AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
Mr. Cory's Agricultural College bill H. R. 172 was taken up, it being the special order for this day at ten o'clock.
Mr. KERCEVAL submitted a resolution for an order that this bill and all questions connected with it, be referred to a special committee of one from each Congressional District with instructions to memorialize Congress to extend the time for the acceptance of the grant or to authorize a change and diversion of the Agricultural College grant to the use and benefit of common schools; and he spoke at some length in support of his proposition.
Mr. BRECKINRIDGE, replying, moved to lay the resolution on the table; but withheld the motion for--
Mr. BUSKIRK who replied to Mr. Kercheval--speaking against the adoption of the resolution. He said that it is not reasonable to expect an extention of this grant. There was neither time to memoralize Congress, nor for Congress to consider the memorial, if there is any expectation that the memorial would be heard with favor. The resolution was impracticable. It was tending to negligence, under which the grant will lapse. When he had concluded, he renewed, the motion to lay the resolution on the table.
Mr. BOBO said the grant could not expire till 1871.
Mr. ODELL and Mr. BRECKINRIDGE, demanded the yeas and nays, which resulted--yeas 45, nays 35--as follows:
YEAS--Messrs. Baker, Beatty, Beeler, Breckinridge, Buskirk, Calvert, Carnahan, Cave, Chittenden, Coffroth, Cory, Cox, Dittemore, Dunn, Fairchild, Field of Lagrange, Fuller, Furnas, Gilham, Gordon, Green, Hall, Hamilton, Higbee, Higgins, Johnson of Parke, Lambron, McFadin, McGregor, Millekan, Miles, Neff, Osborn, Overmyer, Pierce of Porter, Ratliff, Ruddell, Shoaff, Stephenson, Stewart of Ohio, Stewart of Rush, Vardeman, Vater, Welborn and Zollars--45.
NAYS--Messrs. Addison, Bates, Bobo, Bowen, Britton, Chapman, Cunningham, Davidson, Davis, Field of Lake, Hyatt, Johnson of Montgomery, Johnson of St. Joseph, Kercheval, Logan, Long, Mason, McDonald, Miller, Miner, Mitchell, Mock, Odell, Palmer, Sabin, Shoemaker, Skidmore, Sleeth, Smith, Taber, Underwood, Williams of Hamilton, Williams of Knox, Williams of St. Joseph, and Zenor--35.
So the resolution was laid on the table.
Mr. JOHNSON of Marshall, moved to restrict speech to ten minutes on this subject, which was decided in the negative--yeas 26, nays 46.
Mr. CHITTENDEN moved for an order to first consider and then ballot for the location of the Agricultural College--the location receiving the lowest vote to be dropped, till a result shall be obtained.
Mr. Speaker STANTON (Mr. Gordon the Chair) moved to lay it on the table, but withheld the motion for--
Mr. BUSKIRK who moved to amend the resolution by striking out the latter clause.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Knox, made the point there is now a pending order to consider the bill by sections; and after debate by Mr. Buskirk, Mr. Chittenden, Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Ruddell, resulting in this: that although there is an order to consider the bill by sections, it is yet competent for the House to decide which of the sections shall be considered first.
Mr. CORY. Is there anything in the bill to prevent the location at Bloomington?
Mr. BUSKIRK did not know that there is. But if it be located at Bloomington we want a different bill. We do not want the proposed organization of a faculty, for there is already a military chair in the Indiana University.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Knox, viewed his point of order. He was willing to go into ballot for location; and if the House failed then he would insist on the location by the State Board of Agriculture. That Board was not committed on this question.
Mr. RUDDELL (under a question of privilege) desired to present and have read the proposition for a donation by the Commissioners of Marion county.
page: 545[View Page 545]The SPEAKER (Mr. Gordon.) Objection being made it cannot be done.
Mr. CHITTENDEN accepted Mr. Buskirk's amendment to his resolution.
Mr. RUDDELL contended that the House should decide first on the character of the Agricultural School we shall have, or whether--disregarding the intention of the grant--we will hitch this school on something else, to help to build up some other institution.
Mr. RATLIFF thought the matter properly before us. He submitted a proposition by way of substitute, for all pending propositions on this subject.
