Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-10-30

Institutions will fail, which would bo an event
to be deeply deplored by all lovers Of literary
culture.
The principle trouble Of men in this coun-
try is that they are not thoroughly educated.
In Europe, young men commence classical
and scientific studies at an early age, and
keep up these studies through their whole
course. This country, at the present time Of
her National trouble, has called for educated
and scientific men, aud he was sorry to say
they had been found wanting. Good and
faithful men had been found. but not thorough
ly educated men.
lie was greatly in favor Of an Agricultural
College, but he thought the best thing for
the State to be the union Of the Colleges, to
form one great Institution and he was will
ing to give up all his local attachments TO
etve the best interests Of Elucaton in the
State
We did not want union such as when
three pieces Of gold are united in one, or
three ways meet, but we want an organised
union. with one great head, which shall right
ly govern the whole He would DO willing
TO 10 anything, or resign anything, to accom-
plish this great object. 1t had been his prin-
cipal desire for long time.
He lid not think an Agricultural College
would be for the best interest Of the State, IL
it should be rival Of the Institutions which
our fathers have provided. The reason why
our Colleges had not succeeded better is, that
they have not received sufficient patronage
from the State. While the State of Massa-
chusetts had been constantly helping her own
Institutions OF Learning, little or nothing had
been done by this State for her Colleges. But
F IL the State now thought 1t )est to assist the
Colleges, together with an Agricultural Col
lege, it would be best to unite the Institu-
tions. There is no State in the Union with
out College; and he did not believe the
State Of Vermont would be willing to do
without Classical College.
I Let US strive to make this Agricultural
College, which has been endowed by the
United States, harmonize in every particular
with the old Colleges of the State.
President Labaree of Middlehury College,
being called upon, next addressed the meet
ing. lie was very deeply interested in the
educational interests of the state. He had
had en- eye single TO the upbuilding of one Of
our Institutions There was no subject more
dear to him than the one now presented to
this meeting.
He was satisfied that If we wished to help
the cause of Education in this state, we must
give NOR attention to the higher institutions.
The Common Schools and Academies are
very important, but he believed that the Col
lege' are equally so.
These institutions are an honor to the
state, even if they are poor and small. Mid
dlebury College had educated over a thous-
and young men, over seven hundred Of whom
were natives Of this state. Over four hun
dred and fifty had been Ministers. Over
thirty had gone to civilize the world as Mis-
slonaries sixteen had been Presidents Of
Colleges f; over fifty had been Professors 10
Colleges four have been Governors of Ver-
mont, and some have been Judges of the su-
prems Court of this and the United States.
1t has only received about $1,000 from the
state, or about one dollar and seventy-one
cents to each Vermont graduate. These items
show what small College has done.
1t would be strange if he should oppose an
Agricultural College, as he had been farmer
himself. He wished tho sons Of our Ver-
mont farmers to have the opportunity to re-
ceve a better education.
He thought collegiate course the very
best course for the development Of the intel
lect and the culture of the mind. We must
have the higher institutions, if we wished to
best serve the educational interests of the
state.
lie had been for long time in favor Of
the union of the Colleges and he was strong
ly in favor Of the first resolution but he was
not quite so much in favor of the addition of
an Agricultural College. If we unite our
other Colleges with the Agricultural College,
we shall embarass the classical department.
The law makes the Agricultural the prin-
cpal object of the College. If these differ