The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-07-17
The Agricultural and Mechani-
cal College Land scrip Fund.

4
At the last session of the Legislature,
an act was passed lending this Fund to
the Vicksburg and Nashville Railroad
Company, of which Gen. Tucker is Presi-
dent. The Trustees of the University of
Mississippi have determined to contest
the right of the Legislature to make this
disposition of the Fund, and have in
vited the cooperation of Alcorn Univer-
sity.
There is no doubt but the entire legis-
ton of the State, except the act of 1870
providing for the reception of the dona-
ton, is in violation of the terms of the
grant, and that by the improvidence of the
Legislature, the State has legally for
feited her right to the Fund. The loan
to Gen. fuckers road is no more in vio-
Iation of the trust than the previous acts
of its custodians and without express
ing our approval of the latter measure,
we can have no hesitation in saying that
it is more meritorious and promises larger
benefits to the public, than any of the
other measIr appertaining to it.
Section 4 of the Act Of Congress
making the donation specifically declares
its intention to he TO establish Colleges
for the " benefit of Agriculture and the
Mechanic Arts"-that the . leading OBJ
eject (of said Institutions shall be to
teach such branches of learning as are
i" related to agriculture and the mechanic
" arts in order to promote the liberal
q and practical education of the in
" dustrial classes in the several pursuits
"and professions of life. No one
will pretend to say that these are the
q leading objects" Of the State University
at Oxford, or of the Institution known as
AIcorn University. The act establishing
the latter does not even allude to "agri-
culture and the mechanic arts" Sec,
4 declares that % the objects of the cor
porate body hereby created are the
q establishment of seminary of learn
cling" &c. Sec. 8 authorizes the collec-
ton g of specimens in mineralogy, geol-
" ogy, botany" &c.-but we no where
find the remotest reference to the " lead
cling objects required under the Act of
Congress. Hundreds of other schools in
the State have an equal right with Alcorn
University to assert claim to the Fund.
In other particulars, the conditions of
the grant have been shamefully violated.
1t is expressly declared that q sum not
exceeding " 10 per cent. of the amount
" received may be expended for the pur-
" chase of lands for sites or experimental
" farms" And further, that "no por-
i" ton of said fund nor interest thereon
Z" shall be applied directly or indirectly
"lIuder any pretence chateUer to the P'o'-
chase, erection, preservation or repair Of
g any building or buildings. "-(Sec. 81
Notwithstanding these conditions the Gus
todians of the Fund violently laid their
hands on $50, 900 of the sum and pur- !
chased for the uses of Alcorn University, |
which was not designed as an Agrlcultu-
raj College, "the buildings" and other
property belonging to Oakland College.
Mark you, the principal of the Fund was
not to be touched on any account. The
interest amounted to SIS, 900; and it
could he expended only in the manner
specified in the Act. And yet, Grow.
Alcorn said in his report to the Legisla-
ture that 3" it was agreed that $50, 600 in
" cash should be paid on the purchase Of
O. the Oakland College property out Of
" the Agricultural College Fund.- sum
exceeding by S11 100 the entire interest,
though the Act of Congress declared that
the Z" capital of the Fund should remain
g forever untouched" a more palpable
of plighted faith was never COM
mitted. Grosser vandalism was never
With this misconduct of
the AlcOrn Universityites on record, and
staring them in the face, it will require
more than ordinary presumption for them
to complain that any disposition whatever
of the Fund is transportation. 1t
has already been ruthlessly seized. The
of the loan have been disre-
garded The pledged faith Of the State
has been broken. And under Radical
the only question is, who
shall squander the money? We are in
clined to hope that Gen. Tucker will get
the lions share