Thescientificcollectionsandapparatusofvarioussortsgavehimconstantpleasure。IhadsentfromEngland，France，andGermanyalargenumberofcharts，models，andpiecesofphilosophicalapparatus，andregardingsomeofthemhadthoughtitbesttomakecarefulexplanationstohim，inordertojustifysolargeanexpenditure;
butIsoonfoundthisunnecessary。Hisshrewdmindenabledhimtounderstandanypieceofapparatusquickly，andtoappreciateitfully。Ihaveneverhadtodealwithanymanwhoseinstinctinsuchmatterswasmoretrue。Ifabookorscientificspecimenorpieceofapparatuswasnecessarytotheproperworkofadepartment，hecouldeasilybemadetoseeit;andthenitMUSTcometous，nomatteratwhatcost。Likethegreatprinceofnavigatorsinthefifteenthcentury，hewasaman``whohadthetasteforgreatthings’’——``quiteniagustoencosasgrandes。’’Hefeltthattheuniversitywastobegreat，andhetookhismeasuresaccordingly。Hiscolleaguesgenerallythoughthimover—sanguine;andwhenhedeclaredthattheuniversityshouldyethaveanendow—
mentofthreemillions，mostofthemregardedhimasadreamer。
Ihaveneverknownamanmoreentirelyunselfish。I
haveseenhim，whenhiswealthwascountedinmillions，devoteitsogenerouslytouniversityobjectsthathefeltitnecessarytostinthimselfinsomemattersofpersonalcomfort。Whenurgedtosellaportionoftheuniversitylandatasacrifice，inordertobetterourfoundations，heansweredinsubstance，``Don’tletusdothatyet;Iwillwearmyoldhatandcoatalittlelonger，andletyouhavealittlemoremoneyfrommyownpocket。’’
Thisfeelingseemedneverdiminished，evenundertheworstopposition。He``keptthefaith，’’nomatterwhoopposedhim。
AneminentandjustlyrespectedpresidentofoneoftheoldestEasternuniversitiespublishedatreatise，whichwaswidelycirculated，toprovethatthemainideasonwhichthenewuniversitywasbasedwereutterlyimpracticable;
andespeciallythatthepresentationofvariouscoursesofinstructionsuitedtoyoungmenofvariousaimsandtastes，withlibertyofchoicebetweenthem，waspreposterous。
Itisinterestingtonotethatthissameeminentgentlemanwasafterwardledtoadoptthissame``impracticable’’
policyathisownuniversity。Othersofalmostequaleminenceinsistedthattogiveadvancedscientificandtechnicalinstructioninthesameinstitutionwithclassicalinstructionwasfolly;andthesegentlemenwereprobablynotconverteduntiltheplanwasadoptedatEnglishCambridge。
Othersstillinsistedthataninstitutionnotbelongingtoanyonereligioussectmustbe``godless，’’wouldnotbepatronized，andcouldnotsucceed。TheireyeswereopenedlaterbythesightofmenandwomenofdifferentChristiandenominationspressingforwardatCornellUniversitytocontributesumswhich，intheaggregate，amountedtomuchmorethantheoriginalendowment。
Heearnedtheblessingofthosewho，nothavingseen，haveyetbelieved。Thoughhedidnotlivelongenoughtoseethefundamentalprinciplesoftheuniversitythusforcetheirwaytorecognitionandadoptionbythosewhohadmoststronglyopposedthem，hisfaithremainedundiminishedtotheendofhislife。
Buttheoppositiontohisworkdevelopedintoworseshapes;manyleadingjournalsintheState，whennotopenlyhostiletohim，werecoldandindifferent，andsomeofthemweresteadilyabusive。Thisledtoaratherwide—
spreadfeelingthat``wherethereissmoke，theremustbefire’’;andwewhoknewthepurityofhispurpose，hisunselfishness，hissturdyhonesty，laboredlongagainstthisfeeling。
Iregrettosaythatsomeeminentmenconnectedwithimportantuniversitiesinthecountryshowedfartoomuchreadinesstoacquiesceinthisunfavorableviewofourfounder。Fromveryfewofoursisterinstitutionscameanywordofcheer;andfromsomeofthemcamemostbitterattacks，notonlyuponthesystemadoptedinthenewuniversity，butuponMr。Cornellhimself。Buthisfriendsweremoreafflicted，byfar，thanhe;allthisoppositiononlyservedtostrengthenhisfaith。Astothiseffectuponhim，Irecalloneortwoquaintexamples。Atthedarkestperiodinthehistoryoftheuniversity，I
