Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-02-19
Correspondence OF the Ga
rR0T THE CAPITOL.
DIS Mo,yEs. Feb. fOth. Isl

FR0N THE CAPITOL.
DSs MONIES, Feb, 10Th, 1864.
Mn. EoIroR :The past week, outside of
the Legislature, has been rather interesting
The evenings have been devoted to siCie.shows
which have brought out the tact Of genius, -
the fire of intellect, the sympathy Of human.
ity-and the smiles of beauty.
The question Of an appropriation 10 J.ild
an Agricultural College, and the diversion OF
part o! the Agricultural College Grant to
the State University, have occupied more
time and talent than any other one question.
On Tuesday evening this Question was open,
ed by speech from Ex,Gov. Kirkwood, in
favor Of giving Go,oeo acres of the Agricul.
tulal College Grant to tho State University.
and providing for an Agricultural Depart,
ment in that Institution. The positions of
the Govcfndt were so tcnablc-his arguments
were so calm, and sensible, that it appeared
to some, that all he had to do, was to bag the
game and bear it off in triumph.
This plan and position of the Ex. Governor
aroused the BuH Of tho JFoods," from sto
ry County, who always stands with nostrIs
distended, and dir; on his horns" eager
for the fray, whenever his peculiar dominion
is invaded by anyone. lie Immediately
locked horns with his adversary. And al.
though the conscience even Of correspond
ent Of weekly newspaper, will not permit
US to say that he was equal in dignity, cour
tcous bearing or force Of argument, to the
first speaker, yet what he lacked in these
he made up in zeal.
Senator Cue Of Scot, County, gentleman
Of whom that County, aud the State may
well be proud also replied to the Ex Gov
lie produced the facts and figures, which nei-
lher adroit cunning nor honicd cloquenco
could gainsay.
There has been already granted to the
University by the State and National Gov
ernment. about $3.50, ,oos, including buildings.
And its present income from interest on
money loaned, and deferred payments on
bond sales, is about $4,000 per annum -
And after this munificcnt endowment, some
people cannot discover the great superiority
Of this institution over those Of at least q
! half dozen Institutions in the State sustained
alone 10y private donations and cxcr;ions.--
They enquire where is its superiority over the
Wesleyan University at Mt. Pleasant; the
Crinnell College, by the Congregationalists
the Baptist College at pclla The Christian
College in Linn Co.; or the Colleges at Wau.
kon, Faycttc, Epworth, Mt. Vernon, Davcn
port, &C., &c. But these inquirers forget
that there are some pricileged classes in this
world. They forget that the Episcopal Church
has right to be supported by the laws,
tithes, and sweat Of the English people,
wrung out Of them in opposition to their in
tercsts and notions. So in this Country, al
most every State in the Union is striving to
measure arms with all the other Institutions
of learning in the State. The masses have
to be taxed to rear monuments Of brick and
mortar, and to pay liberal salaries to profess
ors, so that IL can be a successful riraL Of the
literary Institutions, built, endowed md sus
taincd by private ,nnnificence.
But, says one, this STATE University is ours.
Every man in the State contributes to its
support. 1t is true, We are taxed for every
cent appropriated to it by the Legislature. -
But is that tax paid willingly? Do men pay
of choice, or merely through obedience to
the laws? In what essential particular is it
superior to other Colleges in the State p
They, as well as it, have Normal Depart
mcnts. They are all sustained by our own
citizens, and all have equal claims on State
aid and patronage. ..
II part Of the Agricultural College grant be
given to the College al Iowa City, why 30,
divide out the balance to some half dozen
Colleges in the State who will agree to estab.
lish Agricultural Departments, and have the
advantage Of an Agricultural Edgcation diff.
fused all over the State7 This is a legiti-
mate question, and if the premises be admit
ted the conclusion must inevitably be nn.
swered in the affirmative.
And what would be the consequence =.
Agriculture attached to fashionable Colleges,
like tail to kite, with President, Profess
ors and students, ignorant of its duties and
destinies--by education and feeling opposed
to the practice Of its details and its drudgcry,
would soon report, as nearly all their prcdc.
cessors have, that Agricultural Colleges are
failures. And then this grant Of 100000
acres Of land by Congress would prove a
curse to the State, and retard tine elevation
and profits Of Agriculture for fifty years to
come.
.yItis said that Congress made noble grant
Of land to Iowa. to dam the Des Moines Rv.
cr, but by tsrecklcss management, it damned
the whole State So with this Agricultural
grant. It can be frittered away, until il can
do no good, and the world will be informed,
that the idea of e'cvating the farming inter
ests by an Agricultural College, is & hum
bug.
On Tuesday evening, as we began to in.
form you, Krkwood, Cue, Of Scott, Maxwell,
OF Story, Paulk Of Ala,nakee, and others
ventilated this subject generally. The talent
and spirit manifested made il interesting
They adjourned over till Friday evering,
when Lieut.. Gov. Eastman, Crookham Of
Mahaska, and others came up nobly in de.
fence Of liberal grant Of money and lands
for the Agricultural College. This (Satur.
day) afternoon, four Committees, the Agri.
cultural and University Committees Of the
Senate ard lIouse--met in. the State Library
room to reconcile conflicting interests. Pres.