Louisiana capitolian., 1880-07-17
STATE or LOUISIANA
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE,
New Orleans, July Sth, 1880.
v. II. GoopALn, ESQ, Baton Rouge, La. :

: in the CApIToLiAN the proceedings c
l our meeting in which you published
:, resolution introduced by Mr.. Walton a
. to the course Of Con. Graham, Mr.. Cur
by and myself. l think it is bnt jus
that You publish Con. Graham's letter
as we'll as the reasons, herewith on
closed, Of Mr.. Gunby and myself in th
same paper. You will also please fill
these reasons, and lot mo hear from yo,
Immediately, as | leave here for hom,
on Saturday.
Respectfully yours, ETC.,
WILL. A. STRONG.
To the Honorable President and members of TIN
Board of Supervisors OF tho Louisiana Stat'
University AMI Agricultural and Mechanical
College:
GENrLEMEN--I beg leave to submit
the following reasons for my withdrawal
from the meeting of the Board during
the vote upon tho resolution introduced
by Mr. Walton to proceed at once to
the removal Of tho present professors by
declaring oil the chairs Of the faculty
vacant, and to the immediate election
of a president Of the faculty of tho Uni
verslty. This being tho first session of
the Board, and, many of us entirely
nnacquainted with the workings of tho
institution, l considered it unprece-
dented that on tho fourth day of the
session resolution should be offered to
declare oil the offices in this institution
vacant and to elect ut this time pres
ident. A motion to refer the resolution
to the Committee on the State Of the
College was defsated tho resolution
coming up on the next day, q motion
was made to postpone until our meet
ing in August, upon which discussion
arose, and it was generally stated in
argument by the advocates of the 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 refnte, a. he
was at that very time busy making tho
certificates of distinction and gradua-
tion for the cadets this evening (this
being commencement day of tue Uni
vefsity), and his duties made it impos.
sibIe for him to attend the meeting Of
the Board on that day. The motion to
postpone to such time that he could
be present was defeated, thereby .virtu.
ally refusing to give him hearing.
Under the circumstances, felt bound
by q sense of justice to myself, to the
people of Louisiana, to the absent mem
bers of the Board and to the good of the
institution to withdraw from the session
Of the Board during the vote on the
resolution for the following reasons,
tO-wit:
First-l believe it utterly wrong for
new Board, ut its first session, to set
tho precedent; declaring all the offices
vacant without a full investigation
from all sources.
Second--l believe that the passage of
Che resolution would be an unprecedent-
cd injustice to the president aud profes.
sors of this University withouta just and
reasonable hearing on their part.
Third believe that as there was
only o bare quorum present of the
Board, we owe to the patrons of this
school the delay asked for, and to give
an opportunity to the other or absent
members of the Board the right to have
. voice in the selection of the officers
and professors of this institution.
Fourth-1 believe it disastrous to the
interest Of the institution for the Board
'ven to remove any officer without Just
cause and full hearing of said officer, |
,ould never take part in the removal of
IN officer without giving him full and
complete hearing.
Fifth did not believe that | would
% justified in dismissing the present
aculty without, at least, giving them
'hance to resign their positions and
urther | believe that we owe as a
luty to the people Of Louisiana notice
hat such was the intended course of
his Board.
SIXTH believe that the position of
resident of this institution is one of
reat Importance and involving grave
and that it was but due
o the public that notice should be
lven of the intended change, so as to
Omit OF competition for that position.
, for one, did not have in my mind l
nyone that | could conscientjouslv I
ave given my vote. I
Saypufh-f hoii,ro :, t,,, 4. At,