Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-02-25
4 Scmbiance OF Class Legislation.

W
luced in the Legislature, the object
of which is TO require students who
hereafter enter the Agricultural
aud Mechanical College ut Stark
willie to make u solemn pledge that
they will, or intend 10, Sitcr they
have completed their course, follow
agriculture as arurSuit. There is
uo;hin. in the a.; establishing the
college which ia5tjiicS the enact
mrut of any such law, Gul It's pass.
l.;r wou'd h, class legislation, Diet
r!m,atll 20 The institution anl
Against the wishes at that class of
citizens which i, i, designed to ia.
yor above Others, riz: tie farmers,
See. . of the at establishing the
college reads is follows:
Bc IL further enacted. That each ~
said Blard, ui Trustrc, shall possess
all the puwcc necessary AMI proper
for the accomplishment ~ the trust
rep ,,cd in them, viz: the c,tHh,i~h-
IA tnt and mIini'Uaurc ut a iir>t-clus-
institution. at Whira the youth ut the
state ~ Mississippi may acquire Il
common Standardization, and Il scicn-
title and practical knowledge ut ugri-
culture .;hurti'u'tu'r uni tlcmcc!un-
t. art,: also az the proper growth aud
A'grc 81 stock. without. however, cN-
Guiding other srivutiiic AMI classical
studies, including military tactics.
They mly also adopt all such bylaws
and regulation, as Ihry may deem nee
-s,ary for that purpose. not rcpugnant
to the Constitution and laws Of this
; ate or of the United States.
Ii is plain the law contemplated
the college for the bcnciit of all the
white youths anA of all classes, 81.
cause agriculture and the mcclIan.
ic arts are required To b. taught, II
does not signify that lone Int SOUS
OF farmers or those Who make u
promise TO engage in agriculture
are 10 be- admitted Many Il farm.
cr'S boy who receives his education
at the college will, through nclina.
tion or because they are better suit.
ed for a different calling, follow the
legal, medical on literary profess.
ion while the Sous al these engaged
in any OF the professions or COM
mCrcial pursuits may gain a rcpu.
Miion as II scientific and practical
farmer.
The y. & VI College waS cs;ab.
lished under the Provisions Ola law
passed 10y congtrs,. and Nc give an
extract flom s,c,iua of said law:
The money. - invested de
rived from the sale oi hand, donated
bv the United States shall constitute
e perpetual und. The interest -; which
ehall Ice appropriated 10y cnch state
which may claim the hcuc!i; oitli, act =.
10 tie endowment -! a college where
lie leading object shall b.. without
excluding either scientific auJ classical
stuI.cs. To teach such branches
ut learning a. ARE related To agrir,il-
turc and the m"ci,auic art,, in
order 20 promote the liberal aud prac-
teal education ~ the industrial class
e., in the several pursuit. AMI pro;cs-
,.pns " life.
THUS it will hc seen that the
State law, nor the law passed 10y
congress, ever intended The college
should he established for any class,
but that nj! should receive the hen.
eats of al education in the several
pursuits and professions in lie.
The Mississippi University at
Oxford is maintained Icy the State.
Would not the legislature have a.
much right to say That none but
SONS Ot professional men should en-
ter that school! The Female Col.
lcgcat Columbus was not establish
ed for poor girls alone, tut 10 be
conducted upon IL plan that would
intue TO such gills an education,
il they desire to avail themselves
OF it, at the same time throwing
open its doors to I'LL the giIls Of the
State.
Every taxpayer in the State is
contributing to the support of the
\. * VI. College, and they are cnti.
tied To its benefits, should they dc.
sire it, The farmers have never
asked for any class legislation, and
the mcmber who introduced that
bill should make haste TO withdraw
il.