Year: 1859

same. We think it necessary TO bestow


upon our brothers and our sons high or


der of instruction-wbile our sisters and


daughters must be content with such an


one as can be obtained from Primary


School. This is all wrong. Our educa-


tional fund Is the common property OF both


sexes, and both should share alike in its


enjoyment. The State has deep inter


cst in the intellectual improvement Of her


daughters, The mother moulds the


mind Of her child, and shapes its des.


tinies by the teachings bestowed upon its


youthful intellect. How important, then,


for the welfare Of our State, that our dau ght-


ers should be prepared by education 10


perform we'll their part upon the stage Of


life. They are intellectually our equals.
There was time when the world looked


upon them as "man's inferior" but that
day has long since passed. 1t is your du-
ty to give to them the same means Of OBJ
tanning high order of education, that you


have already bestowed upon the sterner
sex, and this boon should be presented in
the most acceptable form. I therefore rec
omend that you take such steps as your wis.
dom may dictate toward the establishment
of seperate female department of learn
ing at Ann Arbor, connected with and un-
der the control Of the University, wherein
the daughters Of our citizens may be edu
Gated in all the higher branches of learn
ing. In order to more effectually accom-
plish this great object, it may become
necessary TO erect new edifce disconnect-
ed from any of the present University
learning.


The agricultural College" is another
institution of learning that deeply inter-
ests the people Of michigan. Four-fifth
Of the inhabitants of the State are engaged
in Agricultural pursuits, and whatever
tends 10 enlighten them upon the great
subject of the cultivation of the soil should
receive encouragement at your hands,
Actuated by noble spirit, and having the
true interests of the people at heart, the
trainers of our Constitution provided that
'the Legislature shall encourage the promo
tion Of Intellectual, Scientific and Agri-
cultural improvement, and shall, as soon as
practicable, provide for the establishment
Of an Agricultural School," In pursuance
to this requirement. the Legislature at It's
annual session of 1855, took the necessary
steps to carry into effect the will and wish
es Of the people, as expressed in the organ
ic law of the State. A tract of land en-
bracing six hundred acres and 57-looths
of an acre was purchased, and suitable
building were erected thereon preparatory
to the opening of the institution for the
reception of students.


The founding of this College was an
experiment in the Agricultural history Of
our country. Although the people Of this
great nation are more deeply interested in
Agriculture than in all other pursuits COM
bined. Yet no State in the Union had
prior to the month of January 1855, VEN
tured upon the experiment of founding an
"Agriculturat College," and to Michigan
belongs the high honor of inaugurating
the policy that has since been intimated by
some Of the proudest States Of the confe1-
racy. This institution or learning is under
the control and management of the Board
Of Education, and was, on the 18th day
of May 1857, formally opencd-at which
time, students from different parts Of the
State applied for admission, and were re-
ceived into the institution. At the next
regular term after the opening, one hun
dred students were admitted This is
more than can conveniently be Accommodated
without an enlargement of the buildings
connected with the College. Much has
been said and written against this College, |
yet believe. among the great masses of
our people, it is the most popular institu.
tion Of learning within our State, and
should be foetered and encouraged by you.
1t is no longer doubtful experiment, but
it is successfully conducted beyond the
most sanguiae expectations Of its founders.
l recommend that steps be taken by you to-
ward the enlargement of the capacities Of
this ins,itution so az to accommodate at least |
two hundred students. For adetaled state
ment Of the financial situation Of this Col |
lege and tho management thereof and the
amount necessary to be appropriated there
on for the ensuing two years, you are |
respectfully referred to the report Of the
Board of Education now on file in the
proper department.


The State you represent, from its geo.
graphical position and natural advantages
must ever hold a conspicuous place in our
Union. We are upon the dividing line
that separates the East from the West.
We occupy the great highway over which
pass yearly, tens Of thousands Of hardy en-
igrants in pursuit Of homes. These omi-
grants take with them more or less wealth,
at allI events, they take with them the
very source from whence all real wealth
must ever spring-strong arms and willing
minds. With them labor is honorable.
aud wherever they make their homes,
whether in the forest, upon the plain, or
tho mountain side, prosperity and happiness
follow in their footsteps. For twenty
years this tide Of emigration has been stead
lily going past us, with scarcely an effort
on our paIt to stay it in its onward march.
Five sixths Of our entire State is, to-day,
wilderness, and is inviting to the eini-
grant as the moro distant prairies of the
West. Whole counties in the northern
part Of the State, have SCARCELY a white
settler within them, and unless some
measures are adopted to develop and make
known the great Agricultural resources OF
the unsettled portion Of that region, it will