Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-10-16
local jealousies, and in this way secure
the benefits of the act

LhClO arc hO" III tnC btal6 TWO collie
ges and one military school, each of
them established under the authority Of
the state Legislature, with certain powers
and privileges, and each having been
made the benefciaries, to greater or less
extent, Of gifts, requests and endowments.
and yet, so far as my knowledge extends,
neither of them is fully self-sustainiug,
and although they all rank high as semi.
naries of learning, and have accomplish
ed good work in the cause of education.
numbering among their alumni many Of
the noblest minds of the country, Of
whom the state and the institutions NAV
we'll be proud, yet, in financial resource,
they have not that healthful vigor and
strength necessary to full and proper
development, and without which it is,
and ever must be, impossible to realize
the true idea OF their creation.
If q plan could be devised, by which
the several institutions could be com.
binod into one, uniting the strength and
resources Of all, and adding to this the
departments contemplated by the act of
Congress, and securing thereby the funds
to be received from the grant of lands,
then, indeed, might be realized the true
idea of a University for the State, an in.
stitution which would justly be the pride
of the State, and which, without being
its beneficiary, would yet receive its lib
.eral countenance and its patronage. For
such an institution, in all its various de-
.partments, the best talent of the country
could be secured, and a rank and charac-
ter given to it that few institutions now
enjoy.
/ am by no means unmindful of tho
difficulties that lie at the threshold OF
such an euterprize. There are local
questions and jealonsies to overcome, all
the feelings which SO strongly attach to
Alma Mater, and q variety of difficult
ties, that will naturally occur to the
minds of all. Still, are not the benefits
to be derived from a combination of these
several institutions, and the establish
ment Of one, on the basis which / have
suggested, sufficient to override all these
objections aud difficulties. VIII not the
new impulses to be given to the cause Of
education and the facilities to be afforded
to the industrial classes in the State,
through the agency Of well organized
institution of this kind, be sufficient ms
ducement to overcome local prejudces
and feelings and other minor dificulties
that may stand 10 the way.
There is another feature connected
with this subject, which may not be un--
worthy of consideration.
BY the act of last fall, the Treasurer
is authorized ''to invest the proceeds Of
the sales Of the land scrip in some safe
Stoke, yielding not less than Eve per
cent. per annum;" and the act Of Con-
gress authorizes tie investment in United
States stocks, or in State stocks. The
amount to be realized from tho sales Of
Ibis scrip, as has already been stated,
will vary according TO circumstances,
but it is not unreasonable to hope that il
may reach the highest figures named.
The present funded debt of the State,
as now authorized, bearing six per cent
per aunum, is one million six hundred
and City thousand dollars.
May not portion Of this debt be per-
merged in this land-scrip fund,
and thus the State be benefited to that
extent, in a permanent investment, tho
of which shall be paid to her
1wn institution, and for the benefit of q
,ause, SO commendable as that Of the ed
1cational growth and prosperity Of her
own citizens.
Whether any action is required at the
present session of the Legislature in
'eference to this subject, is left entirely
or you to determine. The suggestions
which have occurred to me ! have given
merely for your consideration, and no! as
oeking to direct your action. If the at
empt to unite the several institutions
hould be deemed advisable, and it
hould be found practicable to do so,
ONE legislation will doubtless be requig-
ID, as the charters creating them do not'
think, contemplate any such union'
Whether il may be advisable or not to
,ass an enabling act, at the present SEES
ion, to provide for such an event, if the
,ublc and the patrons and friends of the
Institutions should desire it, or whether
may not be sufficient to refer the whole
ubiect to a Board of Commissioners, to
INQUIRE into and report at future time,
re questions for you to determine. 1t
viii give me great pleasure to conform
D, and to aid any course of action which