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Life Of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet

Creator: Edward Miner Gallaudet (author)
Date: 1888
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company, New York
Source: Available at selected libraries
Figures From This Artifact: Figure 2

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370  

Too much argument, however, had been carried on, and the differences of opinion were too radical to allow a hope of harmonious action to be had.

371  

Mr. Gallaudet, therefore, on the 7th of April, 1830, forwarded his resignation to the directors.

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To one who has studied with care the many documents that go to make up the record of this seemingly unfortunate history, the charity shown by Mr. Gallaudet towards those who had been opposing him appears little short of sublime.

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While giving suitable prominence to the differences of view existing between the instructors and himself and showing how unlikely it was that harmony could be expected even though the directors should fully sustain and the assistants acquiesce in his policy, as both seemed disposed now to do, he still declared his willingness to make the attempt of continuing to direct the affairs of the institution, were he not convinced that his health would no longer bear the strain. He closes his letter of resignation as follows:

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Trusting, gentlemen, that whatever opinion you may form of the expediency of the course which, after long and deliberate reflection, I have adopted, you will let my motives share the exercise of your candor, 1 resign into your hands the office of principal, cherishing towards all connected with the establishment the most friendly sentiments; grateful for the kindnesses which I have received; sensible of my many deficiencies in duty and errors in judgment; and beseeching Almighty God so to guide and bless all concerned in its management that the institution, over whose interests you, gentlemen, have so long and so successfully presided, may go on to increase in favor with the public, and in usefulness to that interesting and yet very numerous class of our fellow-men, for whose benefit it was, under the guidance of a merciful Providence, originally established.

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In their annual report following Mr. Gallaudet's resignation the directors thus record their appreciation of the value of his services:

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It is well known that to this gentleman, as the agent of the board of directors, the cause of humanity is primarily indebted for the introduction of the art of deaf-mute instruction into the United States, and for the general spread of that information necessary for prosecuting it successfully in public institutions, of which all in operation in the country are now experiencing the benefits. It is, however, in our own establishment that the importance of his services can be best appreciated. These are and have ever been most highly valued by the board. To them they attribute primarily and chiefly the success of their institution hitherto, as it appertains either to the patronage of public bodies, the favor of influential individuals, the benevolent wishes and the contributions of the charitable, and the actual instruction of several hundred deaf and dumb persons. Retaining his connection with the institution as one of its life-directors, Mr. Gallaudet will still be enabled to exercise an important influence in its management; and while his associates in the board rely upon the aid of his experience and counsels in their future operations, they can not but express their cordial desire for his own continued prosperity and happiness, in whatever sphere of usefulness he may be called to engage.

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It would budren -sic- these pages to relate how often and in what manner Mr. Gallaudet's "experience and counsels" were of special value to the institution in whose board of management he retained a seat, after ceasing to be its executive head.

378  

These services covered a period of more than twenty years: they were given without thought of pecuniary reward; and that the directors recognized later the obligations of the institution to Mr. Gallaudet growing out of these labors, by voting him a sum of money, detracts nothing from the unselfish spirit in which they were offered.

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Not the least important of them was rendered almost immediately after his resignation, and before his successor had been appointed. It was to urge upon the directors with an earnestness which good taste, and his natural modesty, forbade him to show so long as they concerned himself, all those measures he had proposed concerning organization and division of duty and authority in the institution.

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These measures were promptly adopted by the board, and Mr. Gallaudet's successor found himself clothed with all needful power, required only to perform such duties as were natural to his office as principal -- and these not of an exhausting character -- and in the receipt of a salary much larger than had ever been paid to Mr. Gallaudet.

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That the directors of the institution, or the teachers, intended to do injustice to Mr. Gallaudet need not be charged at this late day, and it would probably be wrong to impute such motives to them. That he was unjustly, even cruelly, treated is evident from the record. It is known that he felt himself to have been so dealt with. But through all this bitter experience he broke no friendship, he accused no man of unworthy motives. He had, with wonderful energy, discretion and devotion, carried a great public work to a brilliant and substantial success, in consideration of which the least the directors could, in justice, have offered him would have been a year of absolute rest, that he might, if possible, regain the health which had broken down in their service.

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