New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-03-12
.he;, vo.ss On tb. Chemical Pfofessorship the


Trustees az a Bosrd, violated their charter and
the Constitution, the Committee reply IN me
negative. sipce there Va, no oi,ia' action OF che
Roar5 .unh a. the passing Of an ordis snce or res
oution expressing OF defining the MOTIVE Tor re
;ecting the unsuccessful candidate. But on the
question whether the majority of the niivAdaal
T,u,tes voted TO rejec; hin for theological
reasons only, the reply 10 10 the affirmative
lat point having been established BY the eVi.
deuce before the Con uittee However, II ap-
pear. that tbs does not literally constitute
& violation OF the charter or of the law, be-
c.u,e the Board can only be held Tesponsols
for its acts as Board, add no. for the mo-
tiyes Of iu members by which such acts are de-
teruined. This il nice distinction. but we be-
ljeye il is justly taken TIE Trustees have not
Gore wTopg technicsIly-thas is all.
The nost bumilistiDg feature of tbs case, as
revealed in the Report ia the ulosal cowardiceand
want Of candor exhibited by many members Of the
Bosro. These reverend aud respected gentlemen,
Doctors of Divinity AID of Law. or otnerHiss
high in the public regard, who bitterly opposed
and rejected the candidate for this Professorsaip,
CT grouuds of religious opinioa alone aod who
dill bot hesitate to s,y 80 publicly as veil as pri-
v,tely-tbrough the columns Of their organ, Tss
Chu,ehman, or ia conversation with friends or
oppOIents-yet feared 10 admit the fact before the
legislative Committee. When INTERCEPTED on
that point they thought it more prudent To evade
the question or 10 decline answering altogether
THUS. sc ssy, they put Themselves IN au unmany
and iuulating attitude, and virtually confessed
that the re was no publication for their course.
To the man who, from sense of right acts 10
oppO,irlon to the feelings or convictions of bis
pelebbors, and Who openly ayows it on all proper
occasions. it ia impossible to refuse our respect.
But when such al act being questioned by the
appropriate authority, is covered by slen " or
evasion respect is no longer possible. Ii m Do
q fit thing to N AXE agreement in tbeologic dogns
the test of capacity TO expound chenic Al s~s in
public school, but il is an uDmanly tnlaE to seek
to conceal it afttrgard. True conviction and
genuine sense of duty do not hide their deeds
in Obscurty, or elude question by means OF
technical and verbal subtetes.
It'll established by the Report that while the
u
spiri, has been violated. Columbia College stands
before the world convicted OF hay ng outraged the
principle Of religious freedom, Of having eVaded
the law, and Ignored its own honorable obligations
toward the State, to which il is indebted for half
million of dollars of its present endowment.
This il TIE position occupied to day by this Oldest
and richest of our literary institutions. Teach
ing high ethical principles to its pupils its Board
of TIusteesset an example of jesultical casustry;
among liberal people, who more and more look
at taient and character as the best evidence
Of fitness for sl public stations, they make dog
matte conformity the test of scientific teaching;
and with an opportunity to place the College on
level with the requirements Of the community,
and high in the public affections, they have buried
it, with themselves, under the general distrust
and disesteem. The Senatorial Report seems to
admit that there is no remedy in Legislatiou; 80
much the more need that public opinion an(isthe
public press should do justice in the case.