mentionedtohimthatafinecollectionofmathematicalbookswasofferedusforfivethousanddollars。Underordinarycircumstanceshewouldhaveboughtitforusatonce;butatthatmoment，whenanyadditiontohisburdenswouldnothavebeenadvisedbyanyofhisfriends，hequietlysaid，``Somewherethereisamanwalkingaboutwhowantstogiveusthatfivethousanddollars。’’Iamgladtosaythathisfaithwassoonjustified;suchamanappeared，——amanwhowasgladtogivetherequiredsumasatestimonytohisbeliefinMr。
Cornell’sintegrity:WilliamKellyofRhinebeck。
Anotherexamplemaybegivenastypical。NearthecloseofthefirstcelebrationofFounder’sDayatoneofthecollegebuildings，apleasantsocialdancesprangupamongtheyoungerpeople——studentsfromtheuniversityandyoungladiesfromthevillage。Thisbroughtaverysevereprotestfromsundryclergymenoftheplace，declaringdancingtobe``destructiveofvitalgodliness。’’
Thoughthiswassolemnlylaidbeforethefaculty，noanswerwasevermadetoit;butwenoticedthat，ateverysocialgatheringonFounder’sDayafterward，aslongasMr。Cornelllived，hehadarrangementsmadefordancing。
Ineverknewamanmoreopentorightreason，andneveronelessinfluencedbycantordogmatism。
Tomostattacksuponhiminthenewspapersheneithermadenorsuggestedanyreply;butoneortwowhichwereespeciallymisleadingheansweredsimplyandconclusively。
Thishadnoeffect，ofcourse，instoppingtheattacks;
butithadoneeffect，atwhichthefriendsoftheuniversityrejoiced:itboundhisoldassociatestohimallthemoreclosely，andledthemtosupporthimallthemorevigorously。WhenapaperinoneofthelargestcitiesinwesternNewYorkhadbeenespeciallyabusive，oneofMr。
Cornell’soldfriendslivinginthatcitywrote:``Iknowthatthechargesrecentlypublishedareutterlyuntrue;butIamnotskilledinnewspapercontroversy，soIwillsimplyaddtowhatIhavealreadygiventotheuniversityaspecialgiftofthirtythousanddollars，whichwilltestifytomytownsmenhere，andperhapstothepublicatlarge，myconfidenceinMr。Cornell。’’
SuchwasthewayofHiramSibley。Uponanotherattack，especiallyviolent，fromtheorganofoneofthedenominationalcolleges，anotheroldfriendofMr。CornellintheeasternpartoftheState，aprominentmemberofthereligiousbodywhichthispaperrepresented，senthischeckforseveralthousanddollars，tobeusedforthepurchaseofbooksforthelibrary，andtoshowconfidenceinMr。Cornellbydeedsaswellaswords。
Vileastheseattackswere，worseremainedbehind。A
localpolitician，whohadbeensenttothelegislaturefromthedistrictwherethe``People’sCollege’’hadliveditsshortlife，prepared，withpettifoggingability，alongspeechtoshowthatthefoundationofCornellUniversity，Mr。
Cornell’sendowmentofit，andhiscontracttolocatethelandsforitwerepartsofagreatcheatandswindle。Thisthesis，developedinallthemoodsandtensesofabusebeforethelegislature，wasnextdaypublishedatlengthintheleadingjournalsofthemetropolis，andechoedthroughouttheUnion。Thetimefortheseattackswasskilfullychosen;theCrditMobilierandotherschemeshadbeenrevealedatWashington，andeverybodywasonlytooreadytobelieveanychargeagainstanybody。ThatMr。Cornellhadbeenknownforfortyyearsasanhonestmanseemedtogofornothing。
Theenemiesoftheuniversitywereprompttosupportthecharges，andtheyfoundsomeechoesevenamongthosewhowerebenefitedbyhisgenerosity——evenamongthestudentsthemselves。AtthisIfeltitmydutytocallthewholestudentbodytogether，and，inacarefulspeech，toexplainMr。Cornell’stransactions，answeringthechargesfully。Thisspeech，thoughspreadthroughtheState，couldevidentlydobutlittletowardrightingthewrong;butitbroughttomewhatIshallalwaysfeelagreathonor——ashareintheabuseshoweredmainlyonhim。
VerycharacteristicwasMr。Cornell’sconductunderthisoutrage。Thatsamefaithinjustice，thatsamepatienceunderwrong，whichhealwaysshowed，wasmoreevidentthanever。
Onthemorningaftertheattackinthelegislaturehadbeenblazonedinalltheleadingnewspapers——intheearlyhours，andafterasleeplessnight——Iheardtherattleofgravelagainstmywindow—panes。Onrising，IfoundMr。
