Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-08-18
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE.
Action Of the Board Of Trustees ON the
Color Question.

Action Of the Board Of Trustees ON the
Color Question.
At meeting of the board of trustees of
this institution held yesterday the question
of the admission of colored students was
disposed Of Judge Baxter, at q previous
meeting, had offered the following:
Whereas, by an act of the legislature,
passed in 1869, this University was endowed
with the proceeds of the sale of the land
scrip appropriated by Congress for the pur-
pose of establishing and maintaining an in
stitution of learning in Tennessee, devoted
to agriculture and the mechanic arts, which
act provided that No citizen of the State,
otherwise qualified, shall be excluded from
the privileges of said University, by reason
of his race or color, provided that it shall be
the duty of the trustees of said University
to make such provisions as may be neces-
sary for the separate accommodation or in
struction of any person of color, who may
be entitled to admission therein"
And, whereas, having accepted said en-
dowment, which has greatly enlarged our
capacity for usefulness, upon the terms and
conditions specified in said act, we feel
bound to comply Herewith, and to execute
Now, therefore, in order that our wishes
may not be misunderstood, we hereby in
struct the faculty, in the event applications
shall be made by persons of color for adj
mission to the University, who, ON examina-
ton, shall be found qualified and entitled to
admission, to ad Lit them, upon their comply
ing with the terms and conditions declared
as prerequisite to the admission of white per-
sons. But, in obedience to the law, the faculty
will set apart for their separate instruction,
such apartment or apartments of the Uni
versity building as they may think best
| suited to that purpose. When admitted,
they will be entitled to all the rights, privi-
leges, immunities and advantages guaran-
teed to other students, and we hereby
pledge ourselves to protect them, so far as
we can, in the enjoyment of these rights.
The following was offered by Col. J. W.
Gaut as a substitute:
Whereas, recognizing as the trustees of
the University of Tennessee to the fullest
extent the obligations imposed on US by law
to provide for the instruction and accommo-
dation of colored cadets, when entitled to
admission to the University and also recog-
nizing the obligation and duty of making
such instruction and accommodation in all re-
| and yet separate and apart; and frankly
confessing our utter inability, for want OF
| time and adequate means, to provide two sets
of buildings, apparatus, libraries and equip
ments, and a double corps of instructors, as
probably contemplated by the act of the
| Legislature and believing that any evasion
of the law, by the mere pretense of COM
| pliance, would be trifing with the public,
and that a temporary arrangement with
| some other school is the best thing
| we can now do for colored cadets and would
| temporarily justly meet the requirements of
| the law until the question can be submitted
to the legislature for its action in the pre-
misses, by which it is hoped permanent pro-
vision may be made for the colored race
| Whereas. this the first time that applica-
ton has been made to this University for
the admission of colored cadets
Resolved, That We hereby instruct the
finance committee to make an arrangement
with the trustees and faculty of Fisk Uni
versity, Nashville, for instruction for such
colored students as may be appointed under
the law by senators and representatives as
may be able to pass the requisite examina-
ton prescribed by the faculty of the Uni
versity of Tennessee.
Resolved, 2, That we appropriate money
| to pay the tuition fees of such cOlored stu
dents in Fisk University.
Judge Baxter offered the following addi-
tional resolution as an amendment
Be it further resolved, That if any
colored person who shall apply for admis.
sion into the University and found qualified
and entitled to its privileges, shall decline to
be transferred to another institution as pro-
posed above, and insist on his legal right to
admission into and instruction by this Uni
versity, he will be received and instructed
pursuant to law.
The resolution offered by Colonel Gam
was adopted, and the amendment offered by
Judge Baxter voted down.
The library committee was reorganizet
and constituted as follows:
DR.. G. Deaderick, Hon. George Andrew
and VIM. Rule.
At an afternoon session, on motion of F
A. r. Scott, the offices of registrar, com
mandant's clerk, clerk of library and clerl
of faculty were consolidated into one. ant
Prof. W. G. McAdoo was elected to fill sale
Office.
After the transaction of some other bust
ness of minor importance the board ad
journed to meet again Thursday, 25th inst