building of such schools. The I'd Ural Government, too, from 

 the very beginning showed a disposition to assist the States in 



their efforts for popular education. 



In 1806 the United States, by what is known as the "cession 

 act," granted to Tennessee a generous appropriation of public 

 lands for the promotion of education. By a curious paradox, 

 however, the public school system of this State was hindered by 

 the very means designed to make it strong and efficient. 1 In- 

 late Capt. W. R. Garrett, Professor of History in the Peabod) 

 Normal College, has given this explanation of the misfortune re- 

 ferred to: 



.a#VtfM 



■Hi 



CAMPUS AND SOME OF THE BUILDINGS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH 



"In Ohio and in other States carved out of the Northv, est 

 Territory the sixteenth section in each township was designated 

 and conveyed direct to the inhabitants of the township. The ad- 

 mirable system of United States surveys definitely located the 

 grant and the title was vested. Tennessee, which had been ad- 

 mitted ten years before its land cession, had not been reached by 

 this system of surveys. The township and the section could not 

 therefore be designated, and Congress did not vest title in the in- 

 habitants of a township or district. The provision was in the 

 following words: 'And the State of Tennessee shall, moreover, 

 in issuing grants and perfecting titles, locate 640 acres to every 



75 



