The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-29


strsction Of an illegal vote would give majority 70
Dr. Gibbs he ia the duly elected professor But your
committee would prefer that the election Of FRO
fessor McCulloh should not be disturbed y any &C
tion Of law, nduced1by the alumni, but that ne be
welcomed TO the city and chair with the cordial
respect Of the alumni, and the hope that complete
success may attend his career in the service OF
Columbia College.
A suitable APARTMENT is to be fitted up imme-
dately for lecture room, and an appropriation has
been made for the purchase Of apparatus, and this
energetic action the part OF the trustees exhibits
disposition to place the department in o state Of
Your committee freely advert to the proceedings
Of the Board of Trustees, concuring fully in the
'Ithat the proceedings Of the trustees, SO far as
they relate to the puDHc duties of the College
as . seminary of learning, are legitimate
subjects Of public scrutiny, and no &C.
them" The attempt to impose rule az an obliga-
ton of honor upon the members Of the Board, that
the proceedings and discussions Of the body except
when ordered to be published, should be yelled in
most unwise and impohtic. There are matters
coming before such body that are in their own ma
ture confidential, but general rule of confidential
~ dread Of public opinion with respect to their
official acts and deliberations
Another sub committee, consisting Of Messrs.
William c. Russell, Horatio Allen, Abram 8. Hew
lit, John MacMullen and George F. Seymour, was
appointed to present plan Of organization Of the
alumni, with q view to increase the prosperity,
strengthen the influence, and extend the usefulness
of the College" Their report was also ordered to
be printed, together with the draft Of bill submit
ted subsequently, and laid before the alumni. The
resolutions reported by the subcommittee, and en-
bodying the conclusions reached, were adopted by
the general committee, with the exception of the
last, recognizing the centennial anniversary, and
are respectfully submitted for the consideration o.
the alumni at the present time.
There are three specific recommendations con-
&ntv 10 <IA kaRx 1nn
tion:-First, with respect to the division Of the
Trustees Of the College into six classes of four
each, having six years to serve, and their election
the second with respect to system
examiL atoms; and third, with respect to an annu-
a meeting Of the alumni, accompanied by
the ceremony Of an address, and followed by .
suitable occasion for performing all the bust
ness that would be required for giving effect to the
several objects Of the organizations the nomination
Of the proposed electoral college for the choice Of
trustees; the appointment of q committee charged
with the duty Of visitation; the appointment Of
committee Of arrangements, and the election Of
their own officers.
election Of trustees. Some of the considerations
why change In the tenure of the Office and the
mode Of appointing trustees Is desirable, are pre-
sented In the report Of the Committee on Or
institution, Il some safe representative system can
be devised to provide for the opportunity Of repen
ishiDg the governing body, at stated periods, with
new energy and experience. II is desirable for the
trustees themselves both for this purpose and that
Of securing the sympathies Of the community in
their favor. The prejudices existing against close
corporations although unreasonable in their full
extent as applied to collegiate foundations, en-
barass the action OF trustees and cause their pro-
ceedngs TO be viewed in the most unfavorabe light.
And all this has q direct bearing upon the pros
perity Of the institution itself.
The fact Of being Representative has, too, its in
6uencA unOn he mind with fho hnqf0 nj man thor
views Of duty are insensibly modified by sense Of
their relation to others and their responsibility to
others. The power conaded il regarded as trust
committed to their use rather than as substantive
power conferred upon them, to be transmitted like
crown prerogatves unimpaired to their successors.
This consideration constitutes, in the judgment of
your committee, an unanswerable argument in favor
OF 2 system Of representation, even for boards Of
college government, where it can be practically ad-
ministered.
The plan proposed requires no heightened state.
ment to vindicate it's conservative character. The
trustees are to hold Office, when elected, for the
term of six years, and viii be re-eigble; 30 that
there s no danger on the score Of permanency, and
no objection on the ground that trustees newly
and with the interests Of the institution. The plan
Is simply this-that the alumni shall choose every
year from their own number electoral college, to
be taken out of at least twenty classes, with not
more than two delegates from any one class, who
shall choose trustees to fill the places of those whose
term OF service expires. If the picked sons Of the
College cannot be trusted with this duty, all repre-
back to the era Of seperpetuating governments for
all our ideas of civil -polity. Where would the
cause of learning, morals and religion be safe, If it
would not be secure in the guardianship of such
constituency, charged with the limited function Of
selecting trustees for the government of literary
institution, in whose welfare they feel deep in
terest2 The fact that the electoral college would
be composed Of graduates Of widely different ages,
experience Of life representing, too they would,
all the aspirations and all the wants of the active
minds in the community, is most fortunate fea-
Whatever dangers may possibly arise in practice
from the operation of such system-fort there Is no
perfect system of government possible among men
your committee can conceive Of none that will
outweigh the evils that pertain to the system of
self.perpetuating, irresponsible corporations.
With respect to the scheme of visitation proposed
1t is merely necessary to refer to the report Of the
subcommittee. The considerations in favor of this
mode of strengthening the hands of the professors
and keeping up relations Of intimacy between the
alumni and the college, are sufficiently stated.
Their arguments also, in favor Of an annual meet
ing the appointment Of an orator for the occasion,
cises Of the day, cover the subject.
The whole machinery is of the simplest character
and the organization just as effective for all useful
purposes as q more formal and methodized plan.
All the alumni will be invited to the annual meet
ing and will take part in the election of President
Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. This
meeting Will af1ord an opportunity for the transac-
ton Of any business that may be brought before the
alumni, and there would be . recognized authority
for calling meetings at other times. The Commit
tee Of Arrangements would select the orator of the
day, and make the necessary dispositions for the
social festival. The Committee of Visitation would
discharge the task assigned to them in the way
they should deem most efficient, and would be at
liberty to delegate to others, specially qualified the
duty Of attending examinations on particular sub
jecfs. -
Another committee would be required to carry
into effect the plan Of electing trustees If that
should meet the approval of the alumni, and they
should decide to take measures for it's accomplish.
ment It is not necessary to anticipate in this re-
port the endorsements which may attend the
effort to obtain an amendment of the charter of the
College. Believing, your committee do, that the
alterationpropose or some other equally ecacious
and reasonable plan for the same object would be Of
vital benefit to the institution, and may prove the
means Of preserving It from the danger Of more
violent and radical measures Of reform, they recon.
mend that committee be appointed TO take such
l. liz