authority of the British king. As it emanated
from royalty, it contained, as was natural it should, principles
congenial to monarchy; among others, it established Trustees, made
seven a quorum, and authorized a majority of those present to remove
any of its members which they might consider unfit or incapable, and
the survivors to perpetuate the Board by themselves, electing others
to supply vacancies. This last principle is hostile to the spirit and
genius of a free government. Sound policy therefore requires that the
mode of election should be changed, and that Trusties, in future,
should be elected by some other body of men.

"The college was founded for the public good, not for the benefit or
emolument of its Trustees; and the right to amend and improve acts of
incorporation of this nature has been exercised by all governments,
both monarchical and republican. In the Charter of Dartmouth College
it is expressly provided that the president, trustees, professors,
tutors and other officers, shall take the oath of allegiance to the
British king; but if the laws of the United States, as well as those
of New Hampshire, abolished by implication that part of the Charter,
much more might they have done it directly and by express words. These
facts show the authority of the Legislature to interfere upon this
subject."

Governor Plumer communicated this message to Jefferson, who replied in
his letter of July 21, 1816: "It is replete with sound principles, and
truly republican. Some articles, too, are worthy of notice. The idea
that institutions established for the use of the nation cannot be
touched nor modified, even to make them answer their end, because of
rights gratuitously supposed in those employed to manage them in trust
for the public, may, perhaps, be a salutary provision against the
abuses of a monarch, but it is most absurd against the nation itself.
Yet our lawyers and priests generally inculcate this doctrine, and
suppose that preceding generations held the earth more freely than we
do; had a right to impose laws on us, unalterable by ourselves; and
that we, in like manner, can make laws and impose burdens on future
generations, which they will have no right to alter; in fine, that the
earth belongs to the dead, and not to the living."

The following action shows the result:

"The undersigned, three of the members of the Board of Trustees of
Dartmouth College, having this morning seen a printed copy of a bil