Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-06-30
THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
FUND.

! lNuSG AcHllcSSec OulNOlSlVOs VIC hllu
the following paragraph:
What we are after and what the tillers of
vast fund, evidently intended to foster their
interests, shall not be gobbled up by de-
partment of the University-thc literary
that has no right to it whatever
The editorial seems to be written
in a spirit of fairness and in that
spirit we propose to treat it, but the
paragraph quoted impresses us with
the belief that the editor is laboring
under a misapprehension of the true
intent of Congress in establishing
this fund. We are persuaded that
there are n great many persons labor
ing honestly under a misapprehension
as to the purposes Of the Agricultural
College fund. We know of no better
way to place the matter correctly be.
fore the public, than to quote from
the law of Congress, which was APP.
proved July 2, 1862, under which
these colleges were organized. Sec
ton of said act reads as follows:
And be 1t further enacted, That all
moneys derived from the sale Of the lands
aforesaid by the States to which the lands
are apportioned and from the sales Of land
scrip hereinafter provided for, shall he in
vested in stocks of the United States, or of
the States, or some other safe stocks yield
! ing not less than five per centum upon the
par value of said stocks; and that the
moneys so invested shall constitute per-
petual fund, the capital OF which shall re-
main forever undiminished Except so far
rs may be provided in section fifth of this
act, and the interest of which shall be in
violably appropriated, by each State which
may take and claim the benefit of this act,
to the endowment support, and main
tenance of at least one college where the
leading object shall be, without excluding
other scientific and classical studies, and in
Guiding military tactics, to teach such
branches Of learning as are related to agri-
culture and the mechanic arts in such man.
ner as the legislatures of the States may re-
spectively describe, in order to promote the
liberal and practical education of the in
dustrial classes in the several pursuits and
professions in life.
1t will be seen that the act of Con-
gress provides for the maintenance of
at least one college in each State
''where the leading object shall be,
lcithOm excluding other scientific aud
classical studies, and including mill
tary tactics, to teach such branches
of learning as are related to agricul-
ture and the mechanic arts" etc. So
that the remarks of the Outlook in
reference to the fund being "gobbled
up" by the literary department of the
University are evidently made from a
misapprehension of what the law is.
1t would not be a forced construction
of the law, as we think, to hold that
"other scientific and classical studies"
must be taught and consequently the
portion of the fund so used is not "gob-
bled up" We think it would be
folly on the part of the Trustees to
say that the literary department of
the University should be abolished,
and that the entire fund should be
devoted to giving instruction in agri-
culture and the mechanic arts.
But we do believe that branches OF
learning related to agriculture and
|. the mechanic arts" should be made
the leading object in the institution
We think and we believe q majority
of the. Board of Trustees, together
with the President of the Institution
think that it has not been altogether
what it should be, and the appoint
ment of Standing Committees or
these subjects at the last meeting o
the Board shows that the matter i,
! receiving proper attention. In the
past it has been impracticable to Dc
all that the managers of the institu
ton wished. The interest on bonds
is not paid promptly and after tn,
institution has been embarrassed Fl
nancially. We trust and believe tina
it will soon reach a standard salts
factory to the most exacting. We d,
not suppose it will ever he managec
to the satisfaction of all, for som
have wild impracticable theories tina
never can be carried out, But tn
, character of the gentlemen compos
= ing the standing committees allude
to is such, that we think the publ
will give the Board Of Trustees credi