Cornellstandingbelow。Hewassereneandcheerful，andhadevidentlytakenthelongwalkupthehilltoquietmyirritation。Hisfirstwordswereajocoseprelude。Thebellsoftheuniversity，whichwerethenchimedatsixo’clock，wereringingmerrily，andhecalledout，``Comedownhereandlistentothechimes;Ihavefoundaspotwhereyoucanhearthemdirectlywithoneear，andtheirechowiththeother。’’
WhenIhadcomedown，wefirstinvestigatedtheechoofthechime，whichhadreallyarousedhisinterest;thenhesaidseriously:``Don’tmakeyourselfunhappyoverthismatter;itwillturnouttobeagoodthingfortheuniversity。Ihavelongforeseenthatthisattackmustcome，buthavefearedthatitwouldcomeaftermydeath，whenthefactswouldbeforgotten，andthetransactionslittleunderstood。Iamgladthatthechargesaremadenow，whileIamheretoanswerthem。’’Wethendiscussedthematter，anditwasagreedthatheshouldtelegraphandwriteGovernorDix，askinghimtoappointaninvestigatingcommittee，ofwhichthemajorityshouldbefromthepoliticalpartyopposedtohisown。Thiswasdone。
ThecommitteewascomposedofHoratioSeymour，formerlygovernoroftheStateandDemocraticcandidateforthePresidencyoftheUnitedStates;WilliamA。
Wheeler，Vice—PresidentoftheUnitedStates;andJohnD。VanBuren，allthreemenofthehigheststanding，andtwoofthempoliticallyopposedtoMr。Cornell。
DuringthelonginvestigationwhichensuedinNewYorkandatIthaca，heneverlosthispatience，thoughattimessorelytried。Variousdisappointedschemers，amongtheseonepersonwhohadnotbeenallowedtomakeanundueprofitoutoftheuniversitylands，andanotherwhohadbeenallowedtodepartfromaprofessorshiponaccountofhopelessincompetency，werethemainwitnesses。
Theonslaughtwasledbythepersonwhomadetheattackinthelegislature，andhehadrakedtogetheramassofhalf—truthsandsurmises;buttheevidenceonMr。Cornell’ssideconsistedofacompleteexhibitionofallthefactsanddocuments。Theunanimousreportofthecommitteewasallthathiswarmestfriendscoulddesire;anditsrecommendationsregardingthemanagementofthefundweresuchasMr。Cornellhadlongwished，butwhichhehadhardlydaredask。Theresultwasacompletetriumphforhim。
Yettheattackscontinued。ThesamepaperwhichhadbeensoprominentinsoundingthemthroughthewesternpartoftheStatecontinuedthemasbefore，and，almosttotheverydayofhisdeath，assailedhimperiodicallyasa``landjobber，’’``landgrabber，’’and``landthief。’’Buthetookthesefoulattacksbytrickydeclaimersandhisvindicationbythreeofhismosteminentfellow—citizenswiththesameserenity。Thattherewasinhimaprofoundcontemptforthewretchedcreatureswhoassailedhimandimputedtohimmotivesasvileastheirowncanhardlybedoubted;yet，thoughIwaswithhimconstantlyduringthisperiod，Ineverheardhimspeakharshlyofthem;norcouldIeverseethatthisinjusticediminishedhisgoodwilltowardhisfellow—menandhisdesiretobenefitthem。
Attheverytimewhentheseattackswereattheirworst，hewasgivingespecialthoughttotheproblemofbringingeducationattheuniversitywithinreachofyoungmenofgoodabilityandsmallmeans。Iamquitewithinboundsinsayingthathegaveanhourtothoughtuponthisforeveryminutehegavetothoughtupontheattacksofhisenemies。
Itwasduringthisperiodthathebeganbuildinghisbeautifulhouseneartheuniversity，andinthisheshowedsomeofhispeculiarities。Hetookmuchpainstosecureatastefulplan，andsomeoftheideasembodiedinitevidentlyresultedfromhisstudyofbeautifulcountry—housesinEngland。Characteristicofhimalsowashiswayofcarryingonthework。HavingvisitedseveralquarriesinvariouspartsoftheState，inordertochoosethebestpossiblebuilding—stone，heemployedsomeGermanstone—
carverswhohadrecentlyleftworkupontheCathedralofCologne，broughtthemtoIthaca，andallowedthemtoworkonwithnointerferencesavefromthearchitect。Iftheygaveamonthormoretothecarvingofasinglecapitalorcorbel，hemadenoremonstrance。Whenhehadthussecuredthebeststone—work，heselectedthebestseasonedoakandwalnutandcalledskilfulcarpentersfromEngland。
