Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-01-28
Opposite Cowar, McCluDg q Co.
The University Investigation

Governor Marks has signed the Dill
I providing for the appointment of q
! legislative committee, to investigate
| the " condition, management, and
practice of the Tennessee University,
! and especially of the agricultural and
/ mechanical depart ents." 1--WE quote
: from memory. Messrs. Ewing and
Bledsoe Of the Senate, and MesSrs.
Matthes, Garden, and Ogilvie, Of the
House, have been appointed upon the
committee. These ara intelligent aud
fair-minded gentlemen. From such
an investigation the University has
nothing to fear, but everything to
hope.
AS State institution, it is its p5.rj
Icge to be visited by the representatives,
81 ght upon the University, IS wei! ss
a eglect of the public interests, Were
such visitation to be omitted. The
University is one Of the most imp Or-
tant of the public institutions of the
State its officers are really St&.e of
ficers; its funds are held in trust by
the Slate and for the State. The peorle
f the State have the right to know
Low their public interest3 are man
aged, and it is the duty of the Legisla-
ture to make such Inquiry aud repory,
in every department of the public SER
vice. This is more decidedly true in
the case of an institution holding 8
tr,,st so important, aud exerting an il
fl .ence 30 profound, SO does a State
University. These remarks are made
Eccau-e we know that s)me, who al
up friendly to the University, and some
ven among it's friends, are disposed
regard the appointment of this coba~
.aittee as an act of hostility, or at less
of suspicion, against the institution.
l. should not be 50 regarded, nor
should the committee be received in
that spirit. Their appointment is the
Simple fulfilment of public duty by
the Legislature, for which the friends
Of the University should be thankful
The authorities should, moreover,
regard this visitation not only, as we
have said, ss i1"jUiiege. but also "a 81
CEpO.tuaifs. - is AL opportunity, in
=, ) ii st pIaca, .or the exhibition of that
liberal courtesy and respect 10 which
the representatives. OF the State are en-
titled from officers and its G. lens.
This, we ale sure, Will not be 2 A.ng
ia this Instance; and, it is furi uca
that this m6eting of the Board OF 1u.-
tees gives opportunity for such 50 e.
provision as may be nece airy 70 tbi.
purpO-e Bat it is also an oppOrtr nifty,
which should be highly pri2s.i, q.
enabling the committee to 4nOW, not
only the actual work, but The 1Vd Is Of
the University, and to impress t&er2
favOrably upon the Legis lainre. Nc
one, We suppose, " II claim that tie
University is perfect. 1t his wants
which should be made knOWD; but its
chief want, IS declared by Gov. Porte
in bis late rns sssge, Is the coTdiai CO.
operation and support Of t5e Legis!s
ture. This given, that of the people
will follow. Petty jealonsie5 will |
cease, and there will be then nothing
to prevent our University from taxing
soon front rank emOng similar inst /,
tutions in the country.
We sincerely hope that Ibis OpDOr- |
tunity will be Understood and wisely |
used. Let the committee have cor |
dial welcome, and every help towards !
complete and thorough Knowledge c
the condition and wants OF the ineti, u |
ton. Let them be fully informed o
the policy and of the opinions Of he
Trustees and of the Faculty. Let them
be inn ressed Nth the offsets had IL
view in the conduct of the institnti0D,
aud with the limited means 81 is COM
mand. Let them see what q good |
work has been begun here, and how
much better and larger this work
might yet be made. Aud let them go
back TO Nashville fully alive to the in
teresfs of the State, as reprtserle ed in
its University, aud prepared, in a fair
end friendly spirit, to represent TO the
Legislature lis work and is wants.