FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
Justin S. Morrill, Chairman.
Daniel W. Voorhees,
John Sherman,
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE,
James B. Beck,
John P. Jones,
John R. McPherson,
William B. Allison,
UNITED STATES SENATE,
Nelson W. Aldrich,
Isham G. Harris,
Zebulon B. Vance.
Warner Miller,
Benjamin Durfee, Clerk.
February 24, 1887.
My dear sir:
On returning to my house
last evening I found your tele-
gram, and this morning I have
been to the War Dept where I
learned that the Norwich Uni-
versity have stolen a march
upon you and obtained the
appointment. They say that
you made no request whatever
nor even reference to any new
appointment when the removal

of the present officer was under
consideration. In your letter
to me some time ago you did not
ask me to see about the matter
but seemed to indicate that a
little time would be required to
hunt up a proper officer.
By looking at the statutes you
will see that the law permits
them to assign an officer to any
College or University with means
to educate 150 students and that
these officers must be distributed
some what in proportion to population
Therefore, I think that the Vermont

University will have to get along
for the next three years without
any help from the U.S. Army.
It appears that Genl. Grout and
several other gentlemen with him
went to the Department some time
ago, made their application and
secured favorable action. I
do not see how you are to get
along unless you employ some
Captain of our military companies
to give the boys an hour's drill
for two days in the week when
required. I very much regret
this, and think it might have been
different if we had moved earlier,

although the Secretary of War
seems to think that, Burlington
having had it for some years,
the other institution, being
aided by the State, has the
better title.
Very truly yours,
Justin S. Morrill
Presd't M.H. Buckham,
Burlington, Vt.