Inthusgoingabroadforartisanstherewasnowantofloyaltytohiscountrymen，norwasthereanyalloyofvanityinhismotives。Hispurposeevidentlywastoerectahousewhichshouldbeasperfectaspecimenofthebuilder’sartashecouldmakeit，andthereforeuseful，asanexampleofthoroughlygoodwork，tothelocalworkmen。
Inconnectionwiththis，anotherincidentthrowslightuponhischaracteristics。Abovethefrontentranceofthehousewasascroll，orribbon，instone，evidentlyintendedforanameormotto。Thewordscarvedtherewere，``TrueandFirm。’’Itisacuriousevidenceofthepettycriticismwhichbesethiminthosedays，thatthismottowasattimescitedasaproofofhisvainglory。Itgivesmepleasuretorelieveanymindsensitiveonthispoint，andtovindicatethetruthofhistory，bysayingthatitwasIwhoplacedthemottothere。Callinghisattentiononedaytothescrollandtotheneedofaninscription，IsuggestedatranslationoftheoldGermanmotto，``TreuundFest’’;
and，ashemadenoobjection，Iwroteitoutforthestone—
cutters，buttoldMr。Cornellthattherewerepeople，perhaps，whomighttranslatethelastword``obstinate。’’
Thepointofthislayinthefact，whichMr。Cornellknewverywell，thathewasfrequentlychargedwithobstinacy。
Yetanobstinateman，intheevilsenseofthatword，hewasnot。Forseveralyearsitfelltomylottodiscussamultitudeofquestionswithhim，andreasonablenesswasoneofhismoststrikingcharacteristics。Hewasoneofthoseveryrarestrongmenwhorecognizeadequatelytheirownlimitations。True，whenhehadfinallymadeuphismindinamatterfullywithinhisownprovince，heremainedfirm;butIhaveknownveryfewmen，wealthy，strong，successful，ashewas，sofreefromthefaultofthinkingthat，becausetheyaregoodjudgesofoneclassofquestions，theyareequallygoodinallothers。Onemarkofanobstinatemanistheannouncementofopinionsuponsubjectsregardingwhichhisexperienceandprevioustraininggivehimlittleornomeansofjudging。ThiswasnotatallthecasewithMr。Cornell。Whenquestionsaroseregardinginternaluniversitymanagement，orcoursesofstudy，orthechoiceofprofessors，orplansfortheiraccommodation，hewasneverquickinannouncingortenaciousinholdinganopinion。Therewasnopurseprideabouthim。Heevidentlydidnotbelievethathissuccessinbuildingupafortunehadmadehimanexpertorjudgeinquestionstowhichhehadneverpaidspecialattention。
Duringthelastyearortwoofhislife，Isawnotsomuchofhimasduringseveralpreviousyears。HehadbecomegreatlyinterestedinvariousrailwayprojectshavingastheirpurposetheconnectionofIthaca，asauniversitytown，withtheStateatlarge;andhethrewhimselfintotheseplanswithgreatenergy。Hiscourseinthiswaspromptedbyapublicspiritaslargeandpureasthatwhichhadledhimtofoundtheuniversity。When，atthesuggestionofsundryfriends，Iventuredtoremonstratewithhimagainstgoingsolargelyintotheserailwayenterprisesathistimeoflife，hesaid:``Ishalllivetwentyyearslonger，andmakeamillionofdollarsmorefortheuniversityendowment。’’Alas！withinsixmonthsfromthatdayhelaydeadinthemidstofmanybrokenhopes。
Hisplans，which，underothercircumstances，wouldhavebeenjudgedwise，seemedforatimewreckedbythefinancialcrisiswhichhadjustcomeuponthecountry。
InhislasthoursIvisitedhimfrequently。Hismindremainedclear，andheshowedhisoldfreedomfromanyfault—findingspirit，thoughevidentlyoppressedbybusinesscaresandbodilysuffering。HisserenitywasespeciallyevidentasIsatwithhimthenightbeforehisdeath，andIcanneverforgettheplacidityofhiscountenance，boththenandonthenextmorning，whenallwasended。
SomethingshouldbesaidregardingMr。Cornell’spoliticalideas。InthelegislaturehewasafirmRepublican，butasfreeaspossiblefromanythinglikepartizanbigotry。Partytiesinlocalmatterssatlightlyuponhim。
Hespokeinpublicverylittle，andtookfargreaterinterestinpublicimprovementthaninpartyadvantage。
