Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - History of the University (Powell) [PAGE 133]

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Illinois Plan Before Congress

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seven million, seven hundred and thirty-six thousand acres for the benefit of schools and universities. The seven million acres asked for in the bill could not be unwarrantable upon the legal side. And since four-fifths of all the people were directly, and the other fifth indirectly interested, there could be no cry of class legislation. " I t i s , " he said, "general and not local in its reach. There is no newj policy involved. While Agriculture has been a neglected field of legislation, it does not now call for the exercise of novel constitutional power." In concluding the speech Mr. Morrill said: "Pass this measure and we shall have done: something to enable the farmer to raise two blades of grass instead of one; something for every owner of land; something for all who desire to own land; something for cheap scientific education; something for every man who loves intelligence and not ignorance; something to induce the father's sons and daughters to settle and cluster around the old homestead; something to remove the last vestige of pauperism from our land; something for peace, good order, and the better support of Christian churches and common schools; something to enable sterile railroads to pay dividends ; something to enable the people to bear the enormous expenditures of the national Government; something to check the passion of individuals, and of the nation, for indefinite territorial expansion and ultimate decrepitude; something to prevent the dispersion of our population, and to concentrate it around the best lands of our country—places hallowed by church spires, and mellowed by all influence of time—where the consumer will be placed at the door of the producer; and thereby something to obtain higher prices for all sorts of agricultural productions; and something to increase the loveliness of the American landscape, Scientific culture is the sure precursor of order and beauty. Our esthetic Diedrich Knickerbockers, who have no land, will have a fairer opportunity to become great admirers of land that belongs to others.'\ As soon as Morrill had taken his seat, Representative €obb of Alabama, the chairman of the public lands committee, which had reported unfavorably upon the first bill, and the most active enemy of the land grant plan, moved that the whole matter be laid upon the table. His motion was lost by a vote of 114 to 83, showing that the house was ready to give the bill a direct hearing.