THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS, 1853-55. 557 



gifted as lie is, and distinguished as he has been in his past 

 course, did not content himself with resigning his position 

 for the very ample and sufficient reason which he first gives, 

 that he is unable to discharge the duties required of him. 

 I regret it also, because, if I collected the scope of that letter 

 accurately from its reading — for I had not seen it before — it 

 seems in any view to present this state of the case — the writer 

 meets with his brother regents; a certain question arises, 

 what shall be done in the management of the institution? 

 That inquiry involves a question as to the just interpretation 

 of the law; the best and the legal means of carrying out 

 the great purpose of the donor. That matter is the subject 

 of discussion and debate among them. The majority of the 

 regents decide against him,and immediately he retires from 

 the institution, and interposes an appeal to Congress against 

 the majority of the body, of" which he is a member. 



Again, sir, it seems to imply this: Distinguished and ele- 

 vated as that gentleman is, and high and important as are 

 the services which he has rendered to his country, and which 

 he is now able to render in this or any other station to which 

 the voice of his countrymen or tlie public authorities may 

 call him, I think the whole tone of tbat part of the letter 

 slightly exaggerates the importance to the public of the event 

 which it communicates, namely, his retiring from the Board 

 of Regents. 



Besides, considering also — for I think my friend from 

 Illinois did not succeed exactly in vindicating that part of 

 the letter — the suggestion which my friend from Maryland 

 made, that there is a tone of confidence, of unmistakable 

 and unmistaken certainty, with which the distinguished 

 writer announces his opinions upon the interpretation of 

 this law, which I think my friend from Illinois will pardon 

 me for saying at least borders a little, very little, upon the 

 confines of arrogance, for I beg my friend to consider against 

 what an array of judgments the opinion of that distinguished 

 writer is given. 



Mr. Douglas. Consider the names on the other side. 



Mr. Badger. The names on the other side have not been 

 yet given; but I am very certain that my friend before me, 

 [Mr. Douglas,] whose name is one of them — and it is a name 

 of weight and authority in this country, and elsewhere, where 

 it is known — is one of the last persons who would announce 

 his opinion, without the expression of some deferential con- 

 ception that, after all, perhaps he might be mistaken. Now, 

 I must say, I think it is due to truth and the occasion, to 

 say — and I believe the whole Senate will agree with nie — 