Mr. Speaker STANTON (Mr. Gordon in the chair) stated that nothing should interfere with the special order.
Mr. Ratliff's proposition, (a substitute for the bill, etc., for a commission to arrange the whole matter, and report to the next session of the General Assembly,) was read for information--and was objected to.
Mr. Chittenden's resolution, as amended, was now adopted, and the location section, the last section of the bill, was then read by the Clerk.
Mr. ZOLLARS moved to fill the blank with "Bloomington, Indiana."
Mr. McFADIN proposed an amendment--Tippecanoe.
Mr. CORY suggested that the Chair announce the different propositions for location.
Mr. RUDDELL presented the proposition from the Board of Commissioners of Marion county; stated that there was, in connection with this, the proposition of the Fletcher heirs, and two other propositions by Mr. Schurman--a choice between twenty and forty acres of land.
Mr. CORY presented the proposition from Putnam county.
Mr. BEELER presented the proposition from Tippecanoe county.
Mr. CHITTENDEN submitted that when the propositions shall all be received, the better way in the ballotings would be for the House to order that the location receiving the lowest vote be dropped successively, till a result is reached.
Mr. CORY presented the proposition from Hancock county; and--
Mr. BUSKIRK, The proposition from Bloomington; in conjunction with the State of Indiana, which he regarded as tendering the University buildings, libraries, apparatus and the campus of twelve acres.
Mr. Speaker STANTON stated again the Marion county proposition, adding that of Mr. Augustus Schurman, twenty acres immediately north of the city, or forty acres northwest, near the river, and he was also informed by Mr. Caven that the Northwestern Christian University Trustees will offer their grounds and building--a very valuable and well adapted proposition--which would probably be matured and submitted before we get through.
Mr. McFADIN set forth the claims of the Tippecanoe location, amounting to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars in buildings, and sixty acres of land.
Mr. OSBORN suggested that the proposition of Monroe county to give the State University, it grounds, libraries, etc., seemed to him something like a proposition made by the devil that he had read of. In other words, it is a proposition to give what don't belong to them.
Mr. BUSKIRK took the floor again for the Bloomington location, and closed the reading of his paper thereon, commencing where he was broken off on Wednesday by ill health. It is as follows:
Three plans for the disposition of the Agricultural College grant have been presented. First the distribution of the fund among four or five of the leading colleges of the State, including the State University. Secondly, the establishment of a seperate institution. Thirdly, the most feasible, economical and safe plan, its location in connection with the State University. The plan for the distribution of the proceeds of this fund, was gotton up and urged in the interest of Wabash and Hanover Colleges, and the Asbury and Northwestern Christian Universities, and while at one time urged with a good deal of zeal, is not at the present time, I believe, seriously urged.
The objections to this scheme are so numerous and overwhelming that it would seem that no member of the House would for a moment seriously entertain it. Why should these four sectarian institutions only be selected as the recipients of public favor, while all the rest are left (to use a trite phrase,) out in the cold? What have our fellow citizens who belong to the Baptists, Lutherans, Quakers, Congregationalists, Episcopalians and Catholics, done which should render them less deserving of public favors than the above named "elected few?" Now such exclusiveness can not for a moment be tolerated by any fair minded honest man. Then Franklin, Meron, Notre Dame, Earlham and the Lutheran College at Fort Wayne, must not, if justice be done, be ignored. This would leave for each college only twelve hundred dollars per annum--an amount too small for any practical purpose. This plan, then, is equivalent to throwing away the fund, and a gross perversion of the trust committed to the State.
Again, the act of Congress making the donation holds the State responsible for this trust, and requires the State itself to establish one or more Agricultural Colleges. It does not authorize the State to give it away into the hands of these not responsible to the General Assem page: 546[View Page 546] bly. This would be a plain departure from the conditions of the grant and would work its forfeiture. Upon this point their is doubtless adversity of opinion, but to my mind the proposition is perfectly clear.
But this plan is totally impracticable. How are the labratories, libraries, museums, gardens, farms, machine shops, engines, tools, etc., to be furnished for ten institutions, which already have all they can do to live, without these additional burdens? Now these institutions must furnish them, or the State must do it. Judging from the past, it will take long years for these colleges to raise the neccessary means, if they can do it at all. For the State to furnish it to each of them would require a heavy expenditure, which must be met by increased taxation, which our already overburdened people can not well stand.
