Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-10-16

agents TO procure the land scrip the United States govern
mont to which this entitled dispose of the and
invest the proceeds sales in safe stocks bearing not less
than five per cent? and appropriated the fund TO establish col
lcge, required by the act OF Congress.
The agents appointed under the WILL due time, submit
report OF their domgs understand, however, that application
made the Secretary of the Interior for the land
scrip and that the scrip either has already been, will soon
be- issued 10y the State.
There remains but little than three years within
which time the State must comply with the provisions of the act
of Congress- and establish college the purposes specified or
the grant, to this state is to
The shorness OF the time, the Importance and magnitude OF
the enterprise its effects upon the educational interests Of the
State and the great variety Of questions involved Justify in
calling your special to the subject this time.
BY the terms of the grant, there will fail to the share Of Yer
mont hundred and fifty thousand acres of land which, at
the minimum valuation Of government lands is equivalent
hundred and egheven thousand five hundred dollars which,
safely invested State stocks bearing six per cent in
teest would yield income of eleven thousand
established computing the valuation double the minimum
price, which is not unreasonable to expect to realize for the
scrip, and which the for railroad grants the valuation
would he equivalent to three hundred and seycnve thousand
dollars yielding annual income for the purposes contemplate
ed of twenty-five thousand five hundred dollars These yaua
tons OF and or amounts to be realized from the sales OF the land
scrip will be ed according circumstances and may he
HANGED diminished according the location and the judgment
and skill used making sales OF the same and variety of 9th
that may appreciate lessen the demand
for them Taking into the tide of emigration setting
towards this country growing out of the efforts being made and
the organizations which have been formed, various
parts Of the country stimulate aud it, is but
reasonable to suppose that with proper care in the location the
figures named above may be realized to the state
The object Of this grant is fully expressed in the act
ITSELF the endowment support and maintenance OF least
college, where the leading object shall be, without excluding
other scientific and classical studies and including military
tics to teach branches learning are related agrcu-
re mechanic arts such manner as the legislatures
the states may respectively prescribe 0r{r yromote Hs
Ebeai anil lr1cicH daetioa o III iadHtri classes the
SeUeyai pusui d professions IN te' worthy object
indeedaud sustained by muuiicen antavaable
every andabuudant properly managed thedc
endthe education consequent of the
Of the people Fully hamonzng with the gcuin Of demo
cratic institutions, Unitarian IN It's scope ana plans, vonug no
privileged class but generously opening broad the door for
the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes at
ordng them access only the higher branches
and thorough training in the evo day, practical and hitherto
almost uuuugh science of agriculture and the mechanic
To Vermont this scheme has peculiar value and Importance
Euinenty practical in all her pursuits and interests, with pop
uaton hardly equalod ccu not surpassed, in ute geuce
and virtue her hardy Gully need the stimulating Influences
which thorough education IN such au institution, properly man
aged would afford, place them the foremost among
the cultivated and refined, and her position for ue
gence wealth. influence and refinement second in the
great ssterhood OF states
The grave question however, arises how the benefit to
derived from such institution secured Shall it
be established separate and Independent institution IN which
shall be taught all the higher branches of scientific aud CLASH
cal education, wh school for military tactics aud The agricu
tu and mechanical branches This maucsty, the design
and scope Of III rap But such college be sustained
aud yet iusctv done the other Institutions already estab
hcd in the state, and which greater or less extent have
always been under Its fostering care Can department OF
agriculture and mechanic arts and OF military tactics be attach
other these institutions without creating local
jeaouse and in this way the bsueGs of the
There the Colleges and one Military
~cbOO,each of them established authority the
Legislature with certain powers aud privileges and each
having made the beuehcaeS greater
gifts beuucs and oudowment and yet far my knowledge
extends neither OF them is fully cltustaung and although
they all rank high cminarcs OF learning, and have
phed good work IN tho cause of education, numbering
their alumni many Of the nobest minds of the country whom
the State and the institutions may well be proud, yet financial
they have not that he0u vigor aud strength
sury full and proper Developments and without which
and must be- impossible realize the idea Of their
alton
If plan could be devised by which the several institutions
could be combined into uniting strength
of ALL aud adding this the departments contemplated
act of Congress and securing thereby the funds received
IRON the grant OF lands Them indeed might be realized the
idea OF University for the State, which would
justly be the pride OF the State ana which, without being its
beneficiary, would yet receive ITS liberal c0unenancc and its
patronage FOsuch institutions in all various depart
ments the best talent of the country could be secured
given that few institutions now enjoy
am 10y uumindlul Of the difficulties that lie at the
threshold OF such enterprise There local questions aud
eaouses to overcome all the feelings which strongly attach
to Alma Mater, and variety Of difficulties that will naturally
occur to the minds Of all STILL the benefits be de-
we'd from combination of these several institutions and the
establishment Of the basis which have suggested su-
Gent TO override all these objections and difficulties VIII
the impulse be given the education and the
facilities be afforded the industrial classes in the State
through the agency of well organized institution of this kind
be sufficient nduCement local preudces feel
ings and other minor difficulties that may the way
There is another feature connected with this subject which
may not be unworthy of consideration
BY the act of last fall the Treasurer authorized to invest
the proceeds sales Of the land scrip stocks
yielding not less than five per per and the
oil Congress authorizes the investment in United stocks
or in State The realized from the sales of
this scrip has already been stated will vary according to cir
cumsance but not unreasonable hope that may reach
the highest figures named
The present funded debt of the State authorized bear
lug SIX per cent annam, is million six hundred and fifty
/ thousand dollars.
May portion of this debt be permanently merged in this
andscr fund.- and thus the he benefited that extent