, 1864-07-28
Letter TO The Governor.

To Hor. Richard Yates, Governor OF Illinois:
6M-A telegram from Warrington, in the Tat
suNa, Of yesterday, has recalled my s.tension to
futject to which, trust, you Will pe.mit me to
dine your own. This telegram was thu. one
mixing refercLc ce to the donation by Congress OF
public lands to thc eeyegsl States and Territories
for Tie bcr eft ot agriculture and The natsh4ale
JnlJ 1862 and 1t enh1lea each Sfs,e aud TERRITORY
$1,000 acles Tor each Senator and Representative,
o e s hs ia The
tiled 10 sere for ssooa ac.as. i Is SeieSsd ,hss
ts. siR 1es WI ss ss iasn VII s f. sy q
slco: At this latter 1eure it you'd Il requires no
calculation 70 see. amount to $50 60o. fhis srm
o1es Ct interest. VOID ,he taadsss s
be pr,nse1y endowment. 6nehaii oi shis ssain sum
hair fo- lie benefit Of mecaaaics. Csftain condi-
tiors are attachcd to thiR grant, Tha chiefofthe4e
is that the States, h{ their 4ezslaturse sn4ll
Iii than ve ycnIs to execute the Intention Of Con-
gress in mixing It. Illinois hAs complied to tho
extent Of formally accepting. in joint resolution
81 eess'eD Bat isa day 81 plovdae mesns
ot converting these lands into money, or OF rasins
morey upon the1u+ 20 "a to make them Of practical
upon IT, next isIs
would Re forfeited.
uiar tessfon b1--hut 1t went no farther than into
the hands Of o coDMittco-that v IS dr1Hn In such
way to confer all the benefits Of this grant upon
Soe sfnse eS T9
lug for the time failed. 1t would he an uuktndness
to INDULGE IN czitietem upon Il now. pat We ~
trial interest," beaidcs: agricu3t IRE. which Coa-
gre:s intended TO provide for. inte1dod that the
meshanca should eha1e. II not equally, as any rate
lis Donation i believe that wise and just Lszis-
lature would clearly see the necessity for establish
lng college Tor mechanics a. we'll IS college for
Legislature that college for instruction In agr1-
caure shoul1 be located in the centre Of aome rich
agricultural dletllct and that tho college for In
Chicaeoegherc that class n great numbers reside
Nor should there DO my difficulty here. IconcelTe
that 1t will be easy for all who arc interested to
agree upon plsn Il time iy but given foF
is taken. Tint step recommend be taken now.
The Governor Of fMassachueettg-Nhoke Legi4la-
tu1e Last year accepted Of similar grant Of lands
from tho GoverElaeut-eonle time snce appointed
u Commission, At the head Of which believe. was
the Hon. Edward Everett, 10 examine the various
plane proposed for, realizing the object bad in
drew. Beiotv This aciion was taken in Massachu-
setts: myaelS d had .ngges5ed. i. almost t1aety the
drst session Of the present Legislature, drafted
1eeolution!which, at my request. was Introduced
by another member, Tor the appointing Of Joint
Gommittee Q, that body to examine snd report to
position q these lands. E Tic he resolution passed
the House unanimoua!y; but, ewing 70 p5essnrs
The Committee WAS to have consisted Of i've. I
therefore respectfully urge that you appoint Com
mittce Of five, or fanny other number which your
Judgment may approve, to inquire into this sub
method Of dfsposing Of this property, which report
shall be by you submitted In your next Message to
With those OF the Governor Of Massachusetts in .
precisely similar case, and would fully carry ont
the Idea fmg resolution. wnish, as I sad passed
this subject, you Vi allow me TO say that, il NJ
view Of public policy and duty, ths STATE should
eo ont Of tic proceeds q these laads, . Mechsnt,
Cal College, or Polytechnic HG3polt The EXCELLENT
training at this description Of schools, and their
marked beneficial effect upon the skill and wel1-
e1ias, indicate eieatiy What tho iaaaenee of I'LL
| measure would be here, and throughout the State.
1t would go far to put an end to the division Of
Mechanic es bo @ wonIa educae lis e son to s. me-
chanIc, cou!d then do so. and be on equal footing
with the doctor who would make his sou a doctor,
or the lawyer who Woc1d mako his son q lawyer.
DO not need, 81, 70 urse anything more IN be-
balf OF the laboriug TO eecure for this snb
1ect yonr Immediate and earnest attention. The
State Sun6ers 81 nsessat and foScss ill., men of
that Glars, know. are preparing to demand tina:
they be permitted to participate, themselves and
th*if children, in the manner have indicated, in
sands of their fellow mechanics and arttaans who
huye bravely fallen IN the battles Of this war are
destined 10 be educated IN this proposed Polytech
mic Sthool, rot to be- educated ut all. Another
opportunity 20 favorable as the present Of dolug
will not pzopably, hare again in flfty years.
am, cir, your obedcnt servant,
FRANCIS j, EASTMAN.