The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-08-27
Norwich University.

MR.. EDITOR II wish through your columni
to call the attention of the people OF this State
to the University of Norwich as an clement Of
strength in the State and lest | should be
charged with personal interest or educational
prejudice, would say, in the outset, that am
never was yet feel that the people of Yer
mont cannot afford to neglect this Institution
in the future as they have in the past For
years the martial feeling has been dying out in
New England. We have sneered ironically at
the g chiyalry,' and assigning everything
50 chiyalrous to the pre-Quixotic Quixotes,
OF the middle ages, we have tossed the books
containing their records on the upper shelf in
the library, among the things out of date and
requsition. We haze had too much expecta-
ton, and really too little faith that the time
was soon at hand when " swords and spears :"
should " prune and plough" But this time
has not come yet, and probably will not until
the Millennium. In this world the greatest
procurer, safeguard and perpetuator Of peace,
is the known ability of a nation to conquer it.
Necessary to this, in country like ours, is
well-educated and thoroughly disciplined Mill
tia, least one oNcercd from first to last with ed
uclted, practicalmen. The unfortunate, we had
almost said fatal, results of the want of such
men, need not DO mentioned to those who have
watched our country for the last three months.
Almost no State has such an opportunity for
raising up for itself a citizen soldiery, which
shall have all the power and efficiency off stand
ing army land yet every man Of which shall be
worthy and valued civilian and patriot as
Vermont. The means are within her borders,
everything ready at her hand.
hardly know how to speak of Norwich
University or in what terms to express it's
character or its deserts. For years it has been
struggling against an adverse public sentiment,
and with no funds has kept itself alive, quietly
and unostentatiously done its work, and sent
forth, from time to time, its men, who are do,
ing her work as teachers, engineers, civilians
andssmllltary men, with success and honor wher-
ever they are; and the Institution with it's
present prosperity and efficiency, is q monument
learned, energetic and devoted Faculty.. Il is
the pioneer of scientific schools in this Country. |
and In point OF fact, one Of the most thorough. |
II is not simply Military School, but this IS
simply one department, as the Classical or Nat
ural Sciences, i'll this or any other College, 1t
confers the degrees of B. S. or B. A., according
70 which course OF study the graduate has per-
sued Combining the Physical, Mental and
Practical better than any other Institution in
New England, it has, for years, been Offering
advantages alike to North and South, but pub
lc sentiment among us being opposed to mill
AIRY, combined with other departments of edu-
alton, we have failed to profit Eby it, but the
south has done it. Its own refused, and it z;
turned to the Gcntiles." For several years. {
t the request of citizens of Southern States.
ans OF the Institution have been sent to these
'tates, and Institutions have sprung up, chii- L
rem Of this University, which are now using s
nelr power against the Federal Government. f
nd against loyal Vermont. These plans have :,
cen sent to Virginia, Georgia, Mississpni.
ouM Carolina, Alabama, and several other d
tates South, while we at the the North have
burned the gift it has been urging upon our &C. q
'ptance. 6 My brethren, these things ought
OF so to be- o"' o
NOW what we wish is, that the State should a
somcfh1ng for this institution 1t does not e.
* that the State should place funds at its h
sposal' nor endow long list of Professor l.
Fps, nor establish multitude of State scbol- ~
shlps, nor indeed does it ask anything that OF
know Of ; but the State owes it to itself 10 CT
all itself of all its resources. Let it take its T.,
stltution by the hand, encourage it by its no. e.
e, and the people to its patronage. Let the 10
ate speak through its authoritative exponents lc
us favor: Let it appropriate enough money co
enable IL to lire few hundred rounds Of ar
u ana smell each year, and hire horses for its
"1'iy uuiile these drills Let it endow, per-
ps, one military Profcssorship, and show that ar
really takes an interest in an Institution tel
lch is able to repay it, in its beneficial results all
re than double Tor all it receives, and there 40
Il spring up at once, almost, citizen SOL w.
ry OF such intelligence and efficiency as the lie
ntry has not yet known. The period Of tri
:ac "a; e has passed The day of the glory Of ca
as, horns has departed. Other things besing ~.
al, Providence is, in these days on the side up
the best artillery and the most skillfu STRAIT. OF
'ts' Vermont has tho means and the mate frs
,, now give her the training. The spirit of Bile
Aliens and the Warmers is not vet dead ~ '''
; hearts heart; OF the Green Mountain Boys, God
the morning when their old hero dema1deJ cd
surrender of Ticonderoga Give them the lst'
nIng' g'ue them the training. Let Athens the
sparta unite in the Vernon, Character and l.
y yoter snail be hero, and every hero shall Oh OF,
helsea, Aug. 1861. arr