Newspaper Page Text
FROM TH£ ‘I RENTON TRUE AMERICAN.
TO TIIK PUBLIC.
The Trustees of the College of N T tw-Jerscv,
feel the painful task imposed upon them, of
stating to the public, the material Lets con
nected with a late combination of the students
under their care, to resist the regular authority
of the institution. This statement founded on
ihe most impartial investigation of facts, arid
drawn from sources the most authentic, will,
they trust, deserve the entire confidence of the
public.
The remote causes which h.avc led to this
event, arc to be found in the pernicious print i
ples and loose manners of some vicious youths
who have obtained admission into the institu
tion ; and still more, perhaps, in the almost un
limited allowance of money, or credit, given to
many others, and which, in a society of young
men, whose passions are not yet corrected by
experience and reflection, are so apt to corrupt
minds originally the most innocent. And al
though the dangerous and unlawful practice of
introducing spirituous liquors into the College,
and of frequenting taverns and other places of
entertainment, at late hours of the night, was
known cr belived to lie common among ;t por
i tion of the students, yet direct and positive
* evidence of these facts could be obtained only
against a few, who were immediately dismissed
. from the society. For the more hold and art
. fnl oil.aiders, who, hy their very boldncsss,
commonly rendered the mselves popular a
! mong their associates, had too successfully es
tablished among them this false but plausible
principle, that, to give testimony against a hel
lion'student, however gross his vices or faults
might be, was in the highest degree dishonora
ble. Any evidence therefore against tins class
of students, on which an act of discipline could
be founded, must depend entirely on the \i i
lencc and personal observation of the Facult?
themselves. And though they were much the
smallest class, yet were they aide, under the
protection of this principle, frequently to give
great disturbance to the order of the College,
at different periods lining the late session ; and
.towards the close of it, their insolence assumed
a bolder tone. The door and windows of the
room of one of the tutors, who had been the
cause of the detection and punishment of some
of them, were broken. Attempts had been
made at midnight to destroy certain convenient
enclosures, belonging and contiguous to the
College, and one small building was actually
consumed by fire.
They were informed that, although the fa
culty had no authority to punish, except on
clear and positive proof, yet that the Trustees,
whose property the College is, and who were
to assemble in a few days, had power to send
away all those students whose presence they
esteemed dangerous to the institution; and the
misconduct otvonreuf them bud now rendered
the interposition of that power, a measure of
indispensable necessity. Those who were
most conscious of being exposed to the exer
cise oftliat power, which is the last resort ofthe
of the discipline of the College, from that mo
ment, as has appeared since bv the confession
of several of the students, planned a combina
tion to resist the authority of the house, and
thus to screen themselves, or to diminish their
own disgrace, hy involving others in their fate.
Tliis combination was hastened, and brought
into immediate operation, by an act of the Fa
culty, suspending three of the students fer in
dolence to certain officers of the College, in t he
discharge of their duty ; or for other practices
contrary to the laws, and clearly ascertained.
One of these young men, especially, was po
pular among his associates. .Many ,f the
more orderly students, and some who even de
served praise for their regularity and diligence,
wen induced to enter into this combination,
from tin’ notion that it was honorable to come
iorw.ml in defence of a fellow student, and, as
some of have since declared, from a belief that
numerous and firm association, would induce
the Faculty to recull their act, and yield to the
w ishes of the associators, without producing
iiv fur.her disturbance. They had, prolxthly,
no upp. clu avion ofthe violent effects ofthe cx
cie l passions of such a number of young men,
wh > had once thrown themsebes loose from
the restraints of law. .Many have said that
tin i believe that no more was designed than a
rest) ciiiil petition to the Faculty, requesting
them to review their proceedings in the case
ol the last mentioned young gentlemen, and
under the impression, signed without reading
the remonstrance which was presented. Ibit
the leaders itithi-. combination had the address
to express their remonstrance, which was
drawn up under the name of a petition, in sush
language us could not he received hy the go
vernment oi the College. It contains an impe
rious demand, which is not even decently veil
ed by a few modest expressions accompanying
in to reinstate all the suspended persons in
their former honorable station* in the College,
under a menace, of no equivocal meaning, if
their application should he rejected. It con
tains, further a most indelicate requisition, to
certain members of the Faculty, to retract cx
prcsxions which probably, for the particular
purposes ofthe combination, bail been reported
among the students, to have been uttered l>y
them. And finally, in the pretended petition,
thev. i’t effect, erect themselves into a tribunal
to re-judge the decisions of the governors ofthe
institution. It was couched in the following
terms. Common sense is sufficient to inter
pret their meaning:
*• To the members ofthe Faculty cf the College
of .YrvK fcrscy.
