Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1875-05-14
A Reply to Messrs DAVIS and McHenry


| 10 me EQh0TS OF The american FdTRttT--
GENTLEMAN In The April number OF your
journal there are Two ietters The Mary lano
agricultural College, to winch, by your leave
iud with many thanks to you lor The courtesy,
| propose 10 reply IN The May number of the
SAINT Jourual. Que OF the letters is uy The ex-
presideui Ut the board of trustees OF the col
| lese, the other BY another member OF the
| saiue board.
The latter gentleman has been for some y ears
AN active memUer Of the buurd OF trustees
who has given much thought 10 the college,
and, am sure, earnestly desires It's prosperity
IL Is, therefore, Mlth regre., that / differ with
him III opinion on the subject.
lie recommends, II | understand him cor
reetly, that this college be converted into "a
morh'n9 school, or dyrtcaAare, contdtued pih a
ScH0Ot " instruction IN tie necessary branches III
elementary ettacatsoa, - aud tina: IT'S efforts Ue
directed 10 the Gainsng OF children in the
practical knowledge OF agriculture aud OF arts
and sciences Immediately connected with il. -
Ii chttdren can lie induced 10 attend such a
school ON no other terms, he suggests that they
be received not only tree OF charge Tor tuition
and use OF text books, as they are now, but
without charge OF any kind In other WORDS
that they be furnished with tuition, board and
books gratuitousy. such school might be
deserving and useful but did the founders OF
TINS college, OF whom the gentleman refer 10
Is one, lis charter and The act OF Congress OF
July 2nd, 1867 generally known as Tie Edu-
catlonal Land Grant Act, under which this
college receives more Than halt lis endow menls
contemplate the establishment OF such an in
Sttuuon2 II they did, they certainly CON.
menced with misnomer, for such an in
stltuuon could III no just sense OF the term
0e called COLLEGE.
The founders VI this college designed TO in
ausurate an institution OF learning, IN which
youths, whist RECEIVING "nUeral education"
10 prepare them 10 perform well their parts as
citizens OF the State, in whatever position OF
responsibility they might IN after lie ue placed
should at The same Tine receive thorough IN
Strucuon in agriculture, aud The arts and
sciences relating 10 1t, and 10 mechanic arts
The Stockholders subscribed their money 10
establish such college. The same purpose
Is expressed ia The preamble 10 the charter Oi
the college, and The Act OF Congress OF July
2nd, 1862. his latter act provides expressly
that the money derived from The sale of The
land granted, " shan be invlolaUly appruprl-
ated by each State which may take and claim
the beDehiS OF this ACT, TO The endowment OF al
least one eottege, " here The leading object shall
be- without excluding other scientific and
classical studies and military tactics, 10 teach
such branches OF learning as are related to a.
ricultu re and the mechanic arts in such man
ner as the legislature vi the States may resptc-
uNely pFese:lue, IN order To promote the lIUer-
al ana practical education of the industrial
class III The several pursuits and PROFESSIONS. -
nls language clearly Implies the endowinent
OF colleges oil high grace, capable OF giving
: liberal educ'tun;' the leading object being
10 teach modern applied science lvr the beueft
VI all industrial pursuits. Surely simple
: working school Of agriculture, combined
win school Tor instruction IN The necessary
branches of elementary education would .ail
very lar short OF such college as is contem-
plated by the foregoing laws under " hlch this
institution exlSis,-So tar, that to convert 1t
auto such school woHld seem 10 be a diversion
ot It's property and en1uw meuts from their
Legitimate purposes.
There many other objections TO the
change recommended, but 10 point them out
aud give my views fully on The subject, would
extend THIS communication to greater length
than would be admissible in single NUMBER
OF your journal. Will, therefore, only add
IN that connection, that 10 adopt the plan re-
commented by the writer | am referring to-
would, IN my opinion, not only fail 10 carry
out the design Vt :he founders OF the college
aud the LAWS by which it exists, but would
Insure It's speedy rum.
Instead, therefore, Of so radically lowering
the standard OF The college, every effort should
De 10 Improve IL, elevate its standard OF schoi-
arship, extend It's sphere OF usefulness, and
make 1t what It's founders, lis charter and The
laws under which IL receives its eadowine
designed II TO be-a college where auy parent
or guardian might leei assured mat a son or
ward would receive not only thorough instruc-
tion 10 all Of those branches of learning re-