escribed the duties of the legislature with regard to the lands for the support of the university. The funds accruing from s or sale of such lands the article declared be and remain a permanent fund for the support of said university, with ches as the public convenience may hereafter demand for the promotion of the sciences, and the arts, and as may be authorized by the terms of such rdinance of admission, as already stated, gave to the State the two sections granted in the act of May 20, 1826, and the legis egan the management and control of the lands, with the conseoutlined in the second chapter of this monograph. before Michigan was admitted into the Union steps were taken he new constitution into effect. Doubtless at the suggestion rary, the governor appointed Rev. John D. Pierce the first endent of Public Instruction.' It was he who had put into y's hands Cousin's Report, and the two friends had talked ether questions of educational interest. To this man was now e opportunity of bringing the theoretical measures to a practical on, and the occasion was not master of the man. He combined osophical grasp with genuine practical sagacity, and at once e duties of a new office in a way that inspired confidence and ediate effect. "Henry Barnard," says President Angell, "did for the schools of Rhode Island, nor Horace Maun for those of setts, than John D. Pierce did for those of Michigan." He ed the East to converse with men versed in educational matreturned to outline a comprehensive scheme for the establishthe university. This was embodied in an act passed by the e March 18, 1837. The object of the university was declared rovide the inhabitants of the State with the means of acquiring -h knowledge of the various branches of literature, science, and The government of the university was vested in a board of o consist of twelve members and a chancellor, who was cx sident of the board; the members were to be appointed by the by and with the advice and consent of the senate. The govtenant-governor, judges of the supreme court, and chancellor ate were ex-officio members of the board. The regents had enact laws for the government of the university; to appoint and tutors; to fix salaries, and to appoint a steward and fix t of his salary. Section 8 of this law, embracing as it does present development of the university, may well be given in ce graduated at Brown University in 1822, and came to Michigan as a the service of the Presbyterian Home Missionary Society. He was superPublic Instruction in Michigan from 1836 to 1841. He died April 5, 1882, five.-(University of Michigan, Semicentennial, p. 161.) The university shall consist of three departments 1. The department of literature, science, and the arts. 2. The department of law. 3. The department of medicine. In the several departments there shall be established the following professorship In the department of literature, science, and the arts, one of ancient language one of rhetoric and oratory; one of philosophy and history, logic, and the philos phy of the human mind; one of moral philosophy and natural theology, includi the history of all religions; one of political economy; one of mathematics; one natural philosophy; one of chemistry and pharmacy; one of geology and mineralog one of botany and zoology; one of fine arts; one of civil engineering and archite ture. In the department of law, one of national, international, and constitution law; one of common and statute law and equity; one of commercial and mariti law. In the department of medicine, one of anatomy; one of surgery; one physiology and pathology; one of practice of physic; one of obstetrics and diseas of women and children; one of materia medica and medical jurisprudence: Provid That in the first organization of the university the regents of the university shall arrange the professorships as to appoint such a number only as the wants of the stitution shall require, and to increase them from time to time as the income of fund shall warrant and the public interests demand: Provided always, That no n professorships shall be established without the consent of the legislature. By succeeding sections the government of the internal affairs of t university was laid down, in most respects such as it still continues be. The regents were given power to regulate the course of instructi and prescribe, under the advice of the professors, the books to be us in the various departments and to give appropriate degrees. And th had power also to remove any professor or tutor if they deemed su removal for the best interests of the university. The act likewise p scribed that the fee of admission should never exceed $10, while tuiti should be entirely free to residents of the State. The regents, w the superintendent of public instruction, were authorized to establi branches of the university, and it is noteworthy that this act made incumbent on the board to establish, in connection with every su branch, "an institution for the education of females in the hig branches of knowledge," whenever suitable buildings were in rea ness. It appears, therefore, that the idea of coeducation had its w developed germ in the first act passed by the State legislature for establishment and organization of the university. The board of regents at their first meeting asked for several amer ments to the act, and such amendments were made. By the amend act, the board was authorized to elect a chancellor not a member the board, and to prescribe his duties.! The governor of the State w made ex-officio president of the board, and the board were allowed establish branches without obtaining further authority from the leg lature. It was also made permissible to expend at once, from interest arising from the university fund, as much as might be nec sary to purchase philosophical and other apparatus, a library, and ca net of natural history.2 Michigan Laws, 1837, p. 308. 