Cfvti.i mf.n,
“ The students of the institution, fully satisfi
ed that the procedure of its officers has been
jpcuttaisitfnt “ i'4 the principles of justice, r
tl at they have proceeded precipitately in their
decision of the cases of Messrs, Hyde, Metfeau
and Cumming, do respectfully request the re
instatement of these gentle im n in their forrnei
honorable stations. They humbly conceive
that the members ofthe Faculty have not made
those nice inquiries into their several cases, anil
have depended solely on the representation of
a few who are probably prejudiced against the
individuals, or w ho have formed erroneous con
ceptions of their general mode of conduct.—
They therefore request an immediate answer
to ihis petition, since their future proceedings
will greatly depend upon the propriety or im
propriety of their decision, ‘i hey, in addition
to this, moreover request the members of the
Faculty to retract or condradict certain expres
sions which have been thrown out by them,
tending materially, in their own estimation and
that of the community, to the destruction of
their reputations, indivi .w. ily ; such expres
sions being in their opinion, dcstitue of the
stamp of truth.”
This paper was presented to one of the pro
fessors, in the name of the students, hy a com
mittee of nine. The Faculty immediately con
sidled with the only member ofthe corporation
who resided in the vicinity ofthe College, on
the measures proper tobepersued, and, in con
currence with him, determined on such as
were at once decided and prompt, and in their
opinion, liolli necessary and temperate. The
students being previously assembled in the
public hall, it was represented to them that the
laws, those laws which at their admission into
the College, and at the commencement of each
session, they hail solemnly /huge t/ieir truth
and honor to obey, had foreseen and provided
against such combinations as the preseirt, in
which a great portion of them were engaged,
the laws which relates particularly to this case
is in the following words— 1 If any club or
combinations of students shall, at any time
take place, either for resisting the authority of
the College, or interlining in its government,
i r for come, afmg or executing any c.\ 11 or iii s
orilcily design, every student concerned in
such combination shall be considered as guilty
oftlu; oficnce which was intended ; and the
Faculty arc empowered and directed to break
up all such combinations as soon as discovered,
and to inflict a severer punishment on each in
dividual than if the offence intended had been
committed in his individual capacity, whatever
be the number contained) or whatever be the
consequence to the College.” On the gr ounds
of this law. the students were informed that
nothing could be. conceded to the combination.
On the contrary, if those who were concerned
i:t this transaction did not ret urn to their duty,
and renounce the />rirt'/ih of uniting together
to controul the government of the ( oliege ac
cording to their humours, th . would render
themselves liable to be, i;r.:’ euiufely ‘,•••/<• ndrd.
livery argument was tire 1 to induce them to
proper conduct, anil time was offered them to
reflect on the part they had to at t Ihil their
leaflets had their mind’ already prepared.—
One est Item rose, and said thev had concurred
in the same resoluti >n, end would not retract
any thing they had done. lie left the hall, and
rest followed him with greatt tumult and disor
der. The Faculty then pronounced the sen
tence of suspension on all those who had de
parted In this tumultuous manner. The more
thoughtless and intemperate among their, were
proceeding to acts of considerable violence, an 1
still greater were threatened; hut, by the pru
dent precautions which v ere employed, no se
rious injury was don.” to the t lei lege ccilvii c.
