The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-08-18
Letter From Gen. TUCKER.
THE AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL
COLLEGE BILLS.
OKoLoNA, MISS, April ,, 1875


OKoLoNA, MISS, April ,, 1873
EDITORS CLARION: The recent session Of
the Trustees of the Agricultural and Me
chanical College, reminds me OF duty neg
lected The day before the adjournment of
the last Legislature, an article appeared IN
your daily, giving Gen. West in the Senate,
and myself in the House, all the credit at
taching to the passage Of the Agricultural
College Bill. 1t Is true each of us did all
we could to pass the bill through our re
spective Houses, but it originated with
neither of Us
4 bill had been introduced in the Legis-
lature of 1877, 10y the Hon. J. b. Gellowley,
of Madison county, to organize an Agricul-
tural College and was afterwards perfected
bv a special committee, of which Gen.
Featherstou was Chairman. This bill failed
to pass ut that session. At the opening of
the session of 1878, 1 wrote to Rlr. Yellow
lev for a copy of his Agricultural College
bill and he kindly sent me the original.
This | re-wrote, changed i'll some unm-
portant particulars, and introduced In the
House Gen. West, being interested, like
myself. in the passage Of such Il bill, applied
to me Tor it, while it was before the House
Judiciary Committee, copied it, making
changes to suit his views. aud introduced lt
in the Senate. The body Of the bill, which
became a law. is the same as was prepared
and introduced by Mr.. Hellowley in 1877,
and to him belongs the credit, if any there
be. ] make this disclaimer for myself and
Gen West, AS ! am sure neither of Us pro-
pose to profit by the labors and research OF
another without giving him due credit
therefor. Respectfully,
W. f. TUCKER.
Not satisfied With tl4e aboYe disclaimer
and actuated by a worthy impulse Gen
Tucker subsequently, wrote to Mr.. Yellow
lev in effect emphasizing his public letter
| have been permitted to use the letter for
the purposes Of this article it Is as follows;
OKoLoNA, Miss, May 4th, 1878.
DEAR YELLowLEY: l presume you saw
"A sauib IN THE CLARION of the oath uit.,
about the Agricultural College bill-if you
have not enclose it tgr your Inspection.
| intended to have written such an article
before left jackson, LGt IN tie pressure OF
the closing hours il was neglected up to a
late issue of The CLARION. | simply wish
10 'srender unto Cesar, the things that are
3 Casa.
Yefg respectfully,
". f TUCKER.
| have thus endeavored to follow, step oy
step, The progress and advancement OF this
measure since 1876. If, in 1874 any action
was taken by the State Grange It does now
appear in the records either by lnoti2G on
resolution: if indeed it was preached at all
+ it came ND in the manner of private CONVEX
sations, and did not 60 before the Grange,
even in suggestions for the good Of the order
+ From 1876 to 1873 inclusive the name OF
Yellowlev is indissolubly linked with the
fortunes of this College. From 1878 Tue
connection ends The College has just COM
pleted lis t.r@t year, with a satisfactory
+ exhibit and bright prospects for the future.
Should its future continue Gades wise ana
: enl:phtened management its benefits caIHo1
be estimated in words 1t would have been
a graceful recognition of distinguished ser
/ vice if Mr. Ye1lowley had been appointed
one of the Board of Trustees. 1t would
/ have been eminently proper for the man
who contributed most to the success of tins
+ institution to have been invited To conclude
/ the first wear of its course in the address to
the first benefciaries of his labors But
the eternal fitness of things unfortunately
often fails as guags u human actions.
In concluding this contribution q history
it may not be improper to make aliusioh 10
this nublic benefactor, more especially as
at this time nay l:..ss cannot be taken for
political uses. Mr.. Yellowiey ~ essentially
/ a pioneer and man of purpose. In 1878,
inspired bv q devotion to planting interests
and with the defeat af the 4. snd NJ College
bin fresh in his mind, recognizing the neces-
sitv for thorough union among the farmers
of the state, ne auNoCstleN 1Sc EVAiN9 70 sup
ting for the Legislature only such per
frons as were known to be II sympathy win
nrogresstve agriculture. Upon this ieea ne
issned circular, which, while secret IN Us
character. was non-preScrlptlVe. tna1 ~ -
saw it made no war upon any class or car
mo in life. 1t simply called upon the Iaf Ii'
ars ~ labor to control the best ana Co9 II,
Convention in their own interests Ane
discovery of this plan raised political pan,
Jar,oninm Interested men, iaelteq anu
thouchtless men. Joined in denouncihg PSI
slo.IS7 Ieritiuate scheme. One by one tile
l'a,',ienen originally associated with aim
s=S,ndone,, .heir positions. They felt lone
Ao -. ,~,hsp the wind was blowing. neh
$50 ~ i,st one had risen to reaiaFr ana MT
RI 1,iS DR.. Phares, and one or Two
49,. ,.6ose names ] do not now recail
$50 remained true TO their conSleuotis-
re-dav Il Is perfectly proper to advocate tne
f..,a-s valiev. nav 10 90 further ana say We
Ia. , uieis 80 f,r lawyer, doctor, or &C
VIII -. W. =, o,,ss taste. And Mr.. Put Oar
eoIu. .ts sew learned and able master OF the
49, Se. "a rance he's for two years past oeeu
S-..s.;.., f7orn one end of the State 10 sne
- tesehing the same doctrine a. ia
otnel, sss..-et circular" and no one rlsez
- 20. 4. vrotesaue alarm and says DENIM
T up - horse II our political family.
r, t,e very prime Of vigorous h.A.-S -
N - : ,'eriod in life when most men ~
e -, irving their wings in pn0nc' -.
nrss sLg - mill for himself a monu.asal,
io~lsy 80 - ry,,Iued than the preiernsns =
9ls - - IL partv and sooner or lAasr -.
poli tles .s N - written upon that monument a
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