It is impractical also for another reason. There are too many diverse and conflicting interests involved ever to be harmonized and made to work in unison. All these institutions except the State University, are under the control of independent Boards of Trustees, They are not responsible to the State, nor subject to its control; and it would only be by the consent of such Trustees, should the State appoint an Agricultural Professor to the colleges, that he could exercise his functions in their institutions. Such Professors would be mere ''tenants at will," liable to be ejected at any moment. One of these colleges, after a year's trial, finds it inconvenient to admit such Professor; then that Agricultural College must suspend operations. Then another and another of these institutions might follow the example until all should cease, in which case, in my opinion the grant would be forfeited, and lost to the educational interests of the State. It strikes me that no one in this House, who values the public welfare, would be willing to embark the State in so perilous an enterprise, or stake this important grant upon the uncertain action of sectarian and independent Boards of Trustees, that we could not control if we desired to do so.
To aid us in settling this question of its locality, it is necessary to understand somewhat the nature of the proposed Agricultural College. Very indefinite and crude notions are entertained by most, upon this subject. Some have thought it should be an institution where the students should learn practical farming by actual labor, or to be perfected in some trade in mechanics. It certainly was no part of the design of this grant to require its students to go out into the cornfields and learn how to plow, to drive a reaper, or anything of that kind; nor to learn the trade of the blacksmith, brick mason or house carpenter. Such an idea is both absurd and impracticable, and, I may add, unnecessary. The farm of any thrifty farmer, and the shop of any good mechanic furnish better practical schools than any the State can establish. Besides, students will not attend such institutions, as experience has clearly demonstrated. Young men will not go from home, spend their time and means for the privilege of engaging in manual labor; they generally can get enough of that at home without costing them anything. Hence "Manuel Labor Schools," of which so much was said and written some years ago, have proved splendid failures, and in my judgment will always prove failures wherever tried.
The true object of these Colleges is two-fold--the increase of knowledge pertaining to agriculture and the mechanic arts, and its dissemination. The increase of knowledge is to be gained by the application of the methods of science to these departments of industry. Able and thoroughly scientific men will be employed in these institutions who will analyze all the various products of the farm, and determine the elements of which they are composed. In like manner they will analyze the soils in all their different varieties, and ascertain whether the elements which enter into the compositions of these vegetable products exist in these soils and in what proportion. In this mode it can be determined what kind of soils are best suited to grow any particular vegetable. These scientific facts are susceptible of practical application. With this knowledge, the farmer knows where to plant his corn and to sow his wheat in order to realize the most abundant crop. The same is true in regard to all the other products of the farm and garden. He also knows how to distribute his fertilizer in most profitable way. Then it is proposed by means of a farm and garden, to test, by actual experiment, the theories thus deduced. Science and industry will thus go hand in hand, rendering vastly more remunerative the oil of the laborer. This, in brief, if I am correctly informed, is the main object that Congress had in view in establishing Agricultural Colleges.
In the second place, the knowledge thus gained will be preserved and disseminated. The result of the experiments tried by those institutions, and of all other experiments of the Agricultural Colleges in America and Europe, together with the results of the experiments tried by the best farmers throughout the Union, will be gathered up and put in an available shape, and reported to the legislature, and published to the world. The same methods of investigation will be applied to the animal kingdom, and the best methods of raising and caring for stock.
The object of the Mechanical School is to facilitate improvements in "labor-saving" machines, and the invention of new and better implements of husbandry and mechanics. How page: 547[View Page 547] wonderful the change which even a quarter of a century has wrought, in multiplying by means of machinery, the productiveness of human labor. The mowers, reapers, thrashers; fans, pows and cultivators, enable one man now to accomplish what would have required twenty men fifty years ago. And we are as yet only on the threshhold of the great temple of improvement. One great discovery in science opens the door to a multitude of others; each new invention and improvement renders possible and even probable a hundred more. Recently a distinguished philosopher of England stated that the machinery of that country alone performed the work of six hundred millions of unassisted human laborers--more than twice the laboring population of the globe. The grandeur of that perfect civilization which awaits humanity in a coming age surpasses our present power to conceive. To contribute to this grand result, and to hasten its completion, is the design of your Agricultural Colleges.
