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Caption: Book - History of the University (Powell)
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Illinois Plan for Land Grant Colleges 31 the plan for an industrial university. The second paragraph of the call reads as follows: "And it is earnestly desired, that every friend of the cause should then and there meet, to deliberate further upon the subject, and to take such action in the premises as may seem to them most advisable,—especially to consult as regards the proper appropriation of the University and Seminary Fund by the legislature, at the called session, as suggested in the proclamation of the Governor of the State. "By order of the Central Committee, May 18, 1852. J. B. TURNER." 1 * As indicated in the above call, the governor of the state had included this subject in his message to the legislature, soon to meet in special session. After mentioning the importance of applying the college and seminary funds to the uses for which they had been appropriated, the governor urged the necessity of proper legislative care over agriculture. " A knowledge," he said, "of the science of agriculture, united to the practical exertion of tilling the soil, is suited no less to elevate the dignity of the farmer, than to reward him for his toil and his labor "This subject has lately been brought more immediately to the notice of the people, through the published proceedings and report of a meeting of farmers held in Granville in this state, during last summer, in which the propriety of appropriating the income of this fund to an agricultural college was carefully and elaborately considered."14 A number of gentlemen met at the courthouse in Springfield on Tuesday, June 8, 1852, to consider subjects indicated in the call. "The convention," wrote John A. Kennicott, the president of the convention, "was not a very harmonious one; but there was not the least difference of opinion expressed by the legitimate members thereof. All the difficulty and all the opposition came from the able and learned delegation of the old colleges. These gentlemen were admitted as members at my instance, and they were certainly no friends to our new movement, and opposed it with zeal and ability throughout, though every one of them agreed with us, that the producer should be educated for his vocation, "Illinois Journal, May 19, 1852. "IUtooia Journal, June 9,185!
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