Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-05-22
For the Enquirer.
Eo.the Eaquuer.
AGRICULTURAL pRoFEssoRsHiPs IN UNI
A'N' VERsTTY OF vlRviNlA. -
BrLMEAp, May 18th, 1887.

Dsar SirSYour report Of the result OF the lhter
view of the Committee OF the Farmers Asseny'
;,h the r.. ctor and Visitors OF The Cn,versity res
nsrtipp the proposed endowment Of Proiessorsnp
Agriculture in that Institution, appeared ~h'ls. !
VA. ON a visit to the South from which nave re-
Gently returned. .,n,sin
to yourself and my other friends of the Commnlee'
as we'll es to the public, the position in when eon
ceived the proffered donation TO stand, since 'ne ie
cent action Of the Visitors of the University:
Your Committee WAS the organ OF the rai s ran
Assembly charged, Of course, with thH. outy Vi ip
resenting them The Assembly did me inc ionos "
place me on the Committee and had oeen present l
at your conference with the Visitors, snou'u uo.e
held myself bound, as doubtless you aiu you' III a.
mittee conceived yourselves bound, 10 " to
views of the Farmers Assembly, as indicated oy
their resolutions and proceedings in respect 10 any
and all conditions annexed TO theIenao"rs ;...o
This would have been the duty OF Inc Connil!tee,
although they might not have concurreu u. ."1
of the Farmers Assembly But, 10 my cast, 'nere
here literally and absolutely to the terms ana cono
tiops of the endowment; for these terms sno
conditions were essential part ana Pa'sel VI
the donation prof, red my me 10 tne As'e ~.
bly,, and accepted, approved, anu auop,r .;,hoH,
them, and therefore not to be changed oy me without
their consent, without violation on my part OF an
honorable good faith. For might just as wen WIN
hold the fund.- direct 1t to some olher as
to consent yield up the control anu sole w tno
cb;.f benefits of it-wibout the consent OF the AS
ssmb,v or thu final failure Of the whole scneme. II
G,inus therefore, that cannot remove the oo)ec.
tiors raised by the Board of Visitors 10 inc terms OF
the endowment. Nor. in my humble OPINION can
vonr committee, or a majority OF them The Farm
.rs' Assembly, and myself concurring, could alone
modify the terms of the eudoa ment' r
RutI differ from the resolutions OF the Board OF
Visitors that they do not regard themselves as al H.
berry to quality their general power OF appointing
| cd q
admitted to the Farmers Assembly, aud which was
MADE by them the baeis Of their application through
your committee to the Rector and Vistors-ana tns
il the only reason assigned by the Visitors IN ther
resolutions for declining to accept the pronereo en-
dowmept. , 4. A.
} am not aware, that exception was taken 10 tne
xoheme of endowment, in any other particular
though it contained other provisions deenso ilnPoi
tant by myself and we may infer, oy the Farmers
Assembly. :, On
not beyond the absence Of authority in the hectol
and Visitors to consent to it-may be removed oy on
enlargement of their powers. whieh, on .ne,' opp"
| cation, the Legislature would probably accolo'
Ii must be confessed that, looking 10 s Ptoonole
effect in eu!is.ing private berality in 0eha OF he
rary institutions, sHch power might DC baeiy o.u
udiciously committed to their patrons-it may, ~
deed be expedent to regulate by law TINS po"e: "
nominate-so as TO guard against onlcia f"'ahS'Is
ard perhaps further, that no appointment could Of
made but with the consent OF the appointing po"
If 80 regu ated do not see how the power couo os
abused to the prejudice Of the public whilst ite &C
uuisiop would hold out inducements to public-spirt
I'd associations and individuals, to ally themselves
with and literally and ben-fcently to expend the'
means in support Of the literary institutions OF Inc
State.
| confess it is Cherished wish Of mine to connec
the Farmers' Assembly with the proposed Professor
ship of Agriculture, and thereby to orm an enduring
interest and alliance between the organized agrie9i
tura interest of the State, and the subject OF Asr'
cultural education in State University. thence
| | have asked that after my death, the nominating
| power connected with the Profess"rshp may os &C
corded to the Assembly. and that they sha aiso
the power of appointing to the reserved scnnlaIsh'Pa
And in ccsc OF an unexpected failure Of the sch0o
of Agriculture, il was also further provided by mt
that the fund shoud revert the State Agriculture
society the principal TO be- undimnshed, and The in
terest TO be devoted to the diffusion Of Agriculture
know ledge or tho promotion Of Agricultural educa
ton. under the special direction Of the Farmers Az
sembly."
The Board of Visitors having expressed themselves
az .sorepared to CO operate to the full extern
of their powers in the establishment OF
school Of Agriculture in the University upon a ioot
ing equal 10 all respects 10 that OF the other u
| the Institution" | would most respectfully. bu
earnestly suggest, that the Committee OF the Farm
ers' Assembly, apply to the Visitors, at their mex
meeting in July, TO ask Of the Legislature the pass
age of an act authorizing the establishment OF the
Professor of Agriculture, in accordance with the
unanimous wish and application of the Farmers As
sembly, as communicated through their Committee
| remain. sir, very truly,
| Your most ohrdient,
| PHILIP ST. G. COOKE.