In determining the location of the Agricultural College, it is well to bear in mind that an institution of this kind cannot be sustained as a separate College. This fact reason teaches and all experience confirms--agricultural and mechanical sciences cannot be studied successfully except by those who possess already a good degree of literary and scientific culture. To understand chemical analysis one must be well versed in the elements of chemistry and natural philosophy. So also mechanics requires a knowledge of algebra, geometry, trigonometry,analytical geometry and calculus, the highest branches of mathematics. In short students must have a good education before they enter such an institution with any hope of success. Is it proposed to take boys untutored and untrained in these Agricultural Colleges, and put them to learning the higher branches of natural science and mathematics? We might just as well expect them to talk German without the benefit of the German School bill which we have just passed. Where then, shall the students of your Agricultural Colleges be prepared? If such only are to be prepared at other institutions, their number will be few indeed. Young men who have spent four years in completing their literary course will not likely spend four more in the Agricultural College. This would require eight years instead of four, the usual period allotted to a Collegiate course, and double the expense for our farmers to gain their education. Few students will attend Agricultural Colleges upon such terms, and all such institutions will prove magnificent failures.
Experience has demonstrated this view to be correct. All agricultural and mechanical schools, founded upon such principles, have failed. New York established such an institution some years ago, on a beautiful spot in the interior of that State. She purchased a thousand acres of land, overlooking one of her most beautiful lakes, and at great expense erected magnificent buildings, and provided the requisite machinery. Professors and instructors were employed, and the College opened on a grand scale for the reception of students. A few attended at first, attracted by the scenery and the novelty of the arragements. They soon became dissatisfied and their number diminished until all were gone. It never had any prosperity, and the project has been long since abandoned. Michigan has made three failures in her efforts to establish an Agricultural College without the department of the Liberal Arts attached. The State provided a farm and shop, and put the farm in operation. It continued but a short time, closing for the want of the students. The Legislature tried again to breathe into it the breath of life. They reorganized it, and to induce students to attend, they made tuition free; but it languished still, and soon expired the second time. It was again reconstructed, and in addition to free tuition, board was placed at the lowest possible figure, manual labor was made voluntary, and the highest price was paid to those who chose to labor for every hour they were thus employed. But in spite of these renewed efforts of the legislature, it proved a failure. With these facts staring you in the face, do you propose to repeat the folly of Michigan? Some years since a gentleman of wealth in Kentucky, established a similar institution. He soon found that it could not succeed, and abandoned the enterprise. All the Agricultural Colleges of Europe, which were established upon a similar basis, have been failures. There was one which seemed an exception, it being kept alive by the indomitable energy of its founder; but after his death it also expired.
The practical results in those States that have accepted the Congressional gracte and organized colleges in accordance with its provisions teach the same truth. Thirteen States have located their Agricultural Colleges in connection with literary institutions already existing, and each is a complete success. Four have adopted the plan of separate institutions, and they have failed. Pennsylvania has made a most lamentable failure. She located hers in Centre county, where she had been trying to keep alive an Agricultural College which had for years been in a dying condition. Now they have both gone down together. New York had no State University, and she was compelled to establish a separate institution. Through her own good sense and the liberality of one of her wealthy citizens Mr. Cornell, she is building up in connection with it a complete and magnificent University, embracing not page: 548[View Page 548] only the collegiate course, but all the professions and prencipal vocations. That it will be a success none will doubt, as it is sustained by a fund amounting to one million seven hundred thousand dollars.
Even the Congress of the United States evidently entertained the same opinion, otherwise why did they so carefully word the section of the act which specifies the character of the instruction which shall be imparted in these colleges. It is as follows: "At least one college shall be established, in which shall be taught, not excluding other scientific and classical studies, and including military tactics, those branches which pertain to agricultural and mechanic arts." The authors of this act feared that a purely agricultural college could not be sustained, and lest they should be misunderstood, and their magnificent grant be rendered nugatory, they expressly provided that the literary and scientific course might be added. Your Agricultural College, then, if you wish it to succeed, must be connected with some institution of learning; or the State must build up in connection with it a regular college or university.
