Louisiana capitolian., 1880-07-13

OFFICE or THE SECRETARY or STATE,
New Orleans, July eth 1880.
W. II. GoopaLE, ESQ, Baton Rouge, La;
DEAR S'n-l SEQ that you published
in tho CArIrOLIAN the proceedings o
our meeting in which you published I
resolution introduced by Mr.. Walton a
to tho course of Gen. Graham, Mr.. Gun
by and myself. l think it is but ]us
that you publish Gen. Graham's letter
as well as tho reasons, herewith on
closed, OF Mr.. Gunby and myself in the
samo paper. You will also please file
these reasons, and lot mo hear from you
Immediately, rs leave horo for HON c
on Saturday.
Respectfully yours, ETC.,
WILL. A. STRONG.
TO tho Honorable President and members of the
Board OF Supervisors Of tho Louisiana State
University and Agricultural and Mechanical
College
GENTLEMEN-I beg leave TO submit
tho following reasons for my withdrawal
from tho meeting of tho Board during
tho vote upon tho resolution introduced
by Mr.. Walton to proceed at once to
tho removal of tho present professors by
declaring all tho chairs of tho faculty
vacant, and to the immediate election
Of a president Of the faculty Of tho Uni.
versity. THIS being the first session Of
the Board, and, many Of us entirely
unacquanted with tho workings of tho
institution, | considered it unprece-
dontcd that on tho fourth day of tho
session u resolution should be offered TO
declare all THO Offices in this institution
vacant and to elect at this time q pres.
idoht. A motion to refer tho resolution
to tho Committee on tho State of the
College was defeated; the resolution
coming up on tho next day, o motion
was made to postpone until our meet
ing in August, upon which discussion
arose, and it was generally stated in
by tho advocates of tho reso-
luton that its sole object was tho dis
placement of Col. Boyd, tho president.
by another, and many complaints were
made against him. which he was not
allowed an opportunity to rofute, as no
was ut that very time busy making the
certificates of distinction and gradua-
lion for tho cadets this evening (this
being commencement day of the Uni
ersity), and his duties made it impos.
,iblo for him to attend tho meeting OF
the Board on that day. Tho motion to
postpone to sttcli q time that be could
DO present was defeated, thereby virtu-
lily refusing to giye him hearing.
Undor tho circumstances, ! felt bound
by sense of justice to myself to tho
people Of Louisiana, TO the absent mem-
,crs Of the Board aud to tho good of the
,,stitstion to withdraw from tho session
# the Board during tho vote on the
esol,rtion for the following reasons,
o-wit:
First Il believe it utterly wrong for
now Board, ut it's first session, to set
ho precedent; declaring all the Offices
'acaut without d full investigation
rom all sources.
Second--l believe that the passage of
he resolution would be an unprecedent-
d injustice to tho president and profess
ors of this University withouta just and
easonable hearing Oh their part.
Third--I believe that as thore was
My q bare quorum present of tho
Board, wo owe to tho patrons of this
chool tho delay asked for, and TO give
N opportunity to tho other or absont
of the Board tho right to have
voice in tho selection of the officers
nd professors of this institution.
Fourth--l believe it disastrous to tho
interest Of the institution for tho Board
Won to remove any officer without just
aus'e and q full hearing Of said officer, l
ouId never take part in the removal of
II officer without giving him full and
omplete hearing.
lifth--I did not believe that would
C justified in dismissing tho present
aculty without, at least, giving them a
hance to resign their positions; and
urther, l believe that we owe as a
uty to tho people of Louisiana notice
hat such was tho intended course of
his Board.
SIXTH believe that the position of
resident of this institution is one of
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