The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-08-07
Dartmouth College.

Dartmouth College.
The Trustees of Dartmouth College have pub
lished statement relative to the resignation Of
President Lord From this document it ap-
pears that at meeting of the Trustees, on the
23d of July, certain proceedings OF tine Merrmac
County Conference of Congregational Churches
in June were brought before the board for their
consideration. They consisted of series of reso-
lutions and report thereon by committee. The
resolutions declare that it is the DUTY of the Trus
tees of Dartmouth College, in view of the preju-
dice existing against its President on account of
his avowed peculiar sentiments on the war, to in
qure II the interests of the college do not demand
change in its presidency. These resolutions
were referred 10 committee of the conference
who reported that 1t was not expedent to present
the resolutions to the trustees, but recommended
that they be printed for circulation. The resolu-
tons therefore appear to have been brought to
the notice of the Trustees indirectly. They
adopted series of resolutions declaring that Dart
mouth College sympathizes heartily with the
Government in its efforts to put down the rebellion,
and rejoces to do honor to the many sons of Dart
mouth who nave engaged in the war. Also hail
ing with JOY the prospective destruction of slavery,
and appealing to the churches of New England
to stand by the college. Upon the adoption of
these resolutions DIR. Lord resigned his position,
both as President and one of the Trustees of the
College.
The following is President Lords letter of res
ignation
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE, July "a, 1868.
To the Trustees Of Dartmouth College:
In making this communication to the Hon. and
ID ..l..1
fully to protest against their right to impose any
religious, ethical or political test upon any men,
Der of their own body, or of the College Faculty,
beyond what is recognized by the Charter of the
Institution, express statutes or sipulatons con-
formed to that instrument, however urged or
suggested by individuals or public bodies assu-
ming to be as visitors Of the College or advisers
of the Trustees.
The action of the Trustees on certain resolu-
tons of the Merrimack County Conference of
Churches virtually imposes such test inasmuch
as it implicitly represents and censures me as
having beco me injurious to the College, not on
account of any official malfeasance or delinquency,
for, on the contrary, its concentrations of my
personal and official character and conduct, du-
ring my long term of service, far exceed my mer-
its but for my opinions and publications on
supposed to bear unavorably upon one branch CT
the policy pursued by the present administration
OF the government Of the country. J.
For my opinions and expressions of opinion on
such subjects, hold myself responsible only to
as they are not touched by the Char
ter of the College, or any express statute or stip-
ulations. And while my answering and never
nor ticon 1ty tn he 49, {otb
proved and tested by more then seventy years of
cannot be permanently discredted by the excited
passion of the hour, do not feel at liberty, when
its exercise is called in question, to resign my
erty, in this respect, nor submit to any censure,
in the aforesaid action of the Board, which action
is made more impressive upon me in view Of the
private communications of several OF its members.
But, not choosing to place myself in any unkind
relations to body having the responsible guard
ianship of the College, body from which
have received so many tokens of confidence and
regard, and believing it to be inconsistent with
Christian charity and propriety to carry on my
administration while holding and expressing opin-
ions injurious, and offensive to that party in the
country which they here professedly represent,
hereby resign my office as President. also re-
sign my Office as Trustee. ..
In taking leave of the College, with which l
have been connected as Trustee, or President,
more than forty years, very happily to myself and,
as the Trustees have often given me to under
stand, not without benefit to the College, beg
to assure them that shall ever entertain a CRATE
|ul sense of the favorable consideration shown to
me by themselves and their predecessors in office,
lnr L. I LII