2 Ibid., p. 309. ng is more apparent in all this legislation than the breadth and ensiveness of the plan. Some changes in detail haye been s developments made them necessary, but the university is still orward and upward, under the guidance of this noble ordinance as continually served to guide and direct rather than to limit. ribe. pose [said Mr. Pierce] that the wants of the State will not soon require a cture of fair proportions, on a foundation thus broad, would be a severe on the foresight and patriotism of the age. Let the State move * s prosperously for a few years to come as it has for a few years past, and of the revenue arising from the university fund will sustain an institution more magnificent than the one proposed, and sustain it too with only a ominal admittance fee. * * * The institution then would present an in the history of learning-a university of the first order, open to all, gard to the advisability of establishing a State university he aks: ect to the assertions that State institutions do not and can not flourish, it y be affirmed that the history of the past proves directly the reverse. The d most venerable institutions in our land are emphatically State instituey were planted, came up, increased in stature, and attained to the maturity of manhood under the guidance and patronage of the State. The same is early all European universities; they are State institutions, founded, susd directed by the State. uld be interesting and instructive to give all the statements and ats of this wise educator, but that can not be done here. His re clearly enough seen in the university as it now stands, its and capabilities largely due to his generous comprehension. I be noticed that the plan of the statute above mentioned inhe founding of various branches throughout the State. Such were to serve as preparatory schools and as normal schools for ing and education of teachers. The superintendent, with his ic view of the university fund, recommended that a branch be hed in every county, each branch to have means for giving an on of some thoroughness in literature and science, besides department of agriculture and a female seminary as soon as ble. It is apparent that had it been possible to carry out this there would have been a college in each county in the State, rs presided over by a central university, and all this mainn the interest of a fund of $1,000,000, which Mr. Pierce still lieved would be realized from the sale of lands. Steps were une 21, 1837, to start eight of these branches, and nine seem to en established in all, before the board decided on their discon› entirely. It was seen that the university would be hampered evelopment by attempts to support subordinate schools in vaarts of the State, and after 1849 they disappeared from the Senate documents, 1837, p. 61. arena of university interests. The regents asserted, and the reasoning seems good, that it was beyond even the power of the legislature to authorize the use for intermediate schools of funds granted by Congress for the support of a seminary of learning. Not only were they a burde on the university because of the expense in providing for them, bu there was danger at one time that the branches would absorb the inter est of the people and be considered the end rather than the approache to a college education. Many gravely asserted that they did more goo than the university itself, and that every reasonable effort should b made to extend them and to increase their means of usefulness. It i with the feeling that a great danger has been escaped that we read o the action of the regents between 1846 and 1849, and we feel relieve when we hear no more of these branches, which threatened to sap th very life-blood of the university, and to give Michigan a host of riva acephalous colleges rather than one large and comprehensive univer sity. And yet these branches did a good work of preparation, and the towns and cities where they had not been established hastened when there was no hope of such aid, to establish high schools, which have now become the great feeders of the university. They are in timately connected with that institution; not so closely that all loca pride and generous emulations are unknown stimulants; not so closel that local peculiarities and desirable individualities are unknown, and yet so closely that there is an evident connection between them, and a division of labor for the best interests of both. A peril akin to the one arising from the establishment of branche was involved in a plan for the distribution of the income of the fund: among various colleges, which were to be planted in different parts o the State. Such a bill at one time actually passed the senate and wa defeated in the house by only one vote. The efforts of Mr. Pierce maj be credited with averting destruction from the university, for h had obtained from leading educators of the country statements strongly in favor of concentration as opposed to distribution and consequen dissipation. CHAPTER V. THE UNIVERSITY FROM 1837 TO 1852. 18, 1837, the act establishing the university was approved. On of that month an act locating the university at Ann Arbor was The Ann Arbor Land Company had granted gratuitously of land as an inducement for settlement there. On the 5th of first meeting of the board of regents was held in Ann Arbor.1 deal of discussion and planning and devising seems to have the attention of the board at this meeting. Schemes were which could not be put into being for many years to come, us were the devices for the future. The regents began their th commendable zeal, their enthusiasm indeed carrying them y verge of destructive legislation. The board was composed ho had little or no experience in educational matters. Mr. s perhaps the only one who had ever studied the subject of Mr. Schoolcraft was a man of literary and scientific train luence of Mr. Pierce is again discernible in tempering with he hasty and overambitious designs of the board. This first termined upon the erection of a building, which was, as Mr. Is us, of a "truly magnificent design, and would in that day olved an expenditure of half a million dollars." Had it not he refusal of the superintendent to agree to these plans the uld have committed itself to the expenditure of one-half the d for and of the whole sum actually realized from the sale iversity lands. Great excitement and even anger were the Mr. Pierce's refusal, but he remained steadfast in his opposinew plans were agreed upon. He insisted that able teachers, collections, museums, and libraries were the essentials of a versity, not monstrous buildings of bricks and mortar. With 000 loaned to the board by the State, four professors' houses t on the campus, which are now used for various purposes, one y may, perhaps with as much propriety as any, be considered the natal present organization of the university. (University of Michigan, Semip. 164.) |