The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-08-02
The state un,yer.,,v.

The state University.
Our State has been remarkably unfortu-
Nate in the management of school lands and
School funds, and our educational matters
generally. With the exception of the origi-
nal provision accompanying the application
for admission into the Union and setting
apart that noble grant Of land for educa-
tionA purposes, everything else pertaining
to The subject has been dreadfully mismnn-
aged. The first contest for State Superin-
tendent was the occasion OF the most scan
dslous frauds on the part Of the Democratic
party, resulting 10 second election and a
legal contest for the ONCE, and leaving the
basiness in the mean time in state CT con-
fusion. And after that matter was settled. a
large portion Of the very best Of the school
lands were sold at small fraction OF their
real value. Then followed the incompetent,
reckless and peculating administration of
Esds, and the Losses, confusion and general
arrangement in the school fund affairs of the
counties and the State, and another unfortu-
uAts oud ThdstAt Az OuI sCGOOl laws.
In the mean time, the valuable grant Of
University lands had passed into private
hands to great extent, but after much com.
motion the sales were declared void, and the
whole matter was satisfactorily compro-
missed. Then, go far as the State University
was concerned. there seemed to be a smooth
sea and plain sailing. The State Capitol at
Iowa City was surrendered for University
purposes, Board Of directors were appoint
cd, Professors elected, a College Faculty or
ganized, students admitted, and n regular
course of studies duly commenced. All at
once, however, it is announced that for want
Of funds, and for the purpose of adapting
the capitol to the uses Of University, the
Board had resolved to suspend for a year.
Seeing notice to this effect, we supposed
that was all there was Of it, aud that it was
alright, and so approved the movement with
that understanding in a passing paragraph.
We were therefore very much surprised and
chagrined on reading the proceedings of the
Board to find that they contemplate an entire
suspension and abandonment Of the funda-
mental, historical and constitutional idea OF
University.
We make the following extract from the
proceedings Of the Board Of Trustees as
published by their Secretary, to show how
completely they attempt to change the entire
character and object Of tho University, pro
vhed the by Constitution and laws Of Iowa.
andto establish in its stead splendid lecture
halb for the great Souans to lecture to
graduates upon the various PHILOSOPHERS and
the applications of collegiate learning &C.
CURED elsewhere, TO science:
The Trustees have also introduced mod
hcation OF great Importance into the rro.
rramme OF their University teaching. They
have dispensed with the Departments OF the
Ancient and Modern Languages, and the
Mathematics. with the exception Of it's ap-
phcaton. This will have the effect of leay-
ing those departments TO the different Col.
leges about the State to which they proper
iy belong. But at the same time that the
different Colleges and probably high schools
ARE dispensing instruction in the classic and
modern languages and the pure mathematics.
the University, on its re-opening will present
Al able body Of Professors who will teach by
lecture, inSintellectual and Moral Philoso.
ply and History, aud also in Natural phlos.
ophy and Natural History, in applied Math.
ematlcs, and IN History. Ii is proposed 10
teach these different sciences SO Important
to ht young men for the different business
pursuits Of life, not only in their elements.
but also in their different applications. Thus
II is hoped the University will, in time. meet
fully all the expectations that may have been
found in relation TO il.
The object Of the people OF Iowa in Sc.
curing donation Of lands for IA University
was, that they might have an institution in
which the youth " the State, their children.
could obtain an education. An education in
e the main such as is obtained at other Upivor.
stiles throughout tho land with such yaria.
lions and additions as our peculiar circum-
stances might require. II is 10 such an ~.
satution as that We, and thousands Of Other.
IN moderate circumstances like ourselves
desire to send our sons 70 obtain an ejuea.
ton TO nj them 10 enter upon ihe study Of a
profession or the active duties Cf life W.
expect the State University, with its eulen-
did donation Of land, under the FOSTERING
care OF the State, 10 be manned with more
ample corps Of Professors and supplied with
more extensive apparatus and facilities for
education than the private institutions of the
6tats.