That this combination did not originate en
tirely ftbm sympathy with th ; voting g< title
men on whose account ostensibly it was chiefly
formed, but hud a deeper root, and probably
the same which has already been pointed out,
appears from the following r< isi'ierations:—
In the first place, the combinations was much
too extensive and violent lor the occasion ; for
although three persons are n unc.l in their re
monstrance as unjus t’/ suspended, yet one of
these is understood to have been the olficct of
their principle concern. But. in the next place
il this were not so, andallthe three stood equal
ly high tn the estimation of their fellow s:u
deuts, it was well known that the Hoard of
Trustees was called to meet in a few days, and
they were informed that to them lies an . ppcal
from every sentence of the faculty by any stu
dent who thinks himself aggrieved. To this
tribunal there litre, they would had recourse if
their pretentions had been sincere ; if, indeed
the combination and revolt had not been previ
ously resolved on by the greater putt of them,
for other causes than those mentioned in the
remonstrance, Lastly the young gentleman
himself, whose late is -aid to have greet* the
chief occasion to the combination, in a letter
addressed to the l'msiees, renounces the- piin
t ipie of combining among the students for at
taining any object front the government and
condemns the whole proi ceding in liis own
case.
The Trustees of the College convened on
the Bth of April. Shortly alter their meeting,
a paper was presented to,them, signed by six
persons, as a committee on behalf ofthe com
bination, and desiring to be heard before the
hoard in that character. The trustees direct
ed this paper to he returned to them, with an
intimation that they could receive no commit- t
tee who appeared in the name of students, I
combined against the laws and government us ,
the institution; but, if any student had any j
grievance to complain of in his own case, he ‘
should be heard.—Some persons in const-- ,
quence of this intimation, appeared before the !
txiarel, renounced the principle on which they j
had associated together to resist the lawful an- j
thority under which they were placed; and J
pledged themselves to future submission and |
obedience. Others, more resolute in error, •
openly avowed, in the presence of the uogad, ■
the principle of combination and resistance, !
whenever they thought themselves, or a fel
low student, aggrieved by any proceeding of
the faculty. They spoke much of rights,com
paling tlte college to a state of civil society,
in which the people, if they arc dissatisfied
with the government, have a right to rise ar.d
resist, or even overturn it. This analogy would
hare been more perfect if they had founded the
college, and appointed its officers; but since
the college is the property of the trustees, and
students reside in it only by permission, for
their own improvement, and during good be
haviour, -this analogy is most absurd. Every
student who is not contented with the admin
istration of the laws, or the models of instruc
tion in the institution, lias a right Id withdraw
from it; but w hilc he remains in it, and sub
ject to its laws, his right is obedience, both
by the nature of the thing, and his own solemn
promises. He has surely no right to come to
it only to violate its laws anil subvert its govern
ment.
The trustees, after tire me: t patient and clili-!
gent inquiry into all the circumstances of this
insurrection, and taking into their most set ions
consideration the true anil permanent interests
of the institution, resolved, by an unanimous
vote, finally to expel eleven of those who, in
their opinion, were the roost permanent leafl
et s in the disorder, and to dismiss without a
public expulson six, whose improper conduct,
in other respects, had rendered them unsafe
members oi such a literary and moral society.
In regard to the residue, many of whom,
through misrepresetation, misconception of
the object of the combination, or menace, had
been induced to join in it, the board, after
continuing the sentence ofthe faculty, thoueht
proper still to lea?e the door open to their rc
turn to the college, upon their public and expli
cit renunciation of a principle which has led to
such serious evils, and the manifestation of a
proper penitence for their past fault.
Finally, letters were directed, on behalf of
the board, to be addressed to the parents or
guardians of the persons so expelled, dismiss
ed. or suspended, expressive of their regret at
being compelled to adopt this apparently severe
but necessary measures and requesting such
parents or guardians to co-operate iti giving ef
ficacy to the discipline of the college. A cir
cular letter, lias also been t-.dclressed to the dif
ferent colleges and universities in the U. S. to
which is annexed a correct list ofthe persons so
expelled, dismissed, or suspended, that they
tuny be apprized of the circumstances under
which these young men have left this college,
if ally of them should spply for admission into
any other institution.