Withmanyofhispoliticalopponentshisrelationsweremostfriendly。ForsuchDemocratsasHiramSibley，ErastusBrooks，andWilliamKellyhehadthedeepestrespectandadmiration。Hecaredlittleforpopularclamoronanysubject，bravingitmorethanoncebyhisvotesinthelegislature。Hewasevidentlywillingtotakeanyriskinvolvedinwaitingforthesobersecondthoughtofthepeople。Hewasasfreefromordinaryambitionasfromselfishness:whentherewasacallfromseveralpartsoftheStateforhisnominationasgovernor，hesaidquietly，``IpreferworkforwhichIambetterfitted。’’
Therewasinhisordinarybearingacertainausterityandinhisconversationanabruptnesswhichinterferedsomewhatwithhispopularity。Astudentoncesaidtome，``IfMr。Cornellwouldsimplystanduponhispedestalasour`HonoredFounder，’andletushurrahforhim，thatwouldpleaseusmightily;butwhenhecomesintothelaboratoryandasksusgruffly，`Whatareyouwastingyourtimeatnow？’wedon’tlikehimsowell。’’ThefactonwhichthisremarkwasbasedwasthatMr。Cornelllikedgreatlytowalkquietlythroughthelaboratoriesanddrafting—rooms，tonotethework。Nowandthen，whenhesawastudentdoingsomethingwhichespeciallyinterestedhim，hewasevidentlyanxious，ashewaswonttosay，``toseewhatthefellowismadeof，’’andhewouldfrequentlyputsomeprovokingquestion，likingnothingbetterthantoreceiveapithyanswer。OfhiskindfeelingstowardstudentsIcouldsaymuch。Hewasnotinclinedtocoddlethem，butwaseverreadytohelpanywhoweredeserving。
Despitehisapparentausterity，hewassingularlyfreefromharshnessinhisjudgments。Thereweretimeswhenhewouldhavebeenjustifiedinoutburstsofbitternessagainstthosewhoattackedhiminwayssofoulandmalignedhiminwayssovile;butIneverheardanybitterreplyfromhim。Inhispoliticstherewasneveradropofbitterness。OnlyonceortwicedidIhearhimalludetoanyconductwhichdispleasedhim，andthenhiscommentswereratherplayfulthanotherwise。Ononeoccasion，whenhehadwrittentoagentlemanofgreatwealthanddeservedreputeasaphilanthropist，askinghimtojoinincarryingtheburdenofthelandlocations，andhadreceivedanunfavorableanswer，hemadearemarkwhichseemedtomeratherharsh。TothisIreplied:
``Mr。Cornell，Mr。————isnotatallinfault;hedoesnotunderstandthequestionasyoudo;everybodyknowsthatheisaveryliberalman。’’``Oh，’’saidMr。Cornell，``it’seasyenoughtobeliberal;theonlyhardpartisdrawingthecheck。’’
Ofhisintellectualcharacteristics，foresightwasthemostremarkable。Ofallmeninthecountrywhohadtodowiththecollegelandgrantof1862，healonediscernedthepossibilitiesinvolvedandhadcouragetomakethemactual。
Clearnessofthoughtonallmatterstowhichhegavehisattentionwasanotherstrikingcharacteristic;hence，wheneverheputanythingonpaper，itwaslucidandcogent。
Thereseemsattimesinhiswritingssomeoftheclear，quaintshrewdnesssowellknowninAbrahamLincoln。
Verystrikingexamplesofthisaretobefoundinhislegislativespeeches，inhisaddressattheopeningoftheuniversity，andinhisletters。
Amonghismoralcharacteristics，histruthfulness，persistence，courage，andfortitudeweremoststronglymarked。Thesequalitiesmadehimamanofpeace。Heregardedlifeastooshorttobewastedinquarrels;hissteadyrulewasnevertobeginalawsuitorhaveanythingtodowithone，ifitcouldbeavoided。Thejoyinlitigationandsquabble，whichhasbeentheweaknessofsomanymenclaimingtobestrong，andtheespecialcurseofsomanyAmericanchurches，colleges，universities，andotherpublicorganizations，hadnoplaceinhisstrong，tolerantnature。Heneversoughttopublishthesinsofanyoneinthecourtsortowinthereputeofanuncompromisingfighter。Inthispeaceabledispositionhewaspromptednotonlybyhisgreatestmoralquality:——
hischaritytowardhisfellow—men，butbyhisgreatestintel—
lectualquality:——hisforesight;forheknewwell``thegloriousuncertaintyofthelaw。’’Hewasabuilder，notagladiator。
ThereresultedfromthesequalitiesanequanimitywhichIhaveneverseenequaled。WhenhiseldestsonhadbeenelectedtothehighestofficeinthegiftoftheStateAssembly，andhadbeenplaced，evidently，onthewaytothegovernor’schair，——afterwardattained，——thoughitmusthavegratifiedsuchafather，henevermadeanyreferencetoitinmyhearing;andwhenthebodyofhisfavoritegrandson，amostwinningandpromisingboy，killedinstantlybyaterribleaccident，wasbroughtintohispresence，thoughhisheartmusthavebled，hiscalmnessseemedalmostsuperhuman。