Shall the State erect such an institution separate and apart from her University? There are insurmountable objections to this plan. First, the heavy drafts upon the State Treasury which would be required (See Governor Baker's message, in the suffix,) to organize a new institution, and make it equal to the State University, would involve an expenditure of four or five hundred thousand dollars. The present value of the University including its buildings, libraries, museum, labratory, and other fixtures, together with its endowments, lands and revenues, amounts at a fair valuation to nearly that sum. Now all these become subsidiary to your Agricultural College, if it shall be located at Bloomington in connection with the State University. Would it be wise for the State at this time to incur such an expenditure? His Excellency, the Governor, tells us that for this reason he deems this plan inexpedient; and every judicious man will concur in this opinion. The citizens of the State are already overburdened with taxation, and shall we add a half million more to these burdens when all the benefits accruing from your Agricultural College can be much better realized, and the interests of education far more advanced, by simply locating it in connection with your State University, without one cent additional expenditure by the State?
There is another formidable objection to the plan of a separate institution. We would then have two State Universities or Colleges, both teaching the same branches. Duplicate crops of Professors, at separate points, would be employed at double the expense to perform the work which could be better performed by one. These two Universities will come in conflict with each other in competing for students.--Rival interests will lead to jealousies, and mutual injuries destructive alike to the institutions themselves and the interests of higher education in Indiana, Will the great State of Indiana be guilty of such consummate folly?
But it is urged by some that it will not be necessary for the State to incur this expense; localities will compete for its location, and the contributions will be sufficient to erect buildings and provide a first class college to which this may be attached. Tippecanoe county is offering a bonus. So is Hancock county, and other places will soon enter the lists. But suppose the donations were secured and the new University established. We would then have two Universities, both belonging to the State, struggling with each other, and maintaining a dying existence until both expired. But no locality has, or will hereafter, contribute half the value of the State University at Bloomington. The State has recently had some experience in this mode of locating institutions of learning. Take the case of the Normal School at Terre Haute. I would not have it understood that I am opposed to that institution.--On the contrary, when the bill was up in this House a few days since, making an appropriation of the sum of one hundred thousand dollars, I cheerfully voted for it; but I simply refer to it as an apt illustration. It is a noble institution, and it should be promptly carried forward to completion. In this case, if I am correctly informed, all that was required was buildings and fixtures. The city of Terre Haute, in order to secure its location, donated seventy-five thousand dollars. This sufficed only to purchase the lot and lay the foundation. The last General Assembly appropriated fifty thousand dollars to erect the buildings, and we are now asked for one hundred thousand dollars more to finish it and put it in running order. We refer to this to show how small an item in the cost of institutions are local donations, though made on the most liberal scale. Terre Haute gave seventy-five thousand dollars and the State gives one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to secure merely the lot and building. But much more will be needed for your Agricultural College.--There must be buildings, farm, garden, labratory, library, museum, and provision for all the regular College professorships. Four or five hundred thousand dollars in all would be needed for this purpose. Now, no one locality has offered to contribute more than a fifth part of this sum, if we except the State University.
The third, and only feasible plan, is to locate in connection with the State University, page: 549[View Page 549] which is the property of the State of Indiana, and in it every citizen possesses a deep and permanent interest. Thus it will be a success, and the interests of higher education will be greatly promoted. The first advantage of this arrangement is that all the educational appliances belonging to the University will then be available for the use of the Agricultural College. These are of great value, and over them the State has the entire control. Without disparagement to other literary institutions, her buildings are the largest and the best adapted to College purposes of any in the State. They are one hundred and forty-seven feet in length, consisting of a main building and two wings, all three stories hight, and finished after the collegiate Gothic style, prsenting a most imposing and tasteful appearance. The libraries, philosophical apparatus, museum, etc., and society halls, are among the best in the State. The campus contains twelve acres, planted with trees and shrubbery, and enclosed with a beautiful picket fence. These, together with the endowments and unsold lands, are worth at the lowest estimate, four hundred thousand dollars, and will all subserve the prosperity and success of the Agricultural College. Why should the State unnecessarily duplicate them in another place, and thereby destroy or greatly cripple both her institutions?