And because dissipation has been found to be
encouraged, and the spirit of insubordination
emboldened, by an excessive allowance of mo
ney, cr of credit, to many of the students; mea
sures have been adopted, which will be laid be
fore lhe public in a separate address, to restrain
as fares may be in the power ofthe board,both
these evils.
From the foregoing statement of facts, the
public will easily perceive, that the single alter
native left to the trustees, is either to govern
their own institution by their own officers, or
resign it to the government of inconsiderate
boys, ar.d passionate young men, whenever a
popular offender is pleased to call an assembly
of students. In a government continually lia
ble to combinations and revolts, there is an end
of all just subordination.
If those who arc sent to obey, undertake to
di. ‘atc—ti they are: to lie subject to no control,
but such as thru think reasonable, all who have
any acquaintance with human nature must
know that a foundation is laid for the practice
ot every vice—for indolence, ignorance, and
eventual ruin. Better, far, that no college
should exist, then to exist on such terms. The
numbers of the students will be dismissed, for
the present, by cutting offi so many dangerous
members from the institution ; but the public
“ill have a pledge in this act, ofthe vigor with
which the trustees intended to preserve their
discipline. It wiil even invite parents to con
fide their children with more security to the
guardianship of these, who, w ith Such firmness
and such faithfulness, ’are determined to su
perintend their morals as well as their improve
ments in science. Is it not then the sacicd
duty ofthe parents cf all those youths who
may he sent to this place for instruction, to co
operate with the guardians ofthe institution ;j
and so far as lies in their power, to humble that
indocile and usurping spirit, which tramples on
the wholesome restraints of all legitimate au
thoritv, and which has led to the hue unhannv
disorders’ Should they not impress on die !
minds ol their offspring, the importance ofdis-j
ripline, as the indispensable means of their own
improvement in science and morals; and insist
on a prompt and unreserved submission to the •
laws ol the college, as the absolute condition of!
then parents future approbation and favor ’ Re
turning to tiie place of their education,, with
such a temper and such views, those young
gentlemen who have been misled by the more
artful and unprincipled among their compani
ons, and whose standing in college, has hitherto
been good, will be received with pleasure, and
their indiscretion he forgiven. They will again j
experience that paternal discipline ; that patient:
instruction—those zealous efforts which have
always been so actively employed, to fix them
in habits of diligence, of virtue and order, the 1
sole aim and tendency of which are, to pre
pare them for usefulness and distinction in this
iite. and lor a higher state of happiness in a bet
ter world.
Signed in beltalf of the board of Trustees,
Joseph Bloomfield,
Governor of.W on-Jersey and President, ex-off do
of the corf oration. .
Attefta], lOW MACLJUAfJ, Secry. 1
PRINCETON COLLEGE.
The Trustees of the College of
having always endeavoured to unite the pie*
setvetion of morals, with improvement *i tne
rature, among their pupils, and having seen
with puin the evils to both which have fr
quently asisen from young men possessing, irs
too great abundance, the means of dissipation*
have ordered the following letter to be address
sed to live parents or guardians cf ail youth,
coming to the College, and adopted the regiw
laUons annexed :
jS assau-Hai.t., April 10th, 180 r.
