Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-09-15
The state University and the Union
of the Colleges.

ing way for uniting the colleges of the
State with, or merging them in, this
university, has bearings and relations
that cannot be too attentiyely consid-
cred. We do not believe that the friends
of education throughout the State are
by any means thorou Shly yae to the
Importance of the scheme embodied In
tnal act. If we understand 1t, the post
ponement of the time of its going into
effect, from August to November, was
meant to give opportunity for the peo-
pie to think about it, and to modify 1t If
thought best, through the next Legisla-
ture, We have few thoughts pertain
ing to this question which we wish to
bring to the attention of your readers.
The trainers Of the State University
act assume two things that it is desir-
able to unite the colleges of the State
so that there shall be but one, and that
this one college should be connected
with State institution that shall en-
brace, besides the college, various other
departments, military, agricultural and
scientific.
l. That one college is enough for the
State Of Vermont is pretty generally be-
lieved and admitted. If the three col
leges or at least the two in this part of
the State could be united so as to form
one that should be like them in charac-
ter and operation, we would say, let it
be done. That is Just what was seri-
ously attempted in 1S47, and which
failed of success, as we suppose, for rea-
sons which are just as good now as they
were then. What these reasons are
your readers can ascertain by referring
to the action of the trustees of the Uni
versity of Vermont, as quoted in the
late pamphlet of Mr.. Adams, Secretary
of the Board of Education. These rea-
sons, it should be remembered, were such
as influenced the trustees of the Uniyer-
sity alone, and led them to abandon ne
gotta tion while the trustees of Middle
bury college were still ready, for aught
that appears, to continue these negotia-
tons. We wish all who are interested
in this question were acquainted with
the history of that notable attempt TO
unite the colleges. 1t has an important
bearing upon the plan that has been de-
vised by the Legislature. Whether any
satisfactory union Of these two colleges
can be effected or not, is question that
we do not attempt to decide. But it
does seem to us that if it cannot be &C
complished by an open and fair negotia-
ton between the trustees of the two in
stitutions, 1t cannot be done by outside
forcing processes. Is it probable that
any legislative committee will prove it.
self so much wiser than the trustees of
these two institutions that they could
devise a plan of union that would be
just and satisfactory to all concerned,
while these trustees could not 2 II the
colleges can be united by their own free
action, let it be done by all means. But
if not, it will be vain to attempt to CON-
pei them to unite.
2. But, by whatever means, suppose
these colleges united, Cor one eItin-
gushed, SO that there shall be but one
which we concede is exceedingly desira-
ble-then comes up an entirely different
question Is it desirable that this col
lege should be merged in State Uni
versity, embracing a variety of depart
ments, besides the collegiate, viz: agri-
cultural, scientific, military, &C., &c.
1t is this feature Of the plan devised by
our Legislature to which we find insu-
perable objections. We acknowledge
that there is something quite taking in
the plan as expounded by the Governor
In his message to the last Legislature,
and in the discourses of our Secretary
of the Board of Education. 1t does APP
pear, at the first glance as if it would
be fine thing to build up great uni
versity in the State, and have every
thing brought into it, and then have
this under the immediate care of the
State. But not few of the best judges
in educational matters are decidedly
convinced that the project is not wise.
They think it would be better for the
college, and better for the scientific and
agricultural schools, not to have them
connected in the way proposed. The
history Of similar institutions in our
country confirms this opinion.
Those colleges flourish best, and &C
complish their true object best, that are
hampered by no outside departments.
President Hopkins of Williams College,
one of the wisest educators in the land
as is reported, told the alumni of that
college at its last commencement, that
he thought it much better to make
their institution good college than to
try to make university of it, and spoke
deprecatingly of the disposition that
was manifested by some to incumber
Williams College with extra scientific
departments. Those who are acquaint-
ed with the interior of Dartmouth Col
lege assure us that the Chandler Scien-