Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-09-01

s We take the following-headed Norwich
y University-fom the Vermont Chronicle Of
a this week
d 1.-The New York Tribune has two letters Civ
d ing very particular account Of Norwich Uni
versity and Of the late Commencement exercises
Among other things, it is stated that the Trus-
> tees Of the Institution have decided to retrace
their steps in regard to a union ofthe University
with the Agricultural College, and in future to
have nothing to do with such union-but to go
v on as heretofore. They also resolved to establish
: two professorships, to be called the Partridge
and the Ransom Professorships
The Alumni are represented as being decided
D ly opposed TO the union Of the University with
the Agricultural College. and that 50 900 was
: subscribed on the spot to aid the funds Of the
Institution.
The giving up Of the plan Of union will be
disappointment to many Of the good people in
Norwich and in this county, as il was hoped by
many that with the aid Of the University the
Agricultural College might be brought in the
county a considerable sum has been pledged
on condition Of such a result twenty thousand
dollars had been subscribed in the town Of Nor
wich. An effort to transfer this subscription to
the University as At present conducted, is said
to have entirely failed. Some have still hope
u
ricutursl Institution
We know not whether in every particular
the foregoing statement is, or is not exact, but
we have no reason to doubt its substantial
correctness, and it invites few remarks.
]. Ii appears that the Alumni of Nor wieh
University, as body, areoppOsed to any sur
render OF the name. chartered rights and
privileges of that Institution to the Agricul-
tural College, incorporated by our Legisla-
ture at its last session. In this, they have
done no more than was to be expected of
them. They feel about such proposition
as the Alumni of Middlebury College, and
the Alumni Of the Uniyerity of ermont
ielt about a like proposition for those insti-
tutiOns respectively, and just as the Alumni
of any College which has acquired a charac- |
ter and status among the New England Col
| leges would feel in regard to like propO- |
siiion for their Alma Mater. The feeling lie |
just and honorable one.
2. Apparently the Trustees of Norwich
University were satisfied that TO disregard /
the sentiment Of the Alumni considerably ex-
pressed on this subject, could not be treated
as a matter of trIaIng importance, and herein
they showed their good sense. To thorough
ly aliena.e the attachment Of their own Al
umni-espedally Of their Alumni who have
arrived at mature age-ensures for any In-
stitution an immense loss Of interest and
support. for which there can be no compen-
satiou. A temporary lack Of interest or
feeling Of dissatisfaction with their Alma
Mater. for some real or imaginary defect
not Of a permanent character, may arise,
but that feeling disappears with its cause,
and then the old interest reviyes IN full force.
To ury the Institution In another would
kill it forever. Thoy-the eAlumni-would say
at once that they now bad no Alma Mater,
and a lasting hostility would be felt by them
towards whatever institution had been used
to destroy her, and towards all who had been
concerned 10 the work.
8. The Willingness Of the Alumni of
Norwich University to render aid to their
Alma Mater, was natural and proper. The
Alumni Of Middlebury College have shown
n like spirit in view of the decision Of its
corporation to maintain the Institution on
its established basis So too as 70 the Al
umni of the University of Vermont. As soon
as the action Of the Legislature at Its last
session put an end to the complication-(One
which the Legislature itself had invited)-
in which the University was involved with
the proposition to unite the Colleges Of the
State. they showed at once readiness to
subscribe literally to relieve its embarrass-
ments and TO enlarge Its usefulness. A sub
scription OF S25 600 for special and desir-
able object was Immediately opened and
nearly filed at once by few Of the
older graduates. The universal sentiment
of the Alumni at their meeting few daysago, (
was in favor of giving a large and generous
aid upon the Corporation's taking prompt
and decided stand for the preservation OF the
Institution intact as TO its name and char
tered powers and privileges, and for the ad-
option Of such measures as were obviously
necessary for its support and growth. The
sentiment OF the Alumni was decided that
if the Legislature should see it to attach to
it the fund derived from the act Of Congress,
under any suitable condition for its faithful
appropriation. it would be eminently proper
for the charge OF it to be assumed by the
University but to change the name or char
tered powers and privileges Of the Universi-
ty In order to acquire it, would be lamen-
table and destructive mistake in every re-
spect and breach OF trust on the part OF
the corporation, if they were to become
party to it. 4
4. As to the remark quoted above, that
"some have still hope for union Of Burling-
ton, Norwich, and the Agricultural lnstitu-
tion'-that is for union Of the University !
of Vermont, Norwich University, and the
Institution Incorporated last season under
the name of the Agricultural College, we !
are aware Of no grounds for such hope.
From all present appearances the oct Of
Incorporation last referred 70 will expire BY
It's own Limitation on the 18th Of November
next. and the Legislature will have to take I
some new action about the use to be made Of
the fund derived from the act Of Congress.
We regard the act Of last year as great
mistake on the part of the Legislature. IL
was passed, as too many acts arc, in the
hurry and confusion Of the day Of the
session, with very little discussion as to the
details Of the act and az to what would be
done under it. If is we're ts 60 into effect. Il
is ssIleondtionalss yet. Iswas paced too. un-