Secondly--Most of the branches required to be taught in the Agricultural College are already taught in the University. These are chemistry--organic and inorganic--natural history, botany and mechanics. The entire military department is in full operation. Major General Eli Long, of the United States Army, has been detailed by the President of the United States as Military Professor, and has been at his post since October last. The arms and accoutrements for infantry and artilery drill have already been secured, and those for cavalry drill will soon be obtained. Besides, the citizens of Monroe county donate, on condition that the Agricultural College is located in connection with the State University, fifty thousand dollars for the purchase of a farm and other fixtures for its use.
Thirdly. Tuition is now free for all in the State University. Formerly two students from each county were admitted free of charge for tuition on the certificate of their appointment by the Board of County Commissioners. Eight years ago this arrangement was changed, and the Trustees provided that all students should be admitted free of charge for tuition in the Literary Department of the University. The State University thus offers a perpetual scholarship, without money, to all who will accept it. The doors of the University are thus thrown freely open to all. Now this perfectly harmonizes with the plan of free tuition in the State Agricultural College. Students attending the Agricultural College will have all the advantages of recitations and lectures in any department they may choose to attend, without any additional expense. On the other hand, the students in the regular class can, if they choose, avail themselves of the lectures and recitations of the Agricultural College. The Libraries, Museum and reading rooms will be open indiscriminately to all. The benefits of such an arrangement can not be easily overestimated.
Fourthly. It is the duty of Indiana to make her University equal to the best in the United States. There are two great duties which every State owes to itself. The first is self-protection; the second self-development. The military systems of different nations are established primarily for the purpose of self protection. Armies and navies may be used for conquest; but it is generally under the plea of self defense. A State has not performed her whole duty when it has provided for her own safety. It it a duty which she owes to God, to humanity, to herself, to attain the highest possible perfection. This perfectton consists in the highest grade of Christian civilization; the greatest power attainable without infringing the rights of other States, or those of its own citizens. These objects when gained, promote the greatest happiness of any people. This happiness is founded upon plenty, security, liberty, and intellectual and moral excellence. If it is the duty of the individual to cultivate his nobler powers, it is equally the duty of a State to devote itself to the development of its resources.
We now need, most of all, in the great West, "mind power"--minds capable of far reaching and deep, penetrating thought to develop those resources in which our laud surpasses all others. To furnish such minds culture of the highest grade and widest range is absolutely necesary. To secure this thorough and extended culture, it is the duty of the State to provide ample means. Says Vattel, a distinguished writter upon the "Law of Nations," speaking of the duties of States to themselves, "the first impressions made upon the mind are of the utmost importance for the remainder of life. In the tender years of youth and infancy the human mind and heart easily receive the seeds of good and evil. Hence the education of youth is one of the most important affairs that deserves the attention of government. It ought not to be left entirely to parents. The most certain way of forming good citizens is to found good establishments for the public education; to provide them with able masters, direct them with prudence, and pursue such mild and suitable measures that citizens will not neglect to take advantage of them."
page: 550[View Page 550]We may refer to Michigan University as an example of what a State can do when it extends its fostering care over higher institutions of learning. This University has been in existence but comparatively a few years, and yet it equals in appliances for imparting a thorough education, literary and professional, the oldest and best University of the East, and to-day surpasses them all in the number of its students. Her University is, in fact, a monument to the wisdom of its legislators that should be followed by her own. Why should Indiana University be behind that of her younger sister on our Northern border? Just now an opportunity is offered of making your State University fully the equal of that of Michigan, or any other on the continent. And this can now be done without any additional expenditure on the part of the State. The Trustees inform us that if the Agricultural College is located in connection with the State University, that they will not only organize and carry it into successful operation in all its departments as required by the law of Congress making the grant, but they will endow the Law school, and establish a Medical Department, thus completing the departments already established by the University, and making it an honor to the State, as the head of its educational system.
For the last few years the State University has been eminently prosperous, and now takes rank with the very best institutions of learning in the West. Besides the regular collegiate course, it already has a Department of Modern Languages, Normal and Military Departments, and the Law Department, which is as yet unendowed. With the additions just named, it would be perfected. Then, with our Common Schools, High Schools and Universities, the youth of our State can complete their education in all its grades, primary, intermediate, acadamic, collegiate and professional, in whatever department he may select for his vocation in life, without being compelled to go to other States. Indiana owes this to herself and to her children. She should not be dependent upon other States for that which she is abundantly able to supply. All this can now be done without any additional appropriations from the State Treasury by locating the Agricultural College in connection with the State University.
