| |
| |
Caption: Book - History of the University (Powell)
This is a reduced-resolution page image for fast online browsing.
EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:
116 History University of Illinois ment at the exercise of the veto on the land grant bill. He concluded a seven page article on the subject by expressing the belief that the course pursued by the chief magistrate would only add strength to the cause. The Illinois Farmer in its March, 1859 issue said: "The farmers and other industrial classes of the United States will be grievously disappointed at this act of the President. Shall they yield their claims to a portion of the public lands on account of this defeat t " Turner with other friends of the industrial educational movement throughout the country was greatly disappointed by the veto even though he had known for several months that such action was quite probable. Sympathy came to him from men prominent in affairs in other states. Mr. Suel Foster of Muscatine, Iowa, a member of the board of trustees of the newly forming agricultural college in Iowa wrote Turner under date of March 5, 1859, describing the work going on in Iowa. "We are about to inaugurate,'' he said, " a new era in the history of our country—that which was commenced 15 or 20 years ago in Europe, where it is now very imperfectly developing itself,— which was commenced some years ago by yourself. I know not how many—the light of which has been kindled from one to another.'' His high regard for Turner is still further evidenced by this: " I ask of you if you could not be induced to come over and help us, in the capacity of President of the Institution.'' Near the close, referring to the recent veto, he said: "Please excuse Jimmy Buchanan, etc.,—consider the source—We will be prepared at the next Administration." 2 In the latter part of the year 1859 and early in 1860 preparations were made in the country at large and in Illinois especially to carry the great plan of a land grant for agricultural and mechanical colleges once more before congress. The United States agricultural society at its eighth annual winter session, took up the discussion of the subject. Mr. C B, Calvert of Mary> land offered a series of resolutions one of which referred to the president's veto of the Morrill bill. He followed the introduction of the resolutions with a vigorous speech in which he pointed out 'Poster to Turner, March 5, 1859, Turner manuscripts, Springfield.
| |
