The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-01-22
EDUCATIONAL.
MIR. Gilmans Speech on the Distribution oF
the ARriCulturaI Land Fund

! '"' bdNu II utld
The feature Of the proceedings of the
House of Delegates Saturday was the
speech of Mr.. Gilman, of this city, on the
disposition Of the Congressional land
scrip.
He spoke an hour, and was eloquent and
forclble, but not quite as self-possessed rs
we have seen him, when, on the stunp. he
could give full scope to his rare powers of
illustration, argument, humor and psthos.
His effort, however, did him great credit,
and fixed his status as one of the best
speakers in the House. lie commenced by
paying a glowing and eloquent tribute to the
University and the Military Institute. hay-
ing been an academic student at the one and
a law student near the other, and then pro-
ceeded to discuss their claims to the fund
IN question. He urged that it was intended
for the practical education of the industrial
classes, and, therefore, not for institutions
such as these,
He called attention to the fact that the
mechanic arts were, by the terms of the
act, made coequal with agriculture, and
any disposition that did not give them an
equal show with their hand-maiden was
unjust. A boy of the most decided me-
chanlcal turn might go to the Institute,
L
sad he,and would, in consequence Of its
surroundings, become disguised with his
prospective occupation and turn to the pro-
tesslons. On the other hand, bring him to
Richmond and he would see in its vast es-
adjustments everything to give him an ele-
Vated idea OF mechanics. He would find
that Journeyman received more pay than
most county judges foreman of manv
shops larger salary than circr;t iudoa
VI sn1 ,2.a'e treasurer, ana that a printers
ppt appt'i'''TG vi, eai'ieo a comfortable sup
pUas' t 4i' " hen ne heard OF archltec-
.a,v II. tue lecture room, ne could en-
Ho",i'oi .nel ois oVery hanu splendid buildings,
hniTjn TilsHI iiescogu iiaIis the architect and
t,1! ouiioer liau reVelled before their owner saw
o"oa oai',Gi stones lald. lie would soon
ascer.aii ViiaC trade" was no bar to
pro- pio'iiotl1n' 40 ior IN the House OF Delegates
anu III ti.e senate he would find Richmond
lePlesehted oy mecnamcS; If he would
olily 20 70 tne clty Hall he would find a
tr,ot po" niaNII rleSiI'eilI OF our Council and
.ila1 one hatt OF That body had served ap-
prentlceshlps at trades. He elaborated
nv rr,,"ot %l' tI VII" great iofce.
the paper she said is ;n,6igrat;on ond AZ 80 ~
tai. IIe oprnad tbot sho s7a"Sel az a. S'Pi-
much as the Southern ConfeJerocr ,'tTJ' d;I fo as
eign intervention in tba darloSt ~, uil u ~
history, but She needed bes;Jos iI I, tbot " o9 a
only her grown men hnt bor bors ,''.s sS.TS .TS
So fo VOL ond .iI'i, ho 'au @ t,'i ooyS should
CARRYING out the intent of Conaross 49,, g ioa ol
to aid in elevstino Isbor onJ TNe, Js3 81 aS
mechanic arts attractive % to al hg ainsses ';e
Virginia Retoro tbn 80 ~ Oh eiaSseS III |
had scores of yonno men who o ,roro 'TGl'ty PnEs
and BiIlvs at fhirtT anJ who d;J 1" ,eotb;D iIUo'
for it was more reSnertahle to ho ,'oTtrri, tbn;S,
less "Will Honevcombaj tLon fos oa ,nn''e er
these to pull off Ills coaf and % fasb;o, 0'fT f~o,
the oaks WASTING m h;S fs thnr;S I;,o, f iroih
cultural implements with % Which, tI, Ii, 70 "si a;a
wealth ont IF the aortb ' "''0'i ~ "'S
They came to onr seoto ac,.;o,,,t,ro,
Fairs on their fatber;s chect ,nd bInntho