The University of Michigan | Page 7

some
$547,000 from which the University now derives an annual income of
$38,433.44. While this amount is by no means as large as was hoped
for in those early days, this income, if it had been available in the first
years, would have helped the struggling institution materially.
To most of us this dissipation of what might have been, with more
careful and conservative management, a magnificent endowment seems
almost a tragedy. But there is another side. Michigan was far more
fortunate in her disposal of these public lands than any of her
contemporaries and obtained more than twice the amount realized from
any other state lands in the Northwest. For example, Wisconsin only
realized $150,000 from her 72 sections, while others fared worse
instead of better. Michigan is regarded in this respect as a model,
instead of a horrible example. Then, too, the early sale of the land was
imperative if the University was to live. The income from this source
was almost its sole support except the exceedingly slender student fees.
We must conclude, therefore, that the Government grants performed
their function; thanks to them we still have a University and still
receive a respectable income from the fund which represents their sale.
The Constitution prepared for the prospective State by the Convention
of 1835 provided for a University and authorized its immediate
establishment upon the adoption of the Constitution. This provision
was the result of the joint labors of two men whose memory will
always be held in honor by the University;--John D. Pierce, a graduate
of Brown University and a missionary in the service of the Presbyterian
Church, who was then about forty years old, and General Isaac Edwin
Crary, a graduate of Trinity College, Connecticut (1827), who, with his
bride, made his home with Pierce in the tiny backwoods settlement of
Marshall. They were both men of unusual caliber and were interested
vitally in the affairs of the territory, particularly educational questions.
Many are the discussions these two must have held, to which a stray
copy of a translation of M. Victor Cousin's report on "The State of

Public Instruction in Prussia," made to the French ministry of Public
Instruction, which fell into the hands of Pierce, certainly contributed
not a little. Here was the account of a state system of public instruction
which was under successful operation. These men were familiar with
the previous experiments in the Michigan of territorial days and with
the efforts in other states in this direction, but nowhere could they find
the practical help they needed. The few colleges in the country were
practically all privately endowed institutions, having no organic
connection with the secondary schools, to say nothing of the rare public
high schools. Thus the orderly and consistent development of a state
school system in Prussia had a peculiar appeal to these pioneers who
were already considering the outline of the educational system in the
State of Michigan to be.
[Illustration: FOUR FOUNDERS OF THE UNIVERSITY (From
paintings) Stevens T. Mason (1812-1843) John D. Pierce (1797-1882)
Zina Pitcher (1797-1872) Samuel Denton (1803-1860)]
General Crary became the chairman of the Committee on Education in
the Constitutional Convention and upon him devolved the immediate
task of drafting the educational article. He had, no doubt, Cousin's
report at hand as well as the advantage of the advice of Pierce. The
result was the most progressive and far-seeing provision for public
instruction in any state constitution up to that time; yet a measure that
appealed to the good sense and practical wisdom of the people of the
State. In brief it provided that the Governor, with the Legislature,
should "encourage, by all suitable means, the promotion of intellectual,
scientifical, and agricultural improvement" and that, in particular, there
should be appointed a Superintendent of Public Instruction, an officer
then unknown to any of the states; that there should be created a
perpetual and inviolable public fund from the sale of lands for the
support of public schools; and that provision should be made for
libraries as well, one at least in each township, to be supported from
money paid for exemption from military service and from fines
collected for any breach of the penal law. The section concerning the
University was as follows:

The Legislature shall take measures for the protection, improvement, or
other disposition of such lands as have been or may hereafter be
reserved or granted by the United States, to this state, for the support of
a University, and the funds accruing from the rents or sale of such lands,
or from any other source, for the purpose aforesaid, shall be and remain
a permanent fund for the support of said University, with such branches
as the public convenience may hereafter demand for the promotion of
literature, the arts and sciences,