, 1859-07-26

OQ1OAO
Law department OF the Untverslty of
ChicaEos
R1port Of Tx Committee on tie Ld,c D<part-
n4ent Of ths Gnirtrsitv Of Clicdyo, su5nitttd
to a mating cf tie Board Of 9rust<et, July
GOA, 1859.
Your Committee 10 whom was referred the
subject Of the oEEan!zntion Of the Law School
under the Charter Of the University, respect
fully beg leave to submit the following
REPORT.
That the Board Of Couusellors selected. and
appointed of the legal profession in Chicago, by
the Board Of Trustees Of this Institution IN
April last, with a riew to The thorough and
more perfect organization Of Law Scbooh and
the opening thereof 1t as early day as practi
cable, hare 20 far succeeded in maturing the
rery important details Of this much needed en-
terprizs entrusted to their management. that
the opening of said Schf 0. las been 61ed IL
take place On the third Wednesday Of Septem-
ber next, being the 41st day Of that month.
4 circular has been prepared andis now ready
for publication, which is 70 be issued in pampl-
distributed. by means Of which the profession
and the public will be pat in possession Of all
particulars in regard 10 the opening Of the
School, the modes Of instruction, the number
and length OF terms. tuition fees, names Of Pro-
ftsso5s and object to be accomplished by the
foundation of this School.
For the purpose Of putting this Board il
possession 0f the means provided, and the ef-
forts made to put this Department Of tie Col
1fga upon a footing equal. If not superior to
that Of any University or Inv School ever in
ausnrated iu this country, your Committee beg
ssHs + ssass aer til. appointment of the
ofCounsetlors, and entrusted by this Board With
the very responsible charge Of initiating under
the proper auspices. m educational department
Of so much Importance TO the Northwest, as
the Law School Of tue Universlto Of Chicago,
organized their first meeting at tie Office Of
IIoyne. Miller Lewis, in Chicago, on the l1th
day Of April, ls'v. by calling the Hon. Thomas
DfumM0nd, the United States District Judge,
to the chair, and tho appointment Of Ezra u.
McCass;, Esq, Us Secretary.
There were also present at that first meeting,
the Hon. Hugh 7. Dickey, Mark Skinner.
Thomas Drumnond, Ezra II. NcCuGGg, Grant
Goodrich, Il. G. Miller. and Thomas Hoyne, be-
sides Rev. J. C. Burroughs, William Jouce,
Esq. nnd Hon. J. Il. Woodwork, Of the Board
Of Trustees.
After very full and earnest discussion Of all
the topics connected with the subject, during
which tue most decided interest vas manifested
and tue most confident prediction Of success
expressed by atl present, it was resolved that
committee consisting Of Hon. II. T. Dickey. Ezra
d. McCagg aud Thomas Hoyns, be appointed to
secure US the first step 10 . permanent organi-
charge Of The proposed Law School Us principal
Instructor, and make such further arrangements
as they should deem necessary to inauguEate
the same, with power 10 call meetings 0f the
Noard Of Counsellors whenever they Should
deem it necessary.
E-r a.: - 1,~&f &f.*e
miltec. aud which upon reflection came 10 be
regarded Us an indispensable pre- requisite to
inviting competent legal professor {o abandon
prospects elsewhere uaturcd; perhap- leave 3
remuneratire practice in fields long husbanded.
aud lay aside hopes identified will long career
Of usefulness, that some guarantee Should be
offered as pledge Of their own confidence, that.
in making 20 important d change. he should not
be exposed 10 tie risk, Of total failure in un-
dertaking SO important IN enterprise upon an
untried aud nnexplored fed without at least an
indemnity for the loss Of his time while engaged
in making the experiment.. as guarantee,
therefore, Of the confidence felt by the Profess
sion in Chicago, rs well as to secure Proses-
sor, MI instrument Of guarantee was drawn up,
b. which it was proposed that fifteen hundred
dollars per annum for two years should be paid
to such Professor ln any. erent, prosided thas
the inco.ne derived froM the fees Of students did
not make up such sum; besides which, be was
III
fund, thus securing rim for two years satary
Of about e. 900 per anuum. To obtain the me-
cessary and responsible signatures to this guar
antee would, it was thought, he difficult, while
it might provo the yery "crisis" thut would Sc
cure or defeat the success Of The enterprise.
