Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-03-15

NuhlHtltl-p W. Mtiou lNthi lou
hon. Frederick Killings Wogdsioct, ~:
DEAR Sn.-Allow me to say that am exceed
ingly surprised at the course you have pursued 10
publishing your reply % my letter, soliciting fund.
for the endowment Of professorship in Norwich
University; and think il particularly ungenor-
Gus to take advantage Of this opportunity, in the
manner you have to throw your influence against
the enterprise for which solicited your interest
and aid That you should also bring my name
into public print without my knowledge or con
sent il an act Of discourtesy, that was not pre-
pared to expect IN thus openly opposing the en-
terprise by causing the publication Of your letter
it appears to have been your purpose to give a
thrust at the undertaking. which should il pos
sible, prove fatal to its success
Such a spirit is quite in contrast with the kind
wishes expressed in very polite letter received
from one Of the most distinguished gentlemen Of
Vermont lin reply to a solicitation for aid in tho
endowment, in which he closed by wishing the
good ladies Of Mortified abundant success in then
noble undertaking" Other responses have ais
come so cheerfully, with pledges and thanks foi
having the opportunity to aid in this work, that It
is quite encouraging after the douche " Of cold
water thrown by you
Permit me TO ask, II it can be your settled con
yiction that the University Of Vermont with IL,
agricultural college fund Of $50 600 10 addition
to It's other resources is ultimately to be reduced
to a local high school Would you, sir, with YOU
millions Of wealth, suffer your Alma Mater 4
be thus Inundated Is it truly probable, too
that Mddebury College with its scholarly and
indelatigalle President HuIburt, assisted by AZ
d. IL T. fiji. a
5000 600, and history that might well excite tn,
envy Of any college in New England-will this
honored institution be allowed TO degenerate int,
a mere high school, where young men could b'
fitted for Dartmouth VIII that theory be pop
ular one with the Alumni, and ether friends VIII,
feel just pride in the fact that to Middlsbury Col
lege is due the honor Of having furnished a large
per cent Of her Alumni, who have distinguished
themselves In the councils OF the nation, as jur
lists upon the bench, In the halls Of learning and
in all the learned professions than any other col
lege in the country Need refer TO the name,
of the distinguished congressman, D. AFRO A
Buck--the eminent jurist, Ex-Governor Royce
the illustrious philanthropist, the late Governor
Slade, and the learned theoogian, the Rev DR.
Beeman, OF New York, who were all members Of
one graduating class, numbering only seven
With such names before US, and scores Of other,
that might be mentioned, whose eminent attain
ments have reflected honor upon their Alma Ma
ter, shall not yermonters utter with enthusiasm
the sentiments Long live Middlebury College,
1t is to be greatly regretted that our people hay,
not sufficient state pride 10 sustain our own In
stitutons, instead OF sending their sons to coleg,
out OF the state, where no better advantages car
be had, but certain disadvantages must be borne
which ever result from the oycr-crowding oi
classes
by reference to printed reports, find that When
the attempt was made In 1877 to consolidate Ii,
University Of Vermont and Middlebury College
committees were appointed by both corporation,
"a plan was matured by them and submitted L
the corporations for their acceptance. The result
was that the trustees Of the University felt con
strained by proper sense OF fidelity to the pub
lie, and their obligations to individuals TO decline
the proposition for union. You are well nc
quainted, Ipresume with the history of that effort
and also the fact that the reasons which deter
mined the corporation OF the University to declin,
a union then, remain the same to-day
1t seems that the argument for consolidation
does not hold good against Norwich University
it having an entirely different curriculum from
Burlington and Middlebury, giving prominence t.
the scientific and military departments, and con
sequently not conflicting with either Of them,
As stated in my former letter, this institution
has record which makes its name honorable I,
the state Of Vermont, and entities it To special re
gard, for the services 1t rendered in our late ciyi
war No institution in proportion to the number
OF its graduates, furnished so large proportion
| educated officers to our volunteer army" Fo
such services the state owes 10 Norwich Uniyer
sity debt Of gratitude which she ought to &C
knowledge by voting a liberal endowment
Through the efforts and indomitabe energy OF ii
founders-Captan Partridge, the gallant and hero
General Ransom the self-sacrificing General Jack
man, Presidents Boums Howard and Douglass
the University has sustained itself for over forty
years without endowment No money has beer
solicited for endowments until quite recently; bu
on several occasions, kind friends have contrib
uted temporary assistance, and the donation o
two hundred and fifty dollars from yourself to al,
in the completion Of the college building, is crate
fully remembered
In view OF the vitality shown in the past with
out any permanent fund the friends Of the institu
ton have the fullest confidence 10 believe that
with an endowment Of two professorships, o
twenty thousand dollars each, Norwich Univer
sity will continue to be an honor and blessn,
to the state and the country
Very respectfully yours,
MINNIE r. MoonE.