Proceedings of the Board of Regents (1864-1870)

229

No benefit could result, in this liberal age, from degrading a
University which was founded by a grant from the United
States, to a limited local patronage, simply to avoid
a little addition by the State to the noble boon granted by the
nation. The discrimination between home and foreign students is now greater than I approve, but it has been forced
upon us as a necessity, in order to meet current expenses. The
thousands of young men, attracted hither from abroad, acquire a high estimation of Michigan. Many of them remain
within the State, others wherever they go spread its reputation, and to-day nothing within Michigan is mentioned so
often and with so great commendation without, as our State
University. Neither on moral, nor pecuniary grounds should
higher charges than at present be made to foreign students.
Even now, but for them, our Departments of Medicine and
Law could not be sustained. Higher charges would induce
some of our young men to seek their education elsewhere.
The Legislature after considering the matter, enacted a law
granting to the University an income which should arise from
a tax of one-twentieth of a mill on every dollar of the property taxed by the State. This tax of ten cents on two thousand dollars would amount at present to less than $16,000 a
year, which though small, would by careful economy enable
the University to build a Chapel, a fire-proof Library Building, and enlarge its library and museums, in the course of a
few years. It would be a trifle to the State, and with it the
University, now of no expense to the people, could not by any
person be regarded as a burden.
But even this small grant was accompanied with a proviso,
of such a nature as to render it doubtful whether the University can consistently accept it-notwithstanding its wants.
This condition is that a Professor of Homceopathy be appointed in the Medical Department.
Hitherto it has been left to the Regents of the University,
elected by the people, to establish the Courses of Study in
the various Departments, and to appoint such Professors and
Instructors as they shall deem best. In theory this duty in a
State University is at best delicate, and requires sound judg2