Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-02-26


the use of the University, under the
provisions of the act of 1862, allowing I
as much as ten per cent. of the fund
to be applied to the purchase OF land
to be used as an experimental Term,
&c. The sum of 1925, 900 went into
the hands of the Board of Trustees,
created under the Constitution Of 1868,
and an investment thereof was made,
which is now wholly unproductive.
Upon this statement the memorial
asks the Legislature to take back the |
securities in which it was invested,
and to replace and make good the
1925. 600 with interest thereon in
accordance with the agreement of the
State, when it accepted the donation
from the Federal Government, by |
giving to the Trustees q certificate OF |
the States indebtedness for the |
amount. bearing interest at the rate OF |
6 per cent. If this be done the Trns- |
tees will be able in few months to
open the agricultural department OF
the University at Chapel Hill, wherein
the youth of the State may be IN
structcd in branches of learning relat-
ing TO agriculture and the mechanic
arts.
The manner in which the Federal
Government deals with the States o.
the South, with neither proyocatlon
nor legal obligation to Justify inter
ference, needs not now nor here to be
discussed. 1t is known of all men.
Nor is it necessary to DISCUSS the
question whether the Federal Govern
ment has the power to enforce, anu
that too by due process Of law, the
return Of the land scrip fund if the
State shall refuse to apply II to the
purpose for which it was accepted.
The I'd Section OF the 81 Article OF the
Federal Constitution reads as folio VS.:
The Judicial power shall extend to
all cases IL law and equity arising uu
der this Constitution, aud the laws OF
the United States and treaties made
OF which shall be made, under their
authority = :; to controversies
ii which the United States shall be =
party: to controversies between two IN
more. States.
More than once have resolutions
already been introduced into Congrec
making enquiry what has been done
with the land scrip.
Ii being thus apparent that the only
question III regard to tins matter l.
whether North Carolina shall M Ike
good this laud scrip fund to the Fed
eral Government, or whether she shall
make it good to the University for the
| immediate benefit of the agricultural
| interests Of the State, we feel assured
| there will be no hesitation in the mind
| of any true North CarolInian as to
what the Legislature ought to 90 in
the premises.
A favorable response will enable the
Chapel Hill in July next. The revival
of the agricultural department will be
speedily followed by Ike revival q
other departments. Tie University
buildings, worth at ieast $500, 900, the
libraries of over 20, 900 volumes, thy
| Philosophical and Chemical Apparatus,
&c. &c. will not only be saved from
ruin ana decay, but at once render. j
available for the instruction OF our
youth and not only this butan impetus
to the spread Of niece sary aud useful
learning among the agricultural classes
which will be felt for generations tc
come.
If, however, the Legislature shall
disregard the prayer Of the memorial,
while the obligation of the Stale to
the Federal Cover nment Will remain
intact, it is uncertain when, if ever,
the University will be revived. How
great then will be the responsibility
resting upon those who thus leopard
the restoration of an institution OF
such great capacity for good The OBJ
legation of the State OF North Caro-
lima to the Federal Government to
replace this fund is unquestioned and
unquestionable. The advantages to
the State generally to be derived from
a revival Of the University, and par
ticularly TO our agricultural popul,,-
ton, from ito INN, date devotion 10
studies in which farmers are especially
interested, are equally unquestioneG
and questionable.