It is feared by some that the Agricultural College would be so overshadowed by the University that it would be sunk into insignificance, and would never hereafter be heard of.
Now there is not the slightest danger of such a result. A University proper is made up of colleges, as the College of Liberal Arts, the Law College, Medical College, etc. A College for each separate profession, having separate faculties, but all united in one University. Now it is impossible for one of the Colleges to overshadow the other. Besides this the law of Congress making the donation, requires the Factulty of the Agricultural College to make an annual report to the Governor of the State of its condition and success, together with the cost and the results of its agricultural and mechanical experiments and all the facts it may gather from the experiments of similar colleges, and other sources. There is no danger, if located as proposed in this bill, that its light will be obscured.
Again, it has been objected that Bloomington is so far out of the way that nobody can find it. Well, this is truly singular, since myself and my distinguished colleague of the Senate have not only found it, but have somehow or other found our way to this legislative body. Let me say to those who make this objection that the trouble is not in finding it, but in tearing yourself away from its cultivated society, its beautiful hills, its pure and refreshing atmosphere, and above all, the lovely and enchanting smiles of its far famed daughters.
In some unaccountable manner, however, four or five hundred young men from all parts of the State annually find their way there and pursue their studies in the classic halls of your University. In like manner, I do not doubt but the members of the General Assembly and all other good citizens of the State might find their way there, should their business or inclinations induce them to do so.--The people of Bloomington will give you all a cordial welcome to their houses and homes, and doubtless would be delighted to entertain you during the next commencement in June.
The inaccessibility of Bloomington is all imaginary. She has one railroad now, and we hope to have an east and west road soon. Also the Indianapolis and Vincennes railroad passes within a few miles of the University, forming almost a direct route to this city, and when trains are so run as to make connection, it will be within less than two hours ride of the State Capitol.
Some have asked, "why should the State University be the only institution thus favored? Are there not other Colleges and Universities equally deserving?" True there are a number of institutions founded and controlled by religious denominations of which we may be justly proud. They are an honor to the State; but the relations which these sustain to the State is very different from that of the State University. We have but one State University; the others belong to and are under the exclusive control of the denominations by which they are founded. They have never, with one exception, received any aid from the State, nor do they ask it, for should the aid be granted it would furnish at least an excuse for page: 551[View Page 551] the State to interfere in their management.--This, of course they do not desire. It is otherwise with your State University. This belongs to, and is the exclusive property of the State. Some would ignore this fact and represent it as one of mere local interest. The State can not, without committing a great crime, ignore its own off-spring. The State must, unless she proves false to herself, recognize and foster her own institutions! She has now another charge committed to her care by this grant from Congress. These children, so to speak, can be better cared for together than apart, for they will have the advantage of mutual help, and the same building and furniture will answer for both. Why, then, uselessly and unnaturally tear them assunder? Such a separation would be strange and unaccountable!
But it has been inquired by some, "What has the University done for the State?" We answer that she has done her part nobly, far beyond what might have been expected when we consider her limited means, not one dollar of which has been lost or squandered since her organization. She has graduated more than five hundred young men who have completed their course and taken diplomas. Besides these, more than five thousand young men whose means or time did not permit them to graduate, have taken a partial course of instruction in your University, and they have thereby been better fitted for the discharge of the duties of life. Many of the useful and honored citizens of our own and other States are her alumni. In the cramped financial condition in which she struggled for long years a mere existence, the wonder is that she accomplished so much. Two years ago the State, for the first time, come to her relief, and her success now is unparalelled. She deserves well of the State, and should be respected and honored by all its citizens. Pass this bill and the success of your Agricultural College is certain, and your University becomes the pride of the noble State of Indiana, and the peer of the best in the Union.
On motion of Mr. RATLIFF (modified by amendments) it was ordered that the further consideration of this subject be postponed, and that it be made the special order for Monday night seven and a half o'clock.
And then--
The House adjourned, till Monday ten. o'clock a. m.
