Year: 1869

For the Standard.
The University. .....


The year 1861 found our University hand
somely endowed. Much of this endowment
was derived through the liberality of private
parties, and was entrusted to the State for
the benefit OF the institution The year 1869
finds the institution without endowment or
funds. The largesums donated by generous
men is gone The agricultural department
has an income, for which it is indebted to
the Congress of the United States. This is
to be devoted to instruction in agricultural
andthe mechanic arts, and military tactics.
When the present State government was
organized, it was found that the number of
students had decreased from four hundred
ana fifty to about fifty. .......
Several gentlemen of the Faculty were
elected, and the institution opened for one
year, under partial and imperfect course
of study, embracing few OF the
leading subjects of a college curriculum. As
was to be expected, the number of students
was small. The Trustees promised to offer
in due time, such comprehensive and prac-
tical University course as is contemplated in
the Constitution of the State. A Commit
tee was raised for that purpose.


In the discharge OF their duty, this COM
mittee examined carefully the promi-
nent features in the leading colleges of this
country and Europe. They have reported,
and the Board of Trustees have adopted,
such plan as was designed by the trainers
of the constitution 1t is believed that
when this plan shall be fully carried out, the
University of North Carolina will rank Sec
ond to no literary institution upon the con-
tinent. 1t will be not only the just pride of
North Carolina, but will possess great weight
and influence in the nation. Those who
bear part now in securing its establishment
will not he lightly esteemed by posterity.


Hitherto we have had University in
name, but not in reality. 1t has only been
a college. Much of its patronage has flow
ed in from the wealthy cotton States. so that
it could hardly be called the University of
our State. 1t has not fully met the wants of
our people, and has been, very naturally,
unpopular with the masses


At present, what is the duty of the State
in relation to it? The Constitution clearly
andemphatically enjoins its maintenance. Its
requirements cannot be lightly disregarded
The provision for Normal instruction and
other important branches required by the
Constitution has been made by the Trustees
The success of the University will give an
impetus, not only to the public schools, but
to the entire educational interests of the
State. Its discontinuance, If such thought
were possible, would be severe blow, and
its failure the saddest and most disastrous
event that has befallen the State. There are
already buildings to accommodate about five
Eyta vol mo Ia 10
libraries, cabinets and apparatus are theer
Adjacent Is large tract of land belonging
to the Institution, so that the model farm and
work shops could be in immediate proxim-
ity to the students. Many poor, earnest
young men could spend few hours per day
upon the farm or in the shops, and thus
earn their board while they prosecute their
studies As soon as the present plan is un-
derstood, it is believed the University will
attain degree of popularity and usefulness
never before reached by it, and unsurpassed
by any similar institution in our country. 1t
must eventually succeed. Should it be al
lowed to suffer for want of necessary atten-
tion at this most important period in its
history, those who come after US will only
rejoice to wear the laurels that we so indiff-
erently refuse.


But such an institution requires an en-.
dowment Without it none has succeeded
or ever can. Competent professors will not
accept unless their positions are to be per-
manent, as at other colleges, and their sala-
ries provided for beyond contingency.
When other States have accepted the gen.
erous donation of landscrip from Congress,
they have stepped forward and met the
general government by Ike liberality in
the cause of education. Can North Caro-
lima afford to do otherwise The plan
adopted by the Trustees makes provision
for the education of the colored people.
This is matter to which the party in power
is pledged, and is moreover an act of such
manifest justice and right as to strike every
one.


The University must be sustained. Every
good citizen will favor it as question OF
public policy, as essential to our prosperity,
of the first importance to our children, OF
simple indebtedness of the State to the in
stitution for an amount equal to the lost en-
dowment, of constitutional obligation, OF
State pride. of courtesy to the Congress OF
the United States, of good faith and justice
to the colored penple.


But how can the necessary fund be raised
If there were no better method it would be
proper to raise it by taxation. Education
is matter not only of common, but of uni
versal importance. Our people, however,
are at present burdened with taxes, and the
following plan is suggested. Let portion
of the States interest in some public work,
say the Central Railroad, be transferred to
the University as permanent endowment.
No one is taxed or injured. The State re-
tains control in the management of the
road; and yet the debt is paid, the consti'
tutional obligations met and a University
of which we may be proud, is provided for.
There are those who will not be slow to use
as weapon the fact, that while large ap-
preparations have been made for internal
Improvements, the interests of education
have been measurably overlooked.


In his message to the General Assembly,
the Governor very emphatically recommends
that immediate steps be taken in this direc-
tion 1t is not only important, but necessa-
ry. While questions more exciting are
claiming the attention of our Legislators,
this should not he overlooked. There is
danger that it might he, and hence the i'm
portance of immediate action. The plan
of transferring portion of the States In
terest in some public work seems to be not
only practical, but iminently proper.