New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-03-03
More about the Univsr-ify-' Observer IN
Reply TO Justice

The interest which was manifested IN my io''
mer Communication respecting the University m
clined IRE at first 20 resume the subject AZ an ear
ler dav. But I was led to believe that some OF
the gentlemen concerned in the present manage
uent OF the Institution would enieayor 70 reply
- some Of my statements. wished 70 give them
time knew they would need IL. All nay facts
Of any consequence were taken from their own
osici returns to the Regents. bad book and
their own book. Tor what I asserted.
The admirable system Of supervision exercised
BY the State over all orr semnaries o. learning can
not be too highly appreciated One Of rs best Tea
tire, +, the rigid accountability 10 which she holds
every one OF them which shares In the public
bounty They are required TO give yearly state
h. EFT of all their receipts. from whatever quarter
and Of all their expenditures for whatever object
This Is designed to prevent an abuse OF the public
bounty by extravaganza or favoritism. The state
reuts are given 70 the public under the eye and
sanction Of the Legislature, 50 that every citizen
can see Tor himself where the money goes which
IS expended Tor education. and can Judge for him.
self how far it is wisely appropriated. To these
public documents l have referred as the iounda
ton Of ny remarks respecting the affairs Of the
University.
A paper purporting TO be reply has now aP-
reared. 1t is signed Justice. Justice
should keep cool knew the imposthume was
deep. and threatened 10 be fatal but was not
aware Of its being attended with such angry and
morbid Inflammation. Justice should not handy
epithets, such as malicious. glarnsly dishonest,
cowardly. mean &c. | will not respond to such
language. Justice" should not endeayor to
draw attention away from the merits OF the ques-
ton by angry personalities. 1t is Of little conse-
quence who is the writer OF a statement contain
lag facts The real issue is Are the facts alleged
sustained by evidence To this issue shall hold
Justice"
There are some things sOnceded by him which
mus, notice He admits that the University is in
gres, difficulty that II has reached crisis in
which It's debt mus, be paid or !, must be abandoned
and he asks why has not this struggling Institution
more Of the public favor which would relieve i a,
once etc Il precisely this view Of the case that
led me 10 call the attention of citizens 70 this sub
eci Had the University been going on prosperously.
or had such progress been made for it's aid would
have given fair promise Of efectusl relief would
have been among the last to ind fault But Justice
should remember that the University Is no, "ovned
by him ,belongs TO the public They have perfec,
rsht and are In duty bound 10 look into its affairs nor
was it, according 20 hi, showing, until its condi-
ton had become most perious that have undertaken
10 point out some Of the OF its embarrassment
and danger. How far am doing this in suitable tenn
per and with proper motives the public will decide
But although we agree TO the discourssing condi-
ton of the institution, are wide ssunjer as to very
importsnts facts respecting which have the express
evidence Of the Council itself against him. He states,
as positively known to him, that the debt is about
Si0OO0-exceeding this, he believes, only by the
sum of $40 and few cents" Now have in my pos
session the return made by the Council in January,
ls4s in which they the debt at that time 10 Be
s.OlO2 So together with mortgage of SIS 90 on the
property to the endowmen, of Professorship.
Is an oblisaiio secured BY boud and mortgage not
TO be viewed as a debt And If expenses since accru
ing have been me, they fell due, how comes it that
oosrs Of the institution have been left for months in
want OF their salaries 7
Justice al.o states that during the past two years
the University notwithstanding the gres, dmnution
OF the state patronage has been able to NEE, all its en-
gsgements without any increase whatever Of Its debt"
refer him sgsin to the official documents of the Coun
cl In January. lsl7 they they debt Of s7733l
80, exclusive of the $4,000 mortgage. And in Jsnus
~ lsis they state it at ss0lO2 80 exclusive Of the
mortgage; at the same time expressly admitting an
excess OF expenses above income. Justice" should
rad more before he rriiCs 50 much.
He also states that AZ the accession OF Chancellor
Freliughuysen, splendid debt Of $4,000 sciu-
ally crushing this infant Institution 10 the earth lfhe
will condescend 10 look at official documents in this
matter also, he will ind thsi before Mr. Frelinghuysn
became Chancellor. subscriptions had been made re-
ducing the debt very nearly II not quite to 10000
exclusive Of $1,000 due the State and from which the
University was soon after released OF the 100000
contributed 20 the Institution at various times he will
also ind that $4,000 Is the amount which has been
raised BY subscription since Mr.. Frelnghuysen came
into Office
will notice one more point on which justice
shows equsl ignorance and much irritation. Among
the obstacles lying in the way OF the University, said
10 my former Communication that doubts were enter
tanned whether wise appropriation was made Of the
money which bad already been given | showed the
true amount u available funds, Tor snnusl expenses
during Eve years compared this with the specified
expenditures Of the UriveTsiy during the same period
These clsssed ia the Returns under three hesds
l. Salaries :; ,. Interest 3. Insurance Repairs
etc !" and then showed that ieigcilng whs, % stated
- have been expended underthese several heads
remains balance OF available funds amounting 10
Si0,232; gsd asked what had become Of H. To be
sure IL Is pulling question snd Justice ia very
much out oftsmper at The answeris obvious
be tells US that IL Is cosadee and meanness 10 have
raised the inquiry. Well what 10 the answer One
half Of the $40 90 be tells IL ever spilled 10 the
Grammar ShoOlT And If il does 70 20 the Grammar
School Why not ike Columbia College make /. avail.
aoeln lees 70 the ln1s on The University as reason
able equivalent for the advantage the School derives
from her patronage Was this done j, Gus bit to be
done, here would be amount quite equal 10 Whist is
paid the GrsInmer School applicable 70 any expendi-
ture Tor which the Council might III 10 appropriate
H. And how does Justice account for " The rect OF
toe $1,000 He tells IL 10 10 be explained by the
paid 20 The Jsutor and for fuel and for other
aV0idaole sDc Incidental expenses amounting 10 al 70
about SlOOo a year Possible Would Justice"
have believe that thousand dollars year Is paid
to the Jsntor Tor which be not required 10 account
and which the Council do not take into their records OF
annual expenses Tais so-ld Be worse than anything
have Jet heard in the way Of hscal mlsnAns cement
But nothing be un1srrarted than this strange
idea q Justice We must sgsin refer him 10 the /.
Records Of the University itselL he viii there md
that the exper dlres for fuel ard other uedenias are
included under the head Of Insurance Repairs etc
in the Reports to the Regehis and whatever IS paid
the JAnIior for salary /. Included the head Of
Salaries We then still EEK what has become Of this