Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-05-20

called "the Father of his Country"
[The above is an extract from Rev. c.
T.. Lords lecture, 1.-TWO Weeks in Wash-
ington."
TIE VERMONT REFORM School
REsIGYATIoS OF SUIT. PEAsE.-We re-
I. gret to learn Of the resignation Of Rev.
Aaron g. Pease, Superintendent Of the
State Reform School at Waterbury. We
give below statement Of the case as
given in an article in the Burlington Free
Press Of Thur-day. We fully agree with
Mr. Benedict in his criticism Of the con-
duct Of subOrdinates in maligning Mr..
Pease, and that the Trustees should de-
mand tine resignation or make removal
of them at once, and that the resignation
cepted until new men shall have been
fully installed and in working order. The
loss of Mr.. Pease is serious one 10 the
school, and whatever may have been his
defects in some particulars, bis knowledge
Of the work and his enthusiasm in the
cause cannot be supplied by any new man,
however competent he may be 10 dis
charge the routine duties. This move
ment of the enemies of the school in
their malicious attacks upon Mr.. Peass,
until he became determined that be would
not longer be placed in position 10 be
thus assailed, and has rendered his resig-
L r sl
school, if not prove its failure ultimately.
No friends of any institution of reform
atory character can fill the place of its
projectors, who have had its upbuilding
and prosperity at heart. We prophecy
that not year will pass before any new
officer that may be appointed viii be at
tackled in the same manner, and the enc
mics of the institution demanding a re-
form again, and thus the tampering Of its
enemies will prove it, downfall. We
write feelingly on this subject, a. we have
occasion TO know of the movements Of the
enemies, even from the first day Of its
opening. The suggestions of the Free
Pres. On this subject are eminently
worthy the confederation Of the Trustees
Of the institution.
Rev. A. q. Pesse, Superintendent of
the Reform School, has sent in 10 the
Trustees of that institution his uncondi-
tional resignation of the Office Of Super
intendent 70 take effect in thirty days
This action on his part will surprise NO
one who has been cogbizant of the facts
in reference 20 Mr. Pea-e'- position. lie
could not, with self-respect, retain a post
which subjected him 10 HcurrilDus per-
sonal attacks, such as that recently allud-
cd 10 by us az appearing in the Montpe-
lier Argus, and to wore annoyance- with
in the school, from spying and malignant
subordinate, sustained, not ia their at
tscks on Mr.. Peace. bus In their positions
in the school aud on the school farm, by
the Trustee. while IL mu-t b. great
relief to Mr. P.ass personally - abandon
field 81 labor 80 trying, thaDkls-s aud
poorly paid, We cannot bat regard bis de-
parture from IL a. "a serious lO-s 90 the
school. Mr. Pease, then member Of
the Legislature. drew the bill for the
Reform School. and carried IL through, 30
measure Of public phIiAnthrophy and
duty. and, a. We believe. with no thought
that be would or could he connected with
it. lie gave unweari.d labor aud time
10 the formation of the plan, the orgaBi-
zation of the school. and the fitting up ~
the buildings for it, use. lie ba- super
intended IL with fsitbfulness, good
Judgment and devotion. which money
alone could not have secured, aud which
money cannot repay, and with very
marked degree of success. Not strong
man physically, he has made has interest
in the enterprise, and energy of Will sup
ply his lack of bodily strength snd be
can leave his position with the conscious
ness that be has been instrumental in
saving a number Of boys from utter ruin,
and with the assurance that the State
cannot and will not hereafter fail Ia sus-
tain a school of Reform for juvenile off-n-
ders against her laws His success would
doubtless have been still greater had he
had the corporation of willing and faith
full assistants throughout, instead of being
hampered by unfriendly and malicious
in two or three important
positions.
The petty war on Mr.. Pease, ioriginat
ing We believe, with the manager of the
school farm,) commenced months before
the actual opening Of the school, and Of
course before he had any opportunity TO
demonstrate his fitness or unfiiness
for the cnarSe OF tne ecnOoi. ana
it has continued till the present time
with the final result of depriying the
school Of the services of most faithful
and deserving Superintendent In our
humble opinion, and speaking as friend
of the school, in which we have always
felt q deep interest, the Trustees will now
advance the best inteaests of the school,
BY making clean sweep of the as
sistants referred 10. They should
eaye before Mr.. Pea-e does, that he may
have the opportunity to initiate their sue
,essors in the duti - Of their places His
,wn place will, we fear, be much harder 10
Iupply; nsr cantany man OF character, be
ound 10 long retain the place, unless he
8 made master of the snbordinste-. 1t
8 no little responsibility 10 take charge
# an institution like the Reform School,
md no man who is fit for il, without the
,ower to secure congenial assistants. The
need not relax their own super
,ision and ultimate control a particle, but
hey should give TO the Superintendent,
% be who he may, the practical power
4 removal of unsuitable assistants; and
Without such an arrsng sment, there can
. little hope of harmonious and efi-
lent administration of the school