XXVIII 



UNCLE SAM'S BIG COLLEGE 



THE constitution of the State of Michigan which 

 was adopted in 1850 made provision for an agri- 

 cultural school. This school was opened in 1857, and 

 is now in a high state of efficiency and prosperity. 

 The Pennsylvania State College, which is essentially 

 a school of agriculture, grew out of The Farmers' High 

 School, which was incorporated in 1854 and opened for 

 students in 185 9. In 1856 the legislature of Maryland 

 incorporated the Maryland Agricultural College, lo- 

 cated almost on the edge of the District of Columbia, 

 and in the same year the legislature of Massachusetts 

 issued a charter to the trustees of the Massachusetts 

 School of Agriculture. The above is a resume of the 

 earliest efforts of the States to promote agriculture as 

 a distinct science. 



VETOED BY PRESIDENT BUCHANAN. 



Justin S. Morrill, of Vermont, introduced in the 

 House of Representatives, of which he was a member, in 



1858, a bill to promote education in agriculture and 

 the mechanic arts. On the 22d of April, 1858, Mr. 

 Merrill's bill was adopted by the House of Representa- 

 tives by the close vote of 105 to 100. On February 7, 



1859, the Morrill bill passed the Senate of the United 

 States by another close vote, namely, 25 to 22. Soon 

 after this the House and Senate agreed on the amcnd- 



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