Hisreligiousideasweresuchasmanyexcellentpeoplewouldhardlyapprove。HehadbeenbornintotheSocietyofFriends;andtheirquietness，simplicity，freedomfromnoisyactivity，anddevotiontothepublicgoodattachedhimtothem。Buthiswasnotabigotedattachment;hewentfreelytovariouschurches，aidingthemwithoutdistinctionofsect，thoughfinallyhesettledintoasteadyattendanceattheUnitarianChurchinIthaca，forthepastorofwhichheconceivedagreatrespectandliking。Hewasneverinclinedtosaymuchaboutreligion;but，inourtalks，hewaswonttoquotewithapprovalfromPope’s``UniversalPrayer’’——andespeciallythelines:
``Teachmetofeelanother’swoe，TohidethefaultIsee;
ThemercyItoothersshow，Thatmercyshowtome。’’
OnthemereletterofScripturehedweltlittle;and，whileheneverobtrudedopinionsthatmightshockanyperson，andwasfarremovedfromscoffingorirreverence，hedidnothesitatetodiscriminatebetweenpartsofourSacredBookswhichheconsideredassimplylegendaryandpartswhichweretohimpregnantwitheternaltruth。
HisreligionseemedtotakeshapeinadeeplyreverentfeelingtowardhisCreator，andinaconstantdesiretoimprovetheconditionofhisfellow—creatures。Hewasneversurprisedortroubledbyanythingwhichanyotherhumanbeingbelievedordidnotbelieve;ofintolerancehewasutterlyincapable。Hesoughtnoreputationasaphilanthropist，caredlittleforapproval，andnothingforapplause;butIcansayofhim，withoutreserve，that，duringalltheyearsIknewhim，``hewentaboutdoinggood。’’
CHAPTERXIX
ORGANIZATIONOFCORNELLUNIVERSITY——1865—1868
Althoughmyformalelectiontotheuniversitypresidencydidnottakeplaceuntil1867，thedutiesimpliedbythatofficehadalreadybeendischargedbymeduringtwoyears。
WhileMr。Cornelldevotedhimselftothefinancialquestionsarisingfromthenewfoundation，heintrustedallotherquestionstome。Indeed，mydutiesmaybesaidtohavebegunwhen，aschairmanoftheCommitteeonEducationintheStateSenate，Iresistedalleffortstodividetheland—grantfundbetweenthePeople’sCollegeandtheStateAgriculturalCollege;tohavebeencontinuedwhenIopposedthefritteringawayoftheentiregrantamongmorethantwentysmallsectariancolleges;andtohavetakenamoredirectformwhenIdraftedtheeducationalclausesoftheuniversitycharterandadvocateditbeforethelegislatureandinthepress。Thisadvocacywasbynomeansalighttask。TheinfluentialmenwhoflockedtoAlbany，seekingtodividethefundamongvarioussectsandlocalities，usedargumentsoftenplausibleandsometimesforcible。TheseIdealtwithonvariousoccasions，butespeciallyinaspeechbeforetheStateSenatein1865，inwhichwasshownthecharacteroftheinterestedopposition，thefarcicalequipmentofthePeople’sCollege，thefailureoftheStateAgriculturalCollege，theinadequacyofthesectariancolleges，eventhoughtheycalledthemselvesuniversities;andI
didallinmypowertocommunicatetomycolleaguessomethingofmyownenthusiasmforauniversitysuitablyendowed，freefromsectariantrammels，centrallysituated，andorganizedtomeetfullythewantsoftheStateasregardedadvancededucation，generalandtechnical。
ThreepointsIendeavoredespeciallytoimpressupontheminthisspeech。First，thatwhile，asregardsprimaryeducation，thepolicyoftheStateshouldbediffusionofresources，itshouldbe，asregardsuniversityeducation，concentrationofresources。Secondly，thatsectariancollegescouldnotdotheworkrequired。Thirdly，thatanyinstitutionforhighereducationintheStatemustformanintegralpartofthewholesystemofpublicinstruction;
