New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-02-02
DIR. MOTT AND UNION COLLEGE

DIR. MOTT AND UNlON COLLEGE.
IT, the Edtor Of The " Y. Ttibsne
SIR: The late announcement OF the munifcent endow
ment of Union College by DR. Mott following rather
ncden, with report of the Committee of the Legislature
mon the long vexed matter of the heretofore made of
the funds OF that institution has naturally excited public
attention would suggest that there is any necessary
connection between the two occurrences though there has
been something of eagerness in publishing the donation to
the world
Geographic dispatch to announce the fact was found
necessary although there two daily mails between
Albany and this City Then followed newspaper expos-
ons Of the subject Of investigation before the Committee,
with simultaneous lands of the great donatondisplaying
in a favorable light the unpromped philanthropy and un
solicited sympathes of editors the letter writers too lost
time in repeating the news whleh had aeauy Uy
telegraph land of the newspapers among them iaE
TRIBSE in the haste of getting the aforesaid dispatch IN
10 print missed the precise phraeoogy which was dc
manded by the OCCASION and thus lost day III giving tne
true state Of facts TO the world
the Committee regard TO the facts though can hardly
concur with the writer of an elaborate article IN ne
Times, ef some columns mOre that case is to be
carried and very clear which required an argument
by counsel comprising printed volume OF several nun
unite 10 certainty if the counsel able and asute as
he is is convinced Of it, although he has bestowed his
labor without fee, when IN passing may say, II true;
was altogether an of professional charity With all
due respect for the distinguished counsel cannot help
thinking that the mucuarity OF his mind is such that
insufficient exercise III ordinary Inoues OF thinking
and common results of reasonngbut requires something
Gpocr yphaLor rather only what is not admitted
into the Of popular belief but what ranscends be
lief unless developed by powers Ike MS whicn cannot DC
asked by inpossibiles. Saturn OF old, who de-
youred stone images substituted by his wife for living
children not unapt type OF this character OF mind
Rut as remarked before my object not to question
the results az which the Committee have arrived but as
Stunning the facts stated by them TO suggest some consid
eratons which perhaps of more consequence 10 inc
public than the merits of the controversy decided by the
Committee. -, Co..
before The wear 1922 donations 70 the amount OF s23o
In that year. for the purpose OF another large endowment
lottery scheme authorized by an act OF the Leglsla
ture-ke control of which lottery was eventually acquired
by DR. Mott and from which by his management Aessrs
Yates McIntrye having been employed by hun IN the
agency the College realized LIST, the sumof s24o1l3, be
yond what payable to other institutions "a Fronts
made by the management OF the lottery beyond the amount
which By the of the Legislature, was appropriated 70
Union College, which profits amounted 70 sISZso' ana
propertion of s90s5l to the former and SLIGO to the
fater hut the whole in fact said having gone to the
use OF the College. , ..
In addition to this DR. Mott himself received on his in
diyua from the proceeds of the lottery soOOo
which with interest for several years amounting IN al 10
the sum Of sos 342 went into the college treasury but
belonging in fact to p Mott n Gnq TaI be town of
Newtown, Long Island, and the Stuyyesant Cove pro
perry which is the East River, in the City OF New
York. The property in which the investment was so
made constitutes the endowment before referred TO- which
has been recently made by Dr. Mott and is stated to be
of the value OF 5000 OO0 and upward.
The whole amount then received by the College from
the State including the profits before mentioned was the
sum of s6l59j3 inclusive of what now appropriated by
Or Mott TO the ue of the College Of this large sum the
Committee say there remains slJ5,363 IN productive
rronerty being about aifth only Of the original amount
/ The Library and Philosophical Apparatus whleh IL
might be expected would be commensurate WIN inc large
ness of the amount bestowed by the Sate-hss COST a
little upward of s3i 000-a smaller han mas Deen iaa
out by colleges of inferior noeupon what comparative
scale OF economy the outlay hes been made we are not
! informed
No one cam in view Of ell these facts fall to be dissp
noned AT the eagernes of the results Of the munihcence
Of the Legislature, notwithstanding the ENDORSEMENT
the Committee of tire prudence and discretion with whicn
all the funds have been expended.
But second consideration suggested is the improvi
dence resortng e1pedients OF an exceponaoe
character for the OF profound good
end and more especially of the mpropriety of religious
ard literary Institutions and grave professors 10 whom we
are accustomed to look oc moral instruction being inter
mingled with transactions that must be condemned by
RIGHT thinking men Even IN the time when lotteries were
allowed by law, there strong feeling OF Reproduction
in the communty-a feeling which should have had the
couuenanoe all professors OF moral and political science
But in the case OF the Union College Lottery there was
not merely acceptance OF the fruits Of unhaowed gain
but tie evils necessarily incident TO lotteries mrneas
urably increased Oy the unprecedented activity with
which the lottery managed do 90 say
ing that the whole country becoming dem0rsized by
H. and not doubt was left in the public mind of the neces
city OF putting end 10 such corrupting influence
In the rrrospect of the case can il be eg.imntey the
subject of congraulaon that institution of learning
has obtained much by expedent questionable, in
the carrying of which the agents o; the Institution
have acquired Drncely fortunes The moral effect of lot
ries was Dot more doubtful in 22 than that Of the traffic
in intoxicating drinks is and it would in nv view be
us;fsbe for DR. Mott 20 carry that business for the
benefit Of his college was his inermedding with lot
eries and he 20 take OF the splendid hotels in
the City OF New YORK. the principal profit of which should
be the sale of liquors and conduct its business il would
perhaps be Judged by most OF the presen; day less
exceptonable than wac his agency in the lottery
/ scheme.
But we have 20 do only with the lesson 20 be learned
rem the past The endowment Of Uron College by DR.
Mott may wei call Tor grateful acknowedgus.s by tue
Trustees and Ocnehciaros Of ihe Institution, bur hardly
for ostentatous display before The publc-chalengng
Place amoug tho noble and yiriuous deeds by which
ton is honored And mind cannot bal rocur 20 TIC
circumstances by which h. enabled 70 make the gt
ard Il Is not wise prod active ~ any GOOD h'oN dn
dscrimira,r praise when here nreh' tlt m - odc al
/ the moral .euae ol any Frfr JusTITfA.