The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1891-04-28
MORE CORRESPONDENCE.
lee. Noble and Gov. Tiiiman on the Agrl-
cultural Appropriation.

cultural Appropriation.
COLUMBIA, S. c., April Is. The agri-
cultural appropriation matter seems to
be hard one to settle, inasmuch as
Governor Tillman will not accept it on
any other terms than those proposed by
the Legislature, and the Secretary OF the
Interior still wants to psy it out on the
basis Of the census reports as to school
population. Below Is. the latest cores
pondence on the subject:
DEPARTMENT. OF THE INTERIOR,
WASHINGTON, April 10, 1891.
Hon. b. Il. Ttltman, Gocei1or. Cottttp-
bia, s.. O..
DEAR SIR: am anxious to dispose
of the fund to which your State is enti-
tied under the Act of Congress OF Au-
gust 80, 1890, respecting colleges of agri-
cultural and mechanical arts.
/ do not consider the action of your
Legislature as controlling my official
actions or judgement in relation to this
fund.
AS recommendation it has the high
est consideration and has had all due
Difference, but it is for the Secretary Of
the Interior to determine these qr es-
tions. / cannot consent to divide the
funds evenly, as recommended by the
resolution, between the two colleges for
the two races when the percentage of
school age for the whites is 39:82 per
cent. and 60.18 per cent. for the colored.
If youare willing to receive my con-
struction of the law and my decision I
shall be very glad to send you $4,000
now, and $4,000 more for the second
payment, as soon as satisfactory report
is received as to disbursement.
Yours most respectfully,
John w. NOBLE, Secretary.
Hon. John w. Noble, Secretary of the
interior, Washington, u. g.
DEAR SIR: Your letter Of April 18th,
II reference to the disposition of the
money appropriated by the Act OF Con
gress August Both, 1890, "for the benefit
of colleges of agriculture and mechani-
cal arts, has been received. l had sup
posed that correspondence on the sub
ject was, at an end, because Section I'd
of the Act provides: "The grants. of
moneys authorized by this Act are made
subject to the legislative assent of the
several States and Territories to the pur-
pose Of said grants" Further in Sec
tion 1st the language is: "The Legisla-
ture of such State may propose and re-
port to the Secretary of the Interior a
JpoO Niiu SlulOtUlO VI Gll6
to be received under this Act" 1t is
clear, therefore, that this matter must
be determined by our Legislature and
not by me as Governor, and to my mind
it is equally clear that you will be strain
ing the power given you under Section
4th If you continue to claim that an
equal division is not an equitable" one.
AS far as this State is concerned, we have
complied with all the conditions impos
ed in section 1st, where it is expressly
stated that mo money shall be paid out
under this Act to any State or Territory
for the support and maintenance of a
college where distinction of race or color
is made in the admission of the students,
but the establishment and maintenance
ofsuch colleges separately for white and
colOred students shall be held to be q
compliance with the provisions of this
Act II the FUNDS received in such State
or Territory be equally divided as here
matter set forth" South Carolina has
given one-half Of the proceeds of the
land scrip fund to Clallin College. There
is a special annual appropriation of So,
600 from the State Treasury to that
school. We now propose to give it one.
half of this fund and consider that it is
equal" equitable" and lust" so to do,
and hope that after studying the Act
more closely you will agree with me. l
am, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, b. r.. TILLMAN,
Governor Of South Carolina,