Mir—The Trustees of the College of
Jersey, neatly four years since, published %
statement ofthe necessary expanses of the in
stitution, and earnestly admonished parents, of
the danger of supplying young men, in th©
coarse of their education, with large sums
above those which were strictly required Ibis
nc:< ssaries, and the still greater danger cf ul
loving them to contract debts on credit to an
I indefinite amount. For some time these sug
gestions were attended to, but parental indul
gence, ar.d the want of a proper person on th©
spot, to take charge of the money of the stuv
dents, have produced a departure from them
too far. Nothing has a more pernicious influ
ence on the studious and moral habits of a largo
number of youth, assembled in one place, than
the indefinite command of money. Around a
place of learning, in which so many young
nycti of fortune are collected, there will always
boa number of interested persons, who at©
ready to lay snares for their inexperience, by
offering them secretly every pleasurable, bufc
expensive anil dangerous gratification. And
the lov e of pleasure will too often tempt theifc
to impose upon the affection and partiality of
their parents, in order to gain from them ad
ditional supplies. Sometimes it tempts them
to another very culpable aitilice ; that of con
tracting debts to a large amount, which are
concealed from their parents till the period of
their leaving the College.
The Trustees have learned, with concern,
that one mean by which many parents have
been induced to make unnecessary anti impro
per remittances to their sous, is the represen
tation that the style of living at the College is
such as to require a great expense in order to
put a voting man on an lionorabie footing with
his companions. This cannot he true of th
College in general. It can respect only the
circle of those with whom this young man ha
chosen to associate, and who count perhaps up-*
on unlimited resources in the fortune, or the
affection of their parents. But the ingenuity*
of a youth who has once been drav. n aside front
his duty by the artifices of others, and ti e
temptations of pleasure, will be endless in straw
tagem to obtain the mcar.s of indulgence.
The furnishing of funds is a point in which
the restraint must lie chiefly with the parent,
or guardian. / ltd we must explicitly declare
again, and reiterate the admonition, that, if a
young man at the College is supplied with,
sums considerably beyond the amount stated
for necessary expenditures, no vigilance in its
officers, can effectually guard against their
abuse. There is thgjgrcatcst danger of des
troying his hnprorcißta and materially injur
ing his morals. ‘l'lMait e caution should be
even more strenously urged against suffering
him to run accounts on credit ; or paying such,
debts, if he is undutiful enough to” contract
them. One such account paid, proves an in
jury to oilier youth, by encouraging them to
•eiy on the fondness, or the false honor of their
parents, to discharge, at last, all the debts of
heir extravagance ; and by encouraging their
reducers both to tempt and to trust them.
In order to give an estimate of the necessa
ry expences of the College, that may he under
ilood by every person, let it be observed, that
tach student, on entering the College, pays
ive dollars ; and he provides his own bed, or
matress, with a few other articles of chamber
furniture, amounting, according to their quali
ty’, from twenty to thirty dollars ; which, how
ever, if they are carefully preserved, he may
dispose of, at leaving the College, for a consi
derable part of their original cost. During the
T,sections, which continue four weeks in the
spring, and she weeks in the fall, if he remains
in Princeton, he will be obliged to pay for board
and washing, at the rate of fiom four to five
dollars a week—in the country, between three
aid four. Setting these items aride, the ac
tual expenses of Ihe College, during its ses
sev ions, called the summer and winter ses
sions, are as follow :
the summer session.
r>. c.
For Enard, at Doll,. 225 a week, 20 weeks,4s 00 >
Tuition, chamber rent.nfe of Library, 23 66 l-5>
Wages of Waiters, * . 250
Washing may he procured at S'MOO a week, 6 66
Land es, perhaps lOlhs. at 25-100 - 2 50-
Incidental charges for cleaning chamber, and
damages, - - . 1 50
Total 81 82 1-2
the winter session.
D. C.
Board, twenty-two weeks, . - -49 50
Tuition, &c. as above, - . -2368 i f
Wood, about - - . _ -17 (X)
Wages of Waiters, - - _ -2 50
Walking, - - - . - - 633
Candles, perhaps COibs. - ( . _ -5 00
Incidental charges, as above, about - - 1-50-
Total, 106 49 1-2
Total for both Sefiions, Dolls. 183 32
Besides the above, hooks and stationary- will
be of an uncertain .intuit. Clothing, in this
estimate, is not taken into the account. But it
is cf importance to impose some effectual
check, if possible, to extravagance in this