510 [ASSEUBLT 



City." We reply: — 1st, This school and farm are not to be in the 

 city: 2d. The manners customs and habits of the farmers and their 

 sons near New-York, can compare advantageously with those of the 

 best citizens in any part of the state: 3d. Cannot the students at 

 West Point compare in propriety of habits, with the youth of any 

 portion of N^ew-York? The students of the Agricultural School would 

 be under a moral discipline of equal strength. If they visited the 

 city for recreation, their stay would be extremely limited; if for ob- 

 jects connected whh education, their instructors would see that they 

 attended to those objects, and not to the pleasures of the metropolis. 

 But after all, reprehensible as many of its amusements are, New- 

 York is not a Golgotha, although the report might to many, per- 

 haps even against the intention of the committee, convey that amia- 

 ble idea. 



In the second paragraph, the location near New- York is objected 

 to, because it " is situated at an extreme part of the state." But it 

 may be asked, is not this an advantage, when we look at the land 

 and water conveyances which centre in the metropolis? But " the 

 soil and climate differ somewhat from a large portion of the state, 

 where farming constitutes the main business." By which the report 

 perhaps means, that near New-York there is a little more sand in the 

 soil, and one's fingers are not so apt to be frozen on Christmas, as 

 elsewhere! But if the honorable committee are in earnest, we an- 

 swer, the farm is not the only thing which we propose to establish; 

 there is a college also. Now the location near New- York would 

 combine the greatest number of advantages for the college and farm, 

 theory/ and practice combined* 



The third paragraph objects to " the call for the funds of the 

 state in the first instance." Will the committee tell us how the 

 common school system of this state was established? Was it not 

 founded at once by the funds of the state? But this school and 

 farm will be under the control of an Institute. Yes; but that In- 

 stitute in this matter would be under the supervision of the Legisla 

 ture; if the Institute neglected its duty, the very terms on which the 

 control of the school and farm was granted to it would be its accu- 

 sers — condemnation would soon follow. 



The fourth paragraph asserts, " the character of the proposed lo- 

 cation partakes too much of a local and special nature." Local! and 

 special! Would not the students of the School and Farm be dis- 

 seminated over the whole state? And, as a consequence, would not 

 • Refer to page 503, commencing at " This school," &c. 