but your Committee desire in this report to
hare it recorded among the arcllises Of the
College, rs we'll to attest the enlightened public
spirit Of tic Chicago Bar us their favorable
opinion OF the School, that twenty nine gentle
men Of the profession ut once came forward aud
subscriGTd instead Of the 81 500 required. the
: sum Of e 300 per 4nnntn on the guarantee for
two years, which will reduce the subscription Of
each subscriber to about tifty.per cent, Of the
amount subscribed in order 10 realize tho sum
Of fifteen hundred dollars
The guarantee being thus placed beyond
contingency, the names Of seEeral distinguished
and eminent jurists we're presented in connec-
ton with the profcssorshiP. The Committee,
however, fonnd the difficulty Of selection to
consist in the fact, that Of those whom they
thought Of aelecting on account oi their greater
fitness anu capacity, nearly I'll had future Of
hopes already secured, which thry would not
abandon, while Of those willing to accept. the
very failure Of SUCH hopcsa at al A4traaced period
Of human life, seemed a dlscouraElng Fcason
against the acceptance Of their services.
The Committee determined their line If ac-
ton by conclusions derived from their own
experience. Success in most undertakings is
found in no degree to solely depend upon great
reputation, however popular, 'Teil nerltcsi or
talents or great experience. takcn singty or in
combination. There must, in all cases. be Ger
tain happ$ coincidences of fortune indicating
tie fitness of the person aud the concurrence Of
his qualifications with the time, place and or-
porsunisy Of any great success. That as much
depends upon the Pecullat adaptation Of the H.
structor tn the cxlgeuces OF an occasion, and
his qualifications for the place as upon any
other consideration Of eminence or reputation
attained. but that, more especially, should en-
esgy and zeal be united with personal ambition
and enthusiasm in working Uut that complete
success, which is, at all times, the prize that
stimulates md secures it among NIL the true sons
Of toll Or tue fields Of professional labor If tho
Comu,irtec.i is found attaching more Importance
10 this arsanal subject than seems called for, it
Is sbecanso they feel impressed BY the conviction
hat in Chicago. from its very commanding po-
-ition as the Northwestern metropolis, the e..
1ublishmcnt Of Law School can on1y fail be.
cause Of the injudictons selection Of principal
instructor. Tie Committee, dcte rtnined, there
fore, that nothing should be overlooked, ca1cu.
lated to secure q proper selection, delegated
such thorough course Of inquiry as might re-
lieye their minds from all doubt. The schools
were visited, and many valuable suggestions
tee acknowledge their obligations to the Profes-
>ors Of the Cambridge and Columbia College
Law Schools for many kiuduesscs extended TO-
wards them in aid Of their undertaking.
Alter careful exercise Of the discretion with
which this Board .cs,cd the Legal fCouusellors
in the Selection Of proper persons, upon whom
should devolvc the inisiatorT work to be per:
formed in opening the school, the Comm.ttce
has fixed upon Professor Henry Dooth-recent-
| iy Of the State and Nationa! Law School of the
| State Of New York-as the principal and head
| Of the school. with whom they recommend to be
associated Hon. John II. Wilson mud Hon.
Grant Good ich, Judges of the Superior Court
Of Chicago, who hare kindly. consented 10 aid
him in tie work Of instruction, until such time
as the progress aud success OF the school mas
warrant the employ ment Of permanent profes.
sors. to constitute full Law Faculty Of three
Professors for this Department.
! With regard to Judges John ~ Wilson aud
Grant Goodrich, your Committee deem it en-
tirelJ unnecessary to say anything. because
their regulations ~ accomplished, able and
learned jurists is TOO well established in the
State, and SO well known throughout the North
xest, th4t the bare mention Of their names d
the best comn,endasion upon the selection which
has been made.
In regard to Professor Henry Booth, the
Committee are more md more assured from
every circumstance connected with that select.
ton, that they hare been most fortunate in