thattheuniversityshouldnotbeisolatedfromtheschoolsystem，asweretheexistingcolleges，butthatitshouldhavealivingconnectionwiththesystem，shouldpushitsrootsdownintoitandthroughit，drawinglifefromitandsendinglifebackintoit。Mr。Cornellacceptedthisviewatonce。Mr。HoraceGreeley，who，uptothattime，hadsupportedthePeople’sCollege，wasfavorablyimpressedbyit，and，morethananythingelse，itwonforushissupport。Toinsurethisvitalconnectionoftheproposeduniversitywiththeschoolsystem，Iprovidedinthecharterforfour``Statescholarships’’ineachoftheonehundredandtwenty—eightAssemblydistricts。Thesescholarshipsweretobeawardedtothebestscholarsinthepublicschoolsofeachdistrict，afterdueexamination，oneeachyear;eachscholarshipentitlingtheholdertofreeinstructionintheuniversityforfouryears。Thustheuniversityandtheschoolswereboundcloselytogetherbytheconstantandlivingtieoffivehundredandtwelvestudents。AsthenumberofAssemblydistrictsunderthenewconstitutionwasmade，someyearslater，onehundredandfifty，thenumberofthesecompetitivefreescholarshipsisnowsixhundred。Theyhaveservedtheirpurposewell。ThirtyyearsofthisconnectionhavegreatlyupliftedthewholeschoolsystemoftheState，andmadetheuniversityalife—givingpowerinit;whilethisupliftingoftheschoolsystemhasenabledtheuniversitysteadilytoraiseandimproveitsownstandardofinstruction。
Butduringtheearlierperiodofourplanstherewasoneseriousobstacle——CharlesJamesFolger。HewasthemostpowerfulmemberoftheSenate，itspresident，andchairmanoftheJudiciaryCommittee。Hehadalreadywonwiderespectasacountyjudge，hadbeenlongerintheSenatethananyothermember，andhadalreadygivenampleevidenceofthequalitieswhichlaterinliferaisedhimtosomeofthehighestpositions，StateandNational。Hisinstinctswouldhavebroughthimtoourside;forhewasbroad—minded，enlightened，andearnestlyinfavorofallgoodlegislation。Hewasalsomypersonalfriend，andwhenIprivatelypresentedmyviewstohimheacquiescedinthem。Butthereweretwodifficulties。First，hehadinhisowncityadenominationalcollege，hisownalmamater，which，thoughsmall，wasinfluential。Stillworseforus，hehadinhisdistricttheStateAgriculturalCollege，whichthefoundingofCornellUniversitymustnecessarilywipeoutofexistence。Hemightriseabovethefirstofthesedifficulties，butthesecondseemedinsurmountable。
Nomatterhowmuchinsympathywithourmainaim，hecouldnotsacrificeapossessionsodeartohisconstituencyastheStateCollegeofAgriculture。Hefeltthathehadnorighttodoso;heknewalsothattodosowouldbetosacrificehispoliticalfuture，andwefelt，ashedid，thathehadnorighttodothis。
Butherecameintohelpustheculminationofaseriesofeventsasunexpectedasthatwhichhadplacedtheland—
grantfundatourdisposaljustatthetimewhenMr。CornellandmyselfmetintheStateSenate。ForyearsaconsiderablebodyofthoughtfulmenthroughouttheState，moreespeciallyofthemedicalprofession，hadsoughttoremedyagreatevilinthetreatmentoftheinsane。Asfarbackasthemiddleofthecentury，SenatorBradfordofCortlandhadtakentheleadinaninvestigationofthesystemthenexisting，andhisreportwasafrightfulex—
posure。ThroughouttheState，lunaticswhosefamilieswereunabletosupportthemattheStateorprivateasylumswerehuddledtogetherinthepoorhousesofthevariouscounties。Theirconditionwasheartrending。Theywereconstantlyexposedtoneglect，frequentlytoextremesofcoldandhunger，andsometimestobrutality:thusmildlunacyoftenbecameravingmadness。ForsomeyearsbeforemyelectiontotheSenatetheneedofareformhadbeenurgeduponthelegislativecommitteesbyaphysician——Dr。WillardofAlbany。Hehadtakenthisevilconditionofthingsmuchtoheart，andyearafteryearhadcomebeforethelegislatureurgingthecreationofanewinstitution，whichhewishednamedafteraneminentphysicianofAlbanywhohadinhisdaydonewhatwaspossibletoremedytheevil——Dr。Beck。ButyearafteryearDr。
Willard’sefforts，likethoseofDr。Beckbeforehim，hadbeeninvain。Sessionaftersessionthe``BilltoestablishtheBeckAsylumfortheChronicInsane’’wasrejected，——
thelegislatureshrinkingfromthecostofit。Butoneday，asweweresittingintheSenate，appallingnewscamefromtheAssembly:Dr。Willard，whilemakingonemorepassionateappealfortheasylum，hadfallendeadinthepresenceofthecommittee。Theresultwasadeepandwide—
