, 1869-01-01
DF. Lotd to nr. fucCormick.

| 4r- CJrus H Mc-crn!ek:
SIR: You have just given to The public q
letter concerning four obligations to the
lheological Seminary OF the Northwest. II
consists 10 largely Of views and statements
which relate to me personally, and which At
the same time so deeply affect, not only in
dlvidual honor, but also public truth and
virtue, That l feel constrained to Sc: forth
srcA counter views and statements as herein
foll.w:
In the month Of May. 1852, yau appeared
IN the General Assembly OF the Presbyterian
Church, then holdirg its annual sessions in
the city OF indianapolis, Ind. In that pres.
eEcc, and upon your own motion, you Uttered
to donate to the Presbyterian Theological
Seminary Of the Northwest the sun, Of sioj.
te>, OH these conditions, viz:
Ihat the Gcnerai Assembly IL accept and
tnkr charge Of said scmInar7 re- locat. It
IN inc city OF Chicago, or Eithlsl one unif a
half miles OF lis limits. and 81 Eo1d your do
nation US pcrpstual endowment to be used
| ships.
These were the sole conditions. In your
uond, executed subsequently to this ottsr II
IS further. and properly. provided, ttut It at
any time the seminary shall ccnse to be an
.nst'tr!ion ipr the training Of students for
= - n
one hundred thousand dollars shall revert "a
you or your heirs.
This otcr was felt to be generous. II
seemed 10 Indicate not only la1gc means. hut
also lnrge ideas. Men we're conscious of an
impulse to place you among public beae!ac-
tors. Tue tseneEal Assembly ACCENTED H..
odcr; EXPRESSED to yon its cordial tbanIs
and took immediate measures to c,rrr yonr
| propositions INTO effect. What followed in
the progress or the matter, aud 20 far a. is
important to my present purpose, viii ure.
sent n the following extracts from papcr
WHICH bears your name and seal. viz
Whereas, the SAID Genertl Assembly s.5 -.
eert The said oac. OF the sa.d Cyrus u, Ii scor.
Eiek: ahd 10 eotslderaston thereof aud o:har
she location oil The sa!d seminary within ths sstd
Limits amt city OF Chicago: sid
!" he1eae; TIC ssia Beard Of Dtsec.sss Of said
consideration Of s11d conls1cc bT ssid Sr;;nr.
E1ses, and actstt the same A. m endowment luud
LOT u ryotes:o:ssias established IN sAt semi.
nafy by the *aid General Assem- By
'Sow, therefore, IA eoc.idcsa:3ao OF thu .c
ecpsaEtc and taking charge OF sa1d TheoIorfr,l
Seminary = y :hs ssld senes.i Assembly AID he
big ard Rotrd ct 1.ireetora af EsId .t,olrsrT. at
ths pliss s afosesa!d and -
lhe General Assembly Of the OH Scsp5I P:esoMT- ~
ttan Chnreh ot tie { It:ed States Of Ame,,cs or
s.id sum q ete h:nl1sd tho1sscd dollars, as IN
cEtoWottt fc1d exclusively Ut tac pro st tsnr.hfns
in eatd g. m'ntEy. as aforesatt:
~, the said Tyres L. AcCa.m,ck, OF ,he r,.v
do hereby tons:e The sam: accosssa:iy: sna asm
therefore: teld and f.my b1unc uEto tLs Trustees
q tse *std Psrs b5tcstaa theological SEMINARY oi
a. Il. r.aid. and by there p.cesa,s promise arT4e
ID btsn nJssA, ~ setr.. cxrcatots. sd ainial1s-
TT md sss'gs.. so psE TO he sad Trustees ana
2ozrtsta. tho s9ua OF oac huaarcd taop:aa do,.
l9t IN four e1lal sn1oAl Indictments, tho af1t Of
Mh;cs ,sn payae'e O. the 1t.a day Of sep.emoe.,
t:atmtnta. or t.;cez o: them, before ss,a daqs
hls. heiss, ss,easots saataist.sfo1s T o. ssasre.
pei 9sas Psl aala@ o. sseh r. in,ts!7sa," 7sa5
pnrt the General Assembly. f:om that daY
TO this, has performed Its engagements II |
letter and spirit. On yow part there has |
been, for some reason, failure. at tue end |
Of ntnc yrars yorr hond Is not paid and moi |
Ac PRESS, aad over Four own signature ron
propose to rrpuuiate - much Of sour obli-
gntitn IS remains unfu!dlied.
SO grave al act, ~ it respects both Law and
morals, ought to hare clear and insinclb:e
1,; reasons; ,; They should. At least, b. such as
then must be the surprise Of all thoughtful
and candid nen when they read your letter.
fou plead. and you can plead. no violation or
even neglect Of compact on the part Of the
General Assembly. That venerable body has
done Its whole duty. Your oaly arowed RIA.
sons for dlshouosinc your bond arc your per-
scpal feelings toward myself and IN alleged
pirate conversation With th. Hon. j. L.
Williams, neither OF which things y3n must
know eau atlec; in the slightest degree four
legal or yeur moral responsibility. "Mr.
" illiamsr ~ aud DR.. Lord = were not among
your condition.. They are not in your bond
It is not my Office to consider the Legal
quality and force Of your act. This dnty be-
longs 10 the responsible guardians OF The
'emnary. You have seen ht, however, ia
L sIa:..ss p.sisA.s -oT s.1c4 i es:u., t. ar