The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-20
INDIANA UNIVERSITY.
The Compact Between the People of
the State and the United States.

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
The foundation upon which Indiana Uni
Versity has been erected was compact be-
tween the United tSates and the people of
Indiana Territory, in 1916. On the 18th day
OF April, in that year, an act of Congress
was approved by the President the intent
of which was Ito enable the people of In
diana Territory to form constitution and
state government, and for the admission of
such State into the Union on an equal foot
ing with the original States" In this en-
aiding act were five separate propositions,
which were Offered to the convention of
the said Territory of Indiana when formed,
Tor their free acceptance or rejection.
which, if accepted by the convention, shall
be obligatory upon the United States"
The first of these propositions was the
offer of the sixteenth section of land in each
township for the use of public schools.
The fourth proposition reads as follows:
THAT one entire township, which shall be
designated by the President of the United
States, in addition to the one hereto re-
served for that purpose, shall be reserved
for the use of a seminary of learning and
vested in the Legislature of the said State.
to be appropriated solely to the use of such
seminary by the said Legislature"
This proposition it will be noticed, was
an offer upon condition. If the convention
on behalf of the people of the Territory
would accept the offer and apply the dona-
ton solely to the use of a seminary of
learning, then the United States would be-
come bound to make it. This implied the
establishment of such an institution of
learning by the people of the State. else
they could not have used the gift for the
purpose designated. With this understand
ing the convention, by an ordinance adopted
on the 29th day of June, 1916, accepted the
oner or congress, and pledged the people
to comply with all the conditions of the do
nation That ordinance, so far as it re-
lates to this subject, reads as follows:
Ihat we DO for ourselves and our pos
terlty agree, determine, declare and ordain
that we will and do hereby accent the, prop
oositions of the Congress of the United
states as made and contained in their act
OF the 18th of April. 1916, entitled, AN act
to enable the people of Indiana Territory
to form a state government and constitu-
ton, and for the admission of such State
into the Union on an equal footing with the
original States. This ordinance concludes
selves and our posterity hereby declare and
ordain, that this ordinance, and every part
thereof, shall forever be and remain ire
vocable and inviolate, without the consent
of the United States in Congress assem-
bled. first had and obtained for the altera-
ton thereof, or any part thereof
the offers made by Congress by the con-
Vention of Indiana, completed the compact
and made it binding upon both the parties
70 It, soon after this action of the conVen-
ton President Madison designated a town
ship of land and conveyed the title therefor
to the State of Indiana to be used for the
purpose named in said compact This town
ship is now known as Perry township in
Monroe. county. Thus the United States
fully discharged ali the obligations as
sumed on its part by the acceptance of its
offer. The convention on its part made pro-
vision for the use of the proceeds of such
land for the purpose named by Congress.
by ordaining that lit shall be the duty of
the General Assembly, tas soon as circum-
stances will permit to provide by law for a
general system OF education ascending in a
regular graduation from township schools to
state university, wherein education shall
be gratis and equally open to ALL"
Thus the convention, fully understanding
the pledges made in the name of the people
in accepting the propositions made by Con-
gress, both as to the establishment of COM
mon schools and for an institution of higher
learning, provided for a system which en-
braces both, and both still stand together
upon the same original foundation.
1t is pleasing to know that the people of
Indiana have, during the more than eighty
years which have passed since this COM
pact with the general government was
made, proved true and faithful to the
pledges then given. Never in a single in
stance has the plighted faith of the people
of that day been violated by their descend
ants The purpose of Congress in making
its magnificent gift to the people of the
Territory has been fully accomplished, the
hope of the people who gladly and CRATE
fully received this gift has been more than
realized Indiana has to-day "a system OF
education ascending in regular grada ton
from township schools to a state univer-
sity.' which few States can equal and none
excel. Shall this generation of the people
of Indiana be the first to prove faithless to
the work so grandly conceived by the
founders of our State, and so successfully
prosecuted thus far by all who have sue
ceeded them?
An act of the legislature. approved Jan
90 1920, by Jonathan Jennings the first
governor of the State. established the state
Seminary for the State Of Indiana" On the