The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-04-04
THE GALAXY.
MIDDLEBURY,VT.
Tuesday, April a, l84S.
THE TWO COLLEGES.

of the Colleges. Our readers will find this
communication candid sober, and unan-
swerable statement of facts and legitimate in
ferences, which no logical ingenuity can evade.
We have not, we confess, that prurient ca
gerncss for everything thatwears the slightest
aspect of controversy, which has prompted one
or two ill-advised attempts, quite recently
on the part of those who have always felt an
utter indifference to the result of the negotia-
tons in question, if not to the whole subject Of
collegiate education in general TO say some
very shrewd things-not particularly compli
mentary to either Corporation. But we do
purpose TO speak our mind somewhat plainly,
on certain points connected with the commu-
nication which we have this week transferred
to our columns. We do so, because the matter
concerns our community materially, and be-
cause our position renders it not only proper,
but hardly less than necessary, that we should
express our own views fully and freely on some
leading features Of the late proceedings in re-
spect to union. There are certain leading
facts, in respect to this matter, which are be-
yond the possibility of dispute, and that can
not even admit of bubble Let these facts,
then, be plainly understood.
l. The proposition to unite the two Colleges,
originated with the Burlington Corporation.
?. The proposed bill for consolidating the
two Corporations was drawn up by a member
of the Burlington Corporation, embodying
principles mutually agreed upon by Commit
tee, appointed on the part of each Corporation,
for the purpose of proposing aplan of union.
8. Neither Corporation being absolutely
bound by the acts of its Committee, this bill
was presented for approval and sanction to
each of the Corporate bodies.
A. The Middlebury Corporation, after duly
examining and discussing the bill, in its seve-
raj particulars, were ready to give it their as
sent after some few amendments, only one of
which was deemed of great Importance.
5. The Burlington Corporation, in like man
ner, considered the bill, and decided to take
no further action on the subject of union.
G. The reasons given for this singular and
unparalleled course on the part of Huntington,
were-as of necessity they must be-totally in
adequate, if not ridiculously frivolous.-These
reasons were three: as fully existing, (and
why not as clearly kno,rn to exist,we are una
bic to tell,) when that Corporation resolved,
previously to the proposed negotiation, "that an
earnest effort ought now to be made to &C
complish" a union. First, that the location, be-
ing left to an unbiased Committee, not resi-
ding in this State, might not be satisfactory to
"our citizens (citizens of Vt.-not of Bur
lington, we suppose). Secondly, that the sub
scnptions raised for the Burlington College are
made imperative and void "in case the loca-
ton be disturbed" Thirdly, that, losing this
subscription, sit is a matter of serious apprc-
hension whether" the Burlington College can
pay its debts Now we repeat, that We see
not why all this should not he Just as well
known when the proposition was first made,
as when the proposers so unanimously (and
withal a little ludicrOusly, we do Think back
ed out of their proposition. And We defy
anybody to show that any particle of addition
al light could have been thrown upon the three
points contained in these "reasons," UNLESS ii
came from an increased probability that the To-
cation you'd be elsewhere than burlington.
And it is to this one point that we now ask at
tention.
1t will be seen that every one Of the as
signed reasons has the idea of the location for
its corner stone. Settle the point that the
location shall positively be burlington, and the
last shred of this apologize fabric is rent a.
way. That point is ALL IN ALL. And yetthese
same persons have so far presumed as to talk
Of the Middlebury Committees sine qua nOnl
Suppose they had sine qua non,-what was
it? What do the Burlington Committee say
it was? That the location be left to an M
PARTIAL ARBITRATION -
Now, in reviewing these proceedings, it
seems to us perfectlyevident that the Burling-
ton Corporation, laboring under hallucina-
uon winch we cannot very easily account for,
had,a the outset, supposed it to be possible to
induce the Corporation here to give up all
their property, their consecrated name, their
distinctive character and their moral indepen-
dence, Gor the University is said to be subject
to foreign control even in its most vital
interests,) and suffer themselves to be absorb
oil. LII. / IL
mont'-and that too, with only a little cum
ming manoeuvering, on the part of Burlington,
little smooth talk about promoting ''the in
terests of education and the cause of knowl-
edge" They seem subsequently to have
thought that in the condition introduced by
their Committee that, on locating any where
else than Burlington, their fifty-tbousand-dollar
subscription should be forfeited, they had eff
fectuallv secured their ohiect Pint ifRurlino-