Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1868 [PAGE 163]

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education, under the sanction of State legislation, the paramount and well defined object of which is to open to the practical students of the industries of the State a plain road to the acquisition of all attainable knowledge, through consecutive scientific channels, pertaining to and bearing upon the productive interests of our entire farming and mechanical population. The world progresses, and without this noble agency would continue to progress in the discovery of the means to improve, advance and elevate the occupation of labor; but you are the Trustees of a system which, carefully watched and appropriately managed, it is confidently hoped by all is to add a new impulse to labor, to turn the key which is to unlock and distribute what has been hidden or imperfectly understood in past times. Our broad and fertile prairies, our indomitable and industrious population, invite the experiment, and offer the finest opportunity for the development of a new system. Nevertheless, we are a purely practical people, and will not be slow, may be even hasty, to expect results. The law of Congress is very plain. The College is to teach such branches of learning, as are related to the agricultural and mechanic arts, in order to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions of life, not, however, excluding the scientific and classical studies and military tactics. The University is suitably located, in one of the best portions of the State, and is surrounded by an agricultural population, and encouraged by the wishes of all who desire the success of any scheme to promote human happiness. Doubtless you are to be subject to criticism, for this is the proper privilege of all; but, may I venture to hope, it is not to be unrelenting or unreasonable. It ought not to be forgotten, that, actuated by a commendable desire to serve the cause of education, as well as the cause of honest industry, you have voluntarily, and without compensation, given your time and intelligence to the organization and management of this experiment. For myself, thanking you for all that has been done, and commending your labors to the favorable recognition and approval of the people of our State; with the ardent hope that all, and more than has been expected, is to be realized from this University, I remain, most respectfully, Your obedient servant, R. J. OGLESBY.

WASHINGTON, D. 0., March 2, 1868.

DEAR SIR:—I have the honor to acknowledge your kind invitation to attend the inauguration ceremonies, upon the opening of the Illinois Industrial University. With much regret I am compelled to forego the great pleasure which it would afford me to be with you on an occasion of so much interest. The extraordinary condition of public affairs compels me to remain here, and the continual demands upon my time and strength must be my excuse for not writing at greater length. My appreciation of the vast interests involved in a successful administration of the affairs of the University demands a more particular statement of the origin, history, objects and prospects than I can find time to write. My great hope is that this Institution shall prove the crowning achievement of this age, among all the grand works in behalf of popular education which illustrates the splendid history of our State, and that to the latest generation our young men shall have cause to bless the wise forethought of the men of this age, who have, amidst gigantic war, not only vindicated the free institutions and ideas of self-government, but also