, 1907-05-03
WHAT WAS

So much has been said pro and cor
their connection with state universe
ties that 1t is of vast Importance to
know just what the ~originators of the
act had in mind AT the time it was be-
fore the congress of the United States.
Hon. Justin S, Morrill,, the distinguish
ed senator from the state of Vermont,
was the author of the act of 1862,
which established the agricultural col
leges in America. Having this in mind,
Hon. Il. +. Burke of the counsel for the
university in the agricultural college
case just argued before the supreme
court of the United States, made n
searching investigation of the writings
and speeches Of the distinguished SEN
ator for anything that he might have
said relating to the question before the
court. He was rewarded by finding
much bearing upon the subject. In re-
marks before the house committee on
education respecting the land grant
colleges. October "a, 1890, Mr.. Morrill,
took strong ground against separate
institutions or dismemberment. A few
excerpts will be of more than passing
interest to readers of The Republican:
Now, Mr.. Chairman, in relation to
this subsequent act that was passed to
give the colleges established under the
act of 1862 the additional sum of $751;
900 each for the first year., increasing
1t by $1,000 annually until 1t reaches
the sum Of $25, 900, l wish to say it was
proposed by a distinguished senator to
put into that net u provision by which
a proportion might be diverted to new
colleges in various states. l objected
to 1t, and told him my idea was to re-
inforce those already established, and
that 1t would be very d~isagreeable to
me for him to present any amendment
OF that kind, or even to allow it to be
done, and he therefore consented to
withdraw 1t. and the amendment put
ting in a provision to allow a state to
change from the colleges established
in 1852 was not presented In he SEN
ate and did not get in in any other way.
1t has been supposed that such a privi-
lege was covered by and warranted by
tho following words, in the recent act
of congress:
THAT the appropriation is to each
state and territory for the more COM
plete endowment and maintenance oil
colleges for the benefit Of agriculture
and the mechanic arts now establishes
or which may be hereafter established,
l.. ,oo1rlorno NTH nm not nf TnnprpSS
approved July 2, 1862
THAT, MI. Chairman and gentlemen,
was intended to cover merely the new
territories and states which might be
admitted hereafter, and was not intend
ed for anything more. I
merely desire to say, supposing 1t was
right and just or legal for the legisla-
ture to take away the appropriation
from the University Of Vermont and
state agricultural college, as l cannot
believe it to be, my W Judgment is
that we cannot ave an institution that
will give anything like the amount Of
valuable instruction for the farmers
and mechanics and the industrial
classes that is afforded by the Uni
versity of Vermont and State Agricul
tural College, with the additional
means that that institution will have to
provide further and better instruction
than has ever been given hitherto. If
it was all plain sailing so that the coast
was entirely clear; If it would be right
and just and proper; in my Judgment
it would be a very great mistake, and
We could not have the amount of val
liable instruction in any school or so.
called college OF agriculture as can be
obtained in the Vermont university
and state agricultural college"
The remarks were so pertinent, SO
logical and so conclusive, that Mr..
Burke took occasion to bring them to
the attention nf the supreme court in
his argument for the University of
Wyoming.