The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-10-09

OF the provisions of the act of Congress within
the prescribed period 1t also appointed agents
TO procure the land scrip from the United States
government, to which this State is entitled. 10
dispose of the same, and invest the proceeds of
the sales in safe tocks, bearing not less than five
per cent. and appropriated the fund to establish
college, as required by the act of Congress
The agents appointed under the act will, in
due time, submit report of their doings. I'M
derstand, however, that application has been
made to the Secretary of the Interior for the land
scrip, and that scrip either has already been, or
will soon be, issued to the State.
There remains now buta little more than three
years, within which time the State must comply
win the PROVISIONS OF the act of Congress, and
establish college for the purposes specified, or
the grant, as to this State, is to cease
The shortness of the time, the Importance and
magnitude of the enterprise, its effects upon the
educational interests OF the State and great
variety of questions involved, Justify me in call
ing your special attention to the subject at this
time.
BY the terms OF the grant, there will fall TO
the share OF Vermont one hundred and fifty thou
sand acres OF land which at the minimum val
uation OF government lands, is equivalent to one
hundred and elghty-seven thousand five hundred
dollars, which, safely invested in our own State
stocks, bearing SIX per cent. interest, would yield
an annual income of eleven thousand two hun
dred and fifty dollars for the support of the in
stitu ton to be established or, computing the
valuation at double the minimum price, which
1t Is not unreasonable to expect TO realize for the
scrip, and which is the rate for railroad grants
the valuation would be equivalent to three hun
bred and seven-hve thousand dollars, Welding an
annual income, for the purposes contemplated,
OF twenty-five thousand five hundred dollars
These valuations OF land, or amounts to be real
lzed from the sales Of the land scrip, will be va
rled according TO circumstances and NAV be en-
HANGED or diminished according to the location,
and the judgment anu skill used in making sales
OF the same, and v rlety OF other causes that
may contribute to appreciate or lessen the de-
mand for them. Taking into account the tide
OF emigration setting towards this country, grow
ing out of the efforts being made, and the vari-
Gus organizations which have been formed, in
various parts of the country, TO stimulate and
encourage it, it is but reasonable to suppose that
with proper care in the location of the lands,
and judgment IN the sales of the scrip, at least
the last figures named above may be realized to
the State.
The object OF this generous grant is fully ex-
pressed in the act itself, d" the endowment sup
port and maintenance Of at least e college,
where the leading object shall be, without ex-
GLIDING other scientific and classical studies, and
including military tactics, to teach such branch
es of learning as are related to agriculture and
the mechanic arts, in such manner as the leeis-
lstures OF the States may respectively prescribe,
order to promote The liberal and practical edu.
cation of the industrial classes, in he several pu,-
suits and professions in hte." most worthy
object indeed-and sustained by IL ost munif-
cent grant, available to every state, and album
dant, if properly managed, to secure the desired
end-the education aud consequent elevation of
the masses OF the people. Fully harmonizing
with the genius of our democratic institutions,
utilitarian in its scope and plans, favorine no
privileged class, but generously opening broad
the door for the liberal and practical education
OF the industrial classes, afiording them access,
not only to the higher branches of scientific and
classical education, but superadding to this a
systematic and thorough training in The every.
day, practical, and hitherto almost untaugbt
science of agriculture and the mechanic arts.
To Vermont, this scheme has peculiar value
and Importance. Eminently practical in all her
pursuits and interests, with population hard
ly equalled, certainly not surpassed IN lntelli-
gence and virtue, her hardy sons only need the
stimulating influences which a thorough educa-
ton IN such an institution, properly managed,
would afford, to place them IN the foremost
ranks among the cultivated and refined, and Sc
cure to her position for intelligence, wealth, in
huence and refinement, second to none in the
great 81, terhood of states.
The grave question, however, arises, how tina
benefit TO be derived from such an institution
can best be secured. Shall it be established as a
separate and independent Institution, in which
shall be taught all t. higher branches of sci.
enlihc and classical educa ton, with school for
military tactics, and the agricultural and me-
chanical branches This is, manifestly, the de-
sign and scope of the grant But can such a
college be sustained, and yet justice be done to
other Institutions, already established in the
State, and which, to greater or less extent,
have always been under its fostering care {? Can
a department Of agriculture and mechanic art,
and of military tactics, be attached to one or
the other OF these Institutions, without creating
local Jealouses, and in this way secure the ben.
efts of the acts
There are now in the State two Colleges and
one Military School each Of them established
under the authority of the State Legislature
with certain powers and privileges, and each
having been made the benefciaries, to greater
or less extent, of gifts, requests and endow-
ments, and yet, so far as my knowledge extends,
neither of them is fully self-sustaining and al
though they all rank high as Summaries of
learning and have accomplished good work
in the cause of education, numbering among
their alumni many of the noblest minds of the