spreadfeelingofcompunction，andwhilewewereundertheinfluenceofthisIsoughtJudgeFolgerandshowedhimhisopportunitytodotwogreatthings。Isaid:``ItrestswithyoutoremedythiscruelevilwhichhasnowcostDr。Willardhislife，andatthesametimetojoinusincarryingtheCornellUniversityBill。LetthelegislaturecreateanewasylumforthechronicinsaneoftheState。
Nowisthetimeofalltimes。InsteadofcallingittheBeckAsylum，giveitthenameofWillard——themanwhodiedinadvocatingit。PlaceitupontheAgriculturalCollegepropertyontheshoresofSenecaLakeinyourdistrict。YourconstituentsaresuretopreferalivingStateasylumtoadyingAgriculturalCollege，andwillthoroughlysupportyouinboththeproposedmeasures。’’
ThissuggestionJudgeFolgerreceivedwithfavor。TheWillardAsylumwascreated，andhebecameoneofourstrongestsupporters。
BothMr。Cornell’sfinancialplansandmyeducationalplansinthenewuniversitycharterwerewroughtintofinalshapebyhim。AschairmanoftheJudiciaryCommitteehereportedourbilltotheSenate，andatvariouscriticalperiodsgaveushisearnestsupport。Quitelikelydoctrinaireswillstigmatizeourconductinthismatteras``log—rolling’’;themenwhoalwayscriticizebutneverconstructmayevencallita``bargain。’’Therewasno``bargain’’andno``log—rolling，’’buttheymaycallitwhattheylike;Ibelievethatwewerebothofusthoroughlyintheright。ForourcomingtogetherinthiswaygavetotheStatetheWillardAsylumandtheCornellUniversity，andwithoutourthuscomingtogetherneitherofthesewouldhavebeencreated。
Butinspiteofthishappycompromise，thestruggleforouruniversitycharter，ashasalreadybeenseen，waslongandsevere。Theoppositionofovertwentysectariancolleges，andofactivepoliticiansfromeveryquarteroftheStatewherethesecollegeshadbeenestablished，madeourworkdifficult;butatlastitwasaccomplished。Preparationsforthenewinstitutionwerenowearnestlypressedon，andforayearIgaveupverymuchofmytimetothem，keepinginconstantcommunicationwithMr。Cornell，frequentlyvisitingIthaca，andcorrespondingwithtrusteesinvariouspartsoftheStateandwithallothersathomeorabroadwhoseemedabletothrowlightonanyoftheproblemswehadtosolve。
Thequestionnowaroseastothepresidencyoftheinstitution;and，astimepassedonanddutiesincreased，thisbecamemoreandmorepressing。InthepreviouschapterIhavegivensomeaccountofthecircumstancesattendingmyelectionandofMr。Cornell’srelationtoit;butthisisperhapstheplaceforstatingoneofthedifficultieswhichstoodinthewayofmyacceptance，andwhich，indeed，greatlyincreasedmycaresduringallthefirstyearsofmypresidency。Thedeathofmyfatheranduncle，whohadformanyyearscarriedonalargeandwide—spreadbusiness，threwuponmenewresponsibilities。ItwasduringtheCivilWar，whenpanicafterpanicranthroughtheAmericanbusinessworld，makingtheinterestsnowdevolvinguponmeallthemoreburdensome。Ihadnoeducationforbusinessandnolikingforit，but，underthepressureofnecessity，decidedtodothebestIcould，yetdeterminingthatjustassoonasthesebusinessaffairscouldbeturnedovertoothersitshouldbedone。Severalyearselapsed，andthosethebusiestsofarastheuniversitywasconcerned，beforesuchareleasebecamepossible。SoithappenedthatduringthefirstandmosttryingyearsofthenewinstitutionofIthaca，IwasobligedtododutyassenatoroftheStateofNewYork，presidentofCornellUniversity，lecturerattheUniversityofMichigan，presidentoftheNationalBankofSyracuseanddirectorintwootherbanks，——onebeingatOswego，——directorintheNewYorkCentralandLakeShorerailways，directorintheAlbemarleandChesapeakeCanal，——tosaynothingofpositionsonboardsofvarioussimilarcorporationsandtheexecutorshipoftwowidelyextendedestates。
Itwasatryingtimeforme。Therewas，however，someadvantage;forthisepochinmylifeputmeinrelationswithsomeoftheforemostbusinessmenintheUnitedStates，amongthemCorneliusVanderbilt，WilliamH。