity The very possibility OF such asupposinon being
entertained by any considerable number OF persons in
any part of the Union could be nothing else than Just
of pain and modification 10 the faculty OF the Uni
yery and 10 all lis literary friends This matter more
becomes important from the fact that your assump
ton TO be something than the President of the
Council the real root of your early hostility to Mr.
Frelinghuysen.
With respect to your reasoning this point is sim
py RIDICULOUS. me IuuuCll, you say eoNSius eut
University and the President OF that body what
why you should have said, II the sbsurdiy OF your
sylogism had not stared you directly IN the
ace" governs the Council" But you very logically
turn aside from any such position and land In the
very clear conclusion that The President the pre-
siding officer OF that body most safe and incontro
sertabe conclusion il truly is The President OF any
BODY is most certainly its presiding crco. Doubtless
Il you never venture upon more hazardous PROPOSE
ions than that you will no risk OF ever being re-
uted
But we may carry this profound logic little farther
The Council governs the University the Legislature OF
he State governs the Council Gov Young is the pre-
ding officer OF the State therefore Gov oung Is me
PRESIDENT or at least the Governor OF the University
But to be serous-lour title, Sir, was that OF IRE
diug Officer of the Council" and that station II may
heeriuly be confessed you filed with dignity and IN
manner honorable TO yourself and the University Even
his title however, gave you no executive powers lou
Sept order in the sessions of that body as It's chairman
fou signed is proceedings its delegated represents
i've you said. place." on Commencement Day but
srwise out of its sittngs you had no more authority
han any other member. IL however the want oil
akng this view of the matter that has brought you into
four present absurd attitude.
Nothing is farther from my thoughts than by any
uch remarks. 10 treat with disrespect the authority
IF the Council It's President In their sphere they
ubtess omnipotent in all matters relating 10 the Uni
-ersity They may sell the building and dsperse the
faculty and Students They may the Professors
s.elH anWe 49, NIA~s