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Caption: Book - History of the University (Powell)
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94 History University of Illinois older states. With this in view Turner and his associates selected Representative Justin S. Morrill of Vermont4 as the man to introduce the bill and to carry through this great and important measure. Immediately after this choice was made Turner forwarded to Morrill all his papers and documents and from that time forward gave him all the help and encouragement that he could-5 More than this Turner even succeeded in determining the language of the bill which was introduced into congress on December 14, 1857, by Representative Morrill and which was finally enacted into law on July 2, 1862. President Edmund J. James of the University of Illinois has shown very clearly that it could not have been a "mere coincidence that the language of the act of 1862 'to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions in life' should tally so closely with the language used in the various documents put forth by Professor Turner." 8 He names three documents in which Turner used language almost identical with that quoted above from the act of 1862. Particularly was this true of a petition to congress in which Turner used these words " a n industrial university for the liberal education of the industrial classes in their several pursuits and professions in life." There is still another clause in the same paragraph of the bill that is clearly marked by Turner's influence. I t is the parenthetical one that says "without excluding other scientific or classical studies." In Turner's plan, published in the league pamphlet which had been placed no doubt in Morrill's hand, it was stated "no species of knowledge should be excluded" and whether a distinct classical department should be added would depend on expediency. Friends of Turner, among them Dr. Kennicott, wished to exclude the classics entirely but Turner would not yield the point. In confirmation of this direct connection between Turner and Morrill there is the testimony of two competent persons yet ^Whether the arrangement to get Justin & Morrill to introduce the mil was made by letter or by some of the Illinois representatives in person is not as yet known. •Illinois State Agricultural Society, Transactions, 5:38. James, Ong%n of Land Grant Act